
From Sabah to New York: Marsha Milan lights up Times Square billboard as Spotify EQUAL ambassador
Fresh off her win at AJL 39, the celebrated singer has achieved another major milestone: appearing on a digital billboard in New York's Times Square last Friday.
The appearance marks her debut as Spotify's EQUAL Asia ambassador for April 2025, a role that places her among a global roster of female artists recognised for their talent, voice, and impact in music.
Her songs 'Hening Rindu' and 'Tangisan Seorang Pendosa' are now featured on the EQUAL Singapore & Malaysia playlist, where she takes centre stage.
The EQUAL initiative is part of Spotify's commitment to champion gender equity in the music industry by spotlighting outstanding female artists from around the world.
Overwhelmed by the honour, Marsha described the experience as surreal.
'Over the moon! It's my first time, and I'm so grateful,' she said in a statement today.
'I used to think opportunities like this were just dreams, but Alhamdulillah, it's become a reality. I've always hoped to be on a billboard — and now, a girl from a small town in Sabah is up in Times Square.'
Despite the international recognition, Marsha remains grounded.
'I don't have a specific formula to be selected again, but I believe good music will always be appreciated,' she said.
'I hope this achievement inspires more local composers to continue creating high-quality songs.'
With nearly 20 years in the industry, Marsha credits her longevity to sincerity, discipline, and a constant desire to improve.
'The industry is always evolving, and we have to evolve too — without losing our identity.
'Maintaining a strong connection with your team and your supporters is so important.
'There will always be highs and lows, but if your intentions are sincere, opportunities will come,' she said.
Adding to the list of achievements, Marsha has also been chosen by KBS World Korea to perform at the upcoming ROUND Festival (Asean-Korea Music Festival).
The event, supported by the Asean-Korea Cooperation Fund, will take place at Zepp KL on June 21 and 22.
Sharing the stage with top acts from across the region, Marsha will represent Malaysia in this cross-cultural celebration of Asean music and talent.
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Malaysian Reserve
41 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Monster Energy's UNLEASHED Podcast Welcomes World-Class Skateboarders Tom Schaar and Elliot Sloan on Special Live Episode at X Games Salt Lake City 2025
Episode 507 of the Sports and Pop Culture Podcast Recorded Live at X Games Salt Lake City 2025 SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Get the final episode of UNLEASHED from Summer X Games! Monster Energy is proud to welcome two highly decorated skateboarders on a live episode recorded behind the scenes at X Games Salt Lake City 2025. Listen to Tom Schaar from Malibu, California, and Elliot Sloan from New York City on Episode 507 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with the late Dingo, Danny, and Brittney. This marks the third and final live episode of the UNLEASHED podcast recorded at X Games Salt Lake City 2025. Each episode celebrated the memory of action sports icon and podcast host, the late Luke 'The Dingo' Trembath, and featured exclusive commentary from some of the biggest stars at X Games. 'Being here at the X Games makes me feel like when I first started watching X Games. Just that little kid in me. Skateboarding really brings that out,' said Sloan on UNLEASHED. The podcast episode with Schaar and Sloan was originally recorded live on June 30 at a mobile studio overlooking the Utah State Fairpark and Event Center and streamed live on the Twitch platform. As of today, the 51-minute episode featuring the two skateboard innovators is available to global audiences. Ready to hear the full story? Make sure to listen to Episode 507 of UNLEASHED with the late Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Fueled by Monster Energy featuring Schaar and Sloan. Released today, the new podcast is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube. The special episode gets personal with two bona fide skateboarding innovators: Tom Schaar shocked the skate world by landing the world's first 1080 air at the mere age of 12. Since then, he has matured into one of the most versatile skaters in the world, with medals in Vert, Pool, and Mega Ramp, along with countless trick innovations under his belt. Plus, a silver medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Equally inventive, Elliot Sloan has expanded the sport's trick vocabulary with his signature Cab heelflip Indy 720 and earned wins in Vert, Big Air, Vert Best Trick and MegaPark disciplines. Between them, these two innovators own 33 X Games medals, with Schaar holding 17 medals and Sloan 16 medals – a lot of heavy metal for a special podcast episode! What's more, the two skateboard innovators look back at their favorite moments with the late action sports icon Luke 'The Dingo' Trembath, only on UNLEASHED! Hear the full story in conversation with the podcast hosts, professional snowboarder Danny Kass, as well as artist and model Brittney Palmer. Follow the link to tune in right here. Schaar barged onto the skateboarding scene as a young kid with a big impact. At the mere age of 12, the Malibu native made history as the youngest X Games gold medalist to land the world's first 1080 air in competition at the Asia X Games in Shanghai. 'When I got the gold in Mega, I was the young kid then. And it almost feels like a few months ago. I think when you're young, it's easier to learn stuff. You're made out of rubber and nothing hurts.' As Schaar grew up, the trophies kept coming, including victories at Dew Tour and the iconic Vans Pool Party, while his skateboarding repertoire evolved. Drafted into Team USA in 2019, Schaar's time to shine came at the 2024 Paris Olympics where he earned the silver medal in Men's Skateboard Park. 