logo
#SHOWBIZ: Media Prima Audio maintains position as top radio broadcaster

#SHOWBIZ: Media Prima Audio maintains position as top radio broadcaster

KUALA LUMPUR: Media Prima Audio (MPA) continues to dominate the broadcasting world as its two main brands, Hot FM and Molek FM, have recorded extraordinary success.
Hot FM remains the number one radio station in Malaysia with 3.9 million weekly listeners, showing an increase of 3.1 per cent.
This success has been greatly aided by the popular morning segment, Bekpes Hot which increased 12.3 per cent to over 2.4 million listeners.
On the digital platform, Hot FM recorded over 1.3 billion video views.
In addition, Molek FM has now officially emerged as the number one station on the East Coast for the 15 to 59-year-olds.
This station recorded an increase in weekly listeners of 43.4 per cent, bringing the total to 710,000 people.
MPA's five radio brands Hot FM, Fly FM, Kool 101, Molek FM and Eight FM, managed to record weekly listeners of 5.9 million, based on CMV research from January to December last year.
Fly FM remains the English-language radio station that prioritises music and plays 27 per cent more songs than any other station.
It attracts 2.2 million listeners every week.
Kool 101 continues to animate the daily lives of Malaysians with a 22.8 per cent increase in weekly listeners to almost 480,000.
It has also recorded 357 million video views and 17 million interactions on social media.
Eight FM continues to strengthen its position amongst the Chinese listeners with nearly 360,000 listeners, 108 million video views and 16 million interactions on digital platforms.
MPA Chief Executive Officer Nazri Noran said that this achievement proved that Malaysians remained strong supporters of MPA brands.
"We are not just filling airtime, but trying to create meaningful moments in the daily lives of listeners. This success is from the hard work and dedication of our team," he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tears, tattoos, Cartier watches: fan frenzy at BTS army discharge
Tears, tattoos, Cartier watches: fan frenzy at BTS army discharge

New Straits Times

time16 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Tears, tattoos, Cartier watches: fan frenzy at BTS army discharge

SOUTH Korea's Yeoncheon county, just kilometres from the heavily fortified border with the nuclear-armed North, is best known for its honey. But on Wednesday, it was flooded with K-pop supergroup BTS fans. Despite pleas from the band's agency HYBE to stay away from the area where members Jimin and Jungkook were being released from mandatory military service, a screaming, weeping frenzy ensued early Wednesday. Decked out in the band's signature purple, and some even sporting BTS tattoos, fans began gathering at 3am. Some had flown in from Brazil and Indonesia, eager to catch the first glimpse of the pair after their discharge. As the two BTS stars emerged, fans screamed, cried and hugged each other. Wu Ruohan, an 18-year-old Chinese fan, said this was her "dream come true." Their release means that six of the seven members of BTS have now finished their service. The final member – SUGA – is due out on June 21, bringing the group one step closer to reunion and new music. Security moved the cordons to keep fans at bay as Jimin and Jungkook arrived, dressed in camouflage military uniforms, AFP journalists saw. The K-pop idols, who have spent 18 months on the frontline with North Korea serving in the 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade, thanked the crowd for waiting for them. "It's been a while since I've been in front of a camera, and I'm a bit embarrassed because I didn't even put on makeup," said Jungkook, who looked slightly flustered at the mass gathering. Jimin confessed they had gone for a 5am jog, hoping to look their best. The pair bowed to fans and media before getting into a black minivan and driving off, promising to speak on their superfan platform WeVerse later. Online, fans bickered about whether it was right to turn up at the bases, against requests from HYBE and BTS. Before they enlisted, the BTS members had knelt during a live broadcast to earnestly entreat their fans not to show up at army bases as they entered military life. "They're not real fans, the boys even knelt and begged for them to not come," one social media user wrote, sharing screenshots of those at the scene, in a seeming effort to shame them. Experts have said the members will likely have a "visual adjustment period" of a few months, while they grow out their military buzz cuts and hone their K-pop look. Even so, fashion enthusiasts were looking for any scraps of personality amid their military attire, seizing on the watch worn by member V who was discharged Tuesday. His Cartier piece was estimated to be worth around 20 million won (US$14,649). In contrast, his bandmate RM wore an affordable Casio. But to the disappointment of online sleuths, neither Jimin nor Jungkook wore a watch on Wednesday. On Friday, the seven-member group celebrates the 12th anniversary of its debut, known as FESTA. Fans from around the world are pouring into South Korea for the occasion. On Wednesday, thousands of people were seen outside HYBE's headquarters in downtown Seoul waiting for vans carrying the stars to arrive. While waiting to see their idols, fans sang along to BTS songs and chanted 'Jimin, Jungkook,' as multiple local broadcasters aired the scene live. Local media were seemingly taken aback by the huge interest in the releases and called the reunion a "revival of the K-pop industry."

