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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Filipino songwriter-producer and Recording Academy voting member Jonathan Manalo credits listeners for crossing 10 billion all-time streams, saying in gratitude, “It’s a number I’m deeply grateful for, but more than a milestone, it’s a reminder of the incredible journey that music can take. Every stream represents a listener who connected with a song, a story, a melody, or a moment that meant something to them.” The ABS-CBN Music creatives, content, and operations head has surpassed 10.2 billion streams across multiple digital platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube as of June 25, 2026 based on Muso AI data, a remarkable milestone reflecting decades of music that has become part of Filipinos’ lives across generations.
The achievement spans Jonathan’s timeless songs — many of which he produced and wrote — for some of the Philippines’ most celebrated artists, from Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, and Lani Misalucha to Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Erik Santos, Ebe Dancel, Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, Jona, Moira Dela Torre, SB19, BINI, BGYO, and many more. The streaming milestone underscores the enduring appeal of original soundtracks for beloved Filipino films, teleseryes, and digital series, proving that great songs transcend trends, generations, and borders, continuing to reach new listeners while remaining part of audiences’ memories. Fresh off this latest feat, Jonathan also welcomed the introduction of the GRAMMY Award for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, stating, “Asia is home to some of the world’s most vibrant music cultures, and this recognition reflects the growing impact of Asian artists, songwriters, producers, and creatives as active participants in the global music community.”
The multi-awarded musician believes the move is a breakthrough for Filipino artists, opening doors to greater global recognition, stating, “For Filipino artists especially, this is an encouraging step forward. Filipino music has always been rich in talent, storytelling, and artistry. As we continue to engage with and contribute to the global music landscape, opportunities like these help shine a brighter spotlight on the music excellence coming from the Philippines and across Asia.” Jonathan has written and produced well-loved songs including “Tara Tena”, “Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw”, “Pagbigyang Muli”, “Patuloy Ang Pangarap”, and “Pinoy Ako”. Throughout his career, he has helped build the timeless catalogs of many OPM acts such as Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Kyla, Ice Seguerra, Morissette, Moira Dela Torre, and many more.
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Rol3ert Releases Kodoku EP And ‘Aftertaste (feat. REJAY)’ Music Video, Marking A Breakthrough Month Across Asia
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Exciter Records) |
Japanese singer-songwriter Rol3ert recently released the official music video for “Aftertaste (feat. REJAY)”, the latest moment in a month that has seen him release his second EP Kodoku, perform his first-ever overseas solo headline show in Taipei, and receive a major industry award in Japan. The 5-track Kodoku EP is anchored by its lead track “Kodoku”, the first song Rol3ert has ever titled in Japanese. Driven by noise-tinged guitar, heavy drums and a vocal that seems to suppress emotion, the track explores loneliness and the inner conflict of becoming, depicting the anxiety that lives beneath the surface of everyday life. The EP rounds out with acoustic piano versions of “frozen”, “(how could i be) honest?”, and “Kodoku”, stripping each song back to vocals and piano in the solo performance style that sits at Rol3ert’s core.
“Aftertaste (feat. REJAY)”, the second track on the EP, is a collaboration with REJAY, a singer-songwriter from Niseko. The two met at SWEET LOVE SHOWER 2025 and have grown close as peers: both 20 years old, both Japanese artists writing and performing in English, both looking toward the global indie music scene. The track was previewed live during their co-headlined joint tour “Square One” in May before its release last June 17, 2026. Strumming guitars, taut beats and the intertwining vocals of Rol3ert and REJAY come together in an alternative pop track that carries a quiet, smouldering heat. The EP arrives on the back of a landmark month for Rol3ert overseas. Making his live debut overseas in Taiwan, he performed at the prestigious 2026 Golden Melody Awards Showcase 金曲售票演唱會 last June 24 alongside Taiwanese band Vulgar Savior who served as his backing band for a one-night-only Japan-Taiwan collaboration stage. The Golden Melody Awards, often referred to as the Grammys of Chinese-language music, is one of Asia’s most recognized music ceremonies, and the Showcase brings together new voices from across the region. The following evening, Rol3ert headlined Rol3ert live ‘3mpty’ in Taipei” at SOIL Taipei, his first-ever overseas solo headline show, with tickets selling out within a few days of going on sale. Earlier in the month, Rol3ert received the Radio Special Award at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026, one of Japan’s premier annual music industry ceremonies recognizing outstanding domestic talent across a wide range of categories. The Radio Special Award is selected by radio station professionals nationwide and honours “a domestic artist expected to break through after receiving the award”. The ceremony also brought together a remarkable cross-section of the global and regional music world, with Rol3ert crossing paths with the likes of Sam Smith and Grimes, as well as Southeast Asian artists Cup of Joe (Philippines) and Hindia (Indonesia). The recognition adds to a year of growing momentum: selection for Spotify’s “RADAR: Early Noise 2026”, inclusion as Japan’s representative for Rolling Stone’s “Future of Music”, selection for “SPACE SHOWER NEW FORCE”, and a sold-out headline show at Shibuya WWW X.
