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As Korea’s most popular virtual idol group, PLAVE is sometimes misunderstood as an AI-generated illusion. But the artists behind the animated band members are real, as are the videographers, engineers, graphic designers, animators and retouchers who bring their imagery to life.For the latest edition of Billboard Artist, Billboard Korea spoke to the characters who power PLAVE. Here are highlights from the conversation.
This edition is built around five key elements—earth, fire, water, air and a fifth: the “digital universe,” which represents PLAVE’s origin story. If you had to define one final element that completes the world, what would it be?
Yejun: For me, it’s truth—and being real, always. When you put your real feelings out there, people can feel that. Doesn’t matter where you are or who’s watching—genuine energy just hits different.
Noah: Happiness, 100%. I feel like almost everything we do in life—whether it’s grabbing food, texting a friend, even just taking a nap—is basically us chasing happiness in some form. That’s honestly why I do PLAVE, too. It makes me happy, and I get to run after this wild, exciting dream with the members.
Bamby: Emotion—for real, it’s everything. Like, I don’t think we even start doing anything without some kind of feeling behind it. Even when I’m like, “Okay, time to sing,” there’s always a reason—someone I’m thinking of, some mood I’m in. It’s all driven by emotion. No spark, no move. That’s just how I run.
Eunho: Analog. If PLAVE started in a digital universe, I think the heart of our story still has to feel human. The more high-tech the world gets, the more I feel like people crave something soft, something real. There’s this quiet nostalgia for the imperfect stuff—the human side of things. Maybe that’s why what we do connects. It’s not just the tech. It’s the feeling behind it. So yeah, if I had to name the final element, I’d call it analog warmth.
Hamin: Faith. I feel like everything starts from that. It’s because we believed that PLAVE could exist, and it’s that same belief that lets us love each other—and be loved back.
Like the idea of a flower pushing through tough soil, what’s something meaningful you’ve grown from a hard time?
Bamby: I’m really into growing plants. There’s just something magical about watching life sprout from plain old dirt—seeing it grow, bear fruit, and then return to the soil. That whole cycle is so beautiful to me. It made me realize nature is all about giving and receiving, in this constant loop. And I’m part of that too, right? I think I’m growing a little every day—like a tree, like a flower. I don’t think we’re meant to bloom just one flower or grow one fruit in our whole life. It’s more like—we keep blooming whatever fits that moment. One season, one vibe, one version of ourselves at a time. Performing as PLAVE? That’s one of my flowers. Doing this interview? Another one. It’s not about having a single perfect blossom—it’s about living in a way where you’re always trying to bloom something real. That’s the part I care about most.
Water seems soft, but it’s one of the strongest forces in nature. It cuts through diamonds with speed, shapes stone with patience, and sometimes, all it takes is one tear to move a heart. What’s a quiet strength you carry that people might not see at first—but feel over time?
Yejun: I think I’m like the ocean—quiet, steady, but ready to hold whatever comes my way. I want to be that kind of space for the members, and for PLLIs too. Like a winter sea—calm and still, the kind you can sit beside when you just need to breathe. And like a summer sea—cool, open, and full of light when you’re in a good place. That’s the kind of strength I believe in. Not loud, not flashy—just… always there. If I can be someone you lean on without saying a word, someone who gives you peace just by being around—that, to me, is real power.
Silver hair, red eyes and fire all feel timeless—almost immortal. But they also carry a certain quiet, a sense of solitude, like midnight. Do you see yourself as someone who stands apart? And when you feel that distance, do you lean into it—or try to break through it?
Eunho: I think I do find comfort in solitude. When I’m alone, I get to slow down and think—about where I’m going, how I want to grow. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll quietly celebrate by myself. And if I’m not, I’ll sit with that too, try to unpack it. But I’ve also learned that staying in that space too long isn’t always healthy. It’s easy to sink into it without noticing. That’s why I try to face those feelings—and then step out of them. I think that’s where growth really happens. So yeah, I like being alone. But I never want to get stuck there.
In ancient alchemy, gold wasn’t just treasure—it was the fifth element, the last piece of a perfect world. These days, it’s still the ultimate symbol of excellence. So tell us: are you quietly working your way toward being PLAVE’s golden member? (And no, we’re not just talking about the hair, lol.)
Noah: Wait—are you calling me the golden member? That’s wild. Thank you, seriously. Honestly, I think all of us in PLAVE are kind of wired to chase perfection in our own way. But yeah, since I’m one of the older ones along with Yejun, I do feel that extra layer of responsibility. I’m always thinking like, “How can we level up as a team?” “What’s the next version of PLAVE the world hasn’t seen yet?” If we were a car, I’d probably be the one with both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. Just trying to steer us forward—safe, strong, and headed somewhere amazing.
