Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana

About Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana

Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana is an OPM podcast where veteran bassist, producer, and music critic Ervin Besana breaks down new releases, production techniques, songwriting, live performance, and the realities of today's Philippine music industry. Honest reviews. No hype. Just music.

Publisher

Ervin Besana

Category

music

Language

fi

Explicit

Yes

First episode

25 May 2024

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   50 Episodes of Usapang Musiko: What's Next for the Podcast?

   We've reached 50 episodes of Usapang Musiko, and it's been quite a ride. For this milestone, I'm looking back at the conversations, music reviews, and industry discussions that shaped the show. We started with frustrations about the music industry, but along the way, the conversations grew to cover indie gigs, music criticism, AI, record deals, artist development, and the realities of building a career in music. I'm also sharing what's changing. Usapang Musiko will continue, but with a shift toward audio episodes, fewer production demands, and a more flexible schedule. The goal remains the same: to build a body of work that helps musicians navigate the industry, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions. Thank you to everyone who has been part of these 50 episodes. This isn't goodbye. It's a different way forward.

2. 

   6 Sept 2026

   Stop Chasing Viral: What 24 Years in a Band Actually Teaches You

   Going viral isn't the same thing as building a music career. In this episode, Ervin Besana sits down with Monty Macalino of Mayonnaise for a candid conversation about touring, consistency, social media comparison, audience building, and what it really takes to survive as a working musician. From performing across the Philippines to touring the UK, Norway, and Taiwan, Monty shares what touring actually looks like behind the highlights and why a smaller audience that genuinely knows your songs can sometimes mean more than a packed room of people who don't. They also talk about the pressure musicians face when social media constantly shows them someone else's success. The uncomfortable truth? You're often comparing your Level 2 to someone else's Level 10. This is a conversation about playing the long game, continuing to write and release music, taking risks, learning from the numbers, and understanding that consistency, not virality, is what builds a career. If you're an independent musician, aspiring artist, or simply someone trying to understand what happens behind the scenes of a working OPM career, this one's for you. Topics: OPM, Filipino musicians, music career, touring, independent artists, Mayonnaise, Monty Macalino, Ervin Besana, music industry, social media, consistency, audience building.

3. 

   30 Aug 2026

   Are You Ready for a Record Deal?

   Are you ready for a record deal? Or do you just think getting signed is the goal? In this solo episode, Ervin Besana kicks off a new Practicality series focused on real-world career advice for musicians and independent artists. Ervin starts with a question he regularly gets from artists: “Paano ako makaka-connect sa isang label?” His response: “For what purpose?” A record deal isn't a magic solution. Before approaching a label, artists need to understand what they actually need, what they already have, what they can do independently, and what they're willing to give up in exchange for a deal. Ervin breaks down a practical five-question framework covering: What do you actually want from a label? What do you already have? What can you already do without a label? What are you willing to give up? Have you tried solving the problem yourself? He also walks through the numbers and assets artists should inventory before approaching a label—from releases and monthly listeners to social followers, shows, live footage, masters, and fan engagement. The goal isn't to avoid record deals. The goal is to know when you actually need one. A downloadable PDF framework based on this episode is available here: Substack (https://ervinbesana.substack.com/p/are-you-ready-for-a-record-deal-a?r=2r3dae&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true) Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana (https://linktr.ee/ervinbesana)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.5 / 5

12 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.