Filipino actor Miko Gallardo opens up about past rape, alleged blackmail
Filipino actor Miko Gallardo opens up about past rape, alleged blackmail

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Filipino actor Miko Gallardo opens up about past rape, alleged blackmail

BL (boy love) actor Miko Gallardo has opened up about being raped, blackmailed, which he said has been going on for 10 years. In an eight-minute video statement on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, June 10, Gallardo — addressing himself as Dwayne — pleaded for his 'freedom' while claiming that he was a victim of blackmail and extortion 'for a whole decade of [his] life,' underscoring that he wanted the alleged abuse toward him to end. 'For the past 10 years — a whole decade of my life — I have been blackmailed and extorted, and I just want it to end. I'm sending this message out to the person, you know who you are, I will not be dropping any names. I just want this to go and end smoothly with peace,' he said. 'Let me go. I want my freedom. I will be talking in English for everybody to understand. I will be as straightforward as possible. I am begging — I am not asking — I am begging for things to end. I want it to end. I want my freedom. Ten years of this blackmail, threats, and extortion, I am done. I will do whatever you want me to do for things to end,' he continued. The actor said he is willing to 'end [his] relationship' and settle things through financial means just to achieve his desired freedom, as he stressed that he is already 'done and tired' of what he had been through. 'You want me to end my relationship? I will do it. You want me to pay you back? I will do it. You want whatever, whatever your reason is, whatever your wants are, I will, I will give it. I will do it. 'All I'm asking in return is my freedom and my peace. So I can go about my days and my life without having to worry anymore. I am tired. I'm exhausted. I want to go home. I miss my grandma. Whatever your reasons are for doing this, I'm sorry. But please, I beg you. Please, let me go. Let me have my freedom,' he said. To explain where he was coming from, Gallardo alleged that he was raped by 'two people whom [he] trusted as older sisters' when he was eight years old, and was 'almost raped by older men' around the same age. 'The only reason why they didn't go through with it was because they almost got caught. But I did not speak up. I was a scared little boy who never talked. But this time, I'll say it all. I don't care. I don't give a (expletive) anymore,' he added. 'At 10 years old, all the way up around 16, 17 — I don't even remember anymore — I had a sexual relationship with an older woman — who was way older. Growing up, that really (expletive) up my mind. Filled my head with anger, lust, and bad choices. And that's the reason maybe why I'm here,' he further added. The actor also revealed that he was 'sexually assaulted' by unnamed individuals in the entertainment industry, while seemingly addressing a certain individual as 'Filipino P,' an apparent play on music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs' name. To note, Combs has been on trial for charges of sex trafficking and alleged racketeering. 'When my career started, I got people sexually assaulting me in this industry, in the acting industry. Yeah, Filipino P* did try to get me many, many times. But I never spoke up. They told me to shut up and take it in and just focus on my career. And that messed me up big time. Led me to bad decisions, bad choices, substance abuse, alcohol, you name it,' said Gallardo. 'They never got hold of me because I always try to find a way to reason out or run away. I was never able to fight back. Because if you do, you know what happens when you fight back in this industry. You know what happens. They bury you. I don't want to be buried. Life is about survival. And right now, I am trying to survive,' he further added. Appeal for survival To end his statement, Gallardo said he is 'begging' to be free from the unnamed individual who allegedly 'has control over' his life. 'I'm here now, though. I'm still alive, I'm still kicking, begging for my life back from that person who has control over me right now. You know what I've been through,' he said. 'You know the sh*t that I had to crawl my ass out of. So let's make a deal. Let's end things peacefully. Give me a chance to live again. But if you give me no choice and just tell me to end my life while you laugh about it or celebrate over it, you tell me I deserve it, then you leave me no choice.' The actor also declared that he is the only person who can end the alleged abuse, while reiterating the aforementioned deal to 'end things peacefully.' 'Who gives a sh*t, right? The world keeps spinning anyways. But let me make a deal. I wanna live. I want freedom. If you still have any humanity and sympathy left in you, let me go. Yeah, maybe I can only blame myself for being in this situation, for trusting you. So only I can end it,' he said. Talks of Gallardo's alleged abuse began last June 4 after he made a cryptic post about seemingly wanting to end his life in a now-expired Instagram Story. The actor is best known for his lead role in BL (boys' love) projects such as My Day and Our Story. He also made an appearance on the noontime show It's Showtime as a contestant of its Bidaman segment. has reached out to Gallardo for further comment about his video statement but has yet to respond, as of this writing. Meanwhile, Gallardo's agency, Oxin Entertainment, said it has been coordinating with the 'appropriate authorities' to ensure Gallardo's mental well-being, moments after the actor alleged that he was a victim of sexual harassment, blackmail and extortion for quite some time. Miko Gallardo 'actively working' with agency after dropping abuse claims. Images: Screengrabs from YouTube/ochomiko Miko Gallardo is 'actively working' with his agency after dropping abuse claims. Images: Screengrabs from YouTube/ochomiko Miko Gallardo's agency, Oxin Entertainment, said it has been coordinating with the 'appropriate authorities' to ensure Gallardo's mental well-being, moments after the actor alleged that he was a victim of sexual harassment, blackmail and extortion for quite some time. In a statement on its Facebook page, Oxin said Gallardo was a victim of a 'certain individual ' and that it ha been reaching out to the proper authorities. 'It has come to our attention that Miko Gallardo recently shared a video on YouTube detailing years of suffering from alleged harassment, sexual abuse, extortion, and blackmail at the hands of a certain individual,' it said. 'Mr Gallardo has reached out to us for assistance, and we are actively working to coordinate with him regarding these very serious concerns, which are significantly impacting his mental health and overall well-being,' it continued. Oxin assured Gallardo's safety and said the matter would be handled with 'utmost seriousness.' 'We want to assure everyone that we are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness and will be coordinating closely with the appropriate authorities to address these allegations. We appreciate your understanding and concern during this sensitive time,' it said. – Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 / 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 / 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim's family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 /email sam@ centres in malaysia).

