The white-and-orange Wish 107.5 bus, synonymous with our childhood soundtrack, just turned the spotlight on music’s brightest stars by announcing the winners of its 10th Wish Music Awards (WMA) on Jan. 19, 2025. The radio broadcasting company held its 10th awards night at the Araneta Coliseum.
A decade in, Wish 107.5 has not only revolutionized the way we listen to music but also elevated Filipino artists to national and international recognition through this prestigious event. At every Wish Music Awards, P100,000 is donated to the chosen beneficiaries of the major award winners, in addition to the P25,000 cash prize they receive. This year, 10 remarkable organizations are benefiting from this generous initiative.
Winners
The prestigious event saw BINI winning the Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year for their hit song, “Karera,” which benefited the Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment (L.I.F.E) Inc. Other notable nominees in the category included ena mori with “Heartache Generation,” Maki’s “Dilaw,” PABLO’s “edsa” and TONEEJAY with “711.”
Meanwhile, SB19 clinched the Wishclusive Ballad Performance of the Year for its emotional track “Ilaw,” with its chosen beneficiary being the same foundation, L.I.F.E Inc. In the Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year category, Jay R emerged as the winner with “Guiding Star,” a song that supported the Enhancing Nurturing Disciplining Empowering Restoring Daycare Inc. (IT Tender).
Dilaw’s “Orasa” bagged the Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Yearaward, benefitting the Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation Inc.
The Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year went to Loonie for “Tugmang Preso,” which benefited L.I.F.E Inc., and was in competition with DĖMI (feat. Madman Stan) with “homebdy,” HUKBALAHAP’s “Buhay ng Gangsta,” O SIDE MAFIA, BRGR, Al James’ “Kunan Mong Pic” and PLAYERTWO’s “THINKIN OF LOVE.”
Cup of Joe triumphed in the Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year category with “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko,” which supported the PGH Medical Foundation, Inc.
Yeng Constantino’s “BABALA” earned her the Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year award, with proceeds benefiting the PGH Medical Foundation. Wishclusive Collaboration of the Year was awarded to Zack Tabudlo and Al James for their collaboration on “Gusto,” benefiting L.I.F.E, Inc. and the Tondo Community Initiative for Development Foundation, Inc.
In the Wish Pop Song of the Year category, BINI won for their song “Pantropiko,” with the Philippine Foodbank Foundation Inc. as their beneficiary. Stell triumphed in the Wish Ballad Song of the Year category with “Di Ko Masabi,” supporting the Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation Inc.
The Wish R&B Song of the Year award went to Dionela for “sining” (feat. Jay R), which supported both IT Tender and PGH Medical Foundation. Other nominees included Jolianne’s “I’ll Be Somebody You Want,” jikamarie’s “pati ng ulan,” Cean Jr.’s “‘Wag Kang Bibitaw” and Josh Cullen’s “GET RIGHT,” which won the Wish Hip-hop Song of the Year and benefitted L.I.F.E Inc.
Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year was awarded to FELIP for “Kanako,” supporting IT Tender. Noel Cabangon’s “Umaycan” earned him the Wish Contemporary Folk Song of the Year award, with the Tondo Community Initiative for Development Foundation Inc. as the beneficiary.
In the Wish Contemporary R&B Song of the Year category, Arthur Nery won for “Segundo, Siguro,” benefitting PGH Medical Foundation. The Wish Song Collaboration of the Year award went to SB19 and Gloc-9 for their collaboration on “Kalakal,” which supported both L.I.F.E, Inc. and PGH Medical Foundation. Stell also took home the Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year award, benefiting the Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation, Inc., with other nominees Dionela, dwta, Jikamarie and Maki.
Wish Group of the Year went to BINI, supporting IT Tender, while Cup of Joe, Dilaw, Over October and SB19 were also nominated. PABLO won Wish Artist of the Year, benefiting the PGH Medical Foundation, with other nominees including FELIP, Janine, TJ Monterde and TONEEJAY.
Special awards were presented to Ogie Alcasid as the KDR Icon of Musical Excellence, apl.de.ap as the KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy and Stell as the Wishers’ Choice. The Spotify Awards recognized Spotify KALYE Song of the Year for “Babaero” by gins&melodies (feat. Hev Abi) and Spotify KALYE Artist of the Year for Hev Abi
“Time has really flown by. It’s been 10 years since we held the first Wish Music Awards in this very same venue. So many things have changed. And we’ve seen many talented artists emerge. We’ve heard many wonderful songs throughout the years,” Kuya Daniel Razon, the man behind Wish 107.5, shared an inspiring message during the awards night.