Last year’s Wanderland was nothing short of a grand comeback, with Canadian pop superstar Carly Rae Jepsen and famed indie band Phoenix standing as its headliners. 

Heading into Wanderland 2024, then, it was apparent that Karpos had big shoes to fill for the music and arts festival’s 9th edition. But getting to experience the festival in all its glory made it clear that the organizers did just that. 

It’s not Wanderland without good music

Wanderland 2024 boasted a cohesive lineup of local and international acts from every genre you could think of – rock, pop, jazz, R&B, soul, hip-hop, and more. The festival even managed to score surf rock musician Jack Johnson and bass legend Thundercat as headliners for Day 1 and Day 2, respectively. 

The 2024 edition of the festival was a remarkable one – not just for the attendees, but also for the homegrown acts who had finally gotten the chance to shine onstage and live out their biggest dreams for the first time. 

Day 1 of the festival saw local pop-rock band Lola Amour take the Wanderland stage again after six years. The eight-piece collective first performed at Wanderland in 2017 after winning the Wanderband competition – so getting to play at the festival again was a full-circle moment for them. Lola Amour’s former saxophone player Joxx even reunited onstage with the band after two years. 

.@lolaamourmusic with the iconic intro of their hit song “Fallen”! | @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/T5NqAlO2ja

— Juno Reyes (@junoileanavr) March 9, 2024

“I’ve been attending Wanderland since 2015, so it feels so nice to be invited. It’s just a really good event for the vibes and for the music. Super nice feeling. We’re all from the south so it feels nice that we’re all in our home court,” the band’s guitarist Zoe told Rappler. 

It’s the same for Paolo Sandejas, who had once thought Wanderland was merely a faraway ambition that wouldn’t go any further than that. 

“It still feels really surreal. Ever since I started making music, Wanderland has always been this unattainable dream. Like, ‘Oh, maybe one day I can play Wanderland and be on the stage with all my favorite artists.’ And now it’s happening,” he told Rappler before his set. 

Sandejas had kicked off his Wanderland debut with a bang – quite literally running onstage to open his performance with “Liquid Courage.” The south-based singer-songwriter was all smiles throughout his 30-minute set as he performed fan-favorite hits like “BLOOM,” “Different Shade of Blue,” and even the BTS V-approved “Sorry.” 

Paolo Sandejas performs “Sorry” – referring to it as “the song that changed [his] life.”

In 2022, the track went viral after BTS’ V sang it in one of his vlogs. #WanderlandMusicFest | @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/5ztWes159f

— Juno Reyes (@junoileanavr) March 10, 2024

Wanderland 2024 also served as somewhat of a homecoming event for established Filipino musicians in the diaspora. Case in point: Jeff Bernat. The Filipino-American musician came onstage waving the Philippine flag – making for a memorable first time performing in his home country. In Bernat’s words, “There’s nothing like being in the motherland.” 

“[I feel] a mix of all emotions to be honest. I was getting really emotional rehearsing because I feel like I’ve waited such a long time to perform in the Philippines, and it’s finally happening. I’m a very spiritual person, so I feel like my ancestors are with me when I’m onstage. It feels very special. I think I might even cry,” Bernat told Rappler in an interview hours before he was scheduled to come on stage. 

Other than his top original hits like “Cruel” and “Call You Mine,” Bernat also sang a medley of the OPM songs he grew up listening to to pay homage to his Filipino heritage – belting out his own rendition of APO Hiking Society’s “When I Met You” and Side A’s “Forevermore.”

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Similar to Bernat, Australian-Filipino singer-songwriter grentperez also played his first-ever Wanderland set.

“[I’m] pretty nervous, pretty anxious, I’d say. Very excited. I’m sure it’ll be fine, I’m sure I’ll perform fine,” he confided in Rappler hours before he was set to go onstage.

Nervousness aside, however, the young musician made it clear that he had a knack for hyping an audience up. He had engaged in witty banter with the crowd, sometimes throwing in a few Filipino words here and there, and even having his band demonstrate the Filipino phrases he had taught them. He had also impressively run and danced around onstage while still being able to sing his songs perfectly.

It’s safe to say, then, that grentperez is a true entertainer who made Wanderland memorable for festival-goers – even those who didn’t know of his music before then.

