User:Relayed/sandbox

2016–2018: Formation and early years

The Korean Wave became a prevalent cultural phenomenon. It led to K-pop's increase in popularity in the Philippines, receiving substantial fanfare,^[4][5] though locally based pop groups were unpopular.^[6] The South Korean comedian Jung Sung-han, a former member of the comedy trio Cult Triple,^[7] established the talent agency ShowBT Philippines Corporation^[8]—a subsidiary of the South Korean entertainment company ShowBT^[9]—headquartered in Makati, Philippines.^[10] Its formation was part of his goals of localizing K-pop and Korean culture in other Asian markets.^[8] He finds the Philippines among the appropriate countries to establish a "cultural hybrid", citing the Filipinos' fluency in English, a considerable K-pop fandom, and a far more open local entertainment market as strength points.^[7][9]

The talent agency began searching for local talents in 2016 who would undergo similar training procedures as K-pop idols before debuting as a boy band,^[2] narrowing three hundred auditionees down to seven through a series of evaluations.^[11][12] The band members described the training process as "motivating at first but [...] very exhausting", in which they underwent a series of regular exercises, vocal practices, dancing, ballet training, and personality development.^[11] The members' personal lives were restricted, forbidding vices and imposing constraints.^[2] Disillusioned with expectations of lack of success, most members considered disbanding; Stell chose to stay while six of the original seven-member group pulled out, yet three members—Josh, Justin, and Pablo (formerly Sejun)—reconsidered returning to the group.^[11][13] Another auditionee, Ken, was added to the group's lineup. All of them would later become the members who would debut as SB19.^[11]

Initially, SB19 would perform at company events organized by ShowBT.^[9] After about two years of training, the band began their first effort with the soulful ballad "Tilaluha". Their talent agency released it independently on October 26, 2018,^[14] as their debut single. The single received a weak reception and little success. In a retrospective review by Nylon Manila's Rafael Bautista, he believed the song is an "underrated [...] song that deserves praise" and finds the release somewhat high-risk, considering it is "the first song people will get to hear from [SB19]", but he opined that they succeeded in showing their vocals. The group would promote themselves by visiting local shopping malls and schools,^[6] and hosting their first fan meeting, SB19: Start of the Best, which was held in December 2018 across two shows in San Juan and Davao.^[15] Their disappointment in the lack of initial success received from their debut single later led to the group being on the verge of disbandment anew. In a retrospective interview with MTV, Pablo recalled the group not gaining much despite their constant investment and effort: "We have performed in different places, [...] but we weren't really gaining [anything] or earning money. It was really hard to pursue our dreams. You have to provide for your family, you have to provide for yourself."^[16]

2019–2020: Breakthrough and first album

From a pool of songs that the group have recorded thus far, SB19 have chosen "Go Up" as their next single. Pablo revealed that the band had agreed they would part ways if they remained unsuccessful after the release: "We told each other that if this song didn't work out, we would be splitting up".^[16] In the process, they developed a choreography for the song and practiced it a thousand times as preparation. ShowBT Philippines released the single on July 19, 2019,^[17] and a video of the group dancing to the song's choreography was released on YouTube. It emerged as a trending topic on social media platforms and it, as well as the song's accompanying music video, experienced virality. Subsequently, they achieved a mainstream breakthrough and have attracted the mainstream media and press.^[16][18] It opened opportunities for the group to begin appearing on several local television shows,^[19][20] and they have received widespread support from social media users, prompting an increase in social media engagement and following.^[21][22] Retrospectively, Billboard Philippines finds the single "timeless" and a "great introduction to [SB19's] discography".^[23] SB19 received accolades for "Go Up"; it won Song of the Year at the 2020 Myx Music Awards and Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year at the 2020 Wish 107.5 Music Awards.^[24][25] Following the release, the band debuted on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart on November 20, 2019,^[26] and embarked on their first free concert tour, Get in the Zone: Nationwide Concert, to various cities in the Philippines from 2019 to 2020; its first show at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay sold out 3,500 free tickets in three minutes.^[27][28]

