CHM History


CHM Supersound, The History and the man behind it
In the early 70s, Frank Joko introduced the popular Black Brothers band from Irian Jaya to Raymond Chin. He was fascinated by their style of music and negotiated for the release of the album in PNG. The Black Brothers caught PNG by storm. This success was the catalyst which made Raymond decide in opening up his own studio and that was the start of CHM Supersound Studios. Born and raised in PNG, Raymond believed that PNG music had a lot of potential for a great future in the music industry.

He took a bold step when he started his 8-track recording studio in 1980 and the rest as they say is history.
CHM Supersound was the first commercial recording studio established in PNG. The company through Raymond‚Äôs vision recognized that PNG had a wealth of musical talent lying untapped and all that was required was a means of letting this talent get unleashed. CHM Supersound Studio recorded the first generation of PNG bands and artists in the early eighties. The first band that was recorded under the CHM Supersound Label was the Paramana Strangers. Other prominent bands soon followed like April Sun, Sanguma, Gwadus, New Krymus, Helgas and many others. The company also started signing up new artists from the Papuan region. Through its unique association in this infant industry, CHM Supersound acted as a form of catalyst prompting local groups and musicians to produce good local music by giving them support and assistance.

As the company‚ goal was to expose PNG music to the South Pacific, Raymond Chin decided to embark on a very ambitious program. Through the production of a unique and refreshing 2 hour program, PNG music was broadcasted in Honiara in 1985 through the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Commission Network. CHM Supersound became the first international radio program produced in PNG. Today, this same program is now broadcasted in Vanuatu as well as Australia. CHM Supersound has evolved from strength to strength. Starting with a modest operation back in the eighties, it now produces 95% of the music released in PNG. It also carries a catalog of more than 3,000 albums under its belt with a mind boggling 300,000 songs.

The company is responsible for the collaboration, unification and fusion of PNG‚ diverse cultures and languages through music. Under CHM‚ big umbrella are smaller affiliate studios which are supported by the company through the manufacture and distribution of their albums throughout the country.

Raymond himself has captured the hearts of his artists. He treats his artists as his friends and business partners. He offers them the best deals which are patterned after international standards in other music industries plus more. To this day, CHM is the only recording studio that does not charge the artist for recording time. CHM also does not charge the artist for production costs and marketing expenses when it comes to producing videos. And for all of these, his artists have come to love him which is how CHM has second or third generations of the Original Bands such as the Paramana Strangers. Helgas is another good example who is already on their third generation with CHM.

The company under the direction of Raymond has had the ability to recognize opportunities and develop raw talent to stardom through the years giving it success. CHM has been and still is the leader and the driving force behind PNG‚ music industry for over 25 years.

Raymond Chin himself will always be remembered as the father of modern PNG music. He gave PNG music a new meaning and life. He nurtured PNG music from infancy to a thriving industry today where thousands of artists earn their living from.

Ms. Anne Parasio, a BBC reporter wrote to Raymond this year saying, as the major producer of PNG music, CHM Supersound has a huge influence over the content and direction of contemporary popular music.

From talking to you, it is evident that your studio is guided by a very personal vision of how you believe the music should develop. Your background as a musician influences the decisions that you make in choosing the bands to record. It seems clear that the musical output from CHM Supersound is a result of your personal involvement as Managing Director. BBC featured Raymond Chin and CHM Supersound in one of their programs broadcasted in Britain and will be included within the music curriculum of a music degree course that would be studied throughout the world.

