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21 Jun 2023

Sphere Entertainment Co. to Sell Portion of Stake in MSG Entertainment

Sphere Entertainment Co., the company behind an expensive, state-of-the-art venue opening this fall in Las Vegas, is selling about a quarter of its stake in MSG Entertainment — 5.25 million shares of Class A common stock — in a secondary offering, the company announced Wednesday. That amount could grow by 787,500 shares if the offering’s underwriters exercise a 30-day option to purchase additional shares at the offering price. 

At MSGE’s $34.83 closing price on Wednesday (June 21), 5.25 million shares would give Sphere Entertainment Co. proceeds of about $183 million, not including underwriting fees. News of the offering caused MSG Entertainment’s share price to fall 12.1% on Wednesday. 

MSG Entertainment is the live events-focused company that spun off from Sphere Entertainment Co. on April 21. It owns and operates such venues as Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and The Chicago Theatre. Sphere Entertainment Co. includes the $2.3 billion Sphere venue in Las Vegas, regional sports television network MSG Networks. Sphere Entertainment Co. retained approximately 33% of MSG Entertainment’s Class A common stock following the spin-off. After the offering, Sphere Entertainment Co. is expected to retain 25.1% of MSG Entertainment’s Class A common stock. 

Sphere Entertainment is “a highly leveraged business” that “continues to have significant cash needs including continued expenditures on its Sphere initiative,” according to MSG Entertainment’s S-1 registration statement filed Wednesday. In April, MSG Entertainment agreed to loan Sphere Entertainment $65 million in delay draw term loans that are subordinate to the “approximately $1.2 billion of debt of Sphere Entertainment’s subsidiaries.” At $2.3 billion, the Sphere venue in Las Vegas has cost more than $1 billion more than originally projected when the the venue was announced in 2018. In 2019, a more realistic estimate put the cost at $1.7 billion. In the last four years, the Sphere’s price tag was inflated by the COVID-19 pandemic and what the company called “overall complexity” of the one-of-a-kind project.   

Separately, MSG Entertainment will purchase $25 million worth of shares from Sphere Entertainment Co. in a private transaction under its existing $250 million share repurchase program. Thomas Dolan, one of the company’s directors, “has indicated an interest” in purchasing about $10 million of stock at the public offering price, according to the registration statement. The company will fund the purchase with cash on hand and pay the same price the underwriters will pay to purchase shares. The closing of the $25 million repurchase is subject to the closing of the secondary offering. The closing of the offering is not subject to the closing of the repurchase. 

21 Jun 2023

Usher’s ‘GLU’ Hits No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Usher acquires his seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart as “GLU” advances from the runner-up spot to lead the list dated June 24. The sensual single checks into the penthouse after a 16% boost in plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored adult R&B radio stations in the week ending June 15, according to Luminate.

“GLU” unseats Alicia Keys’ “Come for Me (Unlocked),” featuring Khalid and Lucky Daye, after the latter’s two weeks in command. The prior champ slips to No. 3 due to a 13% decline in plays.

With his seventh champ, Usher becomes the seventh male artist with at least as many No. 1s on Adult R&B Airplay since the list began in 1993. Charlie Wilson and his nine No. 1s pace that race, with Bruno Mars, Kem, Maxwell and Tank each claiming eight leaders, while R. Kelly also owns seven.

As the R&B legend sticks “GLU” onto his roster, here’s a look at Usher’s seven Adult R&B Airplay No. 1s:

“Here I Stand,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning Dec. 6, 2008
“Papers,” three, Jan. 2, 2010
“There Goes My Baby,” one, July 31, 2010
“Climax,” one, July 7, 2012
“Don’t Waste My Time,” featuring Ella Mai, two, June 13, 2020
“Bad Habits,” one, Dec. 5, 2020
“GLU,” one (to date), June 24, 2023

The new No. 1 also continues the successful partnership between Usher and two of his noteworthy collaborators – Sean Garrett and Lil Jon, who share co-writing and co-production credits on “GLU.” For the former, it brings the hitmaker his second Adult R&B Airplay No. 1 with Usher, after “Papers.” Both Garrett and Lil Jon are also part of the team behind one of Usher’s most iconic hits, the smash “Yeah!,” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, which ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks in 2004. In addition to that pair, The Avila Brothers also share co-writing and co-production credits, while Usher himself also nabs a co-write claim.

