Profit: Lock and loaded for success

by Ayu Musa Kamal

Ex-revolvers Freddie Fernandez on the road to the top.

The moment I stepped into his office, his phone rings non-stop and he apologised each time he has to pick up a call. That’s Freddie Fernandez for you, one wonders where he gets the time and energy to keep up with all his responsibilities. His daily chores involve being in charge of the biggest stars in Malaysia.

To some it may be a stroll in the park, but for a thinker like Fernandez, there’s always room for improvement.“I used to be quite involved in demonstrations during my university days,” said Fernandez who was quite reluctant to divulge this piece of information in the first place, but after a while continued to talk about his college days fondly.

The Johor born businessman and musician completed his Bachelor in Economics at University Malaya. “I loved college days, everything was so laidback and we ventured into a lot of things,” said Fernandez who thinks the current scenario at local colleges and universities are a bit dull and rigid.



“Please don’t get me wrong, I totally support the education system but maybe we should give the young ones some leniency in expressing themselves,” said Fernandez who used to keep long hair back in his college days.



“My uni days were great! We partied hard, but we also studied la ... ” said Fernandez trying to hide a hint of mischievous smile on his face.

“I turned out okay ... I think ... ,” said Fernandez jokingly. Of course he turned out okay. He is now the managing director of Betarecs Sdn Bhd, chief operating officer of Maestro Talent, he also heads the Malaysian Artistes’ Association, one of the pioneers in setting Malaysia’s very own Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) ... to name a few.

Not bad for a self-proclaimed university activist and demonstrator. Not bad at all. His days of standing at the Speaker’s Corner debating on sensitive issues continues, although the debates may not be the same things anymore, but the cause is still pretty much similar.

“My industry and career is something that is close to my heart, many may not realise this, but it does involve a lot of political strategies,” said Fernandez who thinks he will never be involved in politics.

“Haven’t really thought about it actually,” he said slightly amused with the question.Describing Fernandez as being musically inclined is more of an understatement.

Being the former keyboardist for the revolutionary Revolvers in the 70s, no wonder Fernandez is extremely passionate when it comes to anything that revolves around music. Earlier on in his career, Fernandez who started playing for the Revolvers after finishing his form six exams at St Johns Institution, earned the much needed experience any musician would crave for.

“The band was looking for a keyboardist at that time, I knew them even way before that because they were the backup band at our inter-school talent time contest,” reminisced Fernandez. However, Fernandez claims that a 5 year stint as a marketing officer with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board had taught him a thing or two.

“The job assisted me in forming the groundwork in business. I’ve always loved turning things into business, even when Revolvers came up with an album, I wanted it to be profitable for all of us,” said Fernandez.With that, its no surprise, Fernandez aspires to see those with talent be given guidance so that they will be able to channel their talent in the right avenue and to start nurturing them into people who can sell their talent and make profit out of it.

He believes that with proper exposure the local music scene will gain the recognition it deserves. “Piracy may be one of the contributing factor, but I believe that if you’re able to ‘sell’ your music the fans wouldn’t mind spending,” said Fernandez.

Dressed unpretentiously in a striped light coloured shirt and black pants and smiles ever so often, Fernandez who hangs out with the rich and famous is still the same guy who worked his way up when he was running a one man show producing jingles for ads.

“The business expanded gradually. Whereby, I started hiring and it became better, until I ventured into musical programmes,” said Fernandez resulting in the popular show Muzik TV which was hosted by accentric Seha of the band Freedom.

The show was a success and the rest is history, Fernandez became more and more recognised, giving him a bigger avenue to express his feelings and fight for those in the industry.

“I set up Karyawan in 2000. It was because I saw too many fragmented associations, so I figured why don’t I form one where everybody can become a member and get members together under one umbrella,” said Fernandez who managed to get a pension scheme for the members of Karyawan who were struggling.


“There’s so much that needs to be done and we are trying to improve more things,” said Fernandez.Fernandez’s face lit up when he was asked the question on his children. So enamoured he is about his offspring you could see candid pictures of his three boys and one girl filling up the side table of his office.

“My daughter is quite tomboyish now, with three brothers, it’s kind of expected,” said Fernandez obviously proud of the little ones aged between two to six. He added that, unlike most parents who are involved in the music industry, he would love to see his children to be a part of the music scene or art for that matter.

“I will give them full support, and help equip them with the necessary knowledge I’ve gained through the years,” he said. A cool father without a doubt. “Are you going to watch the Pussycat Dolls?,” my final question.

