A night of celebrating local breakthrough acts, highlighted with the most memorable songs of the ‘90s from OPM legacy band Rivermaya, made the MYX Music Awards 2019 the best ever yet, capped with Kapamilya star Nadine Lustre emerging as the most triumphant with four wins in the much-awaited event.
Nadine took home Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Media Soundtrack of the Year for Prom with James Reid, and Music Video of the Year for her single St4y Up, directed by Petersen Vargas.
This year’s MYX Magna awardee, Rivermaya, was given a heartwarming performance tribute, reliving the legacy of its past and present members and remembering the band’s contributions to the music scene for the last 25 years.
Moira dela Torre and husband Jason Hernandez perform Tagpuan
Guest performers Jolina Magdangal, Jona, Julie Anne San Jose, Juris, Maysh Baay and Moira dela Torre sang Rivermaya’s biggest hits — 214, Awit ng Kabataan, Elesi, Himala, Liwanag sa Dilim and Ulan.
Rock band Juan Karlos, led by frontman JK Labajo, also won big after winning the highly-coveted Song Of The Year award for the song Buwan.
Star Music artist Moira, meanwhile, won Collaboration of the Year for Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw with December Avenue and Mellow Video of the Year for her hit song Tagpuan.
BoybandPH is Group of the Year
Darren Espanto and I Belong to the Zoo also nabbed two awards each — Darren with Male Artist of the Year and Remake of the Year for Dying Inside to Hold You, and I Belong to the Zoo with New Artist of the Year and MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year.
The celebration began with a grand musical act by KZ Tandingan and Acapellago. The awards night also featured special numbers from Janella Salvador who performed her new track Take It Easy, Ben & Ben, Moira and husband Jason Hernandez, St. Wolf, This Band and Unique.
I Belong to the Zoo, winner of New Artist of the Year and MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year
This year, MYX partnered with Spotify to present the Most Streamed Local Artist award to Moira based on the streaming service’s 2018 Wrapped data. The Idol Philippines judge, also Spotify’s most streamed female artist for 2018 in the country, warmly received the inaugural award.
Moira and Ben&Ben also surprised the audience with a special Spotify Jams session live at the MYX Music Awards where they sang classic love songs Beautiful Girl by Jose Mari Chan and Naaalala Ka and Maging Sino Ka Man by Rey Valera.
Guest performer Janella Salvador
Other awardees were BoybandPH for Group of the Year, IV of Spades with Rock Video of the Year, Shanti Dope with Urban Video of the Year, Maris Racal for Music Video Guest Appearance of the Year (for Iñigo Pascual’s Lumang Tugtugin), and AC Bonifacio as MYX Celebrity VJ of the Year. Fake Love by BTS is this year’s International Video of the Year.
Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, Barbie Imperial, Paulo Angeles, PBB Otso’s Andre Brouillette, Lou Yanong, Fumiya Sankai and Yamyam Gucong, Kristel Fulgar, Ria Atayde, Jake Cuenca, CK Kieron and Vivoree Esclito were some of the award presenters.
MYX Magna awardee: Rivermaya’s Mark Escueta (and son Pele), Nathan Azarcon and Mike Elgar.
The ‘90s-themed gathering of today’s hottest musicians, held at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent, was hosted by the MYX Squad — VJs Ai dela Cruz, Iñigo, Robi Domingo, Samm Alvero, Sharlene San Pedro and Sunny Kim.
The #MYXMusicAwards 2019 Red Carpet Special followed by the main show will air again on MYX on May 25 at 3 p.m., and on June 12, 7 p.m.