Philippine girl group Bini bursts onto the global stage
Members grow from local reality show sensation to worldwide hitmakers
Nikkei staff
July 29, 2024
MANILA -- First there was J-pop. Then South Korea stole the spotlight with K-pop. Now, breakout Philippine idol group Bini is on the verge of elevating "P-pop" to a worldwide commercial and cultural sensation.
The girl group is riding high after their first solo concert billed as Biniverse, which was held over three days through June 30. The concert was initially supposed to be a one-day affair, but after tickets sold out in less than two hours, more days were added.
"It was great to see them in person," said a 26-year-old fan, JP Chua. "Having watched three K-pop concerts before Bini's concert, I think they did it best."
"The whole vibe was less formal compared to K-pop concerts," said Chua said, noting the chance to take photos with Bini members afterward. "I greatly appreciated the entire experience."
All eight members are from the Philippines. The name Bini is derived from the Tagalog word binibini meaning "young lady."
Bini was formed in 2019 after members passed auditions that were the basis of a reality show. The group made its official debut in 2021 after members completed vocal and dance training.
Aside from concerts, members of Bini have participated in quirky events, including hosting a 5-kilometer Bini Run last month that was open to fans wishing to jog along with the idols.
The cost to join the 5K was 999 pesos ($17) for fan club members. The actual run started at 6 a.m., with the venue open to participants at 4 a.m. Despite those hours, throngs of fans -- who call themselves "Blooms" -- showed up for the run.
Last year's release of the single "Pantropiko" became an overnight sensation. The music video has received more than 54 million views on the group's official YouTube channel and is also popular on TikTok and other social media platforms.
The dance moves featured in the video have also become a phenomenon. K-pop girl group UNIS released a cover of the song.
The song was also featured in a cheeseburger commercial for Jollibee, one of the Philippines' most popular fast-food chains. Samsung Electronics, Unilever and other multinational companies are working with the group on marketing campaigns as well.
Bini in June became the first artist from the Philippines to make the global Spotify Top Artists chart. The group has its sights set on the global market, releasing an all-English single in July and planning concerts in Canada and the U.S. in August.
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