Move over, BTS: 5 things to know about SB19, the Filipino boy band taking on K-pop – and the world
From the Philippines but trained in South Korea, Pinoy band SB19 is fast gaining a strong following on Instagram and Twitter – both at home and abroad
If you follow pop music closely, you’ve probably heard about SB19, the new Pinoy boy band that’s quickly turning heads (and hearts) on social media. But some questions remain.
Namely, where did SB19 come from? And do they have the talent to keep up with major K-pop bands like BTS?
Here are five important facts about to get you up to speed with all things SB19.
SB19 hope to be the first major Filipino boy band
For years now, the Asian pop music scene has been dominated by acts from South Korea and Japan. Groups like BTS and Blackpink have garnered global followings and routinely get hundreds of millions of streams across listening platforms.
SB19 wants to be the first Filipino pop group to gain a similar level of popularity around the world. Comprised of five young Pinoy men named Sejun, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin, the group’s very name is emblematic of national pride.
That’s because 19 is the number that separates the area codes of the Philippines and South Korea – symbolising the group’s vision of bridging the 2,628km gap between the two countries.
They’re inspired by South Korean pop music