BMBX: apl.de.ap sets up own music management label

MANILA, Philippines - Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas has taken the cudgels for young, talented and aspiring music artists from Asia by opening doors for them under BMBX, a new Southeast Asian-based content and artist development and brand marketing company.

BMBX’s portfolio declares its mission to help “amplify regional artistry and invest in content to attract large audiences, and in turn, connect brands to the audiences and consumers. BMBX will be the region’s stage for fresh new entertainment that can be proudly and profitably celebrated with the world, while being Southeast Asia’s advertising and marketing “go-to” reaching targeted audiences and consumers throughout the world efficiently through the influence of music and entertainment.”

“BMBX will represent the next generation ‘merger’ of entertainment company and brand agency: Offering artists world-class production and marketing know-how; and advertisers’ unparalleled access to top artists and their audiences, spanning genres, lifestyles and demographics through custom campaigns involving curated artists, music, video content and lifestyle.”

Recently, BMBX held a showcase of its first pool of talents, coming from the different Asian countries — the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore — at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City. The event was presented by Curve Entertainment led by its CEO Narciso Chan Jr., who will also be BMBX’s official partner in the Philippines. Curve Entertainment is an emerging local artist management & recording company.

Chan promises a more exciting music industry with the entry of BMBX. “We give kudos to apl and his team because here we see a company that is committed not just to discover talents from where we are in this side of the world with the hope of providing them a platform for world recognition in the long run,” he said adding that they are happy to be chosen to be BMBX’s Philippine representative in such a worthwhile endeavor.

The showcase at Hard Rock wowed the crowd with electrifying performances by newly-minted artists The Lion City Boy, Jessica Reynoso, Thanh Bui and Miguel Antonio.

Kevin Lester is The Lion City Boy from Singapore, a rapper, producer and music activist who has been seen on TEDxSingapore.

Fourteen-year-old Miguel was discovered via YouTube singing the Les Miserables anthem I Dreamed A Dream in 2010. In 2011, he participated in a cross-continental talent search by David Foster and earned him a slot at the David Foster and Friends concert.

Jessica is a 17-year-old talent of African-American and Filipino descent and was one of The Voice Philippines Top 4 in 2013, under the mentorship of apl.de.ap. She appeared on TV for a competition in Pop Star Kids.

Thanh is a Vietnamese-Australian singer-songwriter and former member of the Australian boy band North whose hit songs spanned Asia and Australia. He is known for his Top 10 finish in the Australian Idol.

As an international songwriter, he continues to write chart hits throughout the world, including the TV series MTV’s Real World and some well-known artists in Korea and Japan. Thanh is one of Vietnam’s most successful artists.