Filipino-Australian singer-songwriter grentperez closes out his #WanderlandMusicFest set with “Cherry Wine.” | @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/S4Yu76fFGI

— Juno Reyes (@junoileanavr) March 10, 2024

Fun times at the neighborhood

Wanderland has always been known for putting together a roster of local and international music acts who really know how to put on a good show. This year’s lineup was no different. Take American soloist PJ Morton, for example, who brought his soulful vocals to Manila for the first time. His secret to staging a performance to remember? Putting on a show that he himself would enjoy.

“I think ultimately I try to think of a show that I would enjoy watching. I always try to remain a fan. I love going to shows. I’ve always gone to shows so I just wanna make sure people feel like they’ve gotten more than they even asked for,” Morton shared with Rappler.

Morton’s performance was also special for Wanderland attendees – as it was the first time he performed his latest single “Please Be Good” in front of a live audience.

.@PJMORTON sings his newest single “Please Be Good” at #WanderlandMusicFest. He says this is his first time performing the song in front of a crowd! | @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/t2KxJsbSh3

— Juno Reyes (@junoileanavr) March 10, 2024

Beyond the music, however, Filipino creatives were also given the spotlight, with the myriad of art installations, live art, and art workshops scattered all throughout the festival grounds. These works of art were the colorful final touch Wanderland needed to really make the festival one to remember.

Overall, Wanderland 2024 definitely lived up to its Neighborhood theme. Everybody was there for a good time, so no matter how crazy you looked when dancing and singing your heart out to the live music, nobody judged you for it. Even the little kids in the crowd sat atop their parents’ shoulders to get the full festival experience throughout all the different music acts’ sets!

One thing’s for sure: the presence of art, live music, fun times, and fun-loving attendees at Wanderland all prove why the festival is dubbed the “Home of Good Music and Good People.” – Rappler.com

Data from travel and experience app Klook showed that Filipinos were the top buyers globally of Klook ticket bundles for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” in Singapore, accounting for somewhere between 10% to 15% of the ticket bundles sold. In comparison, the percentage of sales from other ASEAN countries was only in the single digits per market.

“Philippines was a big chunk of that,” Michelle Ho, general manager of Klook Philippines and Thailand, said. “Malakas si Taylor Swift sa Pilipinas (Taylor Swift has a strong presence here in the Philippines).”

Klook told Rappler that at one point, over 10 million users entered their queue in the span of one second. And Klook’s infrastructure held up – something that not all platform can say. (READ: ‘Unprecedented’ demand for Taylor Swift tour crashes Ticketmaster website)

“That’s not normal. It’s not even normal not to crash when the spike is that high,” Ho told Rappler. “What was a success for us was even as a newbie in the entertainment scene, our app did not crash. We could hold a number of people on queue, and people were able to successfully book tickets on the app.”

It also looks like Taylor Swift was able to beat inflation as hundreds of thousands flocked to Singapore – her only stop in Southeast Asia – despite the pricey tickets. For instance, the cheapest Klook ticket bundle, which comes with two concert tickets and a room night in a 4-star hotel, reached $542 or almost P30,000.

“For a price point as high as that, sometimes you would think that demand will be very much affected. But that’s not true. We sold out in less than six hours,” Ho said on Tuesday, March 12. “People these days are willing to travel for new experiences, for experiences that they want to share with their loved ones.”

[ANALYSIS] Why airport ‘surot’ and Taylor Swift matter

Revenge travel ‘still very much alive’

Looking at the overall tourism landscape, Ho also noted that 2023 was a “great year for tourism recovery.” In the past year, Klook’s bookings tripled while its gross sales figures grew by four times between 2022 and 2023.

Filipinos also seem to be spending more on travel, as the average basket size of consumers grew by 21% based on Klook’s 2024 Travel Pulse study. For international travel, most Filipinos have a budget ranging from P15,000 to P50,000 for their overall spending. For local destinations, the average Filipino’s budget ranges from P15,000 to P30,000 for a four to six day trip.

“One could argue that: is this only about price increases, interest rates going up? But we’ve seen a double-digit growth, above 21%,” Ho said. “So it’s not really that the travel budget has gone down. But it’s really more about being intentional of what they’ve purchased.”