Elsewhere, “GLU” repeats at No. 6 on the plays-based Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, despite a 1% drop in plays in the latest tracking week. Thanks to top 10 showings at both Adult R&B Airplay and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, the song retains its No. 4 best, to date, on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks songs by combined audience totals from adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop stations. There, “GLU” rose to 14.6 million in audience in the latest tracking week, up 6% from the previous frame.

Anchored by its radio strength across the R&B/hip-hop sector, “GLU” climbs 40-38 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, where it registered 17.3 million in total audience. Airplay gains, in turn, spark the song’s 15-13 ascent on the Hot R&B Songs chart, which blends radio airplay data with streaming and sales for its rankings.

21 Jun 2023

On the Radar Latin: Damian, Joaquina, Yadam, & More Emerging Artists to Discover

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors feature a small group of new, or relatively unknown, artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.

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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a half-dozen emerging artists, who we might’ve found anywhere from a Spotify playlist to a music showcase. See our recommendations below.

Artist: Damian

Country: Colombia

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: I saw Damian live for the first time last year during a “Noche Vallenata” night at a local restaurant in Miami, where he always performs. Navigating all the vallenato, salsa, and merengue classics, the Colombian artist’s stage presence, accompanied by his live band, set the vibe for a high-energetic fiesta. His sweet vocal ranges bring to life all Colombian Caribbean flavors by fusing cumbia, reggae, champeta, and vallenato. Earlier this year, the Barranquilla-born artist released “El Amor No Es Amor,” the first single from his upcoming studio album. If this single is any indication, his music is not only feel-good but a reflection of a grateful lifestyle. — INGRID FAJARDO

Song For Your Playlist: “El Amor No Es Amor”

Artist: Joaquina

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Exactly a year ago, singer/songwriter Joaquina was part of the first “graduating” class at producer Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House Academy. Last week, the Venezuelan-born, Miami-raised 18-year-old opened Fonseca’s arena show at Kaseya Center in Miami. Many eyes are on Joaquina, who writes her own material and talks about teenage angst in her indie pop/rock in Spanish. With an assertive on-stage presence, 275,000 Instagram followers, and at least three singles that have over one million streams each on Spotify, Joaquina already snagged a recording deal with Universal Music Latin. — LEILA COBO

Song For Your Playlist: “Los Mejores Años”

Artist: Juan Wauters 

Country: Uruguay  

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Juan Wauters has a modest way of making three-minute joyous folk ditties that observe the simple beauties of existence. That’s what the bilingual Wandering Rebel is: a free-spirited journey with a huge South American heart. Propelled by acoustic guitar strumming, “Milanesa al Pan,” featuring Córdoba singer Zoe Gotusso, is a kitsch romantic duet about enjoying an Argentinian sandwich together. Portland-based Y La Bamba’s voice never sounded sweeter than as a guest in “Nube Negra,” where listeners hear the Queens, New York-based, Uruguay-born singer dreaming of sweeping the black clouds in his mind away. His 12-track album is a dolce, melancholic jaunt with idiosyncratic moments that might too inspire one to reflect on the ordinary pleasures of life. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song For Your Playlist: “Nube Negra” feat. Y La Bamba  

Artist: Kendar

Country: The Dominican Republic

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Kendar caught my attention at a showcase I attended earlier this month. Off the bat, he’s a young-but-old-souled Dominican artist, whose stage presence and potent vocal range ooze passion and maturity. As he grows his social media following, Kendar has stepped into the spotlight with his romantic pop covers, including Ricardo Arjona’s “Hongos,” Sebastian Yatra’s “Como Mirarte,” and Vicente García’s “Dulcito e Coco,” to name a few. The jazz-infused salsa “Se Llevó Mi Alma” is his first original single, which you can enjoy below: — JESSICA ROIZ

Song For Your Playlist: “Se Llevó Mi Alma”

Artist: Lion Dr

Country: The Dominican Republic

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Puerto Rico has Jay Wheeler, but over in The Dominican Republic, they have their very own “romantic voice” dubbed Lion Dr. His debut single arrived in 2021 called “La Nena,” a sultry trap song, followed by his infectious reggaetón single “La Nave” in 2022. But the aspiring artist didn’t stop there: He then brought his somewhat sugary, raspy vocals and flirtatious lyrics to a five-track EP called En Un Viaje, where he delivers some soulful acoustic and R&B tracks as well. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “La Nave”

