Aljur Abrenica and other GMA Artist Center talents have seen their careers take a dip in recent years, owing to the problems that surround the GMAAC. (Photo credit: GMA Network)
Low ratings, financial struggles, and futile programming changes. These attributes have become the standard of the GMA Network in recent years.
And the GMA Artist Center is sharing a part of the blame.
While the Artist Center has been known for making stars out of Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Carla Abellana, Dennis Trillo and others, they also had a fair share of missteps along the way. Missed opportunities, underdeveloped and disgruntled talents, and even poor acquisitions have played a role in the GMAAC’s recent history.
For instance, Jolina Magdangal’s recent visit to ABS-CBN has hinted reports of a possible return to the network. Once one of the most promising talents to come out of Johnny Manahan’s Star Magic, her career gradually went downhill after moving to GMA in 2002.
The Artist Center also acquired other former Star Magic talents such as Heart Evangelista, Christian Bautista, Michelle Madrigal and Claudine Barretto. But while Madrigal became a full-fledged star with GMA, the same cannot be said of the careers of Evangelista and Barretto, who were on the decline by the time they signed with the GMAAC. This despite the likes of Tom Rodriguez receiving a career boost with GMA after lingering under Star Magic.
On the contrary, several former GMAAC artists blossomed under Mr. M’s watch. For example, Cristine Reyes, Jake Cuenca, Coco Martin, Paulo Avelino, and more recently Ellen Adarna were considered raw and underdeveloped talents on GMA, but upon transferring to ABS-CBN, their careers were given a new lease on life.
Even several established former GMAAC stars managed to maintain a high profile after moving to ABS-CBN. Angel Locsin, formerly the lead star of ‘Darna’, ‘Mulawin’ and other fantaseryes, gave a good account of herself with a critically-acclaimed performance on ‘The Legal Wife’. Ditto recent Kapuso-to-Kapamilya transferee Iza Calzado, who currently play the lead role in ‘Hawak Kamay’ after starring in several GMA series such as ‘Encantadia’.
If GMA wants to get back on track, look no further than the GMA Artist Center. Since Ida Henares resigned as head of the GMAAC in 2012, the agency is currently run by various personnel, neither of which share the multi-faceted vision and mission of Johnny Manahan’s Star Magic. The GMAAC clearly needs a multi-purpose leader, not a by-committee leadership group with clashing personalities, in order to develop and manage talents well.
In the end, much of GMA’s fortunes will begin and end with the GMA Artist Center. The success and failure of the network depends on how the GMAAC manages their talents. But right now, the GMAAC is a mess, and its sudden and gradual decline mirrors that of GMA’s. Time to fix a wrecked system, otherwise things will only get worse.
From the Tube 
Ralph, why did Ida Henares quit Artists Center?
To spend more time daw with the family. Magkasunod yung resignation niya with Wilma Galvante.
Instead of building talents, I rather see GMA build a better PR vehicle for their talents. The promos of their shows, concerts and even films were a flop for years now. I think the lack of support is the reason why these talents shine has been a decline as of which, add the lack of good quality projects for them to be launched at.
Yes, parang laidback and approach ngayon ng GMA, that is why napapabayaan na lang yung mga careers ng contracted artists nila.
That is a suggestion that needs to be addressed.
Teka.. di gma artist center sina ding dong marian dennis trillo iba mga manager ng mga yan, gma artist sila pero di artist center. Si claudine ng lumipat sa syete eh VIVA ang mangament nya.
Si heart ng lumipat kay annabelle sya
Si christian bautista iba rin
Iba ang pagiging gma talent at gma artist center yalent
But still, kahit na they have different managers they were still part of the Artist Center for all intents and purposes.
You are both correct, pero they lack support from the network, take a look at Jasmine Curtis she’s with TV 5 and Viva pero mas visible pa sya sa tv cause she has commercials than any of the stars ng GMA.