In today’s digital world, there’s a growing craving for something real—for that human touch. More and more people feel the need to know what’s real. How do you handle that kind of pressure, and how do you stay grounded in your own truth?
Hamin: Honestly, I don’t really see the point in drawing a hard line between what’s “real” and what’s “virtual.” I think everyone’s just living in the version of reality that feels real to them. And for me? Virtual is real. People are free to see it however they want—I don’t feel the need to push back or prove anything. What actually matters is: can we still connect? Can we understand each other, share something real, even in a digital space? That’s the kind of reality I believe in.
The theme of this edition, QUINTESSENCE, is all about the five elements coming together to represent purity, essence, and ultimate quality. If you had to define the “essence” of each of your fellow members in one word or phrase, what would it be?
Yejun:
Hamin – Maturity. He may be the youngest, but he’s often the most grown-up of us all.
Eunho – Purity. When he’s working on music, you can feel how purely he loves what he does.
Bamby – Nature. He’s probably the most effortlessly natural person I’ve ever met.
Noah – Charm. There’s just something about him—you can’t dislike him. It’s a superpower.
Noah:
Yejun – The blueprint. Total husband material. No notes.
Bamby – Wild card. He’s our 4D king—you never know what’s coming next.
Eunho – Puppy. It just fits, okay?
Hamin – Black cat. And yep, I mean that exactly how it sounds.
Bamby:
Yejun – Soft blue. He’s solid as a leader and sees every little detail in the team.
Noah – Honesty. He’s always showing his true self, to everyone.
Eunho – Fiery red. He brings that bold, energetic passion to PLAVE.
Hamin – Leafy green. Like a strong tree, he quietly keeps the team balanced.
Eunho:
Yejun – The Center. To me, Yejun hyung is the gravitational core of PLAVE. He holds us all together, not just as a leader but as a person. What makes him special is the way he balances warmth with sharp clarity. I’d say he’s 60% cool-headed, 40% soft-hearted.
Noah – The Seasoning. He’s like that one pinch of spice that takes everything from “okay” to “oh dang.” His voice? Total flavor boost. We’ll be working on a track, and the second he hops in—boom, it all makes sense. And on air? He’s the one dropping those chaotic one-liners that make us lose it. What gets me is how he flips between genius-level precision and total goofball energy. You never really know which version you’re getting—and that’s exactly what makes him fun.
Bamby – The Sour Peach. Bamby’s like a tangy peach—sweet, zingy, full of character, and always keeping you guessing. I’ve known him for a while now, and just when I think I’ve got him figured out, he shows me a new side. He lives like he’s the main character in a movie. “Sour peach” might sound funny, but it fits him perfectly.
Hamin – The Bassline. And I mean that literally and emotionally. He plays bass, sure—but more than that, he is the base of PLAVE. He holds us together, gives the group shape. He’s the youngest, but he’s the one checking in on everyone, keeping the vibe grounded whether we’re on or off stage. Quiet, steady, solid—that’s Hamin.
Hamin:
Yejun – Selflessness. He leads by example and always puts others first.
Noah – Sensitivity & humanity. He’s observant, thoughtful, and always there with the right words.
Bamby – Approachability. He vibes with everyone and makes people feel seen. He knows when to lean in and when to lean on.
Eunho – Warmth & light. He lifts me up with compliments and always knows how to make me laugh.
Image Credit: Billboard Korea + VLAST
Yejun: I think I’m like the ocean—quiet, steady, but ready to hold whatever comes my way. If I can be someone you lean on without saying a word, someone who gives you peace just by being around—that, to me, is real power.
Image Credit: Billboard Korea + VLAST
Noah: Since I’m one of the older ones along with Yejun, I feel that extra layer of responsibility. I’m always thinking like, “How can we level up as a team? What’s the next version of PLAVE the world hasn’t seen yet?” If we were a car, I’d probably be the one with both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. Just trying to steer us forward—safe, strong, and headed somewhere amazing.
Image Credit: Billboard Korea + VLAST
Bamby: I’m really into growing plants. There’s just something magical about watching life sprout from plain old dirt—seeing it grow, bear fruit, and then return to the soil. That whole cycle is so beautiful to me. It made me realize nature is all about giving and receiving, in this constant loop. And I’m part of that too, right? I think I’m growing a little every day—like a tree, like a flower. I don’t think we’re meant to bloom just one flower or grow one fruit in our whole life. It’s more like—we keep blooming whatever fits that moment.
Image Credit: Billboard Korea + VLAST
Hamin: Honestly, I don’t really see the point in drawing a hard line between what’s “real” and what’s “virtual.” I think everyone’s just living in the version of reality that feels real to them. And for me? Virtual is real. People are free to see it however they want—I don’t feel the need to push back or prove anything. What actually matters is: can we still connect? Can we understand each other, share something real, even in a digital space? That’s the kind of reality I believe in.
