BINI, Dionela and the sounds that defined 2024

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star 

December 29, 2024 | 12:00am

We closed 2023 with Juan Karlos suspended in the air with his Ere and now we are closing 2024 with alt pop act Dionela who scored big with Sining featuring R&B star Jay R. He is now on the solo route with the No. 1 selling Marilag. Between them are the music of some of the most exciting music discoveries ever and of long-time favorites who continue to dominate the hit lists year after year.

We still had the usual hitmakers from overseas like Taylor Swift, Cruel Summer; Bruno Mars, Die with a Smile with Lady Gaga; Ariana Grande, We Can’t Be Friends and others. But not a lot of them compared what the Pinoys accomplished. It was, in truth a superb year for original Filipino music. And I am happy that local acts mostly outsold the foreigners in their own turf and they also filled up concert halls.

Dionela with Jay-R

Leading the pack was the girl group BINI which finally broke through to the big time after five years of trying. They had a sparkling summery sound that kids absolutely loved. Their hits like Pantropiko, Cherry on Top, Salamin Salamin and Karera earned them recognition here and abroad, including the MTV EMA for Best Asian Act. They also sold out the Smart Araneta Coliseum for two nights.

BINI was not the only one who scored big in the concert scene. In fact, live entertainment had an excellent year in 2024. We had great foreign acts like Laufey, Akon, Ne-yo, Enhypen, Stray Kids, 2NE1 and Dua Lipa but I am, of course, proudest of the local guys.

Ben&Ben

Juan Karlos had the MOA in SRO mode. So did December Avenue and Ben&Ben. Arthur Nery was at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. So was SB-19. Katrina Velarde packed the New Frontier Theater. So did newcomer Maki. Even long-established idols like Martin Nievera, Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Raymond Lauchengco and Mark Bautista had great turns on stage. Let us wish for more of these in 2025.

As for the hits, here according to Billboard Philippines are the most downloaded, the most streamed, the most performed and most listened to songs in 2024. There are new names like the reclusive hip-hop idol from Morato, Hev Abi and familiar ones like Up Dharma Down whose Tadhana has been in the top rungs of the hit lists for almost a decade. Check them out.

Maki with TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan.

Palagi by TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan; Dilaw by Maki; Pantropiko by BINI, Salamin, Salamin, also by BINI; Sining by Dionela ft. Jay-R; Walang Alam by Hev Abi; Babaero by gins&melodies ft. Hev Abi; Alam Mo Ba Girl, again by Hev Abi; Tingin by Cup of Joe and Janine Tenoso; Take All the Love by Arthur Nery; Makasarili, Malambing by Kristina Dawn and Hev Abi; Tadhana by Up Dharma Down; Karera by BINI.

Saan? by Maki; Lil Kasalanan Shortie by Hev Abi; Miss Miss by Rob Daniel; Mahika by Adie and Janine Berdin; Get Low by OSIDE MAFIA BRGR; Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown) by Orange and Lemons; YK by Cean Jr.; Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay by Ben&Ben; Ikaw Lang by Nobita; Romcom, also by Rob DanieI; Unti-unti by UDD; and Marikit sa Dilim by Juan Caoile, Kylewash and Jawz.

Juan Karlos

You can check out Billboard Philippines for the rest of the hit tunes by which we will remember this passing year.

And before I forget, 2024 was also the year when Jose Mari Chan succumbed to public demand. No more sneaking around or peeping from corners for our Mr. Christmas. After demurring for years, he finally launched the earliest celebration of the season in the world by performing Christmas in our Hearts live in a mall show.

Spotify empowering Pinoy creators

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star 

October 18, 2024 | 12:00am

Spotify empowering Pinoy creators

Ben&Ben, one of the headliners at the ‘Spotify Lounge: Philippines Edition,’ is named Spotify’s inaugural decade definer.

STAR / File

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I always get a big kick out of checking the daily Spotify hit list. I’ve been covering the music business for many years and one of my dreams back then was to find a local chart dominated by Filipino artists, not foreign acts.

This finally happened about five or six years ago when I saw Moira dela Torre, the harana boys Zack Tabudlo, Arthur Nery and others leaving the foreigners on the wayside. And with Dionela, Bini and Hev Abi on top these days, it has been so ever since.

Gustav Back, managing director for Spotify SEA (Southeast Asia), said that the present ratio between foreign and local acts as far as streaming is concerned is 75 percent to 25 percent in favor of the Pinoys. That is quite a number not to mention the fact that our artists also most of the time occupy the top rungs.

Back, who like Spotify comes from Sweden, wants it to stay that way. He was in town a few weeks ago to meet and greet our artists and to hand out Spotify S trophies to the most streamed music. The task was a happy one.

“We at Spotify are very proud of how we have been able to help put Filipino music in the charts,” he said.

In fact, he said Spotify has come up with a lot of ways to keep Pinoys busy creating big streamers and enjoying the experience.

Spotify is an audio and media streaming platform established in 2006. That was a downtime for the music industry with piracy at an all-time high. Spotify offered a legit alternative to the peer to peer sharing of content that was popular during the late ‘90s and a way to make music more accessible to everybody.

It was music available in a convenient manner. On demand and anywhere you are with a wifi. No more players. No talkative DJs. No skipping cuts in an LP. It was just the music you like when you want it. Aside from that Spotify also royalties to copyright owners.

Spotify is now the largest provider of music all over the world. It is home to over a hundred million music tracks. It has also branched out to podcasts and now has six million podcast shows. And in the near future, there will be videos, movies, games and even DJs to simulate old-time radio shows.

Back mentioned several ways by which artists and content creators can take advantage of what Spotify has to offer.  “Spotify champions hyperlocal genres,” he says.

“We make it easy for artists to pitch their music to listeners. We have data available so they will know how their music is doing. We give them the opportunity to connect with fans and even sell merchandise.

“Now that the podcast market is growing fast, Spotify has creator tools available for podcasters who need to create, manage and grow shows. We have also introduced interaction among artists through master classes and creative partnerships.”

And then there is RADAR, which I think, up and coming talents should aspire to get into. “RADAR is Spotify’s commitment and partnership with emerging artists to grow their careers and cross borders. It is the global home for what’s next and what’s new in sound, uplifting rising artists as they expand their global reach.”

Take a look at the names which entered RADAR last year. I am sure that Spotify must be very proud that they are all doing very well in their careers. Maki, Cup of Joe, Dionela, Hev Abi, Illest Morena, Jason Dhakal, Denise Julia, dwta, Ysanygo and BINI. The only hitch I see here is that the artists are recommended by labels they are signed with.  This puts the indies at a disadvantage.

Of course, while empowering creators of all types Spotify also makes sure that it is the go-to place for listeners.  Why not? It has all sorts of playlists available — from my favorite Daily Chart to the Viral50 to Rap Caviar to Discover Weekly, etc., etc.