Appearances in ads are also a key factor in promoting a talent. Other than Carla Abellana, who has a sponsorship deal with Colgate-Palmolive (a company exclusive to ABS-CBN), I don’t remember any other Kapuso talent who appears in commercials anymore.
Pati ang mga nanalo sa Anak Ko Yan dati ni Jennylyn, wala talaga akong nabalitaan kung ano na ang susunod nilang gawin sa showbiz.
Guess what GMA will launch another talent search, good luck sa winners kung may exposure
And if ever, baka matengga rin ang mga careers nila sa Siyete in case na manalo sila.
si Jen-jen ng taga dumaguete na nanalo sa anak ko yan.
Eh anong nangyari afterwards? Wala pa as of now.
@marcus GMA’s upcoming talent search was recently revealed as “Bet ng Bayan”.
@KG James Wright, a contestant in “Anak ‘ko Yan”, is now a full-fledged singer, having sung the theme song for the early 2014 GMA drama Carmela, and currently has one album.
Note that Jolina Magdangal still hasn’t released an album in years (?).
According to currently-floating rumors it looks like GMAAC is concentrating on Marian Rivera and a few more talents.
Busy kasi si Jolina sa motherhood, having given birth recently with her husband Mark Escueta. But with the lack of projects on GMA, it is likely na she’ll move on and find another network.
I doubt about Bet ng Bayan though. Baka kasi hindi alagaan ng mabuti ang mananalo rito. Same for Anak Ko Yan, since some of the contestants returned to relative anonymity.
As for the GMAAC, wala na talagang depth sa system nila. Which is why Aljur Abrenica wanted to pull out of his GMA contract due to lack of opportunities.
pinapawork-shop maigi ng GMA-7 ung mga GMA-AC at maraming magagaling na artista sa GMA-7 kaso ang problema hindi binibigyan ng priority maigi ng GMA yung mga artists nila even yung mga singers nila na magaling kumanta may POTENTIAL BA like frencheska farr, rita de guzman, denise barbacena & james wright mga magagaling na singers sa GMA-7 hindi binibigyan ng prority ng GMA 7 na hindi nila pinapasikat nila maigi ang pinapriority nila ung mga hindi kagandahan boses at hindi kagalingan kumanta like alden richards, magaling nga umarte si alden pero sa kantahan panget ang boses at hindi kagalingan kumanta at pinipilit pakantahin sa show it’s because yung nanay-nanayan ni alden richards si tracy garcia ng GMA-7 kaya malakas pala ito si alden sa 7 it’s because yung nanay nanayan niya taga 7 tapos si kristoffer martin, elmo magalona hindi naman kagalingan kumanta yon lalo na c elmo sumasablay mag rap yon sa Party Pilipinas pa nun tapos pinipilit pakantahin sa show na yon na tila trying hard masyado na pero si kristoffer martin magaling rin umarte and even juancho trivino magaling rin umarte si juancho trivino sa tuwing napanood ko siya dati sa villa quintana kesa kay elmo magalona! tapos si aljur abrenica hindi kagalingan umarte at kumanta yon pinipilit pa rin ng 7 yon dahil favorite ng isang gay executive ng 7 i aljur na nalilink sa kanya kaya malakas siya sa 7. ewan ko ba sa GMA Management
kaya 22o pala sabi na ang GMA-7 ngayon meron sila pinapaboran na artists gawa pinapaboran ng ibang executives o officers ng 7 like si tracy garcia ng GMA 7 pinapaboran niya si alden dahil nanay nanayan ni alden si tracy tapos yung isang gay executive ng GMA 7 pinapaboran o favorite niya si aljur abrenica, tapos si Redgie A. Magno (GMA VP for Drama, ETV Group) pinapabora niya yung anak niya si pancho magno dahil anak niya yon kadugo niya yon mga walang K ba! kaya bumabagsak rin ng GMA ngayon dahil sa kagagawan ng ibang exec. or officers ng 7 dapat palitan na mga yan!