The Achievements

1980	The first 8-track recording studio was set up in Port Moresby. In the same year, CHM Supersound acquired its first Telex cassette duplicating machine with a daily capacity of 100 pieces. The cassette factory was established in this year as well.
1981	CHM Supersound moved to higher gear and installed the Otari DP7000 cassette duplicator in its new Gordons factory. The production line was further enhanced with the addition of 3 units of Otari‚ DP6755D manual cassette tape loader.
1983	The first PNG top 20 was born in May, 1983. This was formulated with Raymond's direct involvement in the early negotiations of NBC and the Institute of PNG Studies. The program was stopped when an internal disagreement between NBC and other studios erupted. Soon after, the CHM Supersound Radio Program, the best in the Pacific, was established in late 1983.
1984	This year saw the official opening of the CHM Supersound cassette factory and recording studio. Minister Karl Stack graced the opening day with a congratulatory speech praising Raymond for his contribution to the PNG music industry. CHM became the first commercial recording studio in PNG which led to the expansion of the studios with the addition of a new 16-track recording console which was set up in the Gordons premises. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Fr. Walter Lini visited CHM Supersound for the first time. At that time, Vanuatu was already importing cassettes from CHM.
1985	CHM Supersound recorded a song and a jingle for the 10th Independence Anniversary of PNG. This was received and acknowledged by then Prime Minister Michael Somare. This year also marked the initial broadcast of the CHM Top of the Pops program in the Solomon Islands.
1986	CHM Supersound operations is expanded with the purchase of the Otari T1501 semi-automatic tape loader and another set of Otari DP4050.
1990	CHM and Pepsi introduces the first ever 100% PNG Musical TV Program popularly known as FIZZ.
1991	CHM Supersound installs a new set of mastering equipment in the cassette factory to ensure the high quality of the recordings.
1992	Team 108 from Singapore installs the first 48-track mixing desk replacing the old 16-track mixer in the Gordons studio. This new console lifted CHM Supersound‚Äôs quality to be at par with international standards. The 16-track recorder was transferred to Rabaul. This gave birth to the CHM Supersound Rabaul studio. From this studio came the successful albums of Henry and Chris Kuskus, Leonard and Uralom Kania and the Junior Kopex band. The factory was also upgraded with the new Otari King Loader and the DP90 cassette duplicators which raised the factory‚ output to 3,000 cassettes per day.
1993	CHM Supersound organized the most successful night concert of that time, the 1993 Pepsi-Red Cross Charity Rock Concert featuring the Five Stars from Samoa. This was witnessed by over 15,000 fans and raised K30,000 for Red Cross. The first overseas concert by the CHM Supersound Band was held in Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The concert featured top artists like George Telek, Henry Kuskus, Lista Laka, Cathy Lee, Basil Greg, Dika Dai and Steve Lahui.
1994	CHM Supersound recorded PNG‚ first albums on Compact Disc. These albums were PNG Island Reggae Hits Volumes 1 to 3.
1995	CHM Supersound became the first and only PNG made radio program to hit Vanuatu and Australia. This program was aired through FM98 of Vanuatu and 4K1G of Townsville, Australia. This year also saw CHM staging the most successful show that they have done so far at the 1995 Port Moresby Show with the inclusion of Daniel Rae Costello‚Äôs 5-piece band from Fiji. As the company was growing, the factory received an upgrade with 2 new Otari AL632 loaders that had an individual capacity of 3,000 cassettes per day. The recording studio in Port Moresby was also expanded which has Team 108 from Singapore coming again to install the Amek 32-track Digital Recording Studio which became the most advanced Recording Studio in PNG for that time.
1996	CHM Supersound goes online with the launching of its website. The company is the first PNG company to have a website. The company also acquired the biggest PA system developed by Peavey USA. The Level 1 system includes 40 speakers and 8 subwoofers that could generate an earth-shaking 65,000 watts RMS. It was touted as the biggest PA system in the South Pacific then.