Filipinos who traveled internationally in 2023 and early 2024 usually visited nearby destinations, the most popular ones being Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. Locally, the most visited destinations by Klook users were Tagaytay, Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, and Palawan.

Ho said that the results of their study showed revenge travel was “still very much alive,” with 92% of survey respondents saying they have plans to travel domestically in 2024 and 76% saying they have plans to travel internationally this year.

“People are traveling more. People are not choosing between domestic or international. They’re going for both if they can.” – Rappler.com

Revenge travel is here – so where do Filipinos go?

Since releasing their very first song “Da Coconut Nut” in 2020 and debuting a year later with Born To Win, best believe that this is only the beginning for the female P-pop idols.

Comprised of members Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena, BINI is bringing a fresh frenzy of fun and femininity to P-pop as one of the pioneer girl groups in the scene, but not without making waves both on their own and as a solid unit.

Months after the viral sensation “Pantropiko,” which continues making rounds on streaming and social media, the girls are wasting no time building on the momentum, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. BINI released their much-awaited first EP Talaarawan in time for International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8.

Girlhood recorded

Talaarawan jots down everything we know and love about BINI thus far. From their luscious harmonies and adlibs, to their witty and distinctly Filipino tongue-and-cheek lyricism, the EP celebrates the group’s steady growth and the undeniable talent that sustains it. 

The project leans more into catchy pop territory compared to the mixed bunch of their 2021 album Born To Win and even 2022’s Feel Good. Nonetheless, it’s shaped up to be a signature sound of theirs we can’t get enough of. 

Blooms and casual fans alike have already grown particularly fond of “Karera,” the first pre-release track of Talaarawan that reassures listeners to navigate life at their own pace. Then who could forget “Pantropiko,” which has positioned itself as 2024’s earworm of a summer anthem? 

Their latest single “Salamin, Salamin” is reminiscent of its predecessor’s upbeat charm and nostalgic themes, a display of the ups and downs of teenage yearning that anyone who’s had a crush knows all too well.

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The EP’s remaining b-sides build on the “rollercoaster ride of emotions” fans can expect from the project. From a love growing sour in what could be a fan-favorite “Ang Huling Cha Cha,” basking in the solace of another’s presence in the soulful “Diyan Ka Lang,” and finally, “Na Na Nandito Lang,” a younger sister to “Karera” which reads as the girls’ personal love letter to Blooms.

“Gusto kasi namin hindi lang siya basta nilagay doon sa EP na ‘to. Gusto namin may kuwento siya. That’s why ‘yun ‘yung nabuo. Different stages of love and life,” BINI leader Jhoanna told the press during their EP’s media launch on Wednesday, March 6.

(We want each song to have a purpose on the EP. We want them to each have their own story. That’s why we ended up on these types of songs. Different stages of love and life.)

Like a diary, BINI wants their Blooms to confide in them with their emotions in the hopes of their fanbase to feel heard and seen. 

“We want our Blooms, our listeners to feel that we are their best friends din (as well),” youngest member Sheena said.

Give BINI their roses

BINI has taken inspiration from the work and determination of their own set of female icons. For Mikha, who has spoken on the group’s advocacy of women empowerment in the past, she cites K-pop girl group ITZY as one of her female role models. 

“I’ve known them since trainee days and I’ve been inspired since then because watching their videos, it reminded me of BINI so much on how they tackle their insecurities. How they tried to move on from that. How their mental health has been also affected, but at the same time, they’re still able to give their best and for me, that’s what I want for BINI,” Mikha told Rappler.

The go-getters that they are, BINI has not only sought success in their music, but also in other endeavors that showcase their range and grit. From the recognition of Maloi’s artistic sensibilities, to Colet’s songwriting, to Jhoanna and Aiah’s theater debut in Tabing Ilog: The Musical 2023, every member is poised for her own spotlight, solidifying BINI as stars in the making.

From juggling school work with BINI promotions as well as rehearsals for her theater debut, Jhoanna shared with Rappler that balancing it all was not an easy task.

“Hindi talaga madali ipagsabay ‘yung ‘Tabing Ilog,’ ‘yung teatro in general and ‘yung pagiging P-pop idol kasi siguro ‘yung discipline, halos same pero ‘yung time na hinihingi nung pareho, jusko lord,” she said with a laugh.

