SB19 drops THE FIRST TAKE versions of “GENTO” and “MAPA” on streaming platforms

P-Pop royalty SB19 continues to captivate music fans from all over the world with the release of “GENTO” and “MAPA” from THE FIRST TAKE sessions on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.

The new versions feature the award-winning group’s performance at THE FIRST TAKE, a popular YouTube channel with nearly 10 million subscribers under its belt. The show's format features Japanese and international music guests performing a song in one take, filmed with shots of the artists and a microphone against a minimalist and usually white backdrop.

To date, THE FIRST TAKE renditions of “GENTO” and “MAPA” have amassed more than 4.5 million views on YouTube, becoming one of the most viewed performances from an Asian pop group/band.

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino celebrates 10 years with a series of shows across Metro Manila

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) marks its highly anticipated celebration this year with a series of music events that aim to foster deeper awareness and appreciation for Pinoy music.

The week-long festivity, which takes place in various music venues and stages across Metro Manila from July 5 to 31, continues its commitment to promoting established and new homegrown music acts whose work has provided inspiration to the Filipino people or contributed to the advancement of the local economy and the arts.

Leah Halili releases introspective new track “Change”

The electronic-tinged pop song is produced by prolific musician Nick Lazaro, and penned by Leah herself

The Ransom Collective’s Leah Halili reflects on the difficulties of navigating the recent events in her life on her new single, “Change,” out on all digital music platforms worldwide this Saturday, January 13.

The introspective track serves as a love letter to the changes that one has to go through at some point in their adulthood, regardless of how drastic or trivial it is. As Leah Halili puts it, people need to overcome challenges in order to adapt to certain situations and welcome a sense of renewal. With “Change,” she wants to document her learnings through years of surmounting anxiety and fear, from embracing transformation in life without inhibitions to pushing a lever and switching paths—all in the name of new beginnings.

EJ De Perio asserts the inevitability of endings on heartfelt debut single “Panandalian”

The heart-warming ballad serves as his first official single as a signed artist under Sony Music Philippines

Filipino singer-songwriter EJ De Perio defies the concept of perpetuity on “Panandalian,” his first official single under Sony Music Philippines.

Brimming with laid-back, acoustic guitars and minimal instrumentation, the heartfelt ballad asserts his sentiment that despite the uncertainty of the future, there will always be that one person who is willing to stick out with you through thick and thin. 

Songs of hope, love, and social commentary take center stage in ABS-CBN Music’s “Himig 11th Edition”

Filipinos worldwide get to vote for special global award winner

“Himig 11th Edition,” formerly known as Himig Handog, is a worldwide search for the best OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs. The biggest songwriting competition in the Philippines will have its grand finals in February 2021.

Meanwhile, “Himig 11th Edition” is now on its final leg where overseas Filipinos can vote for their favorite song among the 12 finalists. The song with the most reactions and comments will receive TFC’s Global Choice special award.

In an earlier story, the first six finalists were introduced. Below, readers will get to know the other six finalists.

Hope To See You This Christmas - The Backstory

The rhythms of each passing day have lulled, pushed, pulled and shaken us each into our new (I won’t say normal) courses. Over months, we have taken to new realisations and revelations of the soul. Some who had never touched a wooden spoon before have now become masters of the oven. Some have noticed that office hours have multiplied as work extended far past cubicle confines. Blazers paired with boxers have become a fashion statement, Some slept and slept and slept cashing in on years of sleepless nights from once working tirelessly. Some, a brave few, our front-liners have stayed on, fighting for us. After all, it was like we were in a backwards war, where the enemy was invisible and constantly around us and the only way to care for those we loved was to keep our distance and wear masks that hid our smiles from them.

I couldn’t help thinking— But what of those who have gone all these long months without holding the ones they loved? What of those who have gone many nights expressing their innermost desires and intimate moments through lenses and screens? What of those who had to bid a loved one farewell through an I-pad? What of wearing a mask under a shield, inside a car? —bubbles within bubbles removed from the life we knew? What of those who lost everything they once owned and were left with how’s and why’s? What about those of us who sat here waiting this whole time for someone to return and bring back a sense of the holiday spirit we were used to somehow?

