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08 Nov 2023

Sphere Generated $4.1 Million From Its First Two U2 Concerts

Sphere, the stunning venue that has transformed the Las Vegas skyline and redefined the concert-going experience, generated $4.1 million from U2’s first two concerts in September, its owner, Sphere Entertainment Co., reported in its quarterly earnings release on Wednesday (Nov. 8). 

The $2.3 billion Sphere is a 366-foot tall, 516-foot wide spherical venue with a wrap-around video screen that envelopes a seated audience of 17,600. Sphere’s external skin — called Exosphere — is covered in 580,000 square feet of programmable LED exterior lights that advertises the venue’s technological capabilities.

Sphere also made $2.6 million in additional revenue, primarily from advertising on the Exosphere that began in September. 

With only two concerts under its belt through the end of September, Sphere’s earnings release was about the venue’s potential, not its revenue to date. “Our journey with Sphere is just beginning,” said executive chairman/CEO James Dolan during Wednesday’s earnings call. “And while it will take some time for Sphere to realize its full potential, we’re off to a great start.”

U2’s original 25-show residency has been extended by an additional 11 shows that will occur in January and February 2024. The company expects to host two additional residencies in the second half of the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2024, according to Dolan. “We’re having conversations with artists across a wide variety of genres, including discussing runs of varying lengths,” he said.

Sphere had an adjusted operating loss of $83.1 million in the quarter, an increase of $19 million from the prior-year period. It also had $2.8 million of venue operating expenses in the quarter and $2.2 million of event-related expenses. An additional $2.1 million in advertising costs were related to the Oct. 6 launch of The Sphere Experience featuring the film Postcard from Earth by Darren Aronofsky. Selling, general and administrative expenses amounted to $84.2 million. 

The Las Vegas venue is the first of what Sphere Entertainment expects to be multiple Sphere venues. Dolan was light on specifics but said there is “a great deal of interest and substantive discussions” in several additional markets. “I will say that it does look like Sphere will be a global brand,” he said, “and so we should expect the expansion globally rather than just in the U.S.”

Sphere Entertainment had total revenue of $118 million in its fiscal first quarter ended September 30, down 4% from the prior-year period. MSG Networks contributed $110.2 million of revenue, down 10% year over year. MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports networks, joined Sphere following a spin-off of MSG Entertainment in April. That same month, Sphere reached an agreement to sell its stake in Tao Group Hospitality to global luxury lifestyle company Mohari Hospitality for about $300 million.

Shares of Sphere Entertainment fell as much as 8.4% to $30.58 on Wednesday morning before recovering to $31.90, down 4.4%, by mid-afternoon. The stock price took a bigger hit on Monday, however, dropping 9.6% following the company’s announcement late on Friday that CFO Gautam Ranji had left the company. Dolan attributed Ranji’s departure to Sphere being a new type of business. “It’s pretty challenging,” he said. “I think we both came to the conclusion that it probably wasn’t a great fit.”

Financial metrics for the first fiscal quarter:

  • Total revenue of $118 million, down 4% year over year.
  • Adjusted operating loss of $57.9 million, up 88% year over year.
  • Net income of $66.4 million, up from a $44 million net loss in the prior-year period.
  • Sphere revenue of $7.8 million.
  • Sphere event-related revenue of $4.1 million.
  • MSG Networks revenue of $110.2 million, down 10% year over year.

08 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift Replaces Herself Atop Streaming Songs Chart With ‘Is It Over Now?’

Taylor Swift now boasts eight No. 1s on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart thanks to “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault],” which debuts atop the Nov. 11-dated ranking.

In the tracking week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2 (the song’s first week of release), “Is It Over Now?” earned 32 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate.

With eight rulers, Swift further distances herself from Justin Bieber, who has the third-most No. 1s in the chart’s 10-year history, and nears Drake, who leads all acts with 20.

