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Paul 'Pooh' Lunt: The Architect of P-Pop's Global Future

Paul 'Pooh' Lunt: The Architect of P-Pop's Global Future

COVER FEATURE: MAN BEHIND THE MOVEMENT
You may not recognize his face, but you're already feeling the shockwaves of his ambition. Paul 'Pooh' Lunt, the enigmatic cultural strategist and founder of Popolo Music Group (PMG), has long worked behind the scenes—but now, he's stepping into the frame to lead the charge for Filipino music on the global stage. Known for his uncanny instinct for talent and strategy, Lunt helped steer the global rollout of 'Gangnam Style' in its early stages. Today, he is reimagining what Filipino pop music can be.
In this rare and revealing interview, Lunt opens up about his Filipino roots, his shift from artist to executive, and why he believes PMG isn't just a label—it's a movement. One that will change the future of Asian music.
Jerry Santos: Paul, thank you for joining us. Let's start at the beginning. What's your personal connection to the Philippines?
Paul Lunt: I'm from an international family. I am a combination of Native American, Pacific Islander, Cuban, Chinese, and Yemenite ancestry, and I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. I grew up surrounded by Filipino values—hard work, humility, and a deep love for music. My childhood was a mix of karaoke nights, home-cooked meals, and multicultural storytelling. Even as I traveled the world, that part of me never left.
Jerry: You started out as a performer. What made you step back from that path?
Paul Lunt: I loved performing, but I realized I was more interested in building stages than standing on them. I found joy in helping others shine—writing, producing, mentoring. That pivot changed everything. I got involved in business development, entertainment infrastructure, and eventually global pop strategy.
Jerry: One of those milestones was your involvement with Gangnam Style . What role did you play?
Paul Lunt: I was part of the international business and strategy team that helped position it for global release. We worked on licensing, digital rollouts, and market penetration. We leveraged the song's popularity to pair it with advertising, which made the artist happy with the publishing deal, and our lives also changed in the process. I was struggling with keeping up with the payments for the two homes I then owned. Now I own five, and they are all paid for. What I learned from that experience was clear: authenticity wins. PSY didn't chase trends—he owned his culture. That's exactly how I approach P-Pop.
Jerry: And that brings us to Popolo Music Group.
Paul Lunt: PMG is more than a label. It's a creative and cultural ecosystem for artists. We train them, protect their rights, give them global infrastructure, and let them lead their own narrative. This isn't just music—it's empowerment.
Jerry: Who are the current PMG acts?
Paul Lunt: Our first wave includes: LUNARIA , our celestial girl group blending ethereal pop and multilingual storytelling. We may change the name as there is another band fighting us.
, our celestial girl group blending ethereal pop and multilingual storytelling. We may change the name as there is another band fighting us. BOLERO BOYS , our emotionally complex boy band with strong visuals and choreography.
, our emotionally complex boy band with strong visuals and choreography. ARIA , a powerhouse female soloist with vocal depth and crossover potential.
, a powerhouse female soloist with vocal depth and crossover potential. CHIQUITA X, our experimental solo artist fusing trap with Filipino folk instrumentation.
And I'm excited to share this: our next big act, THE BOLERO BOYS, is in the final phase of development. They're going to bring modern flair to classic Filipino harmony—think old-school romance meets streetwear swagger.
Jerry: When will we hear the first official PMG release?
Paul Lunt: The rollout begins this September with Aria's debut single, followed closely by Lunaria's EP and Aria's first music video. By December, you'll hear the Bolero Boys. There is already a limited edition of the single She Can Do It All Night out there to test the market. We've been developing everything in-house—choreography, songwriting, even directing. We're making sure every release is a statement .
Jerry: PMG isn't just focused on music production. Tell us about Popolo Live.
Paul Lunt: Popolo Live is our global touring division. We don't want Filipino artists only opening for others. We also want them headlining. We've already launched our Islands Rising series in Manila, Dubai, and Europe. Next stops: Los Angeles, Doha, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney. These aren't dreams—they're being booked.
Jerry: You've expressed admiration for Viva Records. Can you talk about that?
Paul Lunt: Viva built the foundation that made everything we're doing possible. I have deep respect for Boss Vic and Vincent del Rosario. They carried OPM through decades of industry storms. If there's an opportunity to collaborate—whether that's artist mentorship or a joint cultural project—PMG is ready.
Jerry: That ties into the Sarah Geronimo rumors. Are you trying to work with her?
Paul Lunt: [Smiles] I'd be honored. Sarah is iconic. If she ever wants to create a legacy-defining piece with a new generation of talent, we would give her full creative freedom and a global platform. That would be more than a collaboration—it would be history. We wrote five songs for her and we are eager to present them to her and convince her to record them.
Jerry: Where do you see P-Pop and PMG five years from now?
Paul Lunt: P-Pop will be on the Grammy stage. PMG artists will be headlining Coachella. Filipino music will no longer be the underdog. It'll be a standard. And behind it, you'll see a community of creatives who refused to stay silent. That's the legacy I'm working toward.
Jerry: Final message to young artists out there?
Paul Lunt: Own your story. Don't copy. Don't wait for validation. Learn your craft, protect your rights, and be fearless. The world is ready for us. Let's give them something unforgettable.
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How to watch 'Under The Bridge' online from anywhere in the world

