Latest news with #Coachella
Japan Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Behind the scenes: Inside Fuji Rock's strategy for staying on top
The failure of Coachella, one of the biggest ongoing music festivals in the United States, to sell out for the second year in a row shook the concert industry recently. Previously, tickets would sell out the day they were made available. One theory for the decline is ticket prices, which range from $549 to $599 for each of the two festival weekends — about a $100 increase from just four years ago. Another reason is that Coachella keeps increasing audience capacity, meaning it must sell more tickets. But Coachella also indicates a trend — at least in the U.S. — away from festivals. They're not only expensive, but fewer people want to pay for this particular experience. When the summer festival craze was at its peak, about 10 years ago, promoters were often competing for the same big-name acts. Though the base appeal of a music festival is the expansive musical buffet, many fans bought tickets based on the artists they were interested in seeing. The reality, however, was that most would prefer to see their favorite acts in standalone concerts. In contrast, the 2025 edition of the Fuji Rock Festival, one of Asia's premier summer music festivals, is enjoying its best sales in years. Two weeks before the festival's opening on July 25, three-day passes and tickets for Saturday were sold out. "It's the most tickets we've sold since the COVID-19 pandemic," Yuji Toki says via email. Toki is in charge of ticket sales for Smash Corporation, the concert promoter who organizes Fuji Rock. "Sales actually started later than they usually do, but they've been very strong." The festival's organizers say that the theme of Fuji Rock is coexistence between nature and music. | MARK THOMPSON Even more encouraging for Fuji Rock's future is the customer demographic, which has shifted younger. "We found that many newcomers bought tickets this year," Toki says. "The 25-34 age group was the largest, which is a change from the past." And yet, half of all ticket sales still go to "repeat customers," he adds, including a significant portion of Fuji Rock regulars who return regardless of the lineup. Another notable trend is an increase of foreign visitors. "Inbound customers account for about 10% of all ticket sales," Toki says, "though the actual number could be higher since Japanese friends of some visitors may be buying their tickets for them." Toki reveals that tickets for Fuji Rock this year were purchased in 60 countries, though the overwhelming majority of foreign festivalgoers are from Taiwan, South Korea and China. Fuji Rock benefits from a larger trend: Music festivals featuring international acts have grown more popular in Asia over the past decade and attract an increasing number of domestic fans. It indicates not only a surge in appreciation for global pop styles but also more disposable income in the hands of more people. Many of these new festivals face problems due to inexperience in planning and insufficient infrastructure. Fuji Rock, which was launched in 1997, is seen as a reliable bet for music lovers in Asia who can afford the trip. It's not just the festival that makes an impression. Japan has been inviting major artists since the 1960s, and for decades, it was the only Asian country where it was possible to see these top international acts. "We are actively trying to attract music fans from other Asian countries," says Noriyuki Yamamoto, who has been working for the festival since its inception and is in charge of booking, stage production and promotion. "In four places — Taiwan, China, Singapore, South Korea — you can purchase tickets directly from local vendors." Another development working in Fuji Rock's favor is the greater availability of and interest in music from this hemisphere. "Japanese and Asian music in general is attracting a lot of attention worldwide," Yamamoto says. "We consider ourselves the pioneering Asian music festival, and actively seek Asian acts and other elements that will attract people from other countries." In addition, Fuji Rock collaborates with other Asian festivals to bring international acts to the region — not just to cut costs, but because a multi-stop tour across Asia is more appealing to artists than a single show. "There are other festivals held around the same time as Fuji," Yamamoto said. "Some during the same week. So we work closely with them when booking artists." New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde performed at Fuji Rock Festival in 2017. | MARK THOMPSON Nevertheless, it's the lineup that most people notice first about a festival, and even in that regard, Fuji Rock has changed. This year, none of the headliners are what would be considered blockbuster acts, meaning the kind that, in the past, would guarantee a large turnout. Yamamoto says two of the main stage headliners this year — British dance music upstart Fred Again.. and American funk-rock collective Vulfpeck — have never performed in Japan before. 'I think they lend the festival a slightly different feeling — in a good way,' he says. 