Most No. 1s, Streaming Songs
20, Drake
8, Taylor Swift
6, Justin Bieber
5, Travis Scott
4, Ariana Grande
4, Cardi B
4, Lil Baby
4, Miley Cyrus

Notably, the last four weeks have featured songs by either Drake or Swift at No. 1, each time a new leader (and with Drake and Swift replacing themselves at No. 1 on two occasions). The streak began when Drake’s “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole, debuted atop the Oct. 21 tally, followed by a rise to No. 1 by Drake’s “IDGAF,” featuring Yeat, Oct. 28. Swift’s “Cruel Summer” then spent its first week at No. 1 Nov. 4, with “Is It Over Now?” the latest ruler.

Swift first reigned on Streaming Songs with “Shake It Off,” a two-week leader in November 2014. “Is It Over Now?” becomes her second re-record to lead, following “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” in November 2021.

The entire Streaming Songs list’s top nine is made up of songs from Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version), with “Is It Over Now?” followed by “Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” at No. 2 with 28.2 million streams. With nine new top 10s, Swift pads her standing as the act with the second-most top 10s in chart history, with 48. Drake leads with 96.

Most Top 10s, Streaming Songs
96, Drake
48, Taylor Swift
34, Lil Baby
30, The Weeknd
28, 21 Savage
28, Travis Scott
25, Future
24, J. Cole
24, Kanye West

Swift first hit the top 10 with “I Knew You Were Trouble.,” which peaked at No. 7 in March 2013.

The top non-Swift song on Streaming Songs is Zach Bryan’s “I Remember Everything,” featuring Kacey Musgraves, at No. 10 with 21.3 million streams, down 8%.

As previously reported, “Is It Over Now?” reigns on the multi-metric Billboard Hot 100, while 1989 (Taylor’s Version) crowns the Billboard 200.

08 Nov 2023

Meet the Best New Artist Nominees at the 2023 Latin Grammys

The Latin Grammy Awards are taking place for the first time internationally, live from the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Sevilla, Spain on Thursday, Nov. 16.

This year’s nominations are led by Mexican-American hitmaker Edgar Barrera with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. The latter of the three as the co-writer of both “NASA” by Camilo & Alejandro Sanz and “un X100to” by Grupo Frontera with Bad Bunny. Barrera is followed by Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and Keityn, with seven nominations each; Bizarrap with six nods; and receiving five nominations each, Pablo Alborán, Bad Bunny, Maria Becerra, Feid, Dave Cutch and Natalia Lafourcade.

This year, several new categories will debut at the awards ceremony, including best songwriter of the year (as part of the newly created songwriting field), best singer-songwriter song, and best Portuguese-language urban performance.

But one of the coveted awards of the night is best new artist — one of the “big four,” alongside song of the year, record of the year, and album of the year — which recognizes 10 promising newcomers.

As tradition holds, the best new artist award is given to an artist who releases the first recording that establishes his or her “public identity” during the eligibility year. This year’s group of up-and-coming acts represents many different countries and styles, including three Colombian artists, more than any other place of origin. Meet all the nominees below.

The 2023 Latin Grammys will air at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 16 on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S. and at 10:30 p.m. CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.

08 Nov 2023

Joni Mitchell at 80: Celebrating the Iconic Singer-Songwriter’s Chart History

Canadian icon Joni Mitchell turned 80 on Tuesday (Nov. 7). Six decades into her career, the nine-time Grammy winner is still making waves with her music, following a surprise return to live performance last year. In summer 2023, she played her first headlining show in two decades at the Seattle Gorge.

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Since the beginning, the singer from Saskatchewan has always carved her own path. Mitchell got her start in Calgary coffeehouses and then Toronto’s Yorkville scene, where she frequented the same spots as other titans of Canadian music like Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot. Mitchell moved to the U.S. in the mid-60s, eventually bringing her dense lyricism, crystalline voice, and signature guitar tunings to her debut release, 1968’s Song to a Seagull.

Mitchell’s career is often thought of in terms of artistry and influence. Where other musicians with lengthy careers might re-tread the same territory, Mitchell has always displayed a deep curiosity and commitment to her craft, evolving through the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s into a jazz fusion artist. Meanwhile, she has influenced decades of artists across genres — her website cites 1641 known versions of “Both Sides Now” alone. While artists like Judy Collins and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have had success performing her songs, Mitchell is perhaps less thought of as a hitmaker. But she has often charted throughout her career — as recently as 2022, when she made an emotional and unexpected comeback. Here’s the story of Mitchell’s Hot 100 history in 10 tracks.