Artist: Lowis Ye

Country: The Dominican Republic

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With his purple dreadlocks-meet-fade haircut, laidback fashion style, and charming personality, Lowis Ye is bringing a fresh personality to the Latin music industry. The up-and-coming artist got on my radar after he personally introduced himself to me after a Billboard Mujeres panel at the 2023 Premios Heat conferences this month. His voice later captivated me on the award show’s red carpet, where he sang to me in a cappella. Lowis, like Kendar, Lion DR, and Scarlet Evan, are winners of the La Nueva Cepa initiative, which discovers and develops emerging artists across Latin America. With singles such as “Tu Carita,” “KDAV,” and “Un Rato,” Lowis delivers feel-good Afrobeats and urban-pop fusions backed by sweet love lyrics. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “Un Rato”

Artist: Scarlet Evang

Country: The Dominican Republic

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: While many rising Dominican female artists, such as Tokischa and Yailin La Mas Viral, are dropping dembow or bachata bangers, Scarlet Evan is opting for an R&B vibe. The newcomer, who was a promising contestant on The Voice Domincana, will lure you in with her soulful and powerful vocals and elegant aura. In her latest single, “Game Over,” her musical qualities shine in a bilingual track where she chants about discovering her self-worth and moving away from a failed relationship. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “Game Over”

Artist: YADAM

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: There are countless emails that come through my inbox suggesting I should “listen to artist’s new song now,” and while it’s hard to actually listen to ALL that come through, I’m happy I clicked on YADAM’s new song “Beso.” Part of the Venezuelan singer-songwriter’s new EP titled after its focus track, “Beso” is a palate-cleanser with its energetic 80s-inspired vibe where he sings about taking control over his strong emotions ignited by a beso (kiss). Add “Beso” to your playlist but also check out the EP’s other songs, which he’d previously released, such as “Ojalá,” a stripped-down ballad, and the pop, flamenco-tinged “Otras Mujeres,” to really appreciate the artist’s versatility and his ability to blend styles. Up next? The Paris-based artist is set to release his debut album in September. — GRISELDA FLORES

Song For Your Playlist: “Beso”

Artist: Yeisy Rojas

Country: Cuba

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Yeisy Rojas came onto my radar just a few weeks ago, when she introduced herself in an Instagram DM ahead of the release of her song “Mama Ines” — the first single of her upcoming debut album, produced by Gastón Joya (Chucho Valdés’ former bass player) and featuring Julito Padrón. A jazz violinist, singer and composer classically trained in her native Cuba, Rojas played with the National Opera orchestra in Havana before moving to Norway in 2016 to get her master’s degree in jazz violin. Now, as a newcomer performer, she beautifully blends Cuban music, Latin jazz, and some funk while speaking up against racism in her country.

“My message is specifically for my land Cuba, where I hope there will be more equality and rights for our Afro community,” she wrote me about “Mama Ines,” in which Rojas musicalizes a poem from 1930 by the late Nicolás Guillén that is still relevant today: “Ayer Me Dijeron Negro” (“Yesterday I was called a negro”). I am looking forward to hearing the rest of her songs. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song For Your Playlist: “Mama Ines” feat. Julito Padrón

21 Jun 2023

Cardi B Has Thoughts About Missing Titan Sub Billionaire’s Stepson Attending Blink-182 Concert

Amid the ongoing search to locate and rescue five people aboard the Titanic submersible that went missing earlier this week, one of the crewmember’s stepson came under fire for attending a Blink-182 concert in San Diego.

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Cardi B was among those who took to social media to share her thoughts on British billionaire Hamish Harding’s stepson Brian Szasz, posting a video to her Instagram Story on Tuesday (June 20) and telling the camera, “People is like, ‘Well what is he supposed to do? Be sad at the house? Is he supposed to go look for himself?’ Yes.”

She continued, “You supposed to be at the house sad. You supposed to be crying for me. You supposed to be right next to the phone waiting to hear any updates about me. You’re supposed to be consoling your mom and s—.”