'It's not that their appearances alter anything, but up until now, headliners have mostly been acts who have visited Japan before, either at Fuji Rock or at concerts, so I think these two artists give the audience a fresh impression of the festival." In recent years, Fuji Rock has also showcased more top-selling Japanese acts, better reflecting the home audience's preferences. Many of the Japanese artists at this year's festival, including Vaundy, Radwimps, Creepy Nuts and Hitsujibungaku, have garnered substantial followings overseas, especially in Asia. "We've also added more Asian acts," Yamamoto says. "The purpose is to present a lineup that shows a wide variety, which is the point of a festival." The one aspect of Fuji Rock that has not changed over the years is its setting. The creator of the festival, Smash founder Masahiro Hidaka, envisioned it as a place where you can hear music surrounded by abundant nature. "It's something we think is hard to really experience," Yamamoto says, "not only in Japan, but elsewhere as well." Plenty of other festivals are held outdoors: Glastonbury, the inspiration for Fuji Rock, and Woodstock, the granddaddy of all rock festivals, are and were held on farms, while Coachella takes place in a desert basin. In fact, Fuji Rock's original location was also on farmland near Mount Fuji. For various reasons, it had to be relocated, and Hidaka chose the Naeba Ski Resort in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture. Nature is more or less a distraction at other outdoor festivals; at Fuji Rock, which offers dense forests and a big cooling river, it's all-enveloping. "The theme of Fuji Rock is coexistence between nature and music," Yamamoto says. "It's an experience that can be appreciated by people of all ages." And all nationalities. Fuji Rock Festival takes place at Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture, July 25 to 27. Follow our coverage on our dedicated liveblog and on Instagram . For more information, visit
News18
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
How BLACKPINK Star Jennie's Latest Solo Track Helped Her Find Strength
BLACKPINK star Jennie shared her thoughts on the group's comeback and talked about how spending time alone helped her get ready for new group activities. BLACKPINK's Jennie had a thrilling year, starting with her performance at Coachella, and she also earned praise for her first solo album, Ruby. Recently, Jennie shared her thoughts on the group's comeback and talked about how spending time alone helped her get ready for new group activities. She also explained the meaning behind her popular song Like Jennie, saying it is about encouraging people to 'love themselves and shine in their own way." While the South Korean idol uses her name in the song, the message is meant for everyone. Revealing how alone time helped her grow, the singer told Elle Korea, 'I learned and felt so many things while preparing for this solo full-length album Ruby. I felt that I had become a little stronger as I continued to bump into things and go through trial and error to increase the level of perfection. Since the other members also went through their own journeys and came back, we understood each other more deeply and became a more flexible and mature team. I think this promotion will be really special for me and the members." What Did Jennie Mean By Her Song Title 'Like Jennie'? Discussing more about Like Jennie, the BLACKPINK star mentioned, 'In like JENNIE, JENNIE is just a pronoun. I made this song to convey the message that anyone who names themselves can love themselves and shine in their own way, and it was only used because my name is JENNIE. I hope that everyone who sings this song will have that same feeling. I gained confidence while singing this song. It's a song that resonates positively, that even though the path I've walked so far has been difficult, I'm going in the right direction, and that I'm doing well." Where Are BLACKPINK Members Now? BLACKPINK members Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa are currently on their DEADLINE world tour. The tour began in Seoul and has taken them to many major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Paris, London and Toronto. Amid their tour, the group made history by topping both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts with their latest single, Jump, released on July 11. The track entered at No. 1 on both lists. This is BLACKPINK's third time reaching the top spot on the Global 200 and their fourth on the Global Excl. US chart. Right behind them, Justin Bieber's new song Daisies landed at No. 3 on the Global 200 and No. 4 on the Global Excl. US chart. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Are hologram concerts rewriting the rules of musical shows?
Hologram concerts are gaining popularity. Sidhu Moose Wala's hologram tour excites fans. Tupac's digital avatar performed at Coachella in 2012. These concerts recreate iconic performers using advanced technology. Some artists like Prince opposed the idea. Others like Sharon Osbourne support reviving legends. Concerns exist about missing the spontaneity of live shows. Dolly Parton also expressed concerns about technology and soul. When Sidhu Moose Wala 's hologram world tour was announced recently, it was only natural for fans to be excited at the thought of being able to see their beloved singer back on stage, albeit as a digital projection. This is not the first time that something like this has happened. In 2012, Tupac Shakur, aka 2PAC's digital avatar was seen performing at Coachella, nearly two decades after his death. Nitin Kumar Pal, a Delhi-based indie filmmaker and a fan of Sidhu, adds, 'Sidhu was a big fan of Tupac, and this mirrors his body of work and legacy beautifully. It feels fitting that he's being honoured in the same way as his idol.' But what exactly are hologram concerts , and what does the future hold for them? Sidhu Moose Wala to be revived as a hologram for a world tour. Recreating iconic performers A hologram concert is a live show where a 3D projection of an artist performs on stage, mimicking their look, voice, movements, and even mannerisms. Using advanced imaging and AI, it aims to recreate the experience of a real performance, allowing fans to relive the magic of iconic performers and performances. Hologram concerts are no longer just a gimmick; they're shaping up to be a new chapter in live entertainment. As Divya Dixit, a marketing and trend specialist, says, 'They don't just honour the past—they rewrite it. They keep the artist's voice alive, turning memory into a live experience. In pop culture, that's how legends are born twice.