Image Credit: Billboard Korea + VLAST
Eunho: I think I do find comfort in solitude. When I’m alone, I get to slow down and think—about where I’m going, how I want to grow. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll quietly celebrate by myself. And if I’m not, I’ll sit with that too, try to unpack it. But I’ve also learned that staying in that space too long isn’t always healthy. It’s easy to sink into it without noticing. That’s why I try to face those feelings—and then step out of them. I think that’s where growth really happens. So yeah, I like being alone. But I never want to get stuck there.
Image Credit: Billboard Korea + VLAST
From left: Eunho, Yejun, Noah, Bamby and Hamin of PLAVE.
SACEM collected a record 1.6 billion euros ($1.73 billion) in 2024, up 7.7% from 2023, the French organization announced this week, fueled largely by international expansion. In France, SACEM collected 852 million euros ($922 million, based on the average annual conversion rate for 2024), up about 2%. Internationally, though, it took in 749 million euros ($811), a gain of 15%. That means that almost half of SACEM’s revenue is international, which is significant for a CMO in a market with a strong national repertoire. Royalty distributions were up 12%, to 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion).
For SACEM, like other big European CMOs, it’s a whole new world, thanks to the ability to represent online rights across much of the world (although not the U.S.). As general music business growth slows, mostly due to streaming subscription saturation in big markets, this has allowed SACEM to continue to grow by signing deals with publishers and other CMOs.
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“The strategy we’ve developed over the last years is to convince publishers and other CMOs to join forces with us to be able to better deal with platforms, not from an equal position but one that’s more balanced, and to invest in tools that benefit everyone,” SACEM CEO Cécile Rap-Veber told Billboard at the Music Biz Conference in Atlanta, where she also did a keynote interview. “We’ve secured new mandates to represent more repertoire, so we can take in more money and reduce our costs.”
For most of the history of SACEM, which has operated since the 1850s, before any of its peer societies, the organization did most of its business in France. CMOs remitted money to other CMOs, but the European organizations did not really compete with one another. That changes with a 2014 European Union Directive that generally allowed CMOs to maintain their national monopolies but also to compete for online rights. Competition in the decade since allowed two giant “licensing hubs” to emerge: SACEM and ICE, a joint venture of PRS for Music (the UK CMO), GEMA (the German one) and STIM (Swedish). While direct comparisons are difficult because of the way the different organizations report their results, SACEM has become either the biggest CMO outside the U.S. (based on royalties it collects and distributes) or the biggest in the world (based on the total amount of money it takes in, some of which it passes directly to other organizations for them to distribute).
SACEM now represents 510,000 songwriters and rightsholders worldwide, in 180 territories. Its international royalties, almost all online, have grown 29% since 2023. It signed 16 new deals – mandates is the term used – this year, in addition to the 70 it already had, including with Universal Music Publishing, ASCAP, the Canadian CMO SOCAN, and the Korean CMP KOMCA.
Rap-Veber’s strategy is that this kind of expansion creates a virtuous circle: Increased scale leads to increased revenue, which allows for increased investment, which in turn leads to further increases in scale. That scale also allows for wider scaring of costs, which lets rightsholders take a higher percentage of the money SACEM collects.
The industrywide slowdown in growth is intensifying competition among societies, as limited natural growth means expansion must come from international markets, or at the expense of peer organizations. As fears of economic contraction grow in Europe and the U.S., it is hard to imagine national growth that’s significantly higher than inflation on a sustained basis. That puts the focus on other markets, where the larger international societies can compete. “We have direct license deals now in India, Vietnam and the Philippines,” Rap-Veber says. “With almost 80 partners, we have the weight to be an international player, with more penetration in more countries.”
As SACEM expands globally, it continues to prioritize local cultural investment in France, where it follows a dedicated cultural strategy. With the money it took in from the blank media levy — a copyright fee charged on blank media and computer memory — it put aside 20 million euros ($22 million) for 3,600 cultural projects in France, including 478 festivals and 185 venues.
Universal Music Group has announced the expansion of two of its most storied labels — Deutsche Grammophon and Blue Note Records — into greater China, marking a significant move to tap into the country’s rapidly growing classical and jazz music scenes.
“At UMG, we are committed to supporting the development of diverse music cultures around the world,” said Adam Granite, UMG’s executive vice president of market development. “The launch of Deutsche Grammophon China and Blue Note Records China reflects this vision in action and marks a meaningful step forward in the evolution of our multi-label operations in the market.”
Announced at an event in Shanghai this week, Deutsche Grammophon China will focus on discovering and promoting new classical talent across China, plus provide artists with access to UMG’s global resources, including recording, international promotion and touring. Chinese musicians Lang Lang, Yuja Wang and Long Yu will serve as artistic advisors, guiding the label’s artistic direction.
