MANILA, Philippines – Star Magic on Tuesday, April 23, vowed to take legal action against people who spread rumors about P-pop groups BINI and BGYO. “BGYO, BINI and its respective members have been the subject of malicious online attacks designed to seriously hurt and damage their reputation. These continuous reckless posting and sharing of harmful, negative, and false accusations are violative of cyberbullying and anti-libel laws,” the two groups’ legal counsel Joji Alonso said in the statement.  Official Statement from BGYO and BINI Legal Counsel. pic.twitter.com/O1AwB3wJXn — Star Mag ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – Attention, musicians! You now have the chance to showcase your music to the international stage as the World Music Festival @ Taiwan (WMFT) opens its application for emerging artists — in and outside of Taiwan — for its 2024 edition.  In a press release, organizers shared that this year’s festival will fall under the theme “Groove to your Addiction” and aims to “explore the intricate relationship between artists and audiences, delving deep into three distinct facets: Hooked on Music, Immersed in Music, and Touched by Music.”  Showcase applications opened on Mond ..read more

RIZAL, Philippines – In Antipolo on a Saturday afternoon, April 20, P-pop girl group BINI continued to draw the crowds. The group officially debuted in 2021, but it was a late 2023 single that would propel their meteoric rise – “Pantropiko,” a summer anthem curiously released on a “Ber” month, which now, thanks to its success, looks no less than a stroke of genius by the group’s label Star Music. The cheery tune actually had a slow start. Released on November 17, 2023, it wasn’t until February 11, 2024 that it would break into Spotify Charts’ Daily Top Songs for the Philippines list, landing o ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – Taylor Swift released on Friday, April 19 (Manila time), the second installment of The Tortured Poets Department, which she revealed is a “secret double album.” “I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past [two] years and wanted to share it all with you. So here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours,” the American pop star wrote in an Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) The second installment of the album features 15 extra songs on t ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – From being one of the top listeners of popstar Taylor Swift to being one of the biggest spenders for her The Eras Tour concert stop in Singapore, Filipino Swifties have proven time and time again their love for the singer.  As Taylor releases her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, on Friday, April 19, it’s no longer surprising then to see Filipino fans celebrate this new era with several events, including holding listening parties.  In this episode of Stan By Me, Rappler’s talk show on all things fandom, we talk with T-Party Philippines on why the ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – After launching his solo single “surreal” in February, SB19’s justin soon released a cover of the Maroon 5 hit “sunday morning,” further proving he could stand on his own as a pop artist. Two months since his debut, what has he learned about himself as a musician? In this latest episode of Rappler Talk Entertainment, we speak with justin at the Rappler HQ about his music, his fans, Visar Society, and what he’s looking forward to for the rest of the year. Watch the episode live on Tuesday, April 16, at 3 pm or catch it on Rappler’s socials. – Rappler.com ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – At 6 pm on a Thursday evening, R&B and neo-soul artist UMI invited her fans to meditate. April 11 was the evening of the Manila leg of her Talking to the Wind Tour. But before that, a much more intimate, exclusive affair for VIP ticket holders. UMI asked us to sit in a circle on the floor with her and be still for a moment. For around 40 minutes, she guided us on a journey into our souls through breathing exercises. Breathe in: stomach, heart, and breathe out. Play Video “Just make sure you make a little time for yourself everyday. Tomorrow, the next day, even i ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – Hev Abi’s music has found its way into the playlists of millions of Filipinos at the speed of light.  Play Video He isn’t just a one-hit wonder. At one point, he had even taken up six spots on the Spotify Philippines chart, registering hits like “Babaero,” “Walang Alam,” “Alam Mo Ba Girl,” “Makasarili Malambing,” “Sumugal,” and “Lil Kasalanan Shortie.”  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spotify PH (@spotifyph) It’s clear that Hev Abi has already figured out how to charm his audience – even those who weren’t fans of hip-hop prior to coming across ..read more

I first heard James Taylor in 1976, when I was in second year high school.  I wore my hair longish, long enough to look cool without getting in trouble with our class adviser. It was the year I started to learn to play the guitar. I didn’t have a guitar of my own and couldn’t afford one.  I borrowed guitars from friends or neighbors, not discriminating between a nylon stringed guitar, which was easy on the fingertips, or a battered locally-made jumbo passed from tambay to tambay with steel strings bought from the neighborhood hardware store. The words to James Tay ..read more

As Mr. Taylor wrapped up his fourth encore with “You Can Close Your Eyes,” I wondered how much of the night my mother will remember. My mother suffered a stroke two years ago, and it has been hard for her to retain new memories. The whole ordeal has made life difficult for all of us in the family, as back then she still had one year to go before she could avail of early retirement. And now one year after her retirement, it has not been easy grounding her in the present, as she forgets most things mere seconds after they happen. Of course, I can’t complain. I’m grateful just for the fact that s ..read more