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Baby DONT Cry, First Girl Group Hailing From K-pop Icon Psy's Label, Steps Into the Spotlight (Exclusive)
Baby DONT Cry, First Girl Group Hailing From K-pop Icon Psy's Label, Steps Into the Spotlight (Exclusive)

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  • Yahoo

Baby DONT Cry, First Girl Group Hailing From K-pop Icon Psy's Label, Steps Into the Spotlight (Exclusive)

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SB19 Are Ready For Their Next Chapter With Netflix Documentary
SB19 Are Ready For Their Next Chapter With Netflix Documentary

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SB19 Are Ready For Their Next Chapter With Netflix Documentary

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They had just arrived from their long day of press since 5 am. Although most of the members didn't get much sleep, they felt 'pretty good.' They are still adjusting to the time zone. They've just been so busy. Josh laughs, 'I'm always jetlagged.' 'I'm the only member who doesn't feel jetlag,' Stell says proudly. As food is brought to the table, the guys tell me about each dish, including the flavor details ('This one is sour.' 'It's a bit salty.') Ken suggests I try Calamansi Juice, a refreshing Filipino lemonade made with fresh calamansi fruit, sugar, and cold water. He says they all drink it to help with their throat for the concerts. He asks if I like cilantro. I tell him I don't really, which the drink does add a bit of. The conversation somehow shifts towards pineapple on pizza. SB19 all enjoy pineapple on pizza, which they could tell from my face; I did not. Ken laughs, 'I'm sorry.' SB19 in "Pagtatag! The Documentary" on Netflix There is a lighter tone in the air when chatting with SB19 that evening, compared to two years ago, when they felt a bit distant and uneasy. Though the group was all smiles and excited over their tour and the success of 'Gento' and Pagtatag!, it felt like they were holding back throughout the conversation. Ken would barely answer a question with one sentence, but during dinner, he became an open book. Following the events of their documentary, they were able to retain their group's name, 'SB19,' and control their music careers as they wished. Pablo and the others noticed the change in Ken too. 'Before [all of this happened], Ken wouldn't talk – even during our concerts,' says Pablo. Ken wants to improve at being more open and talking, saying he's never been good at it. But, interviews like these have been helping him exercise that skill. 'I'm just trying to help reach our goals,' Ken admits. 'We have the same dream. We have been together for seven years, and we've been through a lot of hardships together – and we overcame all of it. It's made me stronger. It's made us stronger. The burden that I felt that the group felt during that time kind of lifted something inside me.' Ken isn't the only member who has undergone significant changes as a result of the aftermath of their legal battle to maintain their name and identity: all of them have. The entire group has felt more at ease, mature, and has become more passionate about their team goals. 'There were a lot of changes that have happened within us, because of the environment that we were in,' says Pablo. 'We see the responsibility that we have and have grown in maturity, holding onto [our passions and goals]. The team has been solid right now, and hopefully in the future, as we go further, maintain that grit and passion towards the certain goal we want to achieve and get more opportunities to show what we learned from the past and what we have established as a team.' During their Pagtatag! promotions at the beginning of the documentary, Pablo and Justin had become executives in the new 1Z Entertainment company, with each member of SB19 playing a vital role within the organization. They all found themselves having to take on multiple roles beyond being an artist. SB19 in "Pagtatag! The Documentary" on Netflix Pablo, who serves as CEO, found it challenging to juggle his roles as the leader of the group and within the company. He wanted to protect the people working under him from burnout, especially since the company was a startup with new employees to trust and transition the entire company process. He recalls not getting