“Yes, I am,they’re really cool, eh?” said Fernandez ending the interview.

Comedian to undergo heart bypass

KUALA LUMPUR: Comedian P. Paramasivam, or better known as Param, will have a heart bypass soon.

The 53-year-old comedian, in the same genre as A.R. Badul and R. Jaafar, was warded at the National Heart Institute here on Feb 10, after complaining of breathing difficulties.

Members of Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia, led by its president, Freddie Fernandez, visited Param at the institute. Present were actress Datuk Sarimah Ahmad and fellow artistes A. Wahid Nasir and Syed Mahdi Barakbah.Param said he was grateful for Karyawan’s concern. "I like to joke a lot with the patients, visitors and staff but I get tired easily.

RTM invited me for a recording of a Merdeka programme, but I have declined due to my health problems."He said three of his arteries were blocked.The cost of his surgery will be borne by his four sisters with help from the Welfare Department.Param, the youngest in a family of five siblings, said he started his showbusiness career in 1976 while working in Tampin.

source NSTP

Industri musik...indah khabar dari rupa

Zahirnya industri musik dan hiburan tanahair sentiasa glamour.Dengan publisiti di majalah dan akhbar ,majlis anugerah sana...anugerah sini para penyanyi,pemuzik dan mereka yang terlibat dalam industri ini nampak seperti tidak ada masalah.

Kalau mengikut cakap 'orang lama ' dalam industri ini,Freddie Fernandez terasa kebanyakannya macam indah khabar dari rupa sahaja. Realitinya bukan semua yang boleh tidur malam dibuai mimpi macam Siti Nurhaliza,Ning Baizura atau Misha Omar.Ada juga yang tersorok di celah kilauan glamour tidak boleh bayar sewa rumah dan sangkut bil letrik bulanan. Setelah bergiat cergas dalam industri ini bermula dari jadi anggota kumpulan The Revolvers pada tahun 1972 lagi,Freddie memang ada authoriti nak bercakap mengenai bab industri hiburan.

Beliau mengunakan istilah we are in a bad shape bila ditanya apakah situasi industri ini sekarang. Masalahnya berkait-kait dari pembunuh utama industri ini iaitu gejala cetak rompak sampailah kepada soal sikap para penggiat bidang ini yang susah untuk bersatu.sedangkan ia amat penting bagi memperjuangkan dan memperbaiki nasib mereka sendiri. Dalam interbiu dengan Agendadaily baru-baru ini, pengasas syarikat Betarecs Sdn Bhd, COO syarikat Maestro yang mengurus produk Akademi Fantasia dan juga Timbalan Presiden Karyawan ini mengakui ada banyak masalah yang terus menghimpit industri ini.

Sebagai salah seorang yang boleh dikatakan berjaya sebagai usahawan dalam bidang ini,Freddie,52, berkata beliau terus merasa prihatin dan ingin melihat industri ini berkembang pada tahap yang sepatutnya. Sebab itu katanya sejak 20 tahun lampau beliau tidak jemu-jemu panjat dari kementerian ke kementerian untuk berjumpa dan berbincang dengan menteri- menteri yang berkenaan untuk membincangkan apa jua masalah yang perlu diselesaikan. Namun katanya setakat ini... its going nowhere.

Berikut ialah transkrip interbiu Agendadaily dengan Freddie Fernandaz:

AGENDADAILY: Mungkin orang sudah lupa.boleh saudara terangkan sedikit latar belakang dan penglibatan dalam industri ini?

FREDDIE: Saya berasal dari Segamat,Johor.Saya datang ke Kuala Lumpur untuk masuk sekolah St John,Bukit Nenas untuk Tingkatan 6 sepelas MCE. Penglibatan saya dalam bidang ini bermula bila saya mewakili sekolah St John untuk pertandingan bakat antara sekolah. Sebenarnya saya bukanlah pengasas kumpulan Revolvers.Dalam pertandingan itu band Revolvers jadi backing band kami.Pertandingan itu diadakan di Stadium Negara. Lepas tamat tingkatan enam masa saya masih tunggu keputusan HSC.saya dengar pemain keyboard Revolvers akan pergi ke Australia..maka mereka cari seorang pemain keyboard baru. Saya pun pergilah untuk audition..saya dapat.Saya secara rasmi jadi anggota Revolvers pada bulan Januari 1972. Lepas keputusan HSC keluar.