(It really isn’t easy balancing Tabing Ilog, theater in general and being a P-pop idol because while the discipline needed is similar, the amount of time needed by both, oh my God.)

She wishes to tell Blooms, who may be overwhelmed with their own set of responsibilities, that sacrifice is indeed necessary. For her, fulfilling her stint in theater entailed sacrificing sleep and eating. But with a newfound passion at play, it was all worth it.

“Prioritize them based on their importance pero ‘di ko naman sinasabi may hindi importante (but I’m not saying there are responsibilities that aren’t important),” she said.  

“Pero halimbawa today, ano ba’ng mas importante, saan ka mas kailangan today, doon ka. Gets na ‘yung may masasacrifice talaga. Ganoon talaga. Manage your time, manage your schedule. Sobrang laking tulong ng schedule talaga.”

(For example, today, ask yourself what’s more important. What demands your attention the most, prioritize that first. It’s understandable to make sacrifices along the way. Manage your time, manage your schedule. Schedules are a great help.)

Perhaps what makes BINI stand out as artists past the confines of the P-pop genre is how their carefree music translates into their unfiltered image. These modern Filipinas are not afraid of showing their true colors, whether it be expressing their playful nature, or using their platform for causes much bigger than them.

Meme compilations and quirks aside, BINI taps into this generation’s inclination towards purpose and reinvention, all while sharing a laugh at any given moment. 

What’s next for BINI

Fans can be ecstatic to find out that BINI is gearing up for their first-ever solo concert on Friday, June 28, at the New Frontier Theater. 

“Mag-ipon na (Save up)!” the girls quipped.

They joked that while they are more used to their songs not going viral, this only makes them all the more grateful for the unexpected success of songs like “Na Na Na,” “Karera,” and “Pantropiko.” On top of all the acclaim, they remind themselves to make the most out of being young, as well as to stay humble, yet far from content. 

“We always say ‘malayo na, pero malayo pa,’ (‘We’ve made it far, but there’s still a long way to go,” they said.

With that insatiable hunger for more milestones, color us just as excited for the greater heights BINI is destined to conquer. – Rappler.com

The record is the pop star’s first album in three years and comprises 13 tracks.

Grande, 30, debuted the album’s lead single “Yes, and?” in January. A music video for the song “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” was released alongside the full album on Friday. Directed by Christian Breslauer, it is inspired by Michel Gondry’s 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.

The singer’s grandmother, Marjorie Grande, is featured on the album’s final track, listed as “Ordinary Things (featuring Nonna)”.

In addition to new music, fans can also look forward to seeing Grande in John M. Chu’s film adaptation of the musical Wicked alongside Cynthia Erivo later this year. The movie is due out in cinemas globally in November.

Ariana Grande’s international hit songs include “Thank U, Next”, “7 Rings”, “Positions”, and “Santa Tell Me”. – Rappler.com

“(Our) agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia,” Lee told a press conference in Melbourne, where he is attending a regional summit.

“It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t see that as being unfriendly.”

Swift is currently part way though six sold-out shows in Singapore, her only stop in Southeast Asia.

Singapore’s government previously said it had given Swift a grant to play in the city-state, without mentioning the terms of the deal.

The announcement annoyed other countries in the region, with the Thai prime minister saying the grant was made on condition that it would be Swift’s only show in Southeast Asia, while a Filipino lawmaker said it “isn’t what good neighbors do.”

Last month, Singapore’s tourism board and culture ministry referred to the economic benefits brought by Swift’s concerts around the world due to her popularity, and said the ministry had worked with concert promoter AEG Presents to get Swift to perform in Singapore. – Rappler.com

This month’s playlist include song recommendations from Josh Cullen, PABLO & Josue, Apoc The Death Architect, Jikamarie, and Jason Dhakal.

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PABLO

PABLO carries many roles to his talented solo name – singer, rapper, dancer, songwriter, and producer – and he is also the vocalist, creative director, and leader of global P-pop sensation SB19. The P-pop star also performs with his brother JOSUE under the duo RADKIDZ.

PABLO performs his solo debut single “La Luna,” a song he wrote and produced about embracing oneself fully and tuning out society’s unrealistic standards. He and JOSUE performs “Determinado,” which they co-produced. “Akala” is also on the queue, which is a track PABLO said is “easy to listen to and sing along to, just like how it is when friends gather and sing together.”