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DG China’s debut release, Bach: The Cello Suites by acclaimed cellist Jian Wang, is set for May 23. Additionally, DG China will collaborate with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to record and release the complete Shostakovich Symphonies by 2029, celebrating the orchestra’s 150th anniversary.
Dr. Clemens Trautmann, president of Deutsche Grammophon, highlighted the label’s growing presence in China over the past decade and noted that the partnership with Blue Note and the involvement of international artists underscore UMG’s global reach and creative ambition. “We are proud to co-invest in the future generation of outstanding classical performers from Greater China, together with our esteemed colleagues at UMGC to foster the success of amazing new talent across recording, touring and brand partnerships,” Trautmann said.
Stacy Yang, Timothy Xu, Dr Clemens Trautmann and Adam Granite in Shanghai.
Courtesy Photo
Blue Note Records China is set to champion original jazz talent within the country, beginning with its inaugural signing: INNOUT, an avant-garde duo known for fusing improvisation, modern jazz, and experimental soundscapes. This partnership underscores the label’s commitment to bold, boundary-defying artistry.
BNRC is also partnering with JZ Music, a key player in China’s jazz scene, to promote live performances, tours, and festivals.
Don Was, president of Blue Note Records, praised INNOUT’s visionary talent and expressed excitement about launching the label’s Chinese chapter with their music. “Xiao Jun and An Yu are two of the most talented and visionary musicians I’ve ever met,” Was said. “Their music is going to ‘blow people’s minds’ all over the world. It’s a thrill and an honor to be able to launch Blue Note Records China with their music.”
LONDON — A number of vital grassroots music venues in the U.K. are set to come under shared ownership in the second phase of a new community-led project.
The Music Venue Properties, the Charitable Community Benefit Society (CBS) created by Music Venue Trust (MVT), seeks to protect grassroots venues by placing them into community ownership and outside of commercial leases with landlords.
Seven grassroots music venue will be included in the next phase of the project: Esquires, Bedford; The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent; The Joiners; Southampton, The Croft, Bristol; Peggy’s Skylight, Nottingham; The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle; The Pipeline, Brighton. The community share offer, which will open on May 15, 2025 and close on July 31, 2025.
The first phase of the Own Our Venues initiative ran in 2023, and raised £2.88m ($3.83m) to secure the ownership of a number of venues across the U.K., including The Bunkhouse in Swansea, Wales, and The Snug in Atherton, England.
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An accompanying press release says that the scheme offers a “cultural lease,” that far exceeds the traditional 18 month commercial lease that these venues must operate within. The statement adds, that these cultural leases “ensure fair, sustainable rent, annual contributions toward essential maintenance, and ongoing support in areas such as financial sustainability and operational best practice.”
Ricky Bates, venue operator of The Joiners, Southampton said of the next phase of the program, “We welcome Music Venue Properties’ ownership of our building as the only real solution to securing one of the most important live music venues in the UK. For almost 60 years, The Joiners has been a vital part of the UK touring circuit and a creative cornerstone of Southampton, but today its future is uncertain. Our lease expires this year, our landlord is retiring and, while the venue is rich in history, the building is over 200 years old and in need of care.
“In today’s economy, it simply isn’t viable for us as individuals to purchase the property but, with the support of the Own Our Venues campaign and the wider music community, we can secure The Joiners for the next 60 years and beyond. Be part of this historic moment—get involved and help protect grassroots music for generations to come.”
It’s the latest move by the U.K. music scene in the fightback against closures of independent venues and to support grassroots musicians. On Wednesday (May 14), the team behind The Leadmill in Sheffield, England said that their eviction appeal had been unsuccessful and that they have three months to vacate the premises. The building’s landlord, the Electric Group, runs a number of venues in the U.K. already, including London’s Electric Brixton, Bristol’s SWX and Newcastle’s NX. Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Coldplay are among the legendary artists to play The Leadmill over the years.
LONDON — Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena has teamed up with Adidas and Abbey Road Studios for the launch of a new recording studio inside its premises.
The Adidas Originals Recording Studio is situated inside the U.K.’s largest music arena and has been designed as “a vibrant hub for emerging musical talent and young creative communities.” The studio has been engineered by Abbey Road’s technicians and sound engineers.
The studio in Manchester, England will be available to local musicians from August onwards. The initiative is launched in conjunction with a number of existing schemes, including Abbey Road’s Amplify and Equalise programmes, which hosts a number of panels, workshops and recording opportunities at the iconic London studios each year.
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Factory’s International’s Factory Sounds initiative, which provides financial support and mentorship to underrepresented groups in the Greater Manchester area, is also involved with the project. Courteeners frontman Liam Fray, who was born and raised in Middleton, Manchester, opened the studio with an acoustic live performance and praised the space and the opportunities it may provide: “To have something of this level up here that is a focal point in Manchester opens up the industry and takes it to a wider audience.”
