Unlocking Opportunities in the Philippines Music Market
VMDO's Networking Breakfast Series returns on Tuesday, 30 June at CY Venue, Collingwood Yards, bringing together music industry professionals for an insightful morning exploring one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing music markets: the Philippines.
As Australian artists, managers, labels and music businesses increasingly look beyond traditional export territories, the Philippines presents exciting opportunities for growth, collaboration and audience development. This edition of VMDO's breakfast series will provide attendees with first-hand insights into the country's music ecosystem, industry trends and pathways for engagement across the wider Southeast Asian region.
Leading the discussion is Mike Constantino, Founder and CEO of Homonym, the Philippines' premier audio marketing agency, and founder of Sonik Philippines, the country's leading music conference and showcase festival. With more than three decades of experience across music, marketing and digital innovation, Mike will provide an overview of the Philippine music landscape, including emerging genres, touring opportunities, streaming behaviours, social media platforms and cultural considerations for international artists and businesses.
Mike's presentation will then be unpacked through a conversation with acclaimed Filipino-Australian artist and producer Kuya James (James Mangohig), whose work spans music, theatre, dance and community engagement. An ARIA Award-winning producer and one of the Northern Territory's leading creative voices, James will offer valuable cultural perspectives and reflections on how to connect Australian artists with Filipino audiences.
The morning will also feature an artist case study moderated by Golden Hour Founder, Sarah Hamilton, with local contemporary pop and R&B artist Keenan Te, who has achieved multiple No. 1 records across Asia and sold out headline shows throughout the region. Joining Keenan will be his management and label team, Founder and Managing Director Cam Noble and Head of Label, Jessie Hillel from ACTs Music Group, who will discuss the organisation’s approach to building meaningful relationships and creating opportunities in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. The conversation will provide practical insights into international market development, artist export strategies, and the realities of expanding an artist’s presence in key overseas markets.
Doors open at 8:30 am
Panel begins at 9:00 am sharp
Light breakfast snacks, tea and coffee provided.
Attendees are encouraged to stay on after the panel to network and meet the speakers.
Tickets to VMDO Links are free, but bookings are essential.
SPEAKERS:
Mike Constantino
Mike Constantino is the Founder & CEO of Homonym, the premier audio marketing agency in the Philippines, and SurroundCast, a retail media technology company and official in-store partner of the Philippine Retailers Association. In 2019, alongside the National Commission for Culture & The Arts, he founded Sonik Philippines, the country's music conference, showcase festival and de facto music export office. A respected international speaker and consultant, Mike has played a significant role in shaping the Philippine music and marketing industries for over 30 years.
Kuya James (James Mangohig)
Kuya James is an ARIA Award-winning producer and ARIA-nominated artist based in Darwin. The son of a Filipino father and Dutch mother, he has built a celebrated career spanning music, theatre and cultural programming. He is the founder of CLUB AWI and co-creator of the acclaimed production In Between Two, with a body of work recognised through numerous industry and creative awards.
Keenan Te
Keenan Te is one of the most successful independent artists to emerge from Australasia, amassing over 500 million streams, 3 billion TikTok views, and a fanbase of more than 6 million across social platforms. Known for blending contemporary pop and R&B with deeply personal songwriting, he has achieved multiple #1 records across Asia and sold out headline shows throughout the region. His music has resonated globally, establishing him as a leading voice in the next generation of international pop artists.
Jessie Hillel
Jessie Hillel is the Head of Label at ACTS Music Group, overseeing label strategy, artist development, release campaigns, and global distribution across the company’s roster of independent artists and labels. Working across music operations, A&R, and release management, Jessie supports artists and their growth, maximising opportunities and revenue across streaming, marketing, and commercial partnerships.
Cam Noble
Cam Noble is the Founder and Managing Director of ACTS Music Group, one of Australia’s fastest-growing independent music companies. Under his leadership, ACTS has expanded across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and North America, representing over 600 artists and generating billions of streams annually. Recognised in Australia’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs list in 3 consecutive years, Cam has built a reputation for developing global careers for independent artists through innovative strategies spanning distribution, publishing, management, touring, and international market development.
Sarah Hamilton
Sarah Hamilton has been working in digital distribution and the online music space since its inception in Australia in the mid-2000s, and was the Regional Manager of Australia and New Zealand for Ditto Music for close to ten years. She loves helping independent artists gain access to opportunities, understand the digital world, and promote their music internationally. Sarah is also a co-founder of the charity One of One, which highlights women and non-binary people working within the music industry. Sarah has been listed in The Music’s Power 50 list of influential people in the Australian music industry twice, and was also awarded the Music Victoria inaugural award for an Outstanding Woman in Music for her work with One of One. She has recently launched her music consulting company, Golden Hour, and is working with people and artists she loves.