That’s right. It is the management of GMA that is to blame for what is happening to them right now. Walang equal kay Johnny Manahan of Star Magic.
ang gulo mo mag explain paulit ulit ka, para bang binabasa ko ulit ung binabasa ko na… ibang pagkakasulat pero pareho ng thoughts. pero gets ko ang punto mo… madugo nga lang
tapos yung ibang artists sa GMA-7 na magagaling umarte hindi binibigyan priority ng 7 like si martin escudero produkto ng starstruck 4 magaling umarte yon napanood ko siya sa mga drama series sa GMA noon hindi binigyan ng priority ng 7 kaya umalis si martin escudero sa 7 at lumipat sa TV 5 dun medyo nag BOOM pa ang kanyang carrer nung nasa 5 na siya tapos si paulo avelino din magaling umarte yon hindi binigyan priority ng 7 kaya umalis sa GMA yon lumipat sa ABS-CBN yun nag boom ang carrer ni paulo a. sa 2, I MEAN hindi bini-build up maigi ng 7 yung mga magagaling na artist sa 7 kahit si lucho ayala (yung young jojo sa endless love noon) na siya katambal ni julie ann san jose sa kahit nasaan ka man noong 2013 nakita ko may potential ito si lucho ayala magaling rin umarte ito tapos may itsura pwedeng pang leading man din kahit dina-da who ng iba pero hindi binigyan ng priority ng 7 yon na hindi bini-build up maigi ng 7 yon
Simply put, hindi talaga inalagaan ng mabuti ng GMA ang mga artista nila. And with that Aljur issue ongoing, it only gets worse.
CORRECTION hindi po under GMA-AC sina dingdong, dennis, marian, carla, heart and tom r.
si dingdong dantes – under po siya ng PPL Talent Management/Production ni Perry Lansigan at co-manage siya ngayon ng Viva Artists Agency.
si marian rivera – under na po siya ng APT Entertainment / Triple A Talent Mgt. ni Antonio “Tony” Tuviera (producer & owner of TAPE, Inc.)
si dennis trillo – under po siya ng Luminary Talent Management ni Popoy Caritativo.
si carla abellana – under po siya ng ALV Talent Circuit ni Arnold Vegafria
si tom rodriguez – under po siya ng Luminary Talent Management at may kontrata si tom rodriguez sa Viva Entertainment, nabasa ko sa balita noon.
si heart evangelista – under po siya ng Viva Artist Agency at manager niya yung nanay niya!
Kahit na hindi sila taga-Artist Center, they are still contracted GMA artists. Even some of the ABS-CBN contracted artists were never part of Star Magic.
Even Bea Binene, one of the top caliber tween stars of GMA wants to go out of the network and move to 2. Another tabloid rumor.
Too many flaws in GMA’s system. Kaya yang mga tabloids na yan nagsasamantala sa mga kahinaan at kapalpakan ng GMA.
Ralph, GMA has just changed its Sunday sked. No more GMA Blockbusters starting tomorrow at 7:45 pm and Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho will be aired after Ismol Family.
Also, SNBO will be aired at 9:45 pm featuring Jackie Chan’s Who Am I and the Mutya ng Pilipinas next week.
im not against kay mark herras, he’s a good dancer at ok siya umarte but napapansin ko kay mark herras ang tagal tagal niya sa showbiz industry at maging sa GMA 7 hanggang pasayaw sayaw lang ba ang carrer niya hanggang dun na lang carrer ni mark herras, nao-overwhelmed din ako kay mark h. nadidisappointed ako kay kay mark h. kasi ang tagal2x niya sa showbiz industry at sa GMA for 11 yrs. hanggang dun na lang carrer ni mark herras yung pasayaw sayaw niya nako-confused ako buti pa ung ka-love team niya si jennylyn mercado gumanda ang carrer niya maraming pinupuntahan ni jennylyn ang kanyang carrer di ba sa acting (magaling siya umarte), tapos sa singing carrer tapos sa hosting tapos siya nanalo blg. best actress sa MMFF 2014 awards para sa movie english only please NOT ONLY ONE, kapuso teen star na si Julian Trono pinasok niya rin yung singing carrer ngayon from being child star / mainstay ng GMA afternoon teleserye daisy siete to teen star / dancer at ngayon isa na siya ngayon singer / recording artist dahil meron siya kanta ngayon na “wiki me” under GMA Records & JU Enterainment Music, eh si mark herras hanggang dun na lang carrer niya sa pagsasayaw, yun lang!