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Apoc

Having been in the underground rap industry for two decades, Apoc solidified his position as one of the most iconic overall emcees yet. From starting in rap group Heavenly Host and briefly working with indie label AMPON, Apoc began making his own name with Kampo Teroritmo, a collective with Batas. 

The rapper-songwriter and producer known for his aggressive delivery and punchlines joined Uprising in 2016. Apoc’s debut LP Loob ng Kabaong was released in 2017, followed by his second full-length second album Kampilan that came out last November.

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Jikamarie

Breakout OPM artist Jikamarie recently opened for Coldplay’s Philippine Arena concert last January. She is behind the viral, chart-topping R&B hit “lutang,” and singles “Hinahanap-Hanap,” “Lito,” and “Halimaw.”

She just released her debut EP L0VER G!RL in early 2024, which touches on the joys and pains of love, all while showcasing her favorite genres of R&B, alternative pop, and dream-pop. Through her dreamy music, she wishes to convey the sentiments of one’s varying encounters with love, mental and emotional challenges, and the challenges of youth.

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Jason Dhakal

Widely known for his R&B sound, contemporary queer singer-songwriter Jason Dhakal made his debut in 2018 with the six-track EP Night In alongside artist-producer dot.jaime. In 2020, he also co-produced his album Lovesound with local composer LUSTBASS.

Since then, the singer-songwriter has come to be celebrated for hits like “Body & Soul,” “Lifetime (Dimension)” with Indonesian artist Kara Chenoa, as well as his now-viral rendition of Sitti’s hit song “Para Sa Akin.”

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You can watch their Live Jam performances here.

Follow Rappler on Spotify to listen to more song recommendations from your favorite Live Jam artists. – Rappler.com

The long wait is over for thousands of Southeast Asian fans of American pop star Taylor Swift as she finally brings her The Eras Tour concert to Singapore. 

Her six-night residency at the National Stadium in Singapore started on March 2, with succeeding shows on March 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9, with Sabrina Carpenter as special guest. 

As the only stop in Southeast Asia, a Reuters report noted that it is estimated that 7 in 10 of the 30,000 concertgoers will be coming in from outside of Singapore. 

And a huge number of those are expected to be Filipino Swifties, as it can be recalled that the Philippines had the highest number of fans who secured activity-booking platform Klook’s Taylor Swift concert experience packages. Klook, which is an official partner of The Eras Tour in Singapore, offered various experience packages that bundled concert tickets and hotel accommodations. 

Now that The Eras Tour concert in Singapore is already underway, we’ve rounded up some reminders for fans going to the event: 

Transportation

With about more than 50,000 attendees per show date, expect that the venue and its surrounding area will be crowded. Thankfully, the National Stadium is easily accessible via public transport, making it easier for fans. 

Concertgoers can choose whether to take the MRT (train), bus, or taxi, or even hire a private car service to go to the National Stadium. Organizer AEG Presents Asia released a detailed guide on which lines and bus services to take as well as the nearby drop-off points for the venue. 

Program schedule

Stadium gates will open at 4 pm. Attendees should present their electronic/printed tickets to be admitted. Sections have specific gate numbers where they can enter and security checks will be done for each concertgoer before they’re allowed entry. 

Note that once you’ve entered the concert bowl, no re-entry is allowed. No crossing of section is allowed. 

Children ages three years old and above will be required to purchase tickets for admission. If the parents are not entering their minor children to the show, then they should approach Sports Hub staff for assistance. Crutches and wheelchairs will also be allowed, but will have designated areas. 

Sabrina Carpenter will open all The Eras Tour show dates in Singapore. Her set is expected to start at 6 pm. 

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is expected to kick off the show at 7:10 pm. It is estimated to run for three hours. 

VIP admission and merchandise redemption

VIP packages also include exclusive merchandise such as tote bags, collectible pins, stickers, postcard sets, and lanyards. VIP ticket holders also have designated entrance points depending on their tier. 

They can also redeem their VIP merchandise from February 28 to March 9, 2024 (11 am to 8 pm daily) at Level 1 of OCBC Square. Concert tickets should be presented to redeem the packages. 

AEG Presents Asia noted that all VIP ticket holders must redeem their VIP packages before admission. Failure to collect their merchandise in the given time frame will result in a total forfeiture of their VIP merchandise. 