Despite a rocky, delayed opening, the Co-op Live Arena has become a key venue on the U.K.’s touring circuit, with a number of huge acts set to perform there this summer, including Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Massive Attack and more.
Sally Davies, managing director of Abbey Road Studios, said in a statement: “The launch of the adidas Originals Recording Studio is a world-first collaboration creating a new, Abbey Road-engineered recording space beyond the walls of our home in London.”
“We are enormously proud to partner with Adidas, Co-op Live and Factory International to create a new platform for talent in Manchester and the North-West, expanding our mission to enable and empower the global community of music makers and creators, and shape the future of music making.”
LONDON — A new Tube map showcasing the breadth of London’s artists and music venues has been published as part of a campaign championing the capital’s grassroots scene.
The map highlights record shops, nightclubs and historic locations across the city, as well as venues such as XOYO and Electrowerkz to institutions such as the Barbican. London-raised artists including Dua Lipa, Dave and recent Billboard U.K. cover star Loyle Carner also feature.
Each Underground line has been reimagined as a different aspect of the city’s music scene, with the Jubilee line displaying London-made albums, the Metropolitan line showing independent record labels, and the District line listing “25 artists to see in 2025.” The iconic map was designed by Harry Beck and first came into use in 1933.
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London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) joined forces with media leaders to devise the map as part of the London Creates campaign. Over the next month, it will be displayed at digital exhibition space Outernet London in Tottenham Court Road.
In a statement, Khan said: “London’s grassroots music scene is renowned around the world. From providing opportunities for talented aspiring artists to develop their trade, to giving Londoners a great night out, our venues are an essential part of our life at night and provide a huge boost to our economy.
“However, they have faced huge challenges in recent years, which is why we’re joining with partners across the capital to champion all parts of London’s grassroots music scene. This special edition Tube map is a great way to highlight what a huge impact the scene has on our capital, as we continue to do all we can to support venues and build a more prosperous London for everyone.”
Mark Davyd, founder and CEO of Music Venue Trust, added: “London is one of the world’s great music cities, constantly reinventing itself with new sounds, new genres, and incredible new artists. The network of grassroots music venues in London are an essential part of what makes the capital’s music thrive, delivering an extraordinary range of music, community and life changing experiences at affordable prices.”
According to City Hall, London is home to 179 grassroots music venues, which in the last year have welcomed more than 4.2m audience members, hosted performances by more than 328,000 artists, employed nearly 7,000 people and contributed £313m ($417m) to the economy.
The map was formally published in the Metro newspaper yesterday (May 13). Further information about the campaign can be found at the newspaper’s official website.
Latin music superstar (and anime collaborator) J Balvin, country singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves and screenwriter Zak Penn are set to present at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, which will be held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on Sunday, May 25.
These bookings demonstrate the increasing global reach of anime. J Balvin is from Colombia; Musgraves and Penn are both American. Previously announced presenters, who also underscore the form’s global appeal, include Italian rocker Damiano David, Japanese and British musician-actor Rina Sawayama, Brazilian pop star Pabllo Vittar, Japanese actor-musician Dean Fujioka and American-Chilean singer Paloma Mami.
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Penn’s screenwriting credits include The Incredible Hulk, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand and The Avengers.
In addition, Japanese singer-songwriter LiSA, rock band FLOW and hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts are set to perform.
FLOW, the rock band featured in the openings for Naruto and Code Geass, will perform “DAYS” in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven. LiSA is the singer of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s opening theme “Gurenge.” Creepy Nuts is the 2025 Anime Award nominated hip-hop duo behind the viral hits “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” which are the opening themes for Dan Da Dan and Mashle: Magic and Muscles, respectively.
The live ceremony will be hosted by voice actress Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira. Beginning with the pre-show at 5:00 p.m. JST and main show at 6:00 p.m. JST, the livestream will be available for global tune-in on Crunchyroll’s Twitch and YouTube channels as well as SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Global YouTube Channel. The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be available in nine languages.
The main show will be available in Japanese on SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Japan YouTube Channel for viewing in Japan from 6:00 p.m. JST.
More than 51 million votes have been cast from fans across the globe for the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, according to the organizers, marking a nearly 50% increase over last year’s 34 million. The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is a yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians and performances powering the global love of anime. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
More information can be found on the Crunchyroll Anime Awards official website.
On May 10, DJ Snake is set to perform consecutively in two of the largest concert venues in France: the Stade de France (80,000 people) and then the Accor Arena (20,000 people). It’s an unprecedented feat for an artist accustomed to breaking records as he prepares to release his third studio album.
