A’TIN’s Thoughts on the SB19–BINI Fan War, Coachella, and Going Global

Source: https://billboardphilippines.com/

As an A’TIN and a proud supporter of Filipino music, I’ve been following the recent fan conversations — and let’s be honest, conflicts — surrounding SB19, BINI, and their different paths toward global recognition. With BINI recently getting invited to perform at Coachella, a lot of heated discussions have resurfaced online, and I’d like to share my thoughts on all of this — not as someone choosing sides, but as someone who truly wants to see both groups succeed.

This blog comes from a place of support — not just for SB19, who I’ve followed for years, but also for BINI, and for the growing P-Pop industry as a whole.

Coachella, Rumors, and Fan Reactions

It all started when news broke that BINI was invited to perform at Coachella — a major milestone for any artist, let alone a Filipino pop group. Naturally, many fans expected SB19 to be the first P-Pop act to make it to that stage, and when they weren’t, people started speculating. Rumors began circulating that SB19 had actually been invited but supposedly turned it down due to high costs, while BINI, being backed by a major network, was able to accept. Whether or not that’s true, I think it’s important to say this: Rumors, when left unaddressed, almost always lead to division — especially between fanbases.

Personally, I think artists and their management have a responsibility to address speculation when it starts to cause harm. They don’t need to explain everything, but a simple clarification can go a long way in keeping things peaceful and respectful.

At the same time, I also understand why management sometimes chooses to stay quiet. Maybe they don’t want to distract from current projects. Maybe they don’t want to add fuel to the fire. Silence isn’t always weakness — it can be strategy.

BINI’s Approach is A Different Kind of Risk

In a recent interview, BINI’s management shared how they got to this point. Both SB19 and BINI have the same dream: to make it big globally. But BINI’s team made a deliberate decision to do things differently. Instead of following the usual model — working with Filipino promoters overseas and performing mainly for the diaspora — they partnered directly with U.S.-based promoters.

It was a risky move. They had to work harder, tour multiple cities, sleep on buses, and perform in unfamiliar spaces — all without the guarantee of massive crowds or instant recognition. But the goal was clear: reach beyond just the Filipino audience.

And to me, that was a smart, strategic decision. If your dream is to go global, you need to partner with people who can help you get there. It’s not about whether your promoter is Filipino or not — it’s about whether they’re aligned with your goal.

Is SB19’s Silence A Strategic Decision?

Going back to the rumors about SB19 possibly turning down Coachella — assuming there’s some truth to it — I can understand why they might have done so. While artists don't pay to get invited to perform at Coachella, there are still significant costs and negotiations involved, and in some cases, particularly for less-established acts, the economics may feel like "paying" when all factors are accounted. Take Cardi B for example. Some reports estimated that she lost about $460K in 2018 when other expenses were considered. International exposure is expensive. Coachella involves a lot of costs: logistics, staging, travel, promotion — and most of that isn’t covered by the festival.

If their management evaluated everything and decided it wasn’t worth it at that moment, that doesn’t make them less ambitious. It just means they’re playing a different game. Maybe they believe in timing. Maybe they want to wait until they can fully capitalize on that kind of stage with the right resources and follow-up plan.

To be fair, working with Filipino promoters abroad isn't exactly cheap either. But it often leads to limited growth, since you’re mostly performing to people who already know you. If the goal is to reach new audiences, then at some point, a group needs to take that leap — even if it costs more upfront.

Still, we also have to be realistic: even Coachella doesn’t guarantee global fame. You can perform there and still remain relatively niche. So maybe SB19 looked at that risk and said, “Not yet.”

Investment Vs. Short-Term Savings

For me, the bigger question is this: If the cost is the issue, then what’s the cost of playing it safe? Sure, it might be cheaper now, but if the strategy doesn’t align with your long-term goal, then that “savings” could cost you even more in the future — in terms of missed opportunities.

This is why I respect what BINI’s team did. They made a calculated investment. They chose to take on more work, more risk, and more uncertainty, not because it was easy, but because they believed it would move them closer to their global vision. That’s the kind of thinking I hope more Filipino artists — and their teams — will consider moving forward.

Coachella Isn’t the Goal — It’s Just a Step

To be clear, performing at Coachella doesn’t mean you’ve made it. It’s not the finish line — it’s a platform. It can open doors, but you still have to work to walk through them.

This is why I want to stay balanced in how I view both BINI’s success and SB19’s possible decision not to go. Coachella is incredible exposure, but it’s not the end-all, be-all of going global. What matters more is how an artist sustains momentum, connects with broader audiences, and continues to grow over time.

A Call for Unity, Not Division

At the end of the day, SB19 and BINI are not enemies. They are both lifting up Filipino music and bringing P-Pop to new heights. They’re just taking different roads to the same dream. As fans, we don’t need to fight over who “deserves” what. Instead, we should recognize the effort, the strategy, and the sacrifices both groups are making. We should also allow space for different approaches, and stop treating every milestone as a competition.

Let’s focus less on rumors, and more on support. Let’s cheer for BINI’s win at Coachella, and stand by SB19 as they continue to forge their own unique path. We all want the same thing: for Filipino talent to shine on the world stage.

Let’s get there — together.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/@globalnews