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| (Image Source: Starmometer/NYMA Talent Management/1 Billion Followers Summit) |
Filipino creator and digital entrepreneur Abi Marquez, who is managed by NYMA Talent Management, represented the Philippines at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, participating in multiple sessions across the three-day global creator economy gathering. Ahead of the summit, Abi shared her excitement online, especially about seeing her billboard in Dubai, calling it a surreal “pinch me” moment and a proud milestone for Filipino creators on a global stage.
Abi joined Nigel Ng (Uncle Roger) onstage during the summit kickoff roast session where she became part of one of the event’s funniest moments after Uncle Roger playfully joked that the Philippines only has “three influential Filipinos”: Abi, Manny Pacquiao, and Jollibee. The line drew big laughs from the crowd and quickly became an early summit highlight. She later served as the fireside chat moderator for Nigel Ng in Behind The Scenes Of Uncle Roger: How Fried Rice Built A Global Brand, a session focused on creator storytelling, content strategy, and brand-building. Abi also joined Mini Keynote: The Playbook For Seven-Figure Partnerships, sharing the stage with Apple Crider and Erika Kullberg where they discussed how creators scale partnerships through audience-first, story-driven collaborations. Outside the stage, Abi also met and connected with global personalities during the summit including comedian Max Amini, viral creator Logan “The Cucumber Guy”, and creator economy leader Samir Chaudry, among others.
Abi’s summit participation adds to her growing list of international achievements. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, Webby Award winner, James Beard Media Awards nominee, and recipient of WIBA’s Food Creator of the Year with a global community of over 10 million followers. Abi shared, “Dubai was unreal. It’s such a big moment to be in global spaces like this. I’m proud to represent Filipino creators, and even more grateful to show that our stories can travel anywhere.” Abi’s presence at the 1 Billion Followers Summit wasn’t just another milestone. It was a statement: Filipino creators are not only showing up globally, they’re being celebrated on the world stage.
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Netflix And HYBE Announce Global Live BTS Comeback Performance And Feature-Length Documentary
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN.com/Netflix) |
Attention Army: The global K-Pop sensation BTS is back with a historic comeback event that fans around the world won’t want to miss. BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG will stream exclusively worldwide on Netflix on March 21, 2026, at 8:00 pm KST (4:00 am PST/7:00 am EST), live from the iconic Gwanghwamun in Seoul, South Korea. This extraordinary performance marks the release of BTS’s highly anticipated new album ARIRANG and Netflix has partnered with HYBE to bring BTS back to the stage for an unprecedented, historic worldwide comeback event.
The seven members — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook — reunite on the global stage for the first time since a period of solo and group activities and the event follows the official announcement of the new album and a forthcoming world tour, underscoring the group’s enduring global influence. ARIRANG is described as a deeply reflective body of work that explores BTS’s identity and roots, and its release is paired with ambitious touring plans that promise to bring BTS to fans across multiple continents. The ARIRANG World Tour (2026–2027) is set to span 34 regions and 82 shows with locations including Asia, North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, aiming to bring BTS’s evolving sound and stage production to fans worldwide while continuing the group’s storied live performance legacy. In addition, BTS: THE RETURN, a feature-length documentary chronicling the making of their comeback album, arrives on Netflix on March 27, 2026. Directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by This Machine, HYBE, and collaborators, the film promises unprecedented access to BTS as they navigate the reunification in Los Angeles and the creative process behind their newest work, offering a perspective on how seven Korean members transformed into global icons. Since their debut in 2013, BTS has built one of the most devoted fan communities in the world, and after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service, the group reunites to begin anew, reflecting on the journey that brought them back together for this momentous return. This comeback is positioned as a landmark moment in contemporary pop culture, signaling BTS’s enduring relevance and ability to innovate while honoring their roots.
The live ARIRANG performance, the album release, the world tour, and the documentary collectively offer a multi-faceted glimpse into BTS’s creative evolution and their relationship with a global fanbase, promising a blend of new material, live arrangements, and production showcases that reflect BTS’s growth as artists and performers. Fans should ensure their Netflix subscription is ready for the ARIRANG live stream on March 21, 2026 and mark their calendars for March 27, 2026 to catch BTS: THE RETURN on Netflix while staying tuned for official updates on the ARIRANG World Tour schedule and ticket information as dates and venues are announced.
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Crunchyroll Anime Awards Returns To Tokyo On May 23, 2026 For The Global Celebration Of 10th Edition
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Crunchyroll) |
After a breakout year for anime across streaming and on the big screen, Crunchyroll announced that the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will return to Tokyo, Japan on May 23, 2026. The marquis tenth celebration will be punctuated by a global pre-show, star-studded orange carpet, and once-in-a-lifetime performances, all in support of honoring nominees across thirty two categories of anime.