'Ever since I was a child, I always gravitated towards vertical skateboarding. There was a while when I stopped skating vert as much and focused more on riding park. But over the last four years or so, I started getting more back into vert. And it's just been fun!' Currently, Schaar is leading a renaissance in vertical skateboarding and just dropped a heavy video part produced by Monster Energy for the Thrasher magazine website. He also claimed gold in Skateboard Vert at X Games Osaka and now owns 17 X Games medals (four gold, four silver, nine bronze). Asked about the current level of competition at X Games, Schaar said: 'I'm honestly just trying to keep up with these kids at this point. It's getting pretty gnarly. It's like I'm the oldest guy out there now.' Sloan grew up in New York City, where street skating is the dominant form of riding and halfpipes are still a rarity. But after watching Tony Hawk put down the world's first 900 at the X Games, he decided to pursue vertical skateboarding. Ultimately, he decided to move to California for more options to skate and became one of the pioneers of Mega Ramp riding on large-scale ramps. 'I was skating at Bob Burnquist's house a lot and he already had the Mega. And I'd seen the DC Video with the Mega Ramp video part and instantly knew I wanted to do this! It was terrifying and way bigger than I imagined, but after some time I dropped in and started getting into it,' said Sloan on UNLEASHED. Sloan not only became a competitive force on the big ramp: A competitor in six(!) different X Games disciplines, Sloan now holds an impressive record of 16 medals (seven gold, seven silver, two bronze). He not only thrives on big Mega Ramp setups but can also throw down technical bangers in a regular vert ramp. Speaking on the escalating level of trick difficulty in today's competition, he said: 'I think it's because of social media now that all these kids are just feeding off each other. They're seeing what everyone else is doing every day. And they go, 'Oh, this is possible?! Then I'm going to do this!' It's gone up so high in the last five years.' Nowadays, Sloan trains his next-level tricks at his private 'Sloanyard' facility, where he also hosted X Games events in his backyard MegaPark and Vert setup in 2022 and 2023. Asked about building his own park, Sloan said: 'That was always a big dream of mine. It just so happened that I found this property and we could build all this stuff there to practice. Holding the X Games there was such a trip!' Commenting on the legacy of Luke 'The Dingo' Trembath, Sloan said: 'X Games really doesn't feel the same without him. He was always there, always hyping it up. As soon as you would see him, I was immediately in a better mood! I definitely miss him.' Want the full story from behind the scenes at X Games Salt Lake City 2025? Listen to the full conversation by visiting the landing page for Episode 507 of UNLEASHED with the late Dingo, Danny, and Brittney featuring skateboard trick innovators Tom Schaar and Elliot Sloan. Download photos for editorial use. View UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Episode 507 Featuring Tom Schaar and Elliot Sloan The UNLEASHED with The Late Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Podcast is here to celebrate the personalities behind the Monster Energy lifestyle. With each episode dedicated to a unique guest or topic, listeners learn about living on the edge and advancing the state of the art in the world of high-energy sports, as well as music, games, and pop culture from individuals at the top of their game. More than a drink, Monster Energy is a way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans, and the podcast is an extension of this unique DNA. For more on Monster Energy and the UNLEASHED Podcast, visit Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for exclusive content and athlete features. For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser. About Monster EnergyBased in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: Photos for Editorial UseView UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Episode 507 Featuring Tom Schaar and Elliot Sloan


New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
AI bands signal new era for music business
A rising tide of artificial intelligence (AI) bands is ushering in a new era where work will be scarcer for musicians. Whether it's Velvet Sundown's 1970s-style rock or country music projects "Aventhis" and "The Devil Inside," bands whose members are pure AI creations are seeing more than a million plays on streaming giant Spotify. No major streaming service clearly labels tracks that come entirely from AI, except France's Deezer. Meanwhile, the producers of these songs tend to be unreachable. "I feel like we're at a place where nobody is really talking about it, but we are feeling it," said music producer, composer and performer Leo Sidran. "There is going to be a lot of music released that we can't really tell who made it or how it was made." The Oscar-winning artist sees the rise of AI music as perhaps a sign of how "generic and formulaic" genres have become. AI highlights the chasm between music people listen to "passively" while doing other things and "active" listening in which fans care about what artists convey, said producer and composer Yung Spielburg on the Imagine AI Live podcast. Spielburg believes musicians will win out over AI with "active" listeners but will be under pressure when it comes to tunes people play in the background while cooking dinner or performing mundane tasks. If listeners can't discern which tunes are AI-made, publishers and labels will likely opt for synthetic bands that don't earn royalties, Spielburg