All Eyes on Ben&Ben’s upcoming new single and 2 music videos this month!

Ben&Ben is showing no signs of slowing down. In terms of consistency, the nine-piece outfit continues to break streaming records and dominate cultural conversation with releases that resonate with people from various walks of life. 

Last January 2020 alone, the acclaimed folk-pop band won Wish FM’s Group of the Year and Urban Performance of the Year for their chart-topper “Pagtingin.” On top of this milestone, the band is currently at number one on Spotify Philippines Top 50, with their cover of “Make It With You.”

With overwhelming support from music fans and industry peers, there is no doubt that Ben&Ben is simply defining the times that we live in: the band pours their energy in uplifting our fellow countrymen with their brand of accessible but well-crafted music. “It really boils down to the heart behind the song,” Miguel Benjamin, vocalist and guitarist points out. “When a song is written as a vessel to carry a message that is beyond ego or prideful intent, and simply mirrors the feelings, experiences and lessons that come from a higher place, then somehow it may find its way from the artist's soul to at least one other person's heart, and that is always enough. We fully know that it isn't up to us to produce these works out of our own will, but we are simply vessels for some greater message to fulfill itself through us.” Striking a balance between relatability and raw honesty, the band has managed to push things forward with songs that not only capture an emotional spectrum, but also throb at the core moment of one’s personal experience.

Celebrate The Eraserheads’ Legacy with “Ultraelectromagneticpop!” Vinyl Launch

Sony Music Philippines, in partnership with Offshore Music, honors the lasting impact of The Eraserheads on Pinoy pop culture by hosting the official vinyl launch of Ultraelectromagneticpop! —the game-changing debut album released in 1993 under BMG Records. 

Be the first to own the 25th edition remastered vinyl, which will be exclusively available on November 24, Sunday at Eastwood Central Plaza in Quezon City from 11am onwards. 

A tribute party wouldn’t be complete without performances and tribute covers from the country’s finest music acts including The Itchyworms, Barbie Almalbis, Cheats, Nathan & Mercury, Pinkmen, We Got!, and Nobody’s Home. 

Gloc-9 goes indie with “Dungaw”

After 22 years, seven studio albums, three EPs, and two decades of iconic hits, rap icon Gloc-9 is shifting gears and going independent.

And the song “Dungaw” featuring Keiko Necesario is the best song to do it with.

Known to work with different voices and perspectives in his songs, this time around Gloc-9 speaks in the voice of an unnamed man, confused about the visits he was receiving, wondering about the moment the song captures. As the song unravels, so does the story of this man’s life, the choices he had made, the ones that led him to this point.

But the final punch is in the song’s culmination, when a final visitor allows him to ask a battery of painful questions. Why does suffering continue for many? Why are certain sins not forgiven? Why do the wealthy get away with anything? Why is there privilege, and why is there poverty?

Mcoy Fundales, inilabas na ang comeback single na 'Bakit Kita Hahabulin?'

Inilabas na ng former Orange and Lemons vocalist na si Mcoy Fundales ang kanyang comeback single na 'Bakit Kita Hahabulin?' sa ilalim ng AltG Records.

Inilarawan ni Mcoy ang kanta, na isinulat ni Kian Dionisio, bilang isang modernong kundiman na tiyak na kukurot sa damdamin ng mga makikinig.

"Namiss ko rin kumanta. My last album was in 2010 so that's almost nine years na. I'm happy and excited kasi for almost five to six years nagsusulat ako for TV, at ngayon, nagre-record na ako ulit ng mga kanta," pagbabahagi ng singer-songwriter.

Debut single ng The Clash alumna na si Kyryll, maaari nang mapakinggan na

Ang The Clash alumna at Kapuso Soul Princess na Certified recording artist si Kyryll matapos niyang ilabas ang kanyang debut single na 'Silent Rumblings' sa ilalim ng AltG Records.

Binansagang 'Millennial Chick ng lloilo', ipinahayag ni Kyryll ang kanyang lubos na pasasalamat sa mga taong sumusuporta sa kanya sa patuloy niyang pag-abot ng kanyang mga pangarap.

