Move over, BTS: 5 things to know about SB19, the Filipino boy band taking on K-pop – and the world

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.

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They’re inspired by South Korean pop music

Although looking to set a new standard for Filipino bands, SB19 has its roots in the impressive legacy of South Korean pop music.

In fact, the group has trained in South Korea and is represented by ShowBT, a Korean entertainment and talent management company.

The Korean approach to pop music is demanding

After training in South Korea, the group is expected to be able to perform in a variety of genres and compose its own songs. By embracing a strict work ethic, SB19 hopes to reach the same level of popularity as the major South Korean bands.

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They’re quickly gaining a social media following

People are understandably excited about SB19 and have begun to show these guys some serious love on social media. The band already has more than 200,000 followers on Facebook, more than 30,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 50,000 Twitter followers.

And judging by the number of “heart” emoji replies to their social media posts, these five men have definitely struck a chord with fans in the Philippines, and beyond.

The new single has already gone viral

In late July, SB19’s first single dropped on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes – and quickly became a hit. This breakout hit, Go Up, has already clocked more than 1.2 million views on YouTube and more than 250,000 streams on Spotify.

The single is mostly in Tagalog, but that hasn’t kept global audiences from understanding its clear, triumphant message: We’re about to “go up” in the charts and reach international fame. And based on the impressive K-pop-inspired dance moves in the music video, SB19 is poised to deliver on the confident message of Go Up.

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SB19 is setting its sights high

As the hype for SB19 grows, everybody has the same question on their minds: what’s next for these five talented young men?

Well, during the group’s first press conference a few weeks ago, the members made it known that their aspirations are global in nature. SB19 want to tell the world loud and clear that Filipino pop stars have arrived on the scene – and are more than ready to show off the full scope of their talent.

Although in the spotlight for barely a month, SB19 has shown it has the ambition, talent and work ethic to be the biggest Filipino boy band in the world. We can’t wait to see the group’s next move.

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