July, 1970: “Big Yellow Taxi” cracks the charts

Though Judy Collins had already taken “Both Sides Now” to the top 10, Joni Mitchell didn’t hit the Hot 100 as a performer until 1970, when “Big Yellow Taxi” peaked at No. 67. The conservationist classic and eminently quotable single first appeared on Ladies of the Canyon, but it would go on to peak even higher in 1975, at No. 24, following the release of a live version. Three covers of the song have also appeared on the Hot 100, most recently 2003’s Counting Crows rendition.

September, 1971: “Carey” spends one week on the Hot 100

“Carey” might have peaked at 93 in the U.S., but in Canada it went to No. 27, and the album that launched it, Blue, reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200, all of which set Mitchell up for further charting in the ’70s. Since then, Blue has built up a reputation as one of Mitchell’s best-loved records and one of the best albums of all time.

February, 1973: “You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio” hits the top 25

With its playful radio metaphor, this single from 1972’s For The Roses was primed for airplay. The infinitely singable “You Turn Me On” peaked at No. 25 in the U.S. and No. 10 in Canada, spending sixteen weeks on the charts between late ‘72 and early ‘73.

December, 1973: “Raised on Robbery” announces Court and Spark

The first single off of Court and Spark would not be its highest charting hit, but “Raised on Robbery” peaked at No. 65 and introduced the jazz-inflections of Mitchell’s most successful album to date. Court and Spark went on to reach No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

June, 1974: “Help Me” becomes Mitchell’s first top 10 hit

This smooth ode to the dangers of falling in love, with its saxophone trills and warbling harmonies, is Mitchell’s only top 10 hit, peaking at No. 7 in June 1973. The song’s balance of soft-rock and jazz propelled it to become Mitchell’s biggest commercial success, while also signaling her experimentations to come.

September, 1974: “Free Man In Paris” is Court and Spark’s second top 30 hit

In “Free Man In Paris,” Mitchell sings from the perspective of a music industry man who would love to wander in French cafes but is instead married to the hit-making business in L.A. Perhaps ironically, “Free Man” was a modest hit itself, peaking at No. 23.

February, 1976: “In France They Kiss on Main Street” hisses onto the Hot 100

Following “Big Yellow Taxi” and its 1975 peak on the Hot 100, “In France They Kiss on Main Street” comes from 1976’s The Hissing of Summer Lawns. The energetic love story peaked at No. 66 and features backing vocals from James Taylor along with David Crosby and Graham Nash, who took Mitchell’s “Woodstock” to No. 11 with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the U.S. and No. 3 in Canada.

November, 1982: “You’re So Square (Baby I Don’t Care)” is Mitchell’s first non-original hit



In the late ‘70s, Mitchell veered further towards jazz and experimental compositions, leaving behind chart-friendly song structures and producing one of her most revered albums, Hejira. On Wild Things Run Fast, her eleventh studio album, she hit No. 47 with her cover of the Elvis Presley track “You’re So Square” — her only non-original on the Hot 100.

January, 1986: “Good Friends” marks Mitchell’s last Hot 100 entry

The opening track on 1985’s Dog Eat Dog, “Good Friends” is an entirely different Joni Mitchell. Working with producer Thomas Dolby, Joni goes full ’80s on this track, complete with synths and drum machines. Dog Eat Dog is considered one of Mitchell’s weaker releases, but the artist famous for her adventurousness can’t be faulted for trying things out.

September, 1997: Janet Jackson brings Joni Mitchell back to the radio with “Got Til It’s Gone”

The Janet Jackson track off of her 1997 album The Velvet Rope samples Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” pitching up Mitchell’s voice and turning it into the hook for an R&B jam. Mitchell received a feature credit on the song, which peaked at No. 36 on the radio songs chart and finds Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip repeatedly telling listeners: “Joni Mitchell never lies.” On her 80th birthday, Q-Tip’s line rings true: Mitchell’s chart history is a reminder of her massive impact as a performer, songwriter and artist whose hits continue to reverberate at Newport Folk, the Seattle Gorge and beyond.