The “WAP” rapper concluded by noting, “Isn’t it sad that you a whole f–king billionaire and nobody gives a f— about you? […] That’s crazy. I’d rather be broke. I’d rather be broke and poor, but knowing that I’m loved.”

See her Story before it disappears here.

Szasz himself saw Cardi’s post and went on social media to fire back. “Try to show class for once in your life,” the 37-year-old captioned an Instagram screenshot of a TMZ article reporting on Cardi’s Story.

He continued over on Twitter, tagging the rapper and writing, “What a pos trashy celeb. Cardi B trying to get clout off me and my families suffering. I went to a Blink 182 concert for coping rather than sitting at home and watching the news. Shame on you Cardi get some class!”

Szasz continued, “Cardi B We know all your latest releases are trash but is your career this desperate for attention now??”

Cardi has yet to reply to Szasz’s responses, which you can check out below.

21 Jun 2023

After Bebe Rexha’s Phone-in-the-Face Incident, Should Concerts Ban Phones?

After a fan struck Bebe Rexha in the face with a cellphone during a June 18 show in New York, should the music industry consider banning mobile devices at concerts? For years, touring stars such as Bob Dylan, Jack White and Dave Chappelle have said video-recording on phones have detracted from the live experience — and that was before the airborne cellphone assault went viral on social media. But, experts say, change won’t happen immediately.

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While celebrities and musicians including Demi Lovato, John Stamos, Hayley Kiyoko and Lauren Jauregui all expressed concern for Rexha after she was rushed to a hospital and shared a photo of a black eye after the incident, Steven Adelman, vice president of the Event Safety Alliance, says, “This is not going to change anything — yet.”

“But,” he adds, “it’s the first crack in a wall that eventually is going to fall.”

Whether cellphones take away from the concert-going experience is not a new debate — but Rexha’s attack is the first major case of the devices being used for a violent act. Just last year, Silk Sonic‘s Bruno Mars griped, “With the cameras, you’re like, ‘I don’t know if I want to try out this dance move tonight.’”

“I’ve always thought, at some point, there would be a ban on cellphones because it violates an important piece of intellectual property for the artist — their live performance,” Adelman says. The challenge, he continues, is fans carry mobile tickets on phones and pay for merch and concessions via online-billing apps such as Apple Pay: “There are obviously very strong competing interests here.”

The Rexha concert incident at The Rooftop at Pier 17 is unlikely to spread, though: The alleged assailant, Nicolas Malvagna, said in a criminal complaint that he thought “it would be funny” to throw the phone. He was arraigned June 19 on harassment and assault charges, both misdemeanors. “The key here is that person was arrested and will be prosecuted, and that sends a great message: ‘You can’t do this,’” says David Yorio, who co-owns Citadel Security Agency, which works with concerts and festivals in New York. “There’s no impunity from this.” (The man who slapped Ava Max during a concert Tuesday night in Los Angeles, in contrast, was hauled away but has not been criminally charged.)

Promoters can continue to ban phones at certain events, “just another layer” of security and logistics, Yorio adds, but for larger events, like festivals, “Logistically, it’s a nightmare.”

Certain artists’ anti-phone sentiment is so robust that a startup, Yondr, has spent the last nine years providing pouches for fans to store their phones before attending concerts. Adelman is sympathetic to this approach because artists make most of their money off touring these days, and exclusive concert footage shouldn’t have to turn into free social media content against their will. “People who can just raise their cellphone and hit record are essentially violating a contract with the artist, which is [to] be part of the show-going experience,” he says.

But he adds: “People should not throw phones. And you can quote me on that.”

21 Jun 2023

Celebrities at the Louis Vuitton Spring 2024 Menswear Collection Runway Show

Pharrell Williams made his runway debut as Louis Vuitton’s new creative director of menswear on Tuesday (June 20), when the luxury fashion house unveiled its spring/summer 2024 collection during Paris Fashion Week.

The star-studded event took place at Paris’ Pont Neuf and featured a choir and an orchestra, as the models showed off the colorful new designs on the gold-toned runway. Williams told the New York Times that the theme of his debut collection is “lovers,” as the publication noted that the showcase was full of “printed leather jerseys and rugbys, quilted denim, Mao-neck blazers and ghillie camo with LV logo cutouts.”