1997	The South Pacific Music Festival became the highlight of the year. A total of eight bands and artists from different countries bonded together first the first time with PNG artists in what was dubbed as the best and biggest concert production in the South Pacific. Kulcha from New Zealand, Five Stars from Samoa, Seru Serevi, Laisa Vulakoro, Georgina Ledua and Lia Osborne from Fiji, Apprentice Band from the Solomon Islands and Vatdoro from Vanuatu performed their best. The top PNG artists who performed were George Telek, Robert Oeka, Saugas, Basil Greg, Hitsy Golou, Willie Tropu, Leonard Kania and Ronnie Galama. The cassette factory was also expanded this year which had it acquire the Graff cassette to cassette duplicator using 21 slaves. The recording studios added yet another studio. Musiclab from Australia installed the first all digital studio in PNG using 02R Yamaha and Tascam recorders.
1998	International artist Maxie Priest performed at the Sir John Guise Stadium using CHM‚ Peavey Level 1 PA system which made it the biggest concert of the year. The company also changed the face of retailing with the development and opening of the first CHM entertainment center which allowed consumers to purchase cassettes and compact discs in a supermarket concept. A second entertainment center was opened in the later part of the year. A project called the Lost Generation was initiated by the company as well. This project recorded an album from which the royalties were used to support the victims of the Aitape Tsumani.
1999	CHM Supersound Video Hits first appears on EMTV. During this same year, it became the most popular music show on EMTV with ratings just behind EMTV news and the Rugby League. The CHM Supersound Radio Program also started broadcasting in Toowoomba, Australia through radio station 4DDB.
2000	CHM Supersound Video Hits was voted the number 1 TV program on EMTV ahead of EMTV news and the Rugby League. Due to it‚ phenomenal success, CHM established its video production department to start producing the TV program in-house. The establishment of the new department eventually led to the birth of 2 new TV programs namely, Gospel Praise and South Pacific Music. CHM with the collaboration of EMTV staged their first anniversary show for CHM Supersound Video Hits live which went on to become the most successful live musical show on TV for that time. As PNG was celebrating its 25th Silver Jubilee, CHM recorded the legendary Barike Band to sing Wan Kantri which became the official theme song for the celebrations. This year also saw the cassette factory acquiring a new Otari DP50 digital master machine which allowed cassette duplication straight from a CD master. The new CD production division at the cassette factory was also established this year through the acquisition of new small-scale CD duplicators which had a capacity of 500 CDs per day.
2001	CHM Supersound Video Hits Live! became the most anticipated event in the nightclub circles. It featured top artists such as PS2, Kanage, and Noel Asi. The top artists of CHM also performed back to back with top African artist Oyaba during their PNG tour. The concert was an astounding success. The CHM Supersound Radio Program started broadcasting in Cairns through radio stations 4INJ in the suburb of Injinoo and 4CCR. The multimedia studios at the Boroko office was also set-up this year.
2002	The CHM Supersound Radio Program started broadcasting on radio station 4MW on Thursday Island which allowed CHM‚ music to be heard in the Torres Strait region in Far North Queensland, Australia. Raymond Chin was also awarded by her majesty, the Queen as ‚ÄúMember of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the PNG music industry. In collaboration with British American Tobacco, CHM embarked on a tour with its top artists around the country. The multimedia studios at the Boroko office was expanded.
2003	CHM Supersound acquired Pacific Gold Studios, its long time rival in the music industry thereby establishing its extensive and comprehensive music catalog. This year, Creflo Dolla, the minister staged a tour with the technical assistance of CHM using its Level 1 Peavey system.
2004	CHM Supersound‚ new internet division was set-up. CHM Supersound also managed the Australian gospel group, Hillsong on a 3 day tour. This tour has been the most successful gospel tour to date with a staggering 20,000 devotees in attendance. CHM Supersound also produced Kanage‚ Stori Blong Joe, a slapstick comedy which is the first of its kind to be available to the public.
2005	The African group Makoma stages a very successful show in PNG with the technical assistance of CHM and its Level 1 Peavey system. CHM also launches the highly successful PNG Independence Tour which brought its top artists such as Straky, Soul Harmony and O-Shen around the country and to Irian Jaya in Indonesia and Cairns in Australia.