Merchandise details

Swifties can also commemorate the show by buying souvenir concert merchandise! Thankfully, booths will operate from February 29 to March 9 so fans can allot several days to secure their desired goods. 

On February 29, March 1, 5, and 6, fans can buy Taylor Swift merchandise at the Stadium Riverside Walk and OCBC Square from 11 am to 6 pm. 

For show dates – March 2 to 4 and 7 to 9, the merchandise booths at Stadium Riverside Walk and OCBC Square will operate from 11 am onwards. There will also be booths only available for concert ticket holders at the South Dome Deck and Pitch Stand, National Stadium from 4 pm to 9 am. 

As per AEG Presents Asia, no overnight queuing for the merchandise booths is allowed. Refunds and exchanges are also not allowed once buyers have left the counter. Payments should only be made through card as they won’t be accepting cash.  

Here’s the prices of the merchandise if converted to Philippine peso. (SG$1 = P41)

• Black Tour Tee – S$60 (P2,499)
• Event Tee – S$60 (P2,4998)
• Black Tour Hoodie – S$105 (P4,375)
• Beige Tour Hoodie – S$105 (P4,375)
• Mineral Wash Crew Neck – S$90 (P3,750)
• Midnight Blue Long Sleeve – S$80 (P3,332)
• Quarter Zip Pullover – S$90 (P3,750)
• Bracelet – S$45 (P1,875)
• Water bottle – S$35 (P1,458)
• Tapestry – S$45 (P1,875)
• Tote Bag – S$40 (P1,666)
• Event Poster – S$45 (P1,875)

There’s also a retail pop-up store located at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center but fans should pre-register for a slot before going there. It will be open from 11 am to 9 pm for February 29, March 1, 5 and 6, while 11 am to 6 pm for March 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. 

Prohibited items

AEG Presents Asia also provided a detailed list of items that will not be allowed inside the stadium. Some reminders include: 

• No animals, except for certified disability service animals. 
• No umbrellas, including collapsible ones. 
• All friendship bracelets have to be worn on an arm or placed in a bag.
• Liquid containers and water bottles must be emptied before entering the venue. Only plastic bottles are allowed. No bringing of glass or metal bottles. 
• Maximum bag size is 35 cm tall, 30 cm wide, and 20 cm deep. It should only have a maximum of two compartments. Bags need not be clear. 
• No hand sanitizers exceeding 60 mL. 
• No weapons of any kind, as well as flammables and aerosol containers. 
• No bringing of outside food or beverages (including alcoholic ones). No vapes, cigarettes, and illegal substances. Food and beverages are available for sale inside the venue. 
• No flyers, banners, and signs larger than A3 size (11’’ x 17’’). No political signages. 
• Only personal cellphones are allowed. Professional cameras, video cameras, Polaroid cameras, film cameras, drones, iPads, laptops, GoPros, tripods, selfie sticks, and attachable/detachable lenses are not allowed. 
• No live streaming of the show. 

The Eras Tour serves as Swift’s first stadium tour in five years. It kicked off in the US in March 2023 and is expected to end by December 2024 after 150 shows.

According to the Guinness World Records, The Eras Tour has officially been named the highest-grossing music tour ever. It’s the first concert tour to generate over $1 billion in revenue. – Rappler.com

Raye won six awards, including for artist of the year, album of the year for My 21st Century Blues and song of the year for “Escapism.”

The 26-year-old also triumphed in the genre category for R&B act and was named best new artist. Her tally of seven nods had broken the record for the most nominations by a single artist in any one year, according to the annual ceremony’s organizers, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Raye, who parted ways with her record label in 2021 to work as an independent artist after she said the label had withheld her debut album, began early celebrations this week, when she was named BRITs Songwriter of the Year. She is the first woman to win the award since its launch in 2022.

“You just don’t understand what this means to me,” a tearful Raye said in her acceptance speech for album of the year, while standing next to her grandmother, whom she also thanked for “her prayers”. 

“I’m so proud of this album. I’m in love with music. All I ever wanted to be was an artist and now I’m an artist with an album of the year.”

Jungle won group of the year, while rock band Bring Me the Horizon won the alternative/rock act category, beating the likes of Blur and The Rolling Stones.