The artist was named creative director of Louis Vuitton back in February, taking over the position previously held by Virgil Abloh who passed away in 2021 following a battle with cancer. “Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Pharrell as its new men’s creative director. His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed next June during men’s fashion week in Paris,” LMVH, Louis Vuitton’s parent company shared in a statement at the time posted to the brand’s Twitter and Instagram accounts.

To celebrate his first collection under his prestigious new position, today’s biggest stars gathered to watch the runway show. Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Kim Kardashian and Jared Leto were all spotted front row, while Megan Thee Stallion, Jaden and Willow Smith, Kelly Rowland, Coi Leray, Lenny Kravitz, Maluma and Tyler, the Creator were also among those in attendance.

See below for our gallery of photos showcasing the celebrities in attendance at the Louis Vuitton Spring 2024 Menswear Collection runway show.

21 Jun 2023

Shaggy Talks Developing Signature Vocals, Upcoming Music Festival | Growing Up

In the newest episode of Billboard’s Growing Up, Shaggy reflects on his whirlwind career, including how he developed his signature singing voice and the creation of his smash hit, “It Wasn’t Me.” See the industry titan take a trip down memory lane and tease his upcoming One Fine Day: Sting & Shaggy music festival, which is for September 9, 2023 in Philadelphia.

21 Jun 2023

EXO, Olivia Rodrigo Pace Hot Trending Songs Chart

EXO’s “Let Me In” lands the boy band its first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart debuting atop the June 24-dated tally.

Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running June 9-15.

“Let Me In” is the first song released from Exist, EXO’s to-be-released seventh studio album. The track was released June 12.

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Concurrently, the song begins at No. 5 on the World Digital Song Sales chart with 1,000 downloads, according to Luminate.

“Let Me In” isn’t the only EXO song to reach the latest Hot Trending Songs survey, as “Hear Me Out” appears at No. 4. The song was announced as part of Exist, but will not be released until June 30.

Exist is scheduled for release July 10.

“Let Me In” reigns over Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” which bows at No. 2. “Vampire,” which was announced June 13, will be released on June 30 as the first taste of new music from the singer since her breakthrough debut album Sour, a five-week No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2021.

Doja Cat’s “Attention,” teased during the June 9-15 tracking period but released June 16, starts at No. 3, while MISAMO’s “Marshmallow,” which came out June 15, debuts at No. 5.

Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.

21 Jun 2023

Sodagreen Back for ‘Round 2’: Reflecting on 20 Years as a Band & Ahead to What’s Next

After two decades as a band, Taiwanese indie group Sodagreen has grown and evolved, emerging triumphant and standing on the stage together once more.

For young people, turning 20 can be a defining moment, marking the end of their rebellious teenage years and the start of adulthood. But for a band, reaching the milestone of 20 years is an incredible achievement. What keeps a band together is the relationships between its members.

Everyone has a rebellious period in their life, but it doesn’t always come at the same time. Shin-Yi’s came during his teenage years, while Jia-Kai’s happened in his 40s. For Sodagreen as a group, the rebellious period was during their hiatus. They each explored different paths, living a second life, until 2023 when they reunited under the name Sodagreen and started anew. This is what the band members call “Sodagreen Round 2.”

Regarding Sodagreen’s 20th anniversary, Jia-Kai explains it this way: “When I look back on my life journey, I really don’t have many friends who have been with me for over 20 years. I can count them on my 10 fingers. Friends who have been together for over 20 years won’t fall out and will definitely stay until the end. We are really rare. There is nothing like Sodagreen that has been going on for 20 years in a row.” Faced with Jia-Kai’s emotional perspective, Tsing-Fong jokingly responds in a very Sodagreen-like manner: “I hope you will be a good person in the future, Jia-Kai!”

It’s been 26 years since Tsing-Fong and Shin-Yi first met. Reflecting on their friendship, Shin-Yi couldn’t help but express her amazement: “It’s so scary!” But when they find something they both enjoy, time seems to fly by.

Yu-Chi says Madonna has been their idol for over 20 years. For the past two decades, Madonna has been a beacon of fashion, continuously adapting to the changing times and setting new trends. But it’s not just the iconic singer who has been inspiring fans for so long; Sodagreen has also been a source of innovation and transformation for that amount of time, encouraging fans to explore different paths in life.