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DJ Snake stands relaxed yet alert, his eyes sharp in front of the lens of Nabil Elderkin—a renowned director and photographer known, among other things, for his work with Travis Scott and The Weeknd. The artist is about to give a landmark concert at the Stade de France, titled The Final Show, followed by an after-party at the Accor Arena. An unprecedented feat for a DJ in France and a testament to his popularity in his home country, the event sold out in just three minutes.
More than a decade after his rise began, he is now one of the most influential ambassadors of the French electronic scene and ranks among the 100 most popular artists in the world on Spotify. Four of his singles have made it into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
“Paris is my city,” he declares at the start of the interview. He has a visceral connection to the capital that goes beyond simple geographical attachment. “It’s the city that taught me everything, really. Even musically—the strong influence of hip-hop in Paris, African music, Arabic music, French pop… That whole mix is what makes my music sound the way it does today.”
He found himself backed into a corner in the summer of 2012, after several years of DJing in the capital’s upscale clubs. Having already worked behind the scenes for artists like Lady Gaga (earning him a Grammy nomination), he felt limited in his artistic expression. So, he invested his savings into renting a recording studio and gave himself two months to make it as a solo artist. That risky bet turned out to be the launching point for a meteoric rise, beginning in 2013 with “Turn Down for What,” his collaboration with Lil Jon.
A Leading Figure of the French Electronic Music Scene
“With all humility, I don’t claim to represent France,” DJ Snake confides. “I represent a guy from Paris, who’s Franco-Algerian, and I just try my best to do interesting things.”
Yet with 13 billion streams on Spotify and four music videos surpassing one billion views on YouTube, DJ Snake undeniably carries the country’s colors on the international stage. “We have an incredible electronic scene that’s respected worldwide. Our older brothers did an extraordinary job—Daft Punk, Justice, Bob Sinclar, Martin Solveig, David Guetta, Madeon…”
The Stade de France, the largest venue in the country, marks the pinnacle of an unlikely journey: “It’s my destiny—to come from the very bottom, have an unconventional path, be a guy no one believed in at first, and end up at the top, at the Stade de France.”
More than just a concert, The Final Show represents a clear ambition for him: “The goal is really to make history.” When ticket sales opened, more than 500,000 people were in the queue at the same time. “We had planned a whole promo run—interviews, TV appearances, billboards in the streets of Paris… We had a full campaign ready, because never, ever, ever did I think I’d fill the Stade de France in three minutes.”
So the artist decided to extend the celebration: “I said to Julie, my manager, ‘Check if the Accor Arena is available.’ If it was, we’d throw the afterparty there. At least we’d have 20,000 people—20,000 lucky ones, 20,000 members of the Snake Army—with whom we could throw a massive event.” It was a winning bet: the Bercy venue also sold out.
DJ Snake
Nabil Elderkin for Billboard France
Supporting the New Generation
“You can come from a small suburb and do big things, with very little—just with drive, ideas, a group of friends, fun, and a lot of ambition,” says DJ Snake. “What I mean is, ‘Go for it, anything is possible.’ You’ve got a passport, you can travel—have fun, do what you need to do, and fight for your vision.”
The artist expresses confidence in the future of the new generation: “There are so many talented people, and I’m really not worried about the industry or the French scene. I think of someone like Trym, who’s bringing his hard techno vibe. His project is going to keep growing—Americans love it—and I think what he represents is really cool.”
The next step after his Stade de France triumph: launching a label dedicated to supporting new talent. “I think after my album, the goal is to start a new label and sign a lot of young artists. I want to give them a platform to express themselves.”
The Nomadic Spirit
While Paris remains his emotional home port, DJ Snake sees himself first and foremost as a citizen of the world. “I strangely feel at home everywhere,” he explains. “And I really have that nomadic thing. The nomadic spirit—it’s something that truly reflects who I am. It’s a rhythm I’ve had since I was young. I’ve always been on the move, I’ve always traveled.
“Now, I’m able to absorb the vibe of a city quickly. It’s crazy what I’ve managed to develop—I’m just realizing it now.” Still, it’s a demanding balance: “Traveling is very inspiring—meeting people, connecting with artists, discovering different cultures… But the travel itself is exhausting. It’s a lot of pressure. I have a hard time creating while on tour. I need to stop and settle somewhere. I stepped back a bit from social media when I was touring more, because I was finishing my album and needed not to be constantly on the move.”
With “Disco Maghreb” in 2022, DJ Snake reached a form of personal fulfillment. The instrumental track with Algerian influences came from a deeply intimate place. “The impact of ‘Disco Maghreb’ was huge. It was unprecedented, and I really didn’t expect it. I was the first to be surprised,” he says. “It will still be played at weddings 20 years from now.
“Algeria gives me so much love. It’s really hard for me to walk down the street there, for example. That’s something I don’t experience anywhere else, even though I’m known pretty much worldwide.”