enough rest during that time, as they were attending meetings with their lawyers to reclaim their name. As a small company, they had to work twice as hard during music gigs because the legal issues incurred significant costs. He shares, 'That's one thing that I learned the most in this journey: just listen to people try to explain their thoughts about their feedback and how they're feeling about their work environment.' Ken recalls the struggle of striking a balance between music and management. He says it was a lot for their young age – one night they're performing at a concert, then they're immediately called into a meeting over business situations. 'It was too much really that happened to us,' Ken says. 'We're still young, but it came down like a meteor from the sky. It was so heavy. We were so shocked. We'd have a concert, and then we'd receive a message, and Pablo would call the four of us to discuss it. It was a burden that seemed impossible to overcome. We had a lot of meetings. Can you imagine doing a meeting for 13 hours almost every day? We couldn't use our name for months.' The members would find themselves arguing over minuscule issues due to the stress they felt. It sometimes affected their music and performances, to the point of cancellation of several events. Though it was a challenging time for them, it ultimately brought them closer together as they bonded over fighting for the identity and name they worked so hard to create over the past few years.'What happened to us made us stronger,' says Stell. 'We're very happy as a team, and somehow we treat every problem as a stepping stone to achieving another achievement as a group. We treat all the past problems and issues as our stepping stone to be more solid as a team.'Josh credits their success as a group to them working together by voting democratically. He admits, 'The cognitive skills on how we solve our problems are getting better and better. It makes sense that we are also getting better at managing stress. We're not as rattled as before anymore. We try to come up with solutions as a group rather than before. We were not agreeing with each other. We just try to respect each other's perspectives, and then we come up with it. We learned how to take more risks, especially during this era in our lives.' When pressed for what era SB19 is in now, Josh joked, 'We are in our Tito (uncles) era.' Since their debut in their early twenties, the group has matured and grown wiser. Pablo says the group's dynamics are 'really good' as they've learned to handle their emotions through the last few years. 'If one of us is not in the mood or getting cranky, it really affects the dynamics in the room,' Pablo says. 'It will show in our performance with the bantering. If one of us is not in the mood, then it wouldn't be so connected. We've learned to manage our emotions and how we perform and handle these things professionally.' The documentary was filmed between 2023 and 2024, but couldn't fully discuss the details of the lawsuits. They hope to continue sharing more stories of their experiences, managing their company, and creating new music for their fans. The guys admit that it was a bit difficult for them to reveal so much of themselves in the documentary, especially their thoughts, feelings, and lives. 'Even though we've been here for almost seven years already, we don't get to talk to each other about our personal feelings,' says Pablo. 'To share that with people around the world and have strangers documenting us, it was hard.' Justin thinks back to being followed by the camera crew everywhere – inside their rooms, while preparing for a show, and even as they're waking up in the morning. He says, 'It was very uncomfortable at first, but since we were on tour, we adjusted quickly while doing that. For me, I'm used to talking to a lot of people. [There are moments I wanted to cry] during the documentary, but I didn't have any feeling of doing that because we were in a very serious situation at that time. So everyone was very focused and serious about it. I guess we were all very uncomfortable at first because [it was our first documentary]. It was very new for us.' SB19 in "Pagtatag! The Documentary" on Netflix The group has no regrets about making the documentary. They want everyone to know what happened to them during the entire process. Josh has cringed at himself while watching the documentary because he realized he couldn't control his feelings or what he said. 