‘Mula Sa Buwan’ Songwriter William Elvin Returns To Indie Music Roots With New Album to be Released June 25

Before gaining recognition with the recently produced original musical ‘Mula Sa Buwan’ and touching the hearts and minds of Philippine theater fans in Metro Manila, singer-songwriter William Elvin was selling self-produced CDs to anyone willing to listen.

In fact, his musical talent was first noticed by his theater classmates and mentors through these home-recorded albums in the late 2000s, which gave him the chance to write several Filipino musicals from 2009 to 2016.

Nonoy Zuniga Releases New Single Waray Waray

Premire balladeer and OPM Icon Nonoy Zuniga releases new single, Waray Waray. This song is produced by seasoned record producer Paulo Zarate.

Fresh from the success of his Nonoy: Throughg The Years concert held at Resorts World Manila last March, Nonoy Zuniga is back with yet another song that captrures his Waray roots.

Spanning with over 3 decades of his singing career, one of his plans now is to record a popular song that represents a province of the Philippines which he plans to do with fresh and new singers. He previously released a Cebuano song entitled "Pero Atik Ra," which he collaborated  with the very talented Cebuana singer, Jollliane Salvado.

Nonoy continues to hold regular gigs here and abroad and hoping to dicover new talents whom he can collaborate with his future projects.

Waray Waray will be out in digital formats soon.

PolyEast Records signs new artist DREI RAÑA

Drei Raña may not be the first musician who started doing covers online but this promising young singer/songwriter has his own path to conquer.  From posting acoustic covers that gained millions of views each to working on his own music, Drei Raña has more than just the perfect name for pop stardom but a talent to succeed. 

Drei took a big break of his musical career when he signed with PolyEast Records recently, joining roster of talents like Martin Nievera, Bamboo, Glaiza de Castro, TJ Monterde, Juan Miguel Severo and Sassa Dagdag. (In the photo: L-R- Chito Ilagan, PolyEast Records A&R Director; Drei and Jesmon Chua, PolyEast Records’ General Manager)

In March 2018, Drei released his first-ever single called “Ligaya”. The song was composed by Drei himself and showed his ability to write songs that connect with listener, which even gained 3M streams on Spotify.  

New Wish 107.5 Bus to be Launched in Hollywood in September

Wish 107.5 is writing history once again!

Four years since it launched the Wish 107.5 Bus -- the country’s first-ever FM station-on-wheels -- the radio station is poised to unveil a new unit of the roving music hub in no less than the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood.

The long-awaited launch will take place on September 7, 2018 in the US (September 8 in Manila) at the Universal CityWalk Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.

Breaking The Sound Barrier With SIndikato

Before the Internet, musicians were experienced live or seen on MTV. These days, if an artist has no online presence, they might as well be invisible. Thankfully, SINDIKATO is no stranger to all these platforms. With years of video production experience that cross over generations, SINDIKATO has trained its eye for great talent. Now, they welcome a growing roster of artists.

SINDIKATO started in 2006 with a group of college buddies who shared a passion for video production. From creating short films and original content, they ventured into music videos for various local artists. Even as they gained traction with brand advertising projects, SINDIKATO continued to work with musicians.

Why LA Santos Loves Music?

LA Santos, the singer behind the hit song Tinamaan, is a testament to how powerful music is. The singer admits music has done a lot of good things to his young life. “I am able to express myself through music. It is said that music is a universal language. There is a song for every emotion, whether you are happy, depressed, in love, heartbroken, angry. It also helps you compose a song because may hugot ka. I get lost when I sing. I let people know who I am and how I feel through the songs I sing. In fact, I am a living example of the healing power of music,” LA shares.

The Star Music recording artist has a self-titled debut album which contains six originals (Tinamaan, Ikaw Kasi, One Greatest Love, Bakit Pag-Ibig, Miss Terror, and Mine) and three covers (Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man, Sarah Geronimo’s Forever Is Not Enough and Angeline Quinto’s Hanggang Kailan).