For him, the real victory lies in his ability to make traditional music resonate far beyond its original audience: “When I’m performing in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Taiwan or Japan, and I see people dancing to Algerian rhythms—that’s a cultural victory.”
DJ Snake
Nabil Elderkin for Billboard France
A New Album After Six Years of Waiting
DJ Snake is preparing to make his return with a new project, with the announcement coinciding with his show at the Stade de France. “It’s true that it went by quickly,” he admits, reflecting on the time since “Carte Blanche.” “I felt the need to offer a new chapter in my career. I had things to say, things to offer. With the Stade de France, I thought, ‘I think we’re going to make a great combo, Stade de France, album. We’re going to have fun.’
“It’s an album where I had fun. I pushed creativity to the max. Of course, it’ll still be DJ Snake, I’m not coming back with a funk album or a drum and bass album. There will be electronic sounds, there will be touching moments, and we’re going to have fun.”
This versatility is one of the artist’s signatures: “I release ‘Let Me Love You’ with Justin Bieber, the next month I drop a dubstep track called ‘Propaganda,’ which is super aggressive. Then I do something like ‘Magenta Riddim’ with Indian influences. After that, I can do a house track, I can do ‘Disco Maghreb’…. I really took people on a journey from left to right. But always with integrity and my vision. That’s why people have never seen me as an opportunist, because my approach has always been sincere.”
He embraces this diversity as an integral part of his identity: “When you’re in music, your art has to be solid, and it has to touch people. There has to be emotion, but it has to connect with the audience. I don’t understand artists who make the same song every time. They have a hit with something, and then they make five follow-ups with the same rhythm, the same guitar. I’d go crazy. That’s why I always need to reinvent myself and offer something different.”
In Search of Authenticity
In an electronic landscape where trends, particularly on social media, often overshadow creative choices, artistic independence is a fundamental principle for DJ Snake. “My vision is what matters the most to me. I’ve done everything to protect it and to maintain this independence, this freedom to navigate.”
For the producer behind global hits like “Let Me Love You” and “Lean On,” he says “the impact of TikTok” has changed electronic music, with consumption becoming increasingly rapid. “The industry has changed. The way entertainment, not just music, is consumed has made it so very little remains,” he observes.
“Since I was young, I’ve always been on the move, I’ve always traveled… We’ve met the biggest artists in the world, the biggest celebrities, visited the most beautiful places on the planet. But at some point, you go through all of that and you start to appreciate the simplest things.”
This quest for authenticity shows up both in his music and his creative approach: “My music is a reflection of my daily life, my life—it’s me, really. I translate what I feel. For sure, there will be simpler things than what I’ve done before.”
His side project, The Outlaw, under which he will perform at the Accor Arena, also allows him to return to his roots: “It was really about having total creative freedom, not worrying about my image, my status, or having to play all my pop hits all the time. It’s really a kind of outlet.” He shares that he aims to release an EP under The Outlaw in the coming months.
This article originally appeared on Billboard France.
It’s no secret that Canadian festivals have been facing hard times.
The post-lockdown years have seen high-profile festivals filing for creditor protection, like Montreal’s comedy behemoth Just for Laughs; scrambling to reorganize or downsize programming, like Toronto Jazz Festival and Calgary’s JazzYYC, after TD withdrew sponsorship; or cancelling editions altogether, like Toronto food and culture festival Taste of the Danforth.
Of course, major festivals closed before the pandemic, too, for a range of reasons. And many festivals wind down naturally, through generational or leadership shifts. But Erin Benjamin of the Canadian Live Music Association agrees that festivals are facing a difficult landscape in the years after 2020.
“COVID ripped up the playbook,” she tells Billboard Canada.
“The cost of goods and services and labour and talent is extremely high,” Benjamin adds. “And it continues to go up.”
Audience habits have shifted, too. She notes that festival-goers are definitely buying tickets later, leaving event planners with cash flow troubles.
In its 2025 Hear and Now report, the Canadian Live Music Association states that in 2024, the problem stretched beyond Canada. “Cancelled tours and festivals due to lower ticket sales, rising costs, and environmental impacts has led to overall industry decline,” the authors write. “High prices for top acts are exhausting fan budgets leaving less for mid-range artists.”
International mega-music festivals aren’t immune. After slow ticket sales in 2024, more than half of Coachella’s 2025 general admission attendees bought tickets through payment plans.
When festivals shut down, people lose a connection to local history and a chance to meet their neighbours. Benjamin adds that arts workers lose livelihoods, while local communities lose economic impact.
If the live industry is facing hurdles, it’s also true that music tourism is still a popular vacation choice. “We’ve got to capitalize on that music tourism piece here in Canada,” Benjamin says. “We have incredible infrastructure already. We need to take care of our infrastructure, need to continue to create opportunities for artists.”