Mark would be better off if he let his GMA contract expire and move to ABS. Nasasayang lang ang kanyang acting abilities sa Siyete. Pag nasa Dos siya, he may be poised for a career revival with the kind of culture the Star Magic has.
eh kaso po ganon din yan pag lumipat si marh herras sa dos hanggang dancing carrer na lang siya parang si iza calzado nung lumipat siya sa abs cbn di ba hanggang dancing carrer na lang siya sa dos di ba pinapasayaw yan sa ASAP tapos may dancing album siya ngayon under Sony Music & Ivory Music nakita ko sa record bar unlike nung nasa GMA pa siya maganda ganda carrer ni iza c. at maraming carrer na pinatutungunan ni iza c. nung nasa GMA pa siya diba sa acting (magaling siya umarte) tapos marami siya teleserye @ pelikula may foreign movie pa siya nun tapos sa hosting tapos sometimes sumasayaw din siya maraming commercial o endorsement nung lumipat siya sa abs WALA NA, nalaos siya 2loy sa abs cbn, carrer niya sa dos pasayaw sayaw na lang siya sa ASAP tapos nanay roles ang binibigay ng abs cbn sa kanya like yung huli niya teleserye hawak kamay di ba nanay ang roles niya tapos hindi naman nagrate yung hawak kamay unlike yung role niya noon 7 pas siya nun sanggre at beauty queen.
You’re wrong. I don’t think hanggang dancing lang si Iza. Maganda pa rin ang career niya kahit lumipat na sa ABS, and Hawak Kamay enjoyed better ratings than Nino or More Than Words. Naging host rin siya at one time ng The Biggest Loser, so nabigyan pa rin siya ng break kahit papano ng ABS.
If Iza was able to thrive as a Kapamilya, so too will Mark kung magpasya na siyang mag-ober da bakod. After all, may track record ang ABS as far as handling artists are concerned.
Puro komedyante ang pina-prioritize ng GMA na bigyan ng show, to the point na napapabayaan ‘yong ibang artists na hindi naman comedy or acting ang forte, especially ang mga singer.
Look at “Full House Tonight” which will premiere on February 18. Being a musical show on Saturday primetime, this would be a very good program for their talents na naapektuhan ng cancellation ng “S.O.P.”, “Party Pilipinas,” and “Sunday All Stars.”
Pero according to GMA News Online, the show will have comedians Philip Lazaro, Nar Cabico, Tammy Brown, Terry Gian, Sarah Pagcaliwagan, and Kim Idol.
(Link: http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/gma/articles/2017-01-16/28098/GMA-Network-rewards-its-viewers-with-superior-and-world-class-2017-program-launches)
I have nothing against these comedians naman (honestly, I do not know some of them), but how about Maricris Garcia, Frencheska Farr, Christian Bautista, Denise Barbacena, James Wright, Top One Project, among others? ‘Yon pang mga dancer nila? Walang exposure sa TV. Kung mayroon man, paminsa-minsang pagge-guest lang. O kaya supporting role sa mga drama nila. Kaya hindi nama-maximize ang talent sa pagkanta o pagsayaw.
There are already enough shows to cater these humorists, so huwag na sanang umayin ng GMA ang mga viewer nila.
That’s like an addendum or supporting basis sa sinulat niya kanina lang but the specific show needs further expounding on his separate article.
Overall, GMA’s quality of talent is inferior compared to ABS. The difference here is that ABS has Johnny Manahan while GMA is being operated by no-namers. The young stars, in particular, are not getting their much-needed attention compared to the vets.
As for that upcoming show, we’ll wait for its premiere and then we’ll talk about it.