LA just recently finished a two-night mini concert at The Music Hall @ Metrowalk with the SRATS (the young stars of Asian Artist Agency). Soon, they will be trooping to SM Malls for a series of shows: June 9 (SM Valenzuela), June 10 (SM Pulilan), and June 30 (SM Sangandaan). “It’s fun to work with SRATS.  I’m looking forward to our next collaborations.”

LA has found his niche in music and is carving a name for himself. Aside from performing on Ian Veneracion’s first major foray into concerts, LA staged a sold-out major solo concert titled #Petmalu at the Music Museum which one concert goer described as "malupet."'

While he is happy to share his passion for music, LA admits there are challenges that he has to face. “Actually, it’s difficult na pagsabayin ang studies and singing career. I am in my senior high at UST. Minsan nagkakasabay ang pag-aaral for an exam and rehearsal for shows. I don’t want to sacrifice iyong isa over the other. I have to balance my priorities and follow a strict schedule if I want to succeed in both my studies and career. At first, it was really hard especially when you have to wake up early for class after coming home late at night because of a commitment. I’m used to this routine now. I don’t regret any single thing. Who am I to complain? I’m grateful to be given these opportunities.”

LA also talks about his mother, Florita Santos. “I love my mom! Her unconditional love inspired me to dream big for myself, to conquer my fears, and to be the best version of myself. She is my biggest fan. Whenever I look in front of the stage, my mom is there, busy taking pictures and videos. I want to tell her that I love her and I’m thankful for all the sacrifices she has done for me.” 

Neocolors Signs With Universal Records

One of the biggest names in the OPM scene, Neocolours, will finally release new songs this year. To jumpstart this awaited music launch, the band signed up today with its record label, Universal Records. Universal Records’ top executives led by VP Ramon Chuaying , General Manager, Kathleen Dy-Go and Operations Manager, Peter Chan welcomed the members of the band during the contract signing.

Neocolours' songs have been a mainstay of many Filipino listener's playlist. Their songs such as Maybe, Kasalanan Ko Ba, Hold On, Say You'll Never Go and Tuloy Pa Rin have transcended generational barriers and repeatedly re-recorded by some of the country's top recording artists. With the release of new songs starting this March, the band hopes to continue this artistic and musical tradition. Aside from the completion of a new album, Neocolours' other music activities includes a 30th year anniversary show at the Music Museum on April 28, as well as a national tour for the rest of the year.

TFC sets the world stage for the biggest Filipino experience in Dubai, “One Music X” this November

The “Rakrakan” concert series from 2006 to 2009.  The groundbreaking “FilExpo” in 2008. The first “It’s Showtime” outside the Philippines in 2011. The thrilling “JadIne In Love” in Dubai in 2016.  The milestone “ASAP in Dubai” in 2014.  The record-breaking “Birit Queens in Abu Dhabi this year.

From concert series, trade fairs to franchised events, ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) has been delivering the most epic Filipino events to the Middle East that bring together Filipinos to celebrate as one community and which have come to be the most anticipated in the region.

This year, as ABS-CBN  Middle East celebrates its 20th anniversary, the network that delivers content beyond information and entertainment, brings it a notch higher as it paves the way for the biggest Filipino music experience to date --- “One Music X” on November 3 at the Dubai Media City Amphitheater.

Christian Bautista Launches Much Awaited album “Kapit” on September 29 at the Music Museum!

“This album is a journey to find my next music path, a challenge to write more songs and to continue writing songs for others,” revealed Asia’s Romantic Balladeer, Christian Bautista, as he was in the process of concocting yet another masterpiece.

This September 29, Christian Bautista is poised to unveil his 7th album under Universal Records entitled Kapit, duly named after his famed song. The Kapit album launch, happening at the Music Museum, will also serve as a concert treat for his listeners. For only PHP 500, fans can get their hands on Kapit while watching Christian Bautista and renowned performers like The CompanY, plus other surprise guests, live!

The single, Kapit’s success, bolstered by constant radio airplays and a spot as Koreanovela Innocent Defendant’s theme song, led Stages and Universal Records to produce the event for the OPM icon’s latest album. “[Kapit is] a song about holding on despite the many hardships of any relationship,” shares Asia’s Romantic Balladeer, Christian Bautista.