Some of the biggest OPM stars across different genres and generations have gathered at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, January 14, 2024, for the 9th Wish Music Awards. Emerging as the event’s biggest winners are “rapstar” Flow G and P-pop kings SB19.
Apart from the major categories, Wish 107.5 named two new KDR icons.
Martin Nievera, known as the country’s Concert King and one of the OPM scene’s most passionate voices, is this edition’s KDR Icon of Musical Excellence. Meanwhile, William Guido, the visionary chairman behind the Philippine Arts and Recreation Center (PARC) Foundation, won the KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy award. The foundation helps underprivileged youth and local artists fulfill their passion for performing arts.
Last Sunday was a big night for OPM, celebrating a broad range of musical talents. Flow G not only won three awards, including Wish Artist of the Year but also became the second hip-hop act to win this prestigious recognition since Gloc-9 in the 6th WMAs.
The 9th WMAs also put the hip-hop genre to the forefront, with Spotify, the event’s official music partner, handing out the Spotify Kalye Artist of the Year trophy to the “Rapstar” hitmaker. The award honors the Pinoy hip-hop act with the most streams on Spotify last year. Releasing hit after hit, Flow G amassed a whopping 200 million streams in 2023.
While SB19 notably also dominated the awards show — bagging three trophies — they expanded their acclaim by clinching the Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year with “I WANT YOU.” This marks their first win beyond the pop genre in the WMAs. Their mega-hit “GENTO,” also part of their “PAGTATAG!” EP, earned them their fourth Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year recognition.
Josh Cullen, one-fifth of the P-pop group, also made a name on his own. He snagged the Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year award, won by his fellow SB19 member Ken (who goes as FELIP in his solo endeavors) last year. He was also recognized as the Wishers’ Choice, a special accolade the SB19 took home in the past four WMAs. Meanwhile, FELIP won Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year with “ROCKSTA.”
In the Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year — one of the tightest categories in the 9th WMAs — Dilaw bested three other contenders for their hit Wish Bus rendition of “Uhaw (Tayong Lahat).” Other nominees include Clara Benin (“small town”), Lola Amour (“Raining in Manila),” and SunKissed Lola (“Pasilyo”). On the other hand, TJ Monterde landed a Wish Pop Song of the Year win for “Palagi.” In a previous post, he said that the nods he earned at the WMAs are “extra personal” as they were his first nominations as an independent act.
Below is the complete list of winners:
Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Ballad Performance of the Year
Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Collaboration of the Year
Wish Pop Song of the Year
Wish Ballad Song of the Year
Wish R&B Song of the Year
Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year
Wish Hip-hop Song of the Year
Wish Contemporary Folk Song of the Year
Wish Contemporary R&B Song of the Year
Wish Song Collaboration of the Year
Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Wish Group of the Year
Wish Artist of the Year
Special Awards
Spotify Awards
All major category winners got to chose a beneficiary, which will receive Php100,000. The winning acts themselves had a cash prize of Php25,000. Nievera also took home Php100,000, while Guido received Php70,000.
According to Ma. Gloriosa Santos-Cabangon, PETA’s Executive Director, “The charitable advocacy of the Wish Music Awards showcases how music/arts can be relevant and of service to people.” The group won a total of Php650,000.
“This grant will allow PETA to pursue its Theater Appreciation Program. The fund will be used to subsidize tickets for public school students so they can access our upcoming productions or provide scholarships for our theater training project,” she further stated.
READ: Here are the 9th Wish Music Awards’ Wishclusive Elite Circle Awardees!
Apart from naming the WMA winners, musical performances also served as the evening’s highlight.
Dilaw proved why they’re one of 2023’s breakout bands as they stellarly opened the night with “Orasa” and “Uhaw (Tayong Lahat).” Cup of Joe, a fellow group hailing from Baguio, did a tribute to KDR Icon of Musical Excellence Martin Nievera, giving their spins to “Be My Lady” and “You are My Song.”
Before Cullen went on to bag two Wish awards, he first wowed the crowd with a back-to-back performance of his two solo hits, “Wild Tonight” and “Get Right.” Meanwhile, Ben&Ben, a fixture in the WMAs, owned the stage with “Paninindigan Kita” and their WMA-nominated track “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay.”
Another standout number is the set of Clara Benin and Lola Amour. While each delivered solo performances — “small town” and “Raining in Manila” — they also shared a musical moment as they performed their 2021 collab, “Closer Than Before.”
In a special Spotify Kalye X stage, WMA big winner Flow G performed “Rapstar,” High Score,” and “Batugan.”
Capping off the night was rock legend Rico Blanco, who delighted the crowd and artists alike with “Sayong Sayo (Papel, Gunting, Bato)” and the Rivermaya classic “You’ll Be Safe Here.”
Music and charity have been driving Wish 107.5 forward since day one. In his speech, Wish 107.5 innovator Kuya Daniel Razon reaffirmed the station’s commitment: “I’ve always said it before — at hindi naman po kami magsasawa na ito ay ulitin sa inyo: With God’s help, we will persevere to sustain the initiatives we launched and to always be of service to the music scene.”
He also acknowledged the hard work and courage that come with creating music.
“[W]e know that our artists deserve to be heard. Your voices and the stories you tell deserve to be heard… Your work is a labor of love. And for that, we’re utterly grateful. Maraming maraming salamat po sa musika na inyong ibinibigay amin,” he stated.
“And as you, our local artists, have used your passion to create and perform relatable songs no matter the season, we at Wish are also making good use of our resources to help you amplify your voices. In our own way, we want to spread hope and optimism through music and, of course, through the gift of charity. In our own way, we want to make a difference by doing everything in love and with love,” he further enthused.
Christian Bautista, Karylle, Inka Magnaye, and Justine Luzares were this year’s hosts.
The 9th Wish Music Awards is streaming on the Wish YouTube channel in February. This event is presented by Spotify, “For all the best of Pinoy Hip-Hop, check out the Kalye Hip-Hop playlist only on Spotify! Let music find you on Spotify. Just press play and listen for free now!,” Rexona, “Unstoppable protection for the unstoppable you,” Close Up “has antibacterial zinc to give you all day AMA-ZINC fresh breath” and Medical Depot “Your one-stop medical shop,” and co-presented by Puregold, “Always Panalo sa Dekalidad, Presyo, at Serbisyo,” together with major sponsor Executive Optical “Love your eyes,” and Genesis Organic Spirulina “Feel your best with our trusted superfood Genesis Organic Spirulina,” and minor sponsors SKECHERS, “The Comfort Technology Company,” Astron, “Ang Murang Appliances na Maaasahan Mo!,” and C Square Telecom – Cartier Telecom, “Your Latest Gadget on Hand,” and partner GlamBot Philippines.
READ NEXT: 8th Wish Music Awards Winners, Highlights, and More
Related Articles
