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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider Spotify unveils Balasa to celebrate SB19's 'Simula at Wakas' era

Spotify unveils Balasa to celebrate SB19's 'Simula at Wakas' era

Published May 28, 2025 08:56 pm
SB19 (Spotify)
SB19 (Spotify)

Filipino boy band SB19 and Spotify have teamed and launched Balasa, a new in-app experience to mark the group’s “Simula at Wakas” chapter. 

Live on Spotify, Balasa invites A’TIN to go beyond streaming and experience “Simula at Wakas”in a whole new way. 

The journey starts on the This Is SB19 playlist, where five tracks each hold a hidden Balasa card — one for every member of the group. 

To complete the quest, fans can stream and share the right songs, with clues hidden in Canvas: the looping visuals that play on each track. The more A’TIN engage and share, the more surprises may unfold along the way. 

Balasa is just one of the ways Spotify is leveling up this era for A’TIN. Earlier this month,  SB19 hosted the first-ever Spotify Listening Party fronted by a Filipino act, bringing “Simula at Wakas” directly to almost 20,000 listeners in 25 markets. 

“It was our first time doing something like this, and we were so excited to do it with Spotify. The energy from A’TIN was incredible,” said SB19. 

Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin walked fans through the EP in real time — sharing stories behind the songs, answering questions live, and giving A’TIN a front-row seat to their creative process. 

Pablo revealed that Shooting for the Stars was originally written for “Pagtatag!” but found its place in this new chapter. 

Stell said, “We hope when you listen to the song, you remember: your moment is coming. You’ll shoot for your own star, too.”

To gear up for SB19’s two-night “Simula at Wakas” World Tour kickoff concert happening on May 31 and June 1, Spotify is giving fans the ultimate soundtrack with a takeover of The Setlist playlist until June 7 — a pre- and post-concert companion that spans every SB19 era. 

“From our Go Up days to this new chapter, our journey has always been about the music, the moments, and the fans who’ve been with us every step of the way. “We’re grateful to have Spotify with us again for this era — not just to share our music, but to build experiences that bring us and A’TIN closer,” said SB19. 

Since joining the platform, their streams have grown by 153% year-on-year. Their top five most-streamed tracks on Spotify — MAPA, GENTO, Hanggang Sa Huli, DAM, and Bazinga — showcase the group’s musical range, spanning heartfelt anthems to high-powered hits.

SB19’s global listenership also continues to expand, with strong audiences in the United States, Canada, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. 

Their This Is SB19 playlist has seen a 160 percent year-on-year increase in followers, becoming the fandom’s one-stop destination for streaming every SB19 era, from their earliest singles to their boldest chapter yet.
Balasa in-app experience (Spotify)
Balasa in-app experience (Spotify)

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