Pinoy-Pop Sensation SB19 Releases First EP ‘Pagsibol’

Global Chart-Topping Boy Group Releases Highly Anticipated Project After Coveted Billboard Music Award Nomination in the U.S.

International superstars, SB19, reveal their first extended play, Pagsibol, now available on all digital music services via Sony Music Philippines. Consistently trending across all social media platforms, fans have patiently waited for the five-member group to drop more music. With popular already released singles such as “What?” and “MAPA” that received over 20 million streams collectively, SB19 has solidified a positive worldwide reception with their discography.

Pagsibol features six tracks including three that have never been released before. SB19 released the megahit “What?” earlier this year and most recently collaborated with Filipino folk pop band Ben&Ben to release an official band version uploaded onto their YouTube channel for “MAPA”. Other tracks include “Mana” that is short for “Manananggal” which is a Filipino mythical creature that can half its body into two – the idea behind this concept for the track is that even if you are soaring high with achievements, you still keep your feet on the ground. “Bazinga,” a powerful hip-hop track that demonstrates the group’s diversity by blending multiple sounds from strong rap verses to an electronic drop to the boys singing along with a guitar. For “Ikako,” the beautiful ballad shows off SB19’s charming vocals and rap skills. As the final track, “SLMT” is a high-energy, atmospheric vibe perfect for the summertime with the boys vocalizing to a relaxing tropical beat that is a solid ending of the extended play showcasing the multiple talents of this pristine group.

Earlier this year, SB19 made headlines once again with the release of their already released single “What?”. The blockbuster pop anthem dominated Twitter and YouTube trending list in the Philippines for several days, with #SB19WHATMVOutNow taking the top spot on the former’s worldwide trends for hours. To date, the music video of “What?” has reached more than 11 million views on YouTube in less than 3 months, becoming one of the most viewed MVs in the Philippines in 2021 thus far.

SB19 made history as the first Filipino act to be nominated at the prestigious 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA)—the show aired live from the Microsoft Theater on May 23 on NBC. The multi-awarded boyband went up against Ariana Grande, BTS, BLACKPINK, and SEVENTEEN for Top Social Artist, a fan-voted category whose winner is determined based on streaming and social engagement, as well as global fan voting.

“We are honored to release our first extended play,” says the group SB19. “We really appreciate our fans from all around the world and are continuously working hard to make new music for them. We have achieved so much because of them, especially this last year and are super thankful to be where we’re at.”

The acclaimed pop group is no stranger to earning recognition overseas. The quintet, which is composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin, has consistently paved the way for Pinoy-Pop (P-Pop). Thanks to their tightly choreographed sets, captivating stage presence, and top-notch vocals, the award-winning group’s performances online and offline have gone viral and gained traction on various social media sites.

With the release of their 9-track album, Get In The Zone on July 31, 2020 via Sony Music Philippines, SB19 quickly rose to prominence with its eloquent showcase of dance-pop, R&B, hip-hop, and ballad. The songs in the debut record have amassed more than 50 million streams on Spotify and YouTube combined, making SB19 one of the most commercially successful groups of the last two years.

SB19 peaked at No. 2 in Billboard Social 50 chart, just behind BTS and above global superstars BLACKPINK, EXO, and Billie Eilish, and reached the top 5 of the Billboard Emerging Artists chart a week later. Two months after the record’s release, SB19 hit a No. 2 peak in Billboard LyricFind Global due to the renewed attention that their previous single “Go Up” has been getting more than a year after it was released. On the Billboard Year-End Charts Social 50 Artists, SB19 extended their record as the only Southeast Asian act to reach the top 10, ranking 6^th overall.

Kevan Kenney of MTV US revealed that SB19 is the Most Requested Artist of the Year for 2020 on MTV Friday Livestream, topping the charts for 24 weeks straight. The Filipino group was also MTV Asia’s Asia Spotlight Artist of the Month for August 2020, and the majority of its music videos reached No. 1 on several music channels, including Pinoy MYX Top 10 and MYX Daily Top 10. ShowBreak, their mini-variety series, which run for 4 seasons, have racked up more than 13 million views so far.

The globally recognized group also achieved a record for the most awarded act in the Philippines for 2020, reaping accolades from various award-giving bodies in music and entertainment.

In terms of reach, SB19 has brought pride to the Philippines with their growing global audience from UAE, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Fan-initiated billboards across Asia, from South Korea to Japan, the Philippines to Hong Kong were set up in various strategic locations to coincide with the boyband’s promo campaigns. In China alone, SB19 caught the attention of music fans when a random person uploaded a version of “What?” on the social media site, Weibo with Chinese subtitles. The music video ended up as one of the most searched tags on the platform, and managed to rack up millions of views on a daily basis.

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Pagsibol Tracklist

What?
MAPA
Mana
Bazinga
Ikako
SLMT

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.