In an exclusive interview with Good News Pilipinas, Hollywood-based Filipino-American reporter MJ Racadio, celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to entertainment media, opened up about his For Your Consideration Grammy campaign and his journey back into the music industry. Known for his show Blog Talk with MJ Racadio, Racadio has spent a decade spotlighting Filipino and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) talents in Hollywood. In a candid conversation with Atom Pornel, Racadio discussed his recent ventures, including his latest Filipino-language music release, Lumayo Ka Man.
Reflecting on his roots, Racadio shared, “I grew up in the Philippines as a teenager, and I listened to the 90s music. So mid-90s, I was there in the Philippines and then I left. So all of these songs… have been a classic, right? It’s been sung in karaoke.” Driven by nostalgia and a deep admiration for the late singer Rodel Naval, he chose to cover Naval’s hit Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin, which he recorded under the name Mario Racadio. MJ credited Rodel Naval’s family for permitting him to remake the beloved ballad, expressing his gratitude for their support.
EXPERIENCE MJ Racadio’s Grammy journey as he performs ‘Lumayo Ka Man’ live in Hawaii
Racadio’s reimagined version of Lumayo Ka Man premiered with a new music arrangement by Rasek Ortega, paired with an evocative music video. The video was honored at the 2024 International Music Festival Manhattan in New York City, and Racadio described the production as a deeply personal endeavor: “100% it was my whole entire idea. I’m the executive producer of the music video… I gathered all my team, my Hollywood team, and said, ‘Hey, do you want to be part of this project?’”
His efforts have also led to a significant milestone for Filipino music as Lumayo Ka Man became eligible for consideration at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This submission marks the first time a Tagalog Original Pilipino Music (OPM) song has been entered for the Grammys. “I submitted it… for the Grammys for Best Music Performance. So meaning to say, I’m not yet nominated,” Racadio clarified, adding, “But just to put your song in the ballot, it’s already an honor and representing the Philippines.”
Beyond music, Racadio emphasized the importance of actively campaigning within the Grammy community, likening the effort to a political campaign: “I am campaigning because I know… the Grammys have popular categories. But behind the scenes… I am actually campaigning in the mainstream… because there are about 12,000 Grammy voting members.” As part of his campaign, Racadio was featured in Billboard Magazine’s Grammys Preview special edition, a significant step in gaining recognition among Grammy voting members. “The fact that I’m there is so surreal. I’ve been reading the magazine since I was young… it’s a dream come true,” MJ shared.
Take a look at some snips of the Billboard Magazine where MJ Racadio is featured along with other Grammy hopefuls:
An advocate for Filipino representation, Racadio expressed his passion for uplifting OPM on the global stage: “I just want to uplift the original Filipino music… if no one is doing it, I will do it. Because I’ve been promoting so many artists, I’m just happy to be the one to promote my own.” His campaign for Lumayo Ka Man exemplifies his dedication to Filipino artistry and the pride he holds for his heritage.
The result of the voting for Grammy Nominations will be announced on November 08, 2024. Watch the 2025 GRAMMYs nominations live on live.GRAMMY.com and YouTube starting at 7:45 a.m. PT / 10:45 a.m. ET. Here’s how to watch it live:
CATCH a sneak peek into our exclusive interview with MJ Racadio here:
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