August, 2022: Joni Mitchell returns to the charts after surprise Newport performance

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile and an all-star band brought the icon back to the stage at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022. After struggling through health issues, Mitchell’s return was as unexpected as it was moving. Mitchell and her collaborators stunned everyone, both those in the audience and watching later on YouTube. Her noticeably deeper voice and poignant delivery made it hard to watch with a dry eye, and the performance went viral. “Both Sides Now” didn’t chart when it was released in 1970, but it did in 2022. The song hit No. 4 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, No. 20 on the Digital Song Sales chart and No. 1 on the LyricFind U.S. and LyricFind Global charts.

This article originally appeared on Billboard Canada.

08 Nov 2023

The 2024 Met Gala Theme Has Been Announced

The first Monday in May is one of the biggest fashion events of the year, and Vogue revealed on Wednesday (Nov. 8) the theme for the 2024 Met Gala.

The theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, is set to feature 250 items from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, according to an Instagram post announcing the theme. “From a 17th century English Elizabethan-era bodice and Christian Dior’s famous Junon and Venus ballgowns, to 21st century acquisitions by designers including Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and Conner Ives, the core exhibit will span 400 years of history,” the caption reads. See the full post here.

The Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, will take place on May 6, 2024, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the corresponding exhibition is set to launch in the museum on May 10. The event’s celebrity co-chairs have yet to be announced.

The 2023 theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” which showcased more than 150 original looks designed by Lagerfeld, who died at age 85 in 2019, delving into the former Chanel creative director’s expansive seven-decade career. Many of his original sketches also appeared alongside the objects on display. Penélope Cruz, Dua Lipa, Roger Federer and Michaela Coel were the event’s co-chairs alongside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has led the event since 1995.

08 Nov 2023

Nike Sues New Balance & Skechers For Patent Infringement

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Nike Vapormax 2020 Flyknit

Source: Nike / NIke

Once again Nike is back in court on the offensive as they’ve decided to bring yet another lawsuit against a few competitors who they feel are infringing on their creations.

According to Complex, Nike has filed a few patent infringement lawsuits against both Skechers and New Balance for biting their beloved Flyknit technology and using it on their own footwear silhouettes. Suing both companies for “unauthorized use of it’s patented technology,” Nike is looking to shut down both brands from continuing to produce and sell it’s increasingly popular footwear lines.

Citing dozens of Skechers models and 21 New Balance sneakers in their lawsuit which they allege ripped off their Flyknit tech, Nike wants the courts to step in and not only award them damages, but also stop both companies from continuing to bank off what they say was their original creation.

Complex reports:

Nike holds a number of different patents for its Flyknit material, the first of which was granted in September 2012.

Nike has sued Skechers over alleged Flyknit infringement before, but this is the first time the brand has taken aim at New Balance. In January, Nike contacted New Balance in an attempt to flag the issue before going through with the lawsuit, but claims New Balance has instead “only escalated the scope of its infringing activities.”

Nike isn’t playing when it comes to their chips. Whether you’re an independent sneaker creator or a big conglomerate of a company, if they feel your hand in their pocket, they’ll try to cut it off. Heck, it might get to the point where Nike starts suing customers for not rocking their footwear with the proper attire and making them look bad.

Following the lawsuit, New Balance decided to acknowledge the situation and released a statement on the matter.

“New Balance fully respects competitors’ intellectual property rights, but Nike does not own the exclusive right to design and produce footwear by traditional manufacturing methods that have been used in the industry for decades. We will vigorously defend ourselves against Nike’s attempts to enforce its patents beyond their lawful scope.”

When reached for comment, Skechers declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Skechers doesn’t want that Nike smoke and might fold quick-fast. New Balance meanwhile seems ready to fight to the end to maintain it’s growing popularity.

What do y’all think of Nike slapping New Balance and Skechers with this lawsuit? Are they justified or just plain old greedy at this point? Let us know in the comments section below.