predicted. "AI is already in the music business and it's not going away because it is cheap and convenient," said Mathieu Gendreau, associate professor at Rowan University in New Jersey, who is also a music industry executive. "That will make it even more difficult for musicians to make a living." Music streaming platforms already fill playlists with mood music attributed to artists about whom no information can be found, according to University of Rochester School of Music professor Dennis DeSantis. Meanwhile, AI-generated soundtracks have become tempting, cost-saving options in movies, television shows, ads, shops, elevators and other venues, DeSantis added. AI TAKES ALL? Composer Sidran says he and his music industry peers have seen a sharp slowdown in work coming their way since late last year. "I suspect that AI is a big part of the reason," said Sidran, host of "The Third Story" podcast. "I get the feeling that a lot of the clients that would come to me for original music, or even music from a library of our work, are using AI to solve those problems." Technology has repeatedly helped shape the music industry, from electric guitars and synthesizers to multi-track recording and voice modulators. Unlike such technologies that gave artists new tools and techniques, AI could lead to the "eradication of the chance of sustainability for the vast majority of artists," warned George Howard, a professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. "AI is a far different challenge than any other historical technological innovation," Howard said. "And one that will likely be zero-sum." Howard hopes courts will side with artists in the numerous legal battles with generative AI giants whose models imitate their styles or works. Gendreau sees AI music as being here to stay and teaches students to be entrepreneurs as well as artists in order to survive in the business. Sidran advises musicians to highlight what makes them unique, avoiding the expected in their works because "AI will have done it."


The Sun
04-08-2025
- The Sun
How songs explode online
YOU hear Nunca Muda? Once on Instagram, then again on TikTok. Next thing you know, the chorus or beat is stuck in your head and you do not even know the song's name or who the artiste even is. That is the power of virality. In 2025, a song does not need to be played on the radio or be featured in a big movie to become a hit. It can take off in a matter of hours thanks to short videos, streaming algorithms and the power of online fans. But what exactly makes a song go viral today? TikTok is new radio In the past, record labels pushed songs to radio DJs. Now, they pitch to TikTok influencers and hope for a dance trend. Just 15 seconds of the right chorus is all it takes. Old songs such as Fleetwood Mac's Dreams and Lady Gaga's Bloody Mary saw renewed popularity after trending audio clips spread online, years after their original release. Once a clip gets picked up by enough users, the algorithm will start pushing it forward and further. According to TikTok's own analytics in 2021, 75% of the short video platform users said they discover new artistes through TikTok, while 63% of its users heard new music they never knew about through the platform. Relatable lyrics or catchy hooks win However, before a song becomes viral, it usually needs to check one of two boxes: ➤ It has to be relatable, in some form or another, by often being tied to emotions such as heartbreak. For example: Olivia Rodrigo's Drivers Licence. ➤ It needs to have a catchy, repeatable hook. For example: NewJeans' Super Shy, Moliy and Silent Addy's Shake It to the Max and its different remixes, or ATLXS' Passo Bem Solto. Ultimately, the song does not need to be deep. It just needs to be memorable and infectious within a 15-second time frame. Streaming algorithms do heavy lifting Once songs meet the two criteria above, people will start searching for it. This is where platforms such as Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music come into play. These platforms also have algorithms of their own, which push songs that are trending or frequently repeated, especially on user-generated playlists. A track that does well on TikTok will likely appear under 'Viral Hits Malaysia' or 'Top 50' lists, which helps increase exposure, often internationally. Global trends shape local charts Gone are the days when music was siloed by country. A song from Korea, Nigeria or Indonesia can be just as likely to go viral here as one from Kuala Lumpur. The best example in the past year alone is Hanumankind's Big Dawgs. Its heavy and hard beat, accompanied by a unique rap style that pays homage to American rapper Project Pat, helped the song explode beyond Hanumankind's native India into the global scene, breaking charts across the board. It currently sits at just over 460 million plays on Spotify. The trend proves that today's music scene has been made even more borderless and catchy beats do not need translation. Fans, memes make difference Sometimes, it is not the music itself but what people do with it. Think of sped-up remixes, parody versions, fan edits or even comedic lip-syncs – all of which keep a song circulating for weeks or months. Fans are no longer just listeners. They are part of the marketing engine. A viral moment can come from an ordinary teenager dancing in a rural town just as easily as from a major label-backed multi-million dollar campaign in New York. There is no fixed recipe for virality, as the ingredients are clear: ➤ A catchy or emotional hook ➤ Visibility on TikTok or Instagram ➤ Momentum on streaming platforms ➤ And most importantly, fan interaction In this digital age, any artiste, from a bedroom singer in Penang to a K-pop giant in Seoul, has a shot at blowing up overnight. All it takes is one well-timed post and the right 15 seconds of music.