With a growing listener base across Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, and a packed festival season ahead featuring SUMMER SONIC TOKYO and SWEET LOVE SHOWER 2026, Rol3ert heads into the second half of 2026 with significant momentum behind him.
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CocoJul, Kathryn, And James Show Love To Crowd-Filled Pampanga Motorcade
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/ABS-CBN Corporation) |
As Primetime TV intensifies following the premiere of “Coco Martin’s Sigabo” and the upcoming airing of “Someone, Someday”, Kapamilyas showed their love and excitement for the stars of both ABS-CBN shows as they filled the streets of Pampanga during the Primetime Bida motorcade last June 28, 2026. It was a festive atmosphere as Kapamilyas packed the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga to welcome “Sigabo” stars – Hari ng Aksyon sa Ating Henerasyon Coco Martin and Prime Actress Julia Montes – and “Someone, Someday” stars Asia’s Superstar Kathryn Bernardo and Multimedia Powerhouse James Reid, together with the rest of the cast of both series during the grand motorcade.
With the unwavering support of Kapamilyas, Coco expressed his heartfelt gratitude and shared his excitement about helping bring families back together through primetime television, stating in an earlier interview with “TV Patrol”, “Napakasarap sa pakiramdam naming lahat na muling bumalik ‘yung mga tao sa panonood ng telebisyon. Sana lahat ng mga palabas, teleserye, pelikula, sana panoorin natin lalong-lalo na ‘yung gawang Pilipino kasi para sa ating lahat ito. Ginagawa namin ito para sa inyo, kaya maraming salamat po talaga sa suporta at pagmamahal ninyo.” Kathryn is just as excited to entertain Kapamilyas with the highly awaited premiere of “Someone, Someday”, sharing to ABS-CBN News, “This is actually our first-ever promo for ‘Someone, Someday’. Long way to go, but ramdam namin ‘yung init at excitement ng mga tao. Sana napasaya namin kayo ngayong linggo, and we’ll see you soon sa Primetime Bida.” The motorcade echoed with loud cheers and overwhelming love from fans as they enjoyed the fun-filled experience of interacting and having photos with the stars, including energetic impromptu song and dance numbers from the cast.
More viewers nationwide can now watch “Coco Martin’s Sigabo” on multiple platforms where it is available on weeknights at 8:00 pm on ALLTV2, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel and ABS-CBN Facebook page, Kapatid Livestream on TV5 Philippines YouTube channel, and iWant. Viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV. Meanwhile, “Someone, Someday” is coming to the same platforms starting July 27 where it will be streaming first on Netflix.
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DAZN’s World Cup Creator-Led DAZN48 Initiative Gains Global Traction
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| (Image Source: DAZN Group) |
DAZN48, the global initiative of DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, is delivering on its ambition to bring authentic, creator-led storytelling to football fans around the world. Since DAZN launched DAZN48 in April 2026, the initiative has attracted thousands of applications from creators globally. From this pool, DAZN selected 48 creators, each representing a qualified nation for the tournament, creating a diverse network of voices that resonate with football fans around the world.
Collectively, the group brings a combined audience of more than 6.4 million on TikTok and 3.8 million on Instagram, providing access to a highly engaged global fanbase. This reach is already translating into strong performance. During the opening round of fixtures, creators’ videos generated over 16 million impressions alongside 15 million video views and 700,000 engagements. These results reinforce the value and impact of stories that reflect real fan experiences during one of football’s biggest moments. And alongside creating content for social media, DAZN48 participants have developed content for the DAZN platform and been featured in DAZN’s broadcast coverage. By working with creators across 48 countries, DAZN48 ensures that DAZN remains central to the global football conversation. The initiative strengthens DAZN’s position as the ultimate daily destination for football fans, while also creating significant opportunities for multi-market advertising partnerships.
DAZN Executive Vice President for Global Content and Editorial Quim Domenech said, “DAZN48 shows how powerful creators’ voices can be in connecting fans around the world. By working with creators who understand their communities, we are reaching audiences in a direct and meaningful way. The early results are very encouraging, both in terms of engagement and commercial impact, and we are only at the beginning of what this network can achieve.” As the tournament progresses, the focus will be on scaling impact further, growing audience reach, and elevating creator voices. DAZN48 will continue to reinforce DAZN’s role at the heart of global fandom.
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&FRIENDS Festival 2026 Establishes Manila As A Rising Hub For Asia’s Electronic Music Scene
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| (Image Source: INQUIRER.net/&FRIENDS Festival) |
&FRIENDS Festival, a Clouted experience co-presented by Collective Minds, wrapped its 2026 edition this past weekend at Okada Manila with organizers estimating that over 12,000 fans attended across the two-day run last June 19–20, 2026. Headlined by Galantis, Porter Robinson, Subtronics, and Yellow Claw, the 2026 edition marked the festival’s most ambitious to date, bringing together more than 60 artists across the Main Stage, Club Stage, and Friendship Stage. The Friendship Stage spotlighted label and collective takeovers from Orange Juice Asia, Planet Workshop, Contrast, RAW, and Sweet & Sour with acts traveling in from Bangkok, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, underscoring the festival’s continued commitment to platforming homegrown and regional talent alongside global headliners.