08 Nov 2023

Democrats’ Big Election Night Wins Powered By Black Candidates

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US-POLITICS-VOTE-RACISM

Source: CECILIA SANCHEZ / Getty

The Democratic Party saw some huge wins nationally on election night, with Black candidates including Yusef Salaam factoring in as part of the success.

Defying predictions from various pundits, voters around the country turned out to choose Democratic candidates and policies in major battleground states on Tuesday(November 7), turning back Republican efforts in Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. In three of those races, Black candidates stood out, making significant history with their wins.

In New York City, Dr. Yusef Salaam was elected to the City Council, representing a district in upper Harlem after winning his primary election in a landslide and running unopposed on election night. A member of the Exonerated “Central Park” Five, Salaam along with four other Black and Latino teens were charged and wrongly convicted of beating and raping a white jogger in 1989. The Democratic politician spoke about how the experience of serving 7 years before his conviction was thrown out in 2002 “guides me and informs me and allows me to be a humble servant for the people.”

Another historic victory featuring a Black candidate came to fruition in Philadelphia as Democrat Cherelle Parker became the city’s first-ever woman mayor, soundly defeating Republican challenger David Oh. Parker’s win continues the streak of Democratic leadership in the city in the position since 1952 as she becomes its 100th mayor. The former Philadelphia City Council member ran on a platform of reinforcing public safety. “I’m uniquely prepared to make the city the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in the nation with access to economic opportunity for all,” she said during her campaign.

In another landmark moment, Gabriel Amo won his special election to become the first Black person to represent the state of Rhode Island in Congress. His robust victory over Republican Gerry Leonard earned him the seat vacated by former Representative David Cicciline. The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Amo previously served as deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Biden and Obama presidential administrations. He recognized the impact of his win in speaking to the press afterward. “I certainly believe I am part of a generational shift that has been underway before me,” Amo said. 

08 Nov 2023

HHW Gaming: Nintendo Confirms ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Is Getting A Live Action Film, Gamers Have Thoughts

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom

Source: Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda

Move over Mario. Link is the latest Nintendo character coming to a movie theater near you.

Per Engadget, The Legend of Zelda is being adapted into a live-action film, Nintendo confirms. The film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda has been in discussion for a while, but now we have the confirmation the project is in development, and Wes Ball (The Maze Runner, Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes) will sit in the director’s chair.

It would seem all Nintendo would need to give this project the greenlight was the success of the Super Mario Bros. movie.

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad will serve as producers on the film; shockingly, Sony Pictures Entertainment is co-financing the movie.

Nintendo will finance 50% of the film, while Sony will handle the theater distribution.

As he did for the Super Mario Bros. animated film, Miyamoto-San proudly announced that the film is coming on via Nintendo’s official X, formerly Twitter, account.

“This is Miyamoto. I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega hit films,” the Nintendo chief wrote.

Miyamoto also noted that the film is in early development and “Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production,” plus “it will take time until its completion.”

X Reacts To The Legend of Zelda Movie

With the film’s announcement, X’s video game community is reacting and already fan-casting for the movie, like choosing Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer for the iconic role of Princess Zelda.

Some folks are not too excited. Kinda Funny’s Barrett Courtney, a lifelong Zelda fan, isn’t as optimistic about the upcoming film.

The Legend of Zelda is so far away, and we will be optimistic about it. You can see more reactions to the upcoming film in the gallery below.

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Photo: Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda

1. LOL, jokes

3. IGN’s greatest April fools joke

4. Howling

6. Interesting

08 Nov 2023

Rick Ross Calls DJ Envy A “Thief” For Alleged Real Estate Scam

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Rick Ross Performs On SIRIUS XM Radio - April 16, 2009

Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty

With DJ Envy still embroiled in his allege real estate scam and all the slander that comes with it, Rick Ross continues to remind everyone there’s no love lost between himself and the Breakfast Club co-host. Rozay once again threw a few darts at the embattled DJ.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the biggest bawse of ’em all was asked about DJ Envy’s current legal troubles which allege that he participated in real estate fraud with his partner, Cesar Pina. Not one to bite his tongue on such serious matters, Rick Ross took the opportunity to get a thing or two off his chest and told Rolling Stone that he felt DJ Envy was a “thief” and that he felt especially bad for the older women who were duped out of their savings by Envy and Pina, allegedly.

