JBL reacts to Sound Fest delays amid tension between Paolo Valenciano, Rico Blanco

December 8, 2025 – 6:44 PM

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American audio brand

has apologized for delays at its

Sound Fest 2025

Rico Blanco

and concert director

Paolo Valenciano

In a statement on Sunday, December 7,

JBL Philippines

thanked attendees of the Pasig City show before acknowledging the setbacks. The event featured Rico Blanco, Cup of Joe, HORI7ON, December Avenue, Flow G, Ashtine Olviga, Sean Archer, and Kat DJ.

It then apologized for the “delays and inconveniences” experienced by concertgoers.

“We’re taking this as a chance to learn and improve so we can make your future experiences smoother and better. Rest assured that we heard you. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and unwavering support,” it concluded.

It also promised a “bigger and better” JBL Sound Fest next year.

The statement came hours after Paolo, the eldest of Filipino music icon Gary Valenciano’s children,

during the program as part of the production team.

“Tonight, I lost complete control of our event, which caused a major delay and added two extra hours of work to an already exhausted team,” he wrote on Sunday.

“I sincerely apologize to our client JBL and to my brothers from Cup of Joe (who had to be picked up by motorcycles in traffic jams just to make their new call time). This was my first year with JBL Sound Fest, so I found this incredibly frustrating,” Paolo added.

Cuo of Joe is the most listened-to local artist on Spotify Philippines in 2025.

“We learn new things every day and I know I still have a lot to improve!! To everyone who was there, super sorry,” the concert director continued with a crying face emoji.

He then mentioned Rico, one of the artists who performed at the event.

“And to Rico, my hero, while I sincerely wish you the best, I’ve learned that we’re simply not meant to work together again,” Paolo concluded.

Rico has not yet publicly addressed the issue as of writing.

unfair

“Fair point. But I love my prod team more and I will do whatever it takes to protect them. Even if it means saying the unfiltered truth,” the concert director

responded

with a crying face emoji.

Reports said

the music fest suffered a major disruption after sudden changes to the lineup of performers.

It was alleged that Rico’s team requested that he close the show, a slot originally assigned to the band Cup of Joe.

The unexpected change reportedly threw off the program’s flow, prompting Cup of Joe to rush to the venue upon learning they would be performing earlier than scheduled.