On May 30, Sodagreen returned to the same place they said goodbye six years ago: the outdoor stage of the Taipei City Art Square. It was a special day for the band, as it marked the day they released their first single. Shin-Yi said it was a great opportunity to reconnect with their fans in the most direct way possible. It was also a promise that Sodagreen made to their fans — to come back and celebrate together.

Individual Growth & Exploration

Sodagreen’s hiatus was a time of individual growth and exploration for each of the band members. During their break, Jyun-Wei became an investment expert, Jing-Yang a cross-disciplinary curator, Yu-Chi combined classical and pop music, Shin-Yi a concert director, Jia-Kai a film score composer, and Tsing-Fong a Golden Melody king. This time away from the band gave them the opportunity to explore different possibilities and pursue their own personal goals. Sodagreen’s hiatus was a period of growth and development that has allowed them to come back stronger than ever.

Jyun-Wei shared that the most essential part of their growth during the hiatus was not just in music, but in their personal lives. They were able to take the time to get married, become parents, start businesses, and explore new interests that they hadn’t had the opportunity to do before. With the newfound freedom, they were able to do all the things they wanted to do and come back without any regrets. Now, they have the strength and motivation to make music again.

Jyun-Wei found that being decisive was a key lesson he learned during his years away from music. “Investment requires finding the right people to work with, as well as ensuring the product is of a high quality. Rather than just making money, investing provided me with the opportunity to learn about different industries and ecosystems, making it a much more meaningful experience.”

Jing-Yang is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and has worked hard to transform Giant Park into a paradise for both adults and children. He has also taken on the role of mentor and curator to young musicians, offering them the opportunity to learn and grow.

In his own words, Jing-Yang said, “I’m just trying to reach out to different audiences in a different way. Everything I do is rooted in the foundation of the band. Sodagreen is embarking on a new journey, and I’m hoping for the best.”

Yu-Chi has taken his musical journey to the next level by blending classical and pop music. His solo album KUNG’s vol.1 earned him a nomination for best album in the instrumental music category at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards. He has also performed on stages around the world, showcasing his unique sound. During his time away from the band, Yu-Chi went through a period of self-discovery that has resulted in a new musical energy for Sodagreen.

Yu-Chi was deeply impacted by the death of his beloved pet and found himself reflecting on the meaning of separation and death, channeling these honest feelings into his creative work. “I believed that music was a way to learn and grow, and that each member of the band could bring new ideas and sparks to our performances by sharing our life experiences. Together, we could create something truly special.”

Shin-Yi became a successful concert director during the hiatus and welcomed a second child into her life. Shin-Yi’s journey from the stage to the director’s chair was nothing short of remarkable. “It’s all about serendipity. I took on the role of concert director with a relaxed attitude and mainly wanted to make new friends and explore the world of concert directing. I was lucky enough to found myself in the company of world-class producers, learning new ways of working and creating.”

Jia-Kai’s latest project, the film Marry My Dead Body, set a box office record this year. As the sole composer of the soundtrack, Jia-Kai faced a unique challenge. “I was involved in the early stages of production and was able to apply the skills I learned at Berkeley to the composition and writing of the scores. When I finished, I felt a real sense of accomplishment.”

Jia-Kai also had the opportunity to work with the iconic Jolin Tsai on the theme song “Untitled.” He learned a lot from her, including the way she structured the melody and the clever way she depicted the relationship between two cultures in the lyrics. The most impressive moment for Jia-Kai was when he visited the set and saw actor Greg Hsu’s amazing performance of “Dancing Diva.”

Tsing-Fong, nominated for best male Mandarin singer with “Mallarme’s Tuesdays,” isn’t expecting to win, but is more interested in having fun with his bandmates. When asked if there’s pressure for his bandmates to perform alongside him, he had a humorous response: “It’s already stressful for them to perform with me! Jia-Kai and Jing-Yang have always been under a lot of pressure when performing with me, but I’m looking forward to the day when they can perform without any stress,” he laughs.

New Journey

If we were to compare Sodagreen to a big fashion brand, then Oaeen – the unique side product line – would be the perfect analogy. The debut album of Oaeen, The Pond, received a variety of reactions from the public. While some praised the music, others thought it was “too weird.” In response to the different opinions, the six members who are part of both Sodagreen and Oaeen said, “We like it, and that’s what matters most.”