Rolling Stone reports:

“Yo, that was classic. ‘Beige Rage.’ That’s DJ Liquidation. DJ Scammer. Yo, you’re from New York? Did he scam anyone you know?” Rozay said in response to questions about his feud with Envy. He went on to say, “You gotta poll all the older ladies in your family because they said they specifically targeted older women who would stay up late at night and order silver jewelry off the TV. You gotta call all your grandmas and aunties. Those real-estate scams … He’s a thief. It’s unfortunate for the older ladies.”

Who knew Rick Ross was so empathetic to the senior citizens of the Tri-State Area? Must be angling to have some homemade baked pies sent his way or something.

Still, Envy is denying the allegations and said he’s fully cooperating with investigators on the matter. Not only that but Cesar Pina himself is saying that DJ Envy wasn’t involved in the dealings that went on either. So at least he has that going for him.

Regardless of whether or not Envy is cleared of all these allegations, this is something that will be hard to live down as the jokes basically write themselves and anyone who doesn’t care for him will forever point this out for the foreseeable future. Well, we know Ross will at least.

What do y’all think of Rick Ross calling DJ Envy a thief? Is he or did he get caught up in something he didn’t know was going on behind closed doors? Let us know in the comments section below.

08 Nov 2023

SCANDAL, Non & Nishina Light Up Yaon Stage for Billboard Japan Women in Music Vol.1 Concert

Nishina, SCANDAL and Non graced the stage at the historic Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall in Tokyo on Nov. 3 for Billboard Japan’s Women In Music Vol.1 event, entertaining fans under the clear autumn sky with songs and performances bursting with individuality.

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This concert was the first with multiple headliners on the bill organized as part of the WIM initiative in Japan, which launched last year to honor artists, producers and executives who have made significant contributions to music and inspired other women through their work, as Billboard has done in the U.S. since 2007.

The Open-Air Concert Hall in Hibiya Park, or “Yaon” as music lovers refer to it, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. November 3rd being a national holiday, a large number of fans of all genders and generations gathered at the event. The spirit of the day’s festivities was expressed in the music being played before the concert began, with songs by Western female artists such as Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!,” and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” warming up the Yaon crowd.

After the master of ceremonies for the evening, Maki Fukuda and Kanade of the comedy trio 3 Ji no Heroine, announced the start of the event, Nishina kicked off the show. Appearing onstage to warm applause, the rising 25-year-old singer-songwriter and her band broke into noise to perform “Slow Motion.” The leisurely, yet increasingly intense rendition was a fitting opener for her six-song set, gradually warming up the audience with her exuberance.

Billboard Japan Women in Music concert

Nishina

“This is my first time playing at Yaon so I’ve been looking so forward to this,” Nishina told the crowd before moving on to “Tokyo Marble.” Bubble gun in hand, she blew soap bubbles into the audience while hopping from one end of the stage to the other, clearly enjoying her time on the historic stage to her heart’s content.

During “Kedamono no Friends,” the singer twirled her fake tail around in her hand, loosely dancing and singing as the audience clapped with the beat. There was a moment when she almost tripped and fell because she was moving around so much onstage. Laughing, she exclaimed, “Did you see that? What an amazing recovery!” Making the audience feel at ease through such exchanges, she went on to perform “Sugar Spot” for the first time live. By the time she performed “Heavy Smoke,” dusk had fallen over the outdoor venue and her low, mumbly vocals lingered in the cool autumn air. Nishina closed her set with a heartfelt performance of her poignant ballad “seiran yuei,” making good on her weighty responsibility of opening the first-ever WIM event. 

During the stage change, Fukuda and Kanade appeared onstage and explained the purpose of the event. “We’d like everyone to feel the power of women and diverse possibilities through these live performances that are uniquely individual,” they said. “The concept of this project is to act towards eliminating gender inequalities in various industries including music, and make the world a place where people of all genders can be their best selves.” The two comedians went to share that more people are bringing their children backstage these days in their field, and new values are becoming more common. 