Blur, who had three nominations, went home empty handed.

Dua Lipa, who also had three nominations, won pop act.

More than half, 55%, of this year’s nominations featured women – either as a solo artist or as part of an all-woman group, the BPI said.

Artist of the year is a gender neutral category now counting 10 nominees after organisers doubled its number following an outcry over an all-male list of contenders last year.

US singer SZA won the gender neutral international artist of the year category, which also now counts 10 nominees, beating the likes of Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. The latter won international song of the year for her hit “Flowers”.

Indie rock band boygenius won international group of the year

Ahead of the awards, Kylie Minogue was named as this year’s BRITs Global Icon, while indie rock band The Last Dinner Party were revealed as winners of the rising star award. – Rappler.com

The 30-year-old software engineer, who heads a Philippines group of Swifties, as fans of the singer are known, flew in from Manila on Friday, March 1, with 17 friends.

She is spending at least $6,000 on her flights, concert tickets and accommodation. That is slightly above the average annual household income in her home country.

“This is the biggest amount I have spent for a concert. I never really spent big … for someone else, just Taylor Swift,” said Suizo, who has splashed out on a VIP ticket costing more than S$1,000 ($745). She plans to see three of Swift’s six performances in Singapore.

Suizo is among thousands of Swifties descending on Singapore this week from all over Southeast Asia to catch the American star’s Eras Tour, giving the sluggish local economy a much-needed boost.

Swift is this week playing six sold-out nights in Singapore, her only stop in Southeast Asia.

Chua Hak Bin, an economist at Maybank, estimates that seven in 10 of the 300,000 concertgoers will be coming in from abroad, spending between S$350 million and S$500 million ($260 million to $370 million) on hotels, food and entertainment.

By comparison, the F1 Singapore Grand Prix has generated around S$2 billion ($1.5 billion) in tourism receipts since it started in 2008, according to the trade ministry.

Meanwhile, analysts at HSBC say hotel rooms in Singapore now cost 30% more than in pre-pandemic 2019.

Edmund Ong, general manager at Trip.com Singapore, said that from 1-9 March, the cost of flights into Singapore nearly tripled while accommodation bookings almost quintupled. Bookings for attractions and tours shot up by more than 2,300%.

Economic growth in Singapore slowed to 1.1% last year from 3.8% in 2022, with growth of 1%-3% expected this year, according to the government.

Last month, the government said it had given Swift a grant to play in Singapore. It did not disclose how much but said the concerts were “likely to generate significant benefits to the Singapore economy, especially to tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and dining”. 

The announcement annoyed other countries in the region, with the Thai prime minister saying the grant was made on condition that it would be Swift’s only show in Southeast Asia, while a Filipino lawmaker said it “isn’t what good neighbors do.” Singapore’s government did not confirm the exclusivity clause.

Singapore has seen a boom in concerts since pandemic lockdowns ended, with big names like Blackpink, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran playing sold-out shows. – Rappler.com

All the British performances of The Sunrise Tour, including in London, Nottingham, and Liverpool, were showing as canceled on the Ticketmaster website. It was due to begin on March 1.

“I’m so devastated, I can’t believe the UK won’t let me in. I’ve spent a half million dollars in production of my own money to put this tour together only to be denied entry days before my shows,” Ja Rule said on social media site X late on Tuesday.

“The UK is one of the few European countries that restricts entry to people with criminal records.”

The Grammy-nominated rapper, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, served about two years in prison on gun and tax evasion charges.

He pleaded guilty in 2011 to failing to file tax returns over a five year period and pleaded guilty to a weapons possession charge in 2010.

In a follow up post on Wednesday, Ja Rule said the promoter had assured his team that the criminal record would not be an issue.

British government guidance says permission to enter will be refused where someone has been convicted of a criminal offense, either in Britain or overseas, for which they received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.

Ja Rule secured a Grammy nomination for his 2001 album Pain Is Love and has appeared in several films, notably 2001’s The Fast and the Furious.

In a separate incident in 2022, US rapper Lil Wayne was denied entry into the UK where he had been scheduled to perform at a British music festival. Organizers said the refused entry was a last minute decision by the Home Office.

Lil Wayne had previously been sentenced to one year in jail in 2010 relating to a gun possession charge. – Rappler.com