Benjamin adds that each level of government — municipal, provincial and federal — has a role to play in harnessing that potential.
Every festival faces its own particular set of circumstances that help secure or shut down the next edition. But it’s clear that conditions across the industry are putting pressure on festivals, from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
For a list of festivals that have closed or called for support, head here. – Rosie Long Decter
Craig “Big C” Mannix Joins CMRRA as Industry Relations Consultant – Community Engagement
The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) is making a key hire to reflect the diversity of Canadian music.
Craig “Big C” Mannix has joined the CMRRA as industry relations consultant – community engagement.
An influential figure in the Canadian music industry, Mannix has served as vp of Black music at Universal Music Canada; held roles at Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music Canada and Virgin Records Canada; and had a founding role with ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective. He has also played a key role in developing the careers of major Canadian names like Kardinal Offishall, K-os and Pressa.
The CMRRA is one of the leading reproduction royalty distribution agencies in Canada. It distributed $96 million in royalties in 2024, a 23% increase from 2023. That growth was significantly driven by music on TikTok, where royalties increased by 126%. Mannix looks to continue working with creators moving forward.
The CMRRA also reported a 50% increase in international revenues, highlighting the importance of global potential in the current Canadian music landscape. Mannix’s role specifically focuses on community engagement and deepening relationships with underrepresented music communities.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with CMRRA. My love for music and art is what brought me into this business over 35 years ago — and it’s what’s kept me in it,” says Mannix about his latest career chapter. “I’ve always focused on driving culture with integrity, passion, and decency. I’m looking forward to connecting with more creators and communities through this new role.”
CMRRA is turning 50 this year. In a special industry newsletter, president Paul Shaver celebrated the organization’s growth.
“We have over 7,000 clients worldwide and a well-earned reputation across the industry for being efficient, technology-forward, client-focused, and trustworthy,” Shaver wrote in the newsletter. “Many of these clients represent hundreds or thousands of songwriters, further amplifying our global reach and impact.”
As global reach improves, it’s also important to focus on the communities that exist within the country. Royalty distribution is an important sector of the country’s music industry, and CMRRA is making strides to open it up to the full diversity of Canadian musicians. – Stefano Rebuli
Toronto Music Experience to Open a Permanent Museum by 2029
Toronto’s music scene is getting its own museum.
The Toronto Music Experience (TME) has unveiled plans to launch a permanent cultural home by 2029, commemorating the city’s worldwide impact through music.
The TME announced plans for its expansion on Monday (May 5) at a private event at Live Nation’s The Lounge in Toronto featuring artists including Rush’s Alex Lifeson, Jully Black and Lorraine Segato.
The organization announced that it has been granted charitable status, which means it can go ahead with fundraising, partnerships and community engagement as part of its five-year plan towards its permanent home.
TME’s goal is to highlight Toronto’s musical past, present, and future through immersive exhibits, pop-up activations, live performances and education initiatives. It aims for a storytelling approach, highlighting the achievements that have shaped the city’s music scene, from its historical Indigenous roots to the global impact of superstars like Drake, The Weeknd and Rush.
The museum fulfills the city’s need for a hallmark representation of its impactful musical legacy that is currently missing.
“We don’t have a museum devoted to what is arguably Toronto’s biggest cultural phenomenon, its biggest international export,” TME board director and longtime music journalist Nicholas Jennings told Billboard Canada in November 2024. “This is an untapped area for the city, and there is a need for it, because we’re losing some of these stories.”
TME has been actively telling these stories through a number of exhibitions in partnership with Friar’s Music Museum, located in a Shopper’s Drug Mart at Yonge and Dundas, the former home of the Friar’s Tavern music venue. TME hosted its first-ever live show experience with the Sound of Rhythms & Resistance concert at TD Hall in November 2024, serving as an extension of its “Rhythms & Resistance” exhibit in 2021.
“The success of the two exhibits that we’ve held at Friar’s has shown us that there’s an appetite and a market for something more permanent,” Jennings said.
TME wants to incorporate a mix of production, retail and café spaces as well as pop-up exhibits, pairing music education alongside interactive experiences featuring memorabilia.
“Our mission is to build an experiential space where artifacts meet immersive experiences in tribute to the artists, communities, and cultures that make our city sing,” says Denise Donlon, a music industry and broadcast executive and member of TME’s advisory board. “It’s a powerful way to celebrate our past and inspire the next generation of creators.” – SR
AEG Presents announced today that Andrew Spencer has been named chief operating officer of AEG Presents Europe. In his new job, Spencer will oversee the concert promotions company’s network of promoters, venues and festivals and focus on realigning the company’s strategy and growth initiatives in the region. Spencer will be headquartered in London, where he […]