Music

20 Years Ago, Rivermaya Was Named PH’s Favorite Artist by MTV

In 2005, ‘90s pop-rock band Rivermaya won the MTV Asia Award for “Favorite Artist Philippines” category — a moment that helped Filipino rock music get out of its slump

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Rivermaya Winning the Favorite Artist Philippines Award in the MTV Asia Awards
Rivermaya at the 2006 MTV Asia Awards. Photo from Rivermaya/IMDb (Patrick Riviere/Getty Images Entertainment)

Over 20 years ago, the ‘90s pop-rock band Rivermaya won the 2005 MTV Asia Award for “Favorite Artist Philippines” category, defeating major contenders like Parokya ni Edgar, Radioactive Sago Project, and Bamboo through SMS voting. 

The four-member band was one of the few Filipino acts to travel to Bangkok to represent the Philippines at the Awards, also known as MTV Asia Aid 2005 — an event commemorating the 2004 tsunami, which struck just weeks before the ceremony.

Rivermaya was on a roll in the early 2000s. They won the same award in 2006, right after the release of their piano-driven rock hit, “You’ll Be Safe Here.” This marked a significant moment in the band’s career as they experienced a resurgence in popularity. Having started in the 1990s, Rivermaya had solidified their place in the spotlight for the second time. 

Their win also helped revitalize the Filipino rock scene in the early 2000s, which was experiencing a slump due to the dominance of pop and novelty acts. At the time, many local rock bands struggled to get mainstream attention while the genre’s significance waned. However, Rivermaya’s presence brought fresh energy and innovation, helping pave the way for new bands like Cueshe, Hale, and Typecast, who broke into the mainstream with their own take on Filipino rock music during those years.

Radioactive Sago Project hosted a “viewing party” for the awards show at the now-defunct Fiesta Carnival in Cubao. This gave fans the chance to watch the event live via satellite, at a time when cable television was still a luxury for many. Bands like Radioactive Sago Project helped spread the news that Rivermaya triumphed in Bangkok — a solidarity that pays a testament to their impact on the community. It was no surprise that Rivermaya would eventually become even bigger than they had been in the 1990s.

The MTV Asia Awards featured a mix of international and local artists. From American pop sensation Kelly Clarkson to Indonesian singer-songwriter Anggun, the event was not only a celebration of music, but also a fundraiser for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which devastated several countries in South and Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004.

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