At this point, Nishina came back onstage to join the two emcees and commented, “It’s now pitch dark, but we started while the sun was still out. I was thinking how beautiful it was and had a really lovely time.” When asked if she is conscious of her gender when writing songs, she replied, “I don’t think too much about it, but I try to respect that ‘you are you’ in terms of taking care of myself and respecting others.”

Billboard Japan Women in Music concert

Non

The next artist on the roster was Non, whose latest album PURSUE was named to reflect the kind of woman she looks up to: someone who pursues what she wants and sees it through to the end. Appearing onstage with her backing band dressed in bright red, the multi-hyphenate artist picked up her trademark red Telecaster guitar and opened with “Beautiful Stars,” her collaborative project with J-pop rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.

“I’m so excited because I’m sandwiched between two insanely cool acts, Nishina and SCANDAL,” she noted before performing her next song, “Oh! Oh! Oh!” as the crowd sang along. She then told everyone to “take a seat because this next one’s mellow” and as the intro to “Kouya ni tatsu” (“Standing in the Wilderness”) began to play, the crowd stirred and broke out into loud applause. Fans listened enraptured by Non’s arresting performance of this profound ballad.

Before closing her compact but satisfying set with her warm, mid-tempo number “Azayaka na hibi” (“Vivid Days”), she addressed the Yaon crowd again. “It’s my first time performing in an event like this as part of three acts on the bill,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful that we can all enjoy music together. My heart’s so full. I wish you all many wonderful days today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and beyond.”

When invited back onstage by Fukuda and Kanade for a chat after her segment, Non emphasized again how much she had been looking forward to this day. “I was so happy to be able to play with my band today, because I was disappointed when our show here with Reichi ‘Chabo’ Nakaido’s band was cancelled due to a typhoon,” she said.

Billboard Japan Women in Music concert

SCANDAL

Closing out the event was SCANDAL, a veteran all-female band of 17 years. The four members were greeted with loud cheers after it was announced that the group had been certified by the Guinness World Records in August as the “longest running rock band with the same musicians (female).” Clad in black, the members opened their set with the band’s uplifting latest single, “Highlight no naka de bokura zutto.”

As searchlights flashed across the venue, the band went on to perform one of its representative numbers, “Shunkan Sentimental,” with the audience spontaneously shouting as soon as the intro began. The four women’s solid performance engulfed the historic venue in a frenzy of excitement.

The veteran band continued to deliver a tight set covering highlights from its illustrious catalog. “I’m having so much fun now that I’m in my thirties and playing in SCANDAL,” said guitarist/vocalist HARUNA to thunderous applause. “I hope you can feel the four of us standing on stage and connecting our sounds together, like light.”

The women performed “Sisters” as a refreshing shout-out to the evening’s theme, then finished their set with their concert anthem “SCANDAL BABY,” gleefully singing in unison. During the second verse, lead guitarist MAMI and bassist TOMOMI huddled close to HARUNA, making eye contact with drummer RINA as they tore through the fan favorite to close out the event on a high note.

During the after-show chat, RINA said, “Now that events like this are taking place, I think we have more opportunities to understand one another. Our hope is that we can all live together while respecting what each of us values. I hope we can enjoy our lives together without giving up anything.” When asked about their thoughts on continuing to perform as a “girl band,” HARUNA replied, “We feel that it’s important for us four members to be considerate of each other and to enjoy the changes as we get older, so we hope to never forget that and enjoy our time together.”

Nishina and Non were also invited to share their impressions of the event, and the former commented, “I had a great time performing side by side with very cool female musicians from different genres,” while the latter shared, “I really enjoyed being here today, listening to Nishina and SCANDAL’s live performances thinking they were so cool and had a good time performing, too!”

The celebration of women will continue as Billboard Japan announced its Women In Music Vol. 2 event set for Feb. 8, 2024, at Tokyo Dome City Hall. The next concert will feature the powerful voices of singer-songwriters Reo Ieiri and Miliyah Kato collaborating with an orchestra.

—This article by Takayuki Okamoto first appeared on Billboard Japan