Cup of Joe/Instagram
Original Pilipino Music (OPM) is having a moment, and Cup of Joe is taking it beyond local playlists. The breakout band has scored an international nomination after its chart-topping single Multo was named a finalist for Best Song Asia at the second Music Awards Japan.
The recognition places the Filipino hit alongside some of Asia’s biggest releases, further cementing the growing global presence of OPM in mainstream music conversations.
At this year’s competition, Multo will compete against Table Bale by Silent Open Up, as well as entries from South Korea, including Dash by Plave, Drowning by Woodz, and Golden.
Organizers said the Filipino entry emerged after a regional selection process that also featured fellow OPM standouts Dionela with Marilag and Earl Agustin with Tibok.
Launched in 2025, the Music Awards Japan has quickly positioned itself as one of Asia’s major music platforms, with support from Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association and Japan’s leading music industry groups.
For Cup of Joe, the nomination comes on the heels of a breakout year. The group’s emotional anthem Multo became the most streamed track on Spotify Philippines in 2025, while the band also ranked among the platform’s most-played local acts.
The momentum carried overseas as the band recently wrapped up a sold-out run in the United States, introducing its signature sound to Filipino and international audiences abroad.
Now, with a fresh EP titled Sandali and a major Asian music nomination on the horizon, the band heads into June with another milestone as winners are set to be announced on June 13.