'I wish I could time travel,' he admits. 'A lot of times, I don't watch my old self. I'm trying to establish more boundaries now. I wish I could take out some clips, but it has a reason to be there. I just remind myself that I'm growing so much.' Stell said capturing this moment in time was crucial for their next chapter in their careers. 'We really faced a difficult situation. [Now we can move on.]' Their latest EP album, Simula at Wakas (Tagalog for 'Beginning and End'), is the third and final installment of their trilogy, establishing a new era and chapter for the group. Pablo says they're at their peak in their career, but also feels like they're just starting as they further establish their company. 'For more than six years, this is the only time we've become solid in our dynamics,' he explains. 'So right now, we're really eager to do more to maximize the time that we have to be able to do a lot of things and take more risks. Who knows what might happen if we don't take the risk now? Then when are we going to take the risk? Are we going to wait? We're not getting any younger. Those are the things that run through our minds. I think Simula at Wakas has awakened that passion again inside of us, even better than what we had during the days when we were starting.' They've begun expanding the company beyond SB19 with auditions to form a new girl group, aiming to grow and expand Filipino music globally. That has always been what SB19 wanted to leave as a legacy in Filipino music and culture. Ken said in the documentary and, again, during the interview, that he would love to bring SB19's name into the global scene and help introduce Filipino culture to the world. 'We're planning for an expansion,' Justin shares. 'We are currently performing and doing some songs, but we're planning to expand and use SB19 to maximize the brand. Soon, they will know the meaning behind [who we are.]' Josh adds, 'We are more than being artists. We are entrepreneurs trying to close the gap in the entertainment industry, especially in the Philippines. We want to be among the first to integrate all these [potential future developments] that can happen in P-Pop [and beyond]. We want to set the standards that we want of the talented artists, creatives, and performers.' SB19 has expanded beyond music and is establishing itself as a movement, venturing into other platforms to introduce new styles and promote the Philippines internationally. Pablo says, 'The standard will go even higher for us to be able to introduce Filipino culture to the world, starting with music videos. We want to have the Filipino standard be on par with the global scale.' The members have a new refreshed stance towards what they want for themselves and their groups. Stell says they're more confident than ever before because 'we have everything that we need with our team.' 'Our dynamics have been very amazing,' he shares. 'We can face our fans very confidently and with energy.' SB19 in "Pagtatag! The Documentary" on Netflix With the documentary, SB19 hopes viewers will see how much they love their fans and the music. Their fanbase may not be the biggest in the world, but 'they're powerful, supportive, very passionate, and loyal.' Justin wants audiences to see the beauty of A'TINs and why those fans have supported them throughout their careers. He explains, 'We're not just performers and singers. We have a bigger goal and dream for Filipino music and entertainment. So through that, I hope fans could help us and support us to carry on these dreams.' Josh also wants those who see the documentary to know that SB19 is also human, just like them, and that they don't have everything figured out. And, despite the troubles they went through, the group kept moving forward. '[We want fans] to see how normal we are,' Josh says. 'We feel sad. We feel happy. We cry. We laugh. We don't figure it all out at once. The documentary isn't perfect, but it's authentic. We want to put out there that this is the authentic SB19. We're gonna be more mature. We're going to get better and better.' SB19 's Pagtatag! The Documentary is now streaming on Netflix.

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