2006	The cassette factory further expands its operations with the acquisition of the Otari AL641, the DP-303 and the DP205 giving it a production capacity of 150,000 per month. CHM also re-opens the Pacific Gold Studio in Kokopo which was destroyed in the 1994 eruption of Mount Tavurvur. The console used here is a 72-track touch-screen all digital Mackie thus making it the most advanced studio in the country. The recording studios at Gordons also expands and opens studio 4, a multimedia studio. CHM also stages the highly successful Tania tour in Port Moresby and Kokopo where 12,000 highly-charged fans attended at the Kalabond Field. September saw the CHM Supersound Band with its top artists DadiiGii, Khris Kassimis and Sharzy taking Cairns and Thursday Island in Australia by storm. CHM also opens CHM Superstore, the country‚ first online CD shop and opens the CHM Entertainment Center in Kokopo, the first of its kind in the region.
2007	The CHM Supersound's Internet division is all set and ready for the launching of its new website which is built by the edgecreative. The much talked about website is of the best sites you'll find in the country. Apart from building website CHM Supersound also had the opportunity to record one of the South Pacific's best ever talented artist - Sharzy of the Solomon Islands featuring PNG's best local talents Kiki Geno, Taita Maraga and the others.
2008	In early 2008, Rait FM 99.5 started broadcasting. The new radio station was a realization of a dream for Raymond. The new station boasted of an unprecedented new format for commercial stations in the country which is just music. This station was put up to promote PNG and South Pacific Music‚ said Raymond and the station since then hasn‚Äôt stopped pushing new music and has become a platform for new artists to be heard. The revolutionary format was eagerly supported by Port Moresby and Central Province and catapulted the station to the top spot. A new Lae recording studio was finally completed in mid-2008. This new studio sported an all-digital 72 track touch-screen console. Aimed at recording artists from the MoMaSe and Highlands regions, the studio aims to ease the demand for recording services in the region. A major piracy bust led by CHM was done in 2008 which saw an Asian caught red-handed illegally duplicating CDs, VCDs and DVDs. The raid proved to be the biggest piracy bust in the country so far as the pirate operation had a large number of duplicators and even its own digital printer. Through NCDC, CHM produced the country‚ biggest-ever concert. Packed with over 50,000 people, the PNG independence show at John Guise proved to be a smash hit with people packing the whole area all the way to the roundabout. To help protect the artists and songwriters in PNG, CHM conducted a series of workshops in Port Moresby, Lae and Kokopo. The workshops featured John Kenny, a prominent intellectual property lawyer in Australia. The workshops were well received with the attendees absorbing the vital information which was translated into Tok Pisin by solicitor Michael Wagambie. The attendees left with the knowledge of copyright which would protect them from unscrupulous individuals who can take advantage of them. Two concerts were held at POM CC as well. These were the Skwatas concert where POM CC was mobbed by the crowds from Morata and Gerehu. The show also featured Leonard Kania. The Onetox band who were flown in from Honiara had a year-ender show which got all a young and vibrant crowd partying at POM CC. The venue was packed with students from all over the city enjoying Onetox‚Äôs unique music.
2009	The year that was for Papua New Guinea‚ leading recording label saw many fronts open up in support of its continued strive to expose the untapped potential of the country‚ music industry. Early on in the year and due to CHM‚ recognized commitment to promoting locally produced content that is authentic, witnessed the company join forces with the PNG Media Council as a member of the organization due to its radio station, Rait FM, and its entertainment channel, YumiTV. In celebrating over a year of broadcasting to audiences in the Nation‚ Capital District and the Central Province, Rait FM has made a strong contribution to emphasizing the multitudes of prospective musical artistic expression that exists amongst Papua New Guineans. With a global perspective in mind, the radio station has acted at the local level with its focus on giving everyone an equal opportunity to be heard. Supporting the artists and music that makes up the majority of its program content in events that we saw this year including Apox‚ album launching, David Manoka‚ fundraising concerts and of-course by sponsoring and partnering with other organizations to bring to music lovers what they craved ‚ live performances by acts that were in demand and Solomon Island‚ best ‚ Sharzy and the Onetox band were no exception. Although its broadcast range is currently only within the Central province and the Nation Capital, the radio station has continued to produce and supply PNG and South