Saya dapat masuk Universiti Malaya belajar dalam jurusan ekonomi. Bulan Jun baru masuk universiti .saya ingat ada enam bulan boleh main dan kemudiannya tinggal.tetapi bila masuk universiti..terus main juga - sudah seronok main muzik. Kebanyakan function pada hujung minggu.Jadi saya belajar dan boleh dapat pendapatan dengan main muzik.Saya main muzik di dance function ....ada f unction kat Federal Hotel dan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka ..tiap-tiap hujung minggu ada macam-macam ball kat sana. Memang berat sikit pasal you nak main muzik.pagi Isnin pergi lecture. Lepas tu kita dapat kontrak dengan Tin Mine di Hotel Hilton Kuala Lumpur main Ahad malam.Jadi pagi Isnin pergi lecture selalu lambat. Namun begitu pada tahun 1975, saya lulus Universiti Malaya dengan Bachelor Economic (Honours). Nasib baik tahun itu ( 1974) exam ditunda sebulan kerana rusuhan pelajar di Universiti Malaya. Jadi ada masa nak catch up dengan lecture notes .

Saya main dengan Revolvers sehingga 1986 selama 15 tahun. Waktu dengan Revolvers saya keluarkan tiga album iaitu Perpisahan,Namun Ku Punya Hati dan satu lagi kami panggil Revolvers 3 . Lepas saya graduate pada tahun 1975 saya jadi Pegawai Pemasaran di Lembaga Perindustrian Kayu Malaysia (MTIB) . Masa di MTIB saya anjur misi dan pamiran perdagangan kayu di Amerika dan Eropah. Lepas tu saya ditukar ke bahagian kontrak dan penguatkuasaan.saya pun banyak belajar cara-cara buat kontrak..dari situ saya dapat banyak pengalaman..jadi saya tahu cara kerajaan. Masa di MTIB pun saya terus main dengan Revolvers juga secara parttime..kita mengadakan kontrak di Hotel Jayapuri (sekarang PJ Hilton) dan membuat persembahan di satu kelab yang dinamakan "Glass Bubble". Cuma bila kena pergi bertugas luar negara saya berhenti main..

Pada tahun 1980 saya cipta lagu untuk Pesta Lagu.lagu pertama saya Perpisahan ..tapi tak berjaya.walaupun ramai orang kata lagu tu harus menang. Pada masa itu saya nampak saya tidak boleh teruskan dengan double life ini, dimana jadi pegawai kerajaan pada siang dan pemuzik pada waktu malam. Saya tidak keberatan membuat keputusan untuk meletak jawatan dari MTIB pada tahun 1981dan tumpukan perhatian kepada bisnes dalam bidang muzik

READ MORE

RESUME OF FREDDIE FERNANDEZ

Freddie is almost a household word in Malaysia. Having spent most of his life in the limelight and at the forefront of the country’s entertainment industry, he has gone from strength to strength in terms of his achievements and contributions to the industry.

An Honours graduate in Economics from the University of Malaya, Freddie started his musical career whilst in University, working his way through college in the most enjoyable of manners, by making music with his mates in the Revolvers.

Upon graduation he served a short stint with the Government as Marketing Officer for the Malaysian Timber Industry Board, a job which took him all over the world in his portfolio as officer in charge of trade fairs and trade missions.

His love for music got the better of him and in the early 80’s he plunged full time into a career as composer, arranger and producer with his own company, Betarecs. With the recording industry badly hit by piracy, Freddie moved his focus to jingle production and in a few years was acclaimed “King of Jingles” by Malaysian Business magazine.

In 1989 he founded a body to protect composers and collect royalties on their behalf called MACP or Music Author’s Copyright Protection. In 1993, Freddie also founded the Malaysian version of the Grammy’s, called the AIM Awards, which have gone on to become the main awards for the music industry.

After a long stint as President of the Musicians’ Union, Freddie extended the scope of his association work through the establishment of a new association called Karyawan, or the Malaysian Artistes’ Association, which represents not only musicians but also artistes of all disciplines from singers, actors, dancers, comedians to songwriters and scriptwriters.

Karyawan is working closely with the government in trying to spearhead the recovery and growth of the local entertainment industry which has been badly hit by piracy and a slump in sales .

In 2003, Freddie was given the task of establishing the talent management arm of Astro, called Maestro Talent and Management. At the same time he was also deeply involved in developing the highly successful Akademi Fantasia program, which has since become one of the most watched and most successful programs on Malaysian television.

Its latest champion Mawi, has broken all records for the industry and sold more than 400,000 copies of his albums in the mere space of nine months.

The future beckons for Freddie and Maestro as they go about spearheading a new level of excitement and interest in the music and entertainment industry of Malaysia.