The two nights delivered standout sets across genres, from Subtronics’ bass-heavy mainstage takeover to Porter Robinson’s emotionally charged return to the Philippines, alongside high-energy performances from Adventure Club, ARMNHMR, Arcando, CHYL, and Bonnie X Clyde, among many others. Beyond the music, attendees moved through Okada Manila’s resort property throughout the weekend, in an experience organizers describe as setting a new benchmark for festival comfort in the region. “What we saw this weekend is proof that EDM in Manila isn’t just alive, it’s thriving. We set out to build an indoor festival experience that didn’t ask fans to compromise on comfort to get world-class production and lineups, and the turnout this year tells us that vision is resonating. Seeing thousands of fans move between three stages over two days, discovering regional talent alongside artists like Galantis and Porter Robinson, is exactly the kind of community we set out to build,” said Clouted Festival and Event Marketing Lead Edward Cheang. “&FRIENDS Festival 2026 really proved that the Philippines is ready for electronic music. It’s taken multiple years of effort from both our team and the community, but everyone coming together this weekend really proved we’re on to something great, and it’s only going to grow from here on out. What we love about the Philippine scene is that it’s a collective effort from individuals, communities, and artists themselves,” says Festival Director and CEO Justin Banusing. “Watching &FRIENDS Festival grow into what it is today has been one of the most rewarding things to be part of, and it mirrors exactly how far the music scene in the Philippines has come. Using our core Clouted products to power the festival from the ground up is proof of what’s possible when marketing and live events truly work as one, and it’s a glimpse at where we’re taking the future of this industry,” said Clouted Chief Growth Officer David Viray.
&FRIENDS Festival has built its reputation since debuting in 2025, having previously hosted headline performances from Zedd, Illenium, Seven Lions, and Knock2. The 2026 edition’s estimated turnout marks a continuation of that growth trajectory with organizers pointing to the festival’s indoor, resort-based format, a deliberate departure from the heat and infrastructure limitations typical of outdoor festivals in the region, as a key driver of its expanding audience. With another successful edition in the books, &FRIENDS Festival continues to position itself as the premier electronic dance music festival in Manila and a defining force in Asia’s broader EDM landscape.
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“Nurse The Dead” Releases OST “The Denial Song” Performed By Jade Riccio
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
iWant’s new supernatural comedy series “Nurse The Dead” has released its official soundtrack titled “The Denial Song” performed by singer-vocal coach Jade Riccio. The moving song was composed by Mark Labella, who is also the creator of the first Filipino-produced series in Hollywood, while he was on a medical mission in Panama.
Mark shared, “I originally wrote the lyrics and melody while I was in the jungle in Panama during a medical mission, so this song has always carried a very personal emotional connection for me. What I only recently discovered is that actress Shelley Long personally sponsored me for that mission. So in a strange and beautiful twist of fate, the theme song for ‘Nurse The Dead’ was written in the jungles of Panama during a medical mission made possible by one of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses.” “The Denial Song” was produced by RMA Studio Academy, Jade Riccio, Wesley Villarica, and Marvin Aritrangco and released under Star Music. “Nurse The Dead” recently drew praise internationally for its representation of overseas Filipino nurses and highlighting Philippine culture as the series continues to air as one of the most-watched titles on the streaming platform abroad. Juslyn Manalo, the former mayor and current council member of Daly City, California, recognized the series for its authentic and heartfelt portrayal of Filipino nurses’ sacrifices abroad while showcasing the core Filipino values that resonate with and inspire global audiences, addressing, “It is long overdue to have more representation on the screen. With Filipino nurses at the forefront of healthcare, ‘Nurse the Dead’ centers the narrative around our unsung heroes and heroines. With Daly City having one of the highest concentrations of Filipinos, it gives us pride to premiere this in Northern California.”
Since its premiere last June 12, the series has earned strong receptions both in the Philippines and overseas, posting the highest viewership growth among iWant originals in the United States, Canada, and Australia in June. “Nurse The Dead” is the first Filipino-studio produced series shot in Hollywood, helmed by award-winning Fil-Am filmmaker and screenwriter Mark Labella, and features a bright ensemble of Filipino talent, led by Fil-Am actress-host Jelynn Sophia Malone, alongside Anthony Jennings, Princess Punzalan, Ruby Rodriguez, Gigette Reyes, and Tootsie Guevara. Catch the new episodes of “Nurse The Dead” every Friday, exclusively on iWant — accessible through its subscription plans starting at Php35/month in the Philippines, US$12.99/month in the US, and US$4.99/month for the rest of the world.
