Jameson Distilled Sounds Philippines Crowns ISAY As 2025 Grand Winner
The up-and-coming band took home a prize of PHP 1,000,000, a trip to Ireland, a record label distribution deal with Warner Music Philippines’ distribution arm, ADA, as well as a one-year endorsement deal with Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Isay: courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey Philippines
Isay: courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey Philippines
Jameson Distilled Sounds — Jameson Irish Whiskey’s grand music competition — has officially crowned its 2025 Philippine Grand Winner.
Jameson Distilled Sounds was launched with the goal of supporting rising musicians and giving them access to industry mentorship, as well as a record labelRecord LabelA company that manages the production, distribution, and promotion of music, usually in exchange for a share of revenue. Labels range from global majors to small independents, and in theGo to Record Label Glossary distribution deal with Warner Music Philippines’ distribution arm, ADA, and an endorsement deal with Jameson Irish Whiskey. After editions in South Africa, Malaysia, the UK, Germany, and Portugal, it officially made its way to the Philippines earlier this year.
In collaboration with its official media partner Billboard Philippines and its official record labelRecord LabelA company that manages the production, distribution, and promotion of music, usually in exchange for a share of revenue. Labels range from global majors to small independents, and in theGo to Record Label Glossary partner Warner Music Philippines, Jameson Distilled Sounds Philippines Artist Search was launched, leading to countless acts from around the country to answer the call for applications. Ultimately, 10 finalists — all of whom were emerging independent acts — came out on top to vie for the crown, which namely included Lorenzo Jan, Jeremy Novela, Renata’s Rain, Ezra Celeste, Nin, Angel, Cen, Rachel Gabreza, Saint Cooper, and ISAY.
Ahead of the competition’s finals, these top 10 acts each prepared song they wanted to perform and recorded a special episode of Billboard Philippines Soundwave, with the online performance of each artist’s video, alongside public voting and other criteria, contributing to their final score at the finale.
The grand finale of the Jameson Distilled Sounds Philippines Artist Search was held last December 13, 2025 at 9th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. There, each of the 10 finalists performed a 1-song set, with each performance critiqued the competition’s panel of judges – singer-songwriter Armi Millare, Billboard Philippines‘ Bret Jackson, Warner Music Philippines’ Kelly Mangahas, and Lola Amour’s Pio Dumayas.
After a stirring performance from Armi Millare herself, up-and-coming band Isay were declared as the competition’s grand winner, taking home the crown with their special rendition of Rico Blanco’s “Yugto.” They were followed by singer-songwriters Cen and Angel as the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up respectively.
Speaking exclusively to Billboard Philippines, ISAY expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the win and those who supported during this journey. “We are ISAY and we are thankful sa inyong lahat (to all of you) and for your support. You’re so unstoppable and we are also unstoppable.” expressed the band in a collective statement. “And, as long as you listen to us, as long as you support mga ginagawa namin (what we do), we will continue doing this. We’re so grateful. We can’t say anything but ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.’ Thank you.”
As the champions, ISAY also took home a PHP 1,000,000 cash prize, a trip to Ireland, a record labelRecord LabelA company that manages the production, distribution, and promotion of music, usually in exchange for a share of revenue. Labels range from global majors to small independents, and in theGo to Record Label Glossary distribution deal with Warner Music Philippines’ distribution arm, ADA, as well as a one-year endorsement deal with Jameson Irish Whiskey.
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ISAY won the 2025 Jameson Distilled Sounds Philippines grand prize, singing a rendition of Rico Blanco’s “Yugto.” Cen finished as 1st runner-up and Angel as 2nd runner-up, at a finale held on December 13, 2025, at 9th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City.
ISAY won a PHP 1,000,000 cash prize, a trip to Ireland, a record label distribution deal with Warner Music Philippines’ distribution arm ADA, and a one-year endorsement deal with Jameson Irish Whiskey. The prizes were announced alongside the grand winner title.
The 10 finalists, all emerging independent acts, were Lorenzo Jan, Jeremy Novela, Renata’s Rain, Ezra Celeste, Nin, Angel, Cen, Rachel Gabreza, Saint Cooper, and ISAY. Each performed a one-song set at the finale, critiqued by a panel of judges, after recording an episode of Billboard Philippines Soundwave.
The panel included singer-songwriter Armi Millare, Billboard Philippines’ Bret Jackson, Warner Music Philippines’ Kelly Mangahas, and Lola Amour’s Pio Dumayas. Armi Millare also gave a performance before the grand winner was named, and each finalist’s set was critiqued by the panel at the finale.
Jameson Distilled Sounds is Jameson Irish Whiskey’s music competition, launched to support rising musicians with industry mentorship, a record label distribution deal with ADA, and an endorsement deal. After editions in South Africa, Malaysia, the UK, Germany, and Portugal, it came to the Philippines in 2025.