Jyun-Wei said, “When The Pond was first released, it was met with some surprise. Despite this, we were confident in our own standards and felt that the album was ready for release. We don’t think Oaeen’s songs are particularly mysterious; we are simply being true to ourselves and not making the music too out of the ordinary. The album was created through a collaborative process, with everyone adding their own musical influences from different genres, resulting in a unique and complete piece.”

Oaeen’s re-recording of Sodagreen’s old album series is an exciting journey of rediscovery. From Different Albums to Little Universe, from Incomparable Beauty to Sing With Me, each album brings a new emotion to the songs we know and love because of their new arrangements, orchestrations and presentations.

Jyun-Wei describes the remaking process as starting from Ground Zero: “With some songs, it was difficult to reproduce the original feeling due to the special instruments and sounds used. To overcome this, we decided to re-record all the instruments in a new and exciting way. This process allowed us to experience the joy of remaking and reproducing the songs all over again.”

For Yu-Chi, Oaeen’s re-recording of their new album has surpassed the original version of Sodagreen’s records and become a unique version of its own. It’s a reflection of the life experiences of everyone involved, and you can hear the different mind-sets in the music. As Shin-Yi grows older, she believes that the process of re-recording the new version is a way to reconnect with her life journey. “When we were young, we thought this way, and it was so simple!”

Even though the interpretations of Sodagreen’s songs may vary, the emotions behind them remain the same. A devoted fan recently shared their thoughts on the new version with Jyun-Wei: “My love and support for Sodagreen isn’t just about the music; it’s about the attitude. I admire Sodagreen’s attitude, so no matter what version they release, those who love Sodagreen will accept it all.”

The sincere response from fans moved Sodagreen deeply, inspiring them to be more cautious and careful in creating new works. Yu-Chi says: “We are using our current abilities to create something new, unlocking new possibilities.” Tsing-Fong adds: “We strive to perfect the small details, while the grandeur is up to the listeners to interpret.”

Do you remember Sodagreen’s comeback single “Tomorrow Will be Fine” in 2020? The music video featured a nostalgic concept of a group chat on a mobile phone, with conversations during the band’s hiatus, making die-hard fans tear up. Four members of the band have become “Sodagreen second generation” parents, and after performances, their schedule is no longer about celebrating with drinks but rushing home to take care of their kids and playing them lullabies. Despite the twists and turns, Sodagreen has stayed strong and united throughout these past 20 years.

–Written by Jifan Wang for Billboard China

Sodagreen

Sodagreen

Minshi Jiang

21 Jun 2023

Tina Davis Named President of EMPIRE

Independent Bay Area-based label, publisher and distributor EMPIRE has promoted industry veteran Tina Davis to the role of president, the company announced today (June 21). Davis, who most recently worked as EMPIRE’s senior vp of A&R, will continue to lead the company’s vast and varied A&R efforts while also getting involved in day-to-day operations and strategic planning, according to a press release.

“As a Bay Area native, I am honored to continue to build out the culture of EMPIRE and shape the future talent that we partner with in years to come,” Davis said in a statement. “The EMPIRE team embodies what it means to champion artist development and advocate for artist control and creativity.”

Davis joined EMPIRE in 2018 as vp of A&R, and has gone on to lead the company’s efforts as it broadened its purview from its distribution roots into its current iteration as a full-blown, multi-faceted label group with offices and operations around the world. She’s been instrumental in continuing to grow EMPIRE’s hip-hop roots and its successful forays into Afrobeats, while continuing to develop its influence in other genres as well.

Prior to EMPIRE, she was the first woman to run the A&R department at Def Jam during its run of success in the 1990s and early 2000s, then discovered and worked with Chris Brown as he rose to global success. She’s also been a frequent honoree on Billboard’s Indie Power Players, R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players and Women in Music features.

“Tina has been instrumental in the overall growth of EMPIRE since joining the team in 2018,” EMPIRE founder/CEO Ghazi said in a statement. “With her experience, she has a unique understanding of the creative journey of our artists. Working closely with Tina and seeing the continued growth of our team makes this extremely rewarding and there couldn’t have been a better person for the role.”