Popular voice actress and performer Sally Amaki and renowned entertainer Jon Kabira will return as co-hosts for the fourth straight year with the global pre-show hosted by Crunchyroll’s Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu. Crunchyroll also revealed a preliminary music lineup for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi will perform a 30th anniversary tribute to 1995’s seminal anime Neon Genesis Evangelion featuring the renowned theme “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”. Symphonic suites conducted by Hirofumi Kurita, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and arranged by Kazunori Miyake will accent the ceremony. More artists performing in the prestigious event will be announced in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the official list of nominees will be announced on April 2, 2026 while global fan voting is making its return where fans and anime enthusiasts worldwide can vote for their favorite nominated anime with more details to be revealed in the coming weeks as well. Nominees in each category will be selected from eligible anime titles that premiered between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 via the independent 2026 Anime Awards judges panel. Visit Crunchyroll's social media accounts for more information and updates on the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
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SB19 Turns Monumental Concert Into Lasting Legacy In Simula At Wakas: Kickoff Concert Album
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Sony Music Entertainment Philippines/SB19) |
P-Pop phenomenon SB19 has released Simula At Wakas: Kickoff Concert Album, a live recording of tracks from their two-day concert at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on May 31-June 1, 2025. The album redefines a new era of boldness and ambition in SB19’s music, further elevated by the group’s undeniable world-class performance. Mixed and mastered by Radkidz with live arrangements by Jem Florendo, the 19-track album features live performances of songs from Simula At Wakas (2025), Pagtatag! (2023), and Pagsibol (2021) alongside the concert version of the fan-favorite single “Moonlight.”
Originally featuring US-based producer/DJ Ian Asher and Chinese electronic producer Terry Zhong, “Moonlight” takes a more restrained, but more soulful direction in its live iteration. For this version, the subdued arrangement places SB19’s vocals front and center, offering a more intimate take on the track. SB19 shares, “The live version of Moonlight is absolutely one of our favorites from the new record. By keeping the production minimal and letting our voices lead, we found something more honest and human. Sometimes, less is more.” Recorded during the opening stops of their Simula At Wakas world tour, the concert album reflects the Filipino group’s evolution on an artistic and emotional level. The two-night spectacle set the tone for a 21-show tour spanning cities and territories across the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and more. The P-Pop powerhouse adds, “These versions reveal who we are now. Everything was done with intention, but also with openness, allowing the moment to shape the performance. This album represents years of hard work, discipline, and belief, and we wanted it to feel alive and heartfelt.”
In addition to the album release, SB19 announced the official conclusion of their landmark world tour with “Wakas At Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale”, happening on April 18, 2026 at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City. Tickets are anticipated to go on sale on February 2026. SB19’s Simula At Wakas: Kickoff Concert Album is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.
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Angela Ken, Over October Release Collaboration Single “Moved On Last”
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| Angela Ken (left) and Over October (right) (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Kapamilya singer-songwriter Angela Ken and OPM band Over October have released their emotionally charged collaboration project “Moved On Last” last January 21, 2026, now available worldwide on digital music streaming platforms. The newest Tarsier Records release brings together Angela, who popularized “Ako Naman Muna”, and Over October, the band behind the hit song “Ikot”, in a stirring pop and contemporary folk single that captures how love lingers and why moving on can feel impossible.
Angela said the song resonates with anyone struggling to let go. “Para ito sa lahat ng mga nagmamahal at hindi mabitawan ang dapat hindi na minamahal.” Over October, meanwhile, talked about the smooth and fun experience working with Angela. The band shared, “The recording process was really smooth and it didn’t feel like anything was being forced in terms of trying to marry our different sounds. Of course, our producer Shad also helped a lot in terms of making this happen. It actually felt like a short vacation since more than recording, we found out that we make a pretty solid 5-man team in Mobile Legends with Angela as our mage hahaha.”
Last year, Angela released her single “Kulimlim”, following her collaboration with Maki and Nhiko Sabiniano titled “Sikulo”, which served as the soundtrack of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Love You So Bad”. Named Indie Artist of the Year in the 2025 New Hue Video Music Awards, Over October is composed of Josh Buizon, Josh Lua, Janessa Geronimo, Anton Rodriguez, and Joric Canlas. Their recent releases include “Dahan” and “Kaakit-akit”.
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ROCK Networks Launches ROCK X Stream, The Ultra-Premium Home Of Popular Global Streaming Hits In Asia
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| (Image Source: ROCK Networks) |
ROCK Networks, a leading global content distributor and channel operator, recently announced the highly anticipated launch of ROCK X Stream. This ultra-premium destination for the most popular global streaming hits is now available on pay-TV across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
ROCK X Stream delivers the best of global ultra-premium entertainment directly to Asian audiences, offering a carefully curated selection of big-budget and critically acclaimed shows from leading streaming platforms around the globe including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, MGM+, and others. Designed for the discerning viewer, the channel combines high-quality content with localization options and a seamless pay-TV experience. Highlights include the world’s most talked-about streaming hits such as SEE, For All Mankind, Wheel Of Time, Nine Bodies In A Mexican Morgue, and Black Sails, all in one ultra-premium destination. Viewers can now enjoy these international favourites effortlessly without multiple subscriptions or complicated setups, just expertly curated entertainment at their fingertips.
"ROCK X Stream demonstrates our dedication to delivering the world’s most desired streaming content to audiences across Asia. We are creating an ultra-premium, curated viewing experience that blends the convenience of pay-TV with the excitement of global streaming hits,” said ROCK Networks CEO Beatrice Lee. Available on 11 pay-TV platforms across the region, ROCK X Stream is set to transform the way viewers experience streaming content on television, bridging the gap between linear and on-demand entertainment.
