BINI, SB19, Ben&Ben, James Reid among winners at 17th PMPC Star Awards for Music

The Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) honored some of the country’s biggest music acts during the 17th Star Awards for Music held on June 25 at Teatrino in San Juan, with James Reid, Maki, Moira Dela Torre, TJ Monterde, and Ben&Ben emerging as recipients of the ceremony’s highest honors. Reid’s EP “jgh” secured the coveted Album of the Year award, while Maki’s breakout hit “Dilaw” was recognized as Song of the Year. Maki also added Male Pop Artist of the Year to his list of achievements. Dela Torre and Monterde were named Female and Male Recording Artists of the Year, respectively, while Ben&Ben claimed the Group/Duo Artist of the Year title. P-pop also enjoyed another strong showing at the annual awards. BINI’s “Talaarawan” was hailed as Pop Album of the Year, while the group’s viral single “Salamin Salamin” shared the Dance Recording of the Year award with Bilib’s “Say Whatcha Wanna Say.” Meanwhile, SB19 dominated performance-related categories, winning Concert of the Year, Duo/Group Concert Performer of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for its collaboration with Gloc-9 on “Kalakal.” Other notable winners included Juan Karlos as Male Acoustic Artist of the Year for “Tanga Mo Juan,” Angela Ken as Female Acoustic Artist of the Year, Sponge Cola as Rock Artist of the Year, Kris Lawrence and Zéla for the male and female R&B categories, Shanti Dope for Rap Album of the Year, Illest Morena as Rap Artist of the Year, and Vice Ganda, whose “Rainbow Christmas” was named Christmas Song of the Year. The ceremony also recognized veteran performers and music industry figures. Celeste Legaspi and Andrew E. received the Pilita Corrales Lifetime Achievement Award, while Mon del Rosario was honored with the Parangal Levi Celerio Lifetime Achievement Award. Rainmakers was likewise recognized as one of the Mga Natatanging Alagad ng Musikang Pilipino. Aside from the presentation of awards, the event featured musical performances from Salbakuta and Ima Castro. Rap icon Gloc-9 also took the stage to present the lifetime achievement award to Andrew E., adding to the night’s celebration of Filipino music across generations.