Rock Band KEETH Crowned Champion; SHIYIN and The Band Named Runner-Up, Both to Represent Malaysia in Bangkok
The Asia New Beat Malaysia Division Grand Final concluded successfully on the night of March 15 at Hard Rock Cafe Genting Highlands. A total of 10 original artists and bands from across the country delivered dynamic and creative performances, showcasing the originality and stage presence of Malaysia’s emerging music talents.
After evaluation by a panel of three distinguished judges, rock band KEETH was crowned Champion, impressing with their high-energy and powerful live performance. Meanwhile, SHIYIN and The Band, led by Zheng Si En (SHIYIN)** and known for their jazz-influenced style, secured Runner-Up with their refined musical arrangements and polished stage delivery.
The Champion and Runner-Up received USD 3,000 and USD 1,000 in prize money respectively. Both acts will represent Malaysia at the Asia New Beat Grand Final and Music Festival, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on March 21, 2026.
At the Grand Final, they will compete alongside six outstanding acts from Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea, vying for the title of Asia Grand Champion, a USD 10,000 cash prize, and the opportunity to receive up to USD 100,000 in artist development support, including production, promotion, and regional touring opportunities.
The Chairman of the judging panel, Zorro Xu (Xu Xiaofeng) — former President of Warner Music China and founder of Star Nest and Cisumverse — commented:
“Asia New Beat serves as a discovery platform for independent artists across Asia. Each year, we select outstanding original talents and support them through incubation and resources, enabling them to enter the global music industry.”
Malaysia co-organizers OnMuse and SWYM, represented by judge Ong Peng Chu, also expressed strong praise for the finalists. He noted that the Top 10 artists demonstrated exceptional originality and performance quality, and hopes that platforms like this will continue to inspire and nurture more outstanding original musicians in Malaysia.
Asia New Beat is initiated and organized by Star Nest, an Asian independent music promotion platform dedicated to discovering the next generation of original talents and building bridges between Asian artists and the global music stage.
With the Malaysia champion now crowned, all eyes turn to the upcoming Asia Grand Final in Bangkok, where top talents from across the region will compete for one of the highest honors in Asian original music.
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