Later that year, SB19 signed a recording deal with the record label Sony Music Philippines on December 25, 2019. The same day, they released their next single, "Alab (Burning)", under the label.^[29] The band also appeared on Billboard's Social 50 chart, a first for a Filipino act.^[30] In 2020, SB19's scheduled events were postponed, including a planned concert at the Araneta Coliseum, as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[31][32] Instead, they curated "Ikako", a homage to healthcare workers, and released it as a promotional single exclusively on YouTube on May 15, 2020.^[33] Subsequently, SB19 released their debut studio album, Get in the Zone, on July 31, 2020.^[34] They staged their first livestream concert, SB19: Live from Manila, on November 21, 2020, through the streaming platform Global Live.^[35] SB19 was named as the Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2020 ceremonies of Wish 107.5 Music Awards and Awit Awards,^[36][37] and their single "Alab (Burning)" earned two awards at the 2021 Myx Music Awards for Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year.^[38]

2021–2022: Pagsibol and rise to prominence

2023–present: Self-management and continued success

SB19 released their third EP, Simula at Wakas, on April 25, 2025.

Influences

Musical style and themes

Endorsements

SB19 have made endorsements and partnerships with several brands. Factoring in the band's success, influence, large following, and youth appeal,^[66][67][68] it made them a sought-after figure by companies.^[66] The group have endorsed several retail companies, in which they served as brand ambassadors of the e-commerce site Lazada since 2021,^[67] and supermarket chain Puregold and clothing brand Bench since 2024.^[69][70][71] SB19 have engaged in branded events, including the Lazada Super Show,^[72] Puregold concerts,^[73][74] and Bench fashion show.^[75] The group also collaborated with Puregold on a 2024 limited-edition Puregold Perks Card that featured their photos.^[76]

In finance, SB19 have endorsed the mobile payments platform GCash;^[66] they also collaborated in 2025 in releasing an SB19-themed sticker bundle used to personalize GCash debit cards.^[77] They became brand ambassadors of the electronics companies Acer since 2021 and Xiaomi since 2024,^[78][79] whose branded events have also attended by the group, including some concerts and festivals.^[80][81][82]

SB19 have also endorsed several brands in the food industry. They had a brand deal with the soft drink company Pepsi. The band have also endorsed the instant noodles brand Lucky Me! and promoted Selecta ice cream products.^[66] The group have endorsed the fast food restaurants Pizza Hut, Dunkin' Donuts, and McDonald's, appearing in several commercials promoting the brands' products,^[83][84][85] including the Chicken McDo meal for the latter.^[85] SB19 have also partnered with McDonald's to launch the SB19 Meal,^[86][87] as well as with Dunkin' Donuts in releasing SB19-inspired menu items.^[88]

Philanthropy

SB19 have been involved with several charitable works throughout their career. The band curated a reshowing of their first online concert, SB19: Live from Manila, in 2020 to raise funds for the affected communities in the Philippines impacted by typhoons Goni and Vamco.^[89][90] In 2021, SB19 launched a limited-edition merchandise line, with a portion of its proceeds donated to the purchase of personal protective equipment for Philippine hospitals, including the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), in response to the heightening COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.^[91] Later that year, the band headlined an online concert, Forte: A Pop Orchestra Concert, in support of the Sr. Baptista Battig Music Foundation, an organization helping the underprivileged youth who wish to pursue music.^[92][93] Following the onslaught of Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines in 2024, SB19 organized a donation drive to support the relief efforts for the affected victims.^[94]

At the Wish 107.5 Music Awards, artists, including SB19, receive honorarium payments of ₱100,000 for every award they win, which they donate to charities they wish to support.^[95][96] For their wins at the 2020, 2022, and 2023 editions of the awards, they have donated their proceeds to the Autism Society Philippines.^[97][98][99] At the 2021 ceremony, the band have chosen the House of Refuge Foundation, an organization that provides shelter to abandoned children,^[100] as their donee.^[101] In 2025, the group have selected the Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment and the PGH Medical Foundation as their beneficiaries.^[96]