Viva launches hip-hop music label
IN RECOGNITION of the popularity of hip-hop and rap in local mainstream music, Viva Music Group has partnered with music producers Emmanuel Salen and Wilde Quimson to launch the music label, WAYBETTR. The new label aims to cultivate the new generation of hip-hop and rap while revolutionizing the way the music production industry operates in the Philippines. “The world is increasingly turning into a digital society that’s why one of the directions WAYBETTR is taking is being a digital-first label. This means the majority of our operational and marketing efforts will leverage our understanding of data and technology, digital communities, and digital marketing,” Mr. Salen said in a press release. One of their first acts is female R&B singer DENY. Her first single, “Gusto With Ya,” is expected to drop on Mar. 12 on all digital platforms.
Press freedom documentary A Thousand Cuts to be shown
TO MAKE it accessible in the Philippines, American documentary program Frontline has acquired the distribution rights to the press freedom documentary A Thousand Cuts and will be making it available online for free beginning Mar. 13 on Frontline’s website and on YouTube. Directed by Ramona S. Diaz, the film follows journalist Maria Ressa and makes the case that press freedom is threatened under the Duterte administration.
Maja Salvador signed anew as RLC brand ambassador
Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) has renewed its contract with actress Maja Salvador to serve as the face of the company for the campaigns of Robinsons Malls, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, RLC Residences, and RHomes. Ms. Salvador “is a woman who is honest and authentic, traits that resonate deeply with RLC’s warmth and credibility,” the company said in a statement. She has been RLC’s brand ambassador since 2014.
English singer James Arthur releases new single
FOLLOWING the success of his song “Train Wreck,” English singer-songwriter James Arthur returns with a new single, “Medicine,” an autobiographical song. Mr. Arthur recently signed a new deal with Columbia Records UK, a co-deal with Columbia Records Germany. “Medicine” is now available to stream on Spotify.
Navillera on Netflix
Navillera tells a story of an unlikely friendship between Deok-chul, a 70-year-old man who takes up ballet, and Chae-rok, a late bloomer 23-year-old ballet dancer. Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, the show is directed by Han Dong-hwa, and written by Lee Eun-mi. It stars Park In-hwan, Song Kang, Na Moon-hee, and Hong Seung-hee. Navillera premieres on Mar. 22 with new episodes released on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Philippine time, on Netflix.
fern. releases new single
SINGER, songwriter, and music producer fern. (a.k.a. Fernando Miguel Tan) has released his new single, “Whatever This Is,” which is available now on all digital and streaming platforms worldwide via Island Records Philippines. Mr. fern. is known for his award-winning track “Down on Me” which he recorded with Julie Anne San Jose. In 2019, he released his debut album Loveless.
Japanese Breakfast announces new album
JAPANESE Breakfast, the musical project of Michelle Zauner, has announced a new album, Jubilee, the follow-up to 2017’s critically acclaimed Soft Sounds From Another Planet. The announcement of the new album comes with the release of a video directed by Ms. Zauner herself for its lead single, “Be Sweet,” a jagged and propulsive 1980s inspired pop song. Of the song, Ms. Zauner said in a release: “After spending the last five years writing about grief, I wanted our follow up to be about joy. For me, a third record should feel bombastic and so I wanted to pull out all the stops for this one. I wrote ‘Be Sweet’ with Jack Tatum from Wild Nothing a few years ago. I’ve been holding onto it for so long and am so excited to finally put it out there.” Jubilee is available for pre-order now and will be released on June 4 via Dead Oceans. Additionally, Ms. Zauner is releasing a book based on her viral 2018 New Yorker essay, Crying In H Mart. The unflinching memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity is due out Apr. 20 via Knopf.
