Billboard Korea honoring SB19 and BINI and getting to perform in front of the biggest K-pop stars? It’s enough to shed a tear.
Related: 6 Times SB19 Made Billboard History
Most new P-pop stans may not realize it, but there was a time not too long ago when the genre was down in the trenches fighting for its life as something to be taken seriously and not be seen as just a cheap imitation of K-pop. In some ways, the stereotype is still there, but in just a few years, P-pop has come a long way with some of the biggest OPM acts of today being P-pop groups. They’re doing their thing, and as further recognition of P-pop’s increasing presence and even importance in the modern music scene, two of the genre’s hottest acts will be honored by Billboard Korea.
VOICES OF ASIA FR
It was recently announced that SB19 and BINI are set to receive the Voices of Asia award at Billboard Korea’s KPOP Power 100, as chosen by Billboard Philippines in recognition of being at the forefront of a movement. Not only are both groups flying to Seoul to personally receive the award and rub shoulders with luminaries and some of the K-pop’s biggest stars, but they are also set to perform, giving all your K-pop faves a taste of what P-pop excellence looks like (if they haven’t experienced it already). If this recognition isn’t further proof that P-pop is rising, then we don’t know what is.
If anyone deserved this award and opportunity, it would be SB19 and BINI. SB19 is widely credited with helping P-pop reach its latest peak in the 2020s. These boys were one of the first groups to walk so the rest could run. Since their debut, Pablo, Stell, Josh, Ken, and Justin have made it clear they’re here to stay. They’ve already racked up milestones, and often being the first Filipinos to do so. Billboard nominations, global chart-topping hits, international tours, you name it, they did it.
BINI, meanwhile, is cracking that P-pop glass ceiling like it’s nobody’s business. With eight fierce, talented young women—Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, and Sheena—BINI is redefining what it means to be a girl group in the 2020s. Like with their fellow honoree SB19, the early years weren’t easy for BINI. But also like their fellow P-pop group, the breakthrough was just over the horizon for the girls, and they’ve been basking in the sunlight ever since. They’ve got the moves, the looks, and the LSS-inducing bops that empower and inspire. Add to that their sleek and synchronized choreo, BINI got the girl group bag on lock.
IT’S GIVING P-POP RISE
Honestly, this isn’t just a win for P-pop, but for Filipinos in general. It shows that Filipino talent deserves the recognition it gets on the global stage. Being crowned Voices of Asia isn’t just another award for their trophy shelf—it’s validation that SB19 and BINI have a part to play in the future of Asian music. These groups are armed with polished and powerful bangers, but with a distinctly Filipino vibe. They’re pushing the boundaries of what Asian pop music can sound, look, and feel like.
More importantly, it’s also about seeing our own culture and stories represented on the same platforms as the biggest acts in the world. We’ve grown up in a world where foreign acts, especially K-pop, rule our playlists. But now, P-pop is entering the chat, and for good reason. SB19 and BINI are what happens when hard work, authenticity, and cultural pride collide. We can create our own, make our own rules, and take up space. It’s about seeing ourselves in our idols, knowing that they’ve faced the same struggles and come out on top.
We just know SB19 and BINI are going to devour in Seoul, and we can’t wait for it.
Continue Reading: BINI World Domination? These Signs Point To Yes