Pacific content to it established networks within Queensland, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands and those within the country such as radio stations in the Highlands and Gulf provinces. Rait FM is also developing a reputation as a station that is community conscious, this aspect evident in the station conducting its first live-crosses from the Minimum Security Prison as part of its Easter program to outline the rehabilitation programs provided by the facility. Later on in the year when it joined forces with NCDC to bring to the people of Port Moresby the successful second NCD Music festival as part of the country‚ 34th Independence celebrations in September. And only a few days after that supported the Clean-Up Moresby campaign lead by the students of the University of Papua New Guinea on September 19th. A first for the country was Rait FM inception of a top 20 countdown program that was based on actual album sales. The Kumul Top 20 first aired in April and since then has been a successful and attractive aspect of the station programming. YumiTV has also played a role in pertaining CHM‚ mission to bring home-grown music to a wider audience, beyond the shores of our country. With the ever-popular CHM Supersound Video Hits program leading the way for the other two internally produced music television programs, the shows have been broadcasting to appreciative viewers in Queensland on QCTV, Vanuatu on Television Blong Vanuatu, One News in Solomon Islands, and within the country on newly established Kundu 2 Television, in the Western Province on OK Tedi TV and channelled on both cable networks operating mainly in the nation capital. The channel content further stresses CHM stance on supporting locally produced products by featuring short films and documentaries either about social issues that affect the nation or aspects of the country that need to be promoted such as tourism. The man at its forefront, CHM Supersound Studio Managing Director Raymond Chin, MBE, was also commended for his dedication and unrelenting commitment to developing the music industry when his story was published in the Post Courier supplement of its first edition of PNG Business Legend on June 26th . The six-page pullout illustrated Mr. Chin drive and his passion for the industry he has been instrumental in for the past 30 odd years. Throughout the year the recording label has produced and distributed a record of over 160 new releases 100 from the CHM label and the rest from its various affiliates, both locally and from other pacific nations. This made it possible for established artists to continue feeding their fans with fresh material; for new acts to give audiences a sample of what they have on offer and for some the chance to spread their wings and fly. Despite these new releases bringing with them their own flavour, music lovers sung their praises with the loud proclamation that Take Mi 2 Paradise by the Skwatas of Morata, took over the reigns from long-standing no: 1 top selling album ‚Skul Mang from humble man Gedix Atege. The year also brought with it tears for many with the passing of three music idols Rabby Gamenu, Glen Low and Billy K-Mala Kepas. Ms. Gamenu is remembered as one of the pioneering female artist in the local music industry and for her role in igniting a voice and an interest for local female acts to get involved in a male-orientated industry. She passed away in May, a few days short of Mother Day. A month later, music veteran Glen Low lost his battle with diabetes and high blood pressure which eventually led to other medical complications as well. The 51-year-old CHM Pacific Gold Studio sound engineer made his debut onto the PNG music scene as a member of the Barike band in 1979 and was an integral part of the group up to his death. He was not only a musician but a songwriter as well and co-wrote the Unity Song with Donald Lessey and former Barike band member Kanai Pineri for which he received an award for. As a passionate advocate of PNG music Mr. Low played a significant role in establishing George Telek international musical career by getting him involved with the Australian performing band Not Drowning, Waving. Mr. Low performed alongside Telek and his international band, touring all around the globe playing in parts of the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America and selected pacific nations to name a few. And lead singer for K-Mala, Billy Kepas, left loved ones, friends and fans with a strong and lasting impression by the popularity of his latest album 5th Element released only weeks prior to his passing. The Highlander was first introduced to the industry in the late 90 and his ten odd years saw him and the group produce several hit tracks including Acting Aroma and Ink I Waste Nating.