Comment: Why do the young woo Labubu?
Comment: Why do the young woo Labubu?

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Comment: Why do the young woo Labubu?

A staff member displays a Labubu figurine at a preview exhibition before Yongle International Auction in Beijing, China June 6, 2025. - Reuters BEIJING: It's dangling from Hermès bags in Paris. It's selling out in seconds in Tokyo. In Bangkok, it's now a cultural ambassador — officially endorsed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Labubu, a snaggle-toothed, wild-eyed forest creature from Chinese toy brand Pop Mart, has gone from underground oddity to global fashion icon. In New York, fans are camping outside Pop Mart stores like they were heading to a concert. In London, collectors are clashing over the last blind box. And in Beijing, a human-sized Labubu recently fetched US$150,000 at an auction. The brand's latest feat? A collaboration with Louis Vuitton — the plush gremlin turned luxury icon. All this for a toy with nine fangs, upright ears, bulging eyes, and a grin that teeters between creepy and charming. Half-imp, half-elf, Labubu looks like it crawled out of a fever dream. And yet, it's everywhere. No one knows exactly why. Maybe it's the low-odds, high-stakes thrill of the blind box — that dopamine hit of maybe. Maybe it's the "ugly-cute" aesthetic that Gen Z has fully embraced. Or maybe, in an era of algorithms and sameness, Labubu feels like a "rebellion": a weirdo you can hold in your hand. What's clear is this: Labubu isn't just a toy. It's a statement. A personality. A plush projection of a generation that craves individuality, contradiction, and something that feels imperfectly real. And it's making waves far beyond China. In April, Pop Mart's app became the No. 1 shopping app on the US App Store — the first Chinese toy brand ever to top the chart. Pop Mart's founder, Wang Ning, is now the richest man in Henan province, and his company is rewriting the playbook on cultural exports — one fang at a time. Labubu's rise comes at a time when headlines are filled with tension: trade wars, tech bans, geopolitical friction. Chinese brands face growing skepticism abroad. But somehow, this eccentric yet endearing toy has slipped through the cracks — or rather, danced through them — offering something both unmistakably Chinese and universally appealing. Because the truth is, young people everywhere — in Shanghai, Stockholm, or São Paulo — share something simple: a desire for joy, surprise and self-expression. Labubu is just strange enough, just expressive enough, to tap into that. Labubu isn't saving the world. But it's reminding us that globalisation isn't dead — it's just gotten a lot weirder. And a lot cuter. - China Daily/ANN

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store