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Franklin India NFO Investment Franklin Templeton India AMC Learn More Undo A hologram of Roy Orbison playing live on stage in 2018 at In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert 'Some live show elements will be missing' With AI and holographic tech getting better, we may see more such shows, but will we be more accepting of them? Singer Shibani Kashyap, who was also one of the first Indian singers to perform live on Metaverse, says, 'This is technology at its peak. This is a great way to keep people like Sidhu or KK or Jagjit Singh alive. However, I'm not sure how ready people are for a full-blown hologram concert. Over time, audiences could lose interest.' In a live concert, the engagement between the artist and the crowd creates interaction. 'There are moments of spontaneity, even imperfections, that make a live performance feel real and relatable. That element would be missing with a hologram performance since it will be pre-programmed. While people may attend such shows out of love and respect for the artist, it's important to keep them short and impactful.' Whether seen as tribute or as tech trickery, hologram concerts are forcing us to rethink memory, mourning, and music. The most demonic thing imaginable: Prince Singer Prince expresses disapproval with Hologram concerts While many prominent names such as Sharon Osbourne (the late Ozzy Osbourne's wife), Nas, and Dr Dre have praised the use of AI and technology to revive legendary artists, the late singer Prince once called the tech 'demonic.' In an old interview, he is heard saying, 'That's the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing... it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song Free As a Bird, manipulating John Lennon's voice to have him singing from across the grave... that'll never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control.' Despite his disapproval, there were plans to bring the singer back to life via a hologram during a Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2018. However, the plan was dropped when Prince's longtime partner Shiela E. expressed her concerns about it. Artistes who were 'revived' with holograms ABBA Tupac Whitney Houston Amy Winehouse Michael Jackson Roy Orbinson Frank Zappa Elvis Presley A full-length hologram concert might not be sustainable in India. As a concept, it's fascinating, but I don't think it can become a regular or long-term replacement for live performances Singer Shibani Kashyap talks about the trend of Hologram concerts -Shibani Kashyap, singer I think I've left a great body of work behind. I have to decide how much of that high-tech stuff I want to be involved with because I don't want to leave my soul here on this earth. I think with some of this stuff I'll be grounded here forever Singer Dolly Parton expresses disapproval with hologram concerts -Dolly Parton, singer, at a press conference to promote her album in 2023
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A famed L.A. taqueria will give the NYC taco scene a boost when it opens this week
If you think that you have to hop on a flight to Los Angeles to get some classic West Coast tacos in your belly, think again. A popular L.A.-based taqueria is opening in New York City this week: It's called Tacos 1986, and it's set to open on Thursday, July 24 in the West Village. Originally started as a taqueria stand in Hollywood in 2018, Tacos 1986 was named as one of Eater's best new restaurants in 2019. It continued to gain in popularity, and now there are eight locations in the Los Angeles area. The new taco restaurant will be one section of a three-part complex, which also features two bars (the agave bar Mixteca and the soon-to-open Kees) and is located at 1 Cornelia Street. Run by Please Don't Tell owner Jeff Bell and co-owned by Tijuana-born Victor Delgado and Jorge 'Joy' Alvarez-Tostado, the restaurant will feature tacos from that Baja city. The menu is built on the seemingly simple (but incredibly flavorful) combination of grilled meat layered in handmade corn and flour tortillas; guests can choose between carne asada (steak), adobada (thin-cut adobo-marinated pork), chicken or a meat-free mushroom option. Along with traditional tacos, there are also mulitas (a hybrid of the taco and quesadilla), vampiros (a mix between a tostada and a quesadilla), and classic quesadillas. The collaborations between Bell and Delgado and Alvarez-Tostado began when the trio worked together at Coachella in 2023. It was only a matter of time before they found a way to bring the flavors of the West Coast to New York City. Like one of New York's best taquerias, Los Tacos No. 1, Tacos 1986 will be a standing-room-only counter-service concept. When it opens, the new spot will only operate in the evening, but there are plans to add morning and afternoon hours. When the rest of the One Cornelia complex opens, guests will even be able to order Tacos 1986 while they drink cocktails at either of the two bars in the venue.
Elle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
We All Agreed That Diet Culture Was Bad. So Why Is It Back?
Has anyone noticed a shift lately? You open TikTok and sift through videos of 'fit checks, body checks, workout tips, not feeling much of anything at all. Except, of course, that vague sense of dread in the pit of your stomach. Is that influencer so slim because she follows a clean-eating plan, or because she doesn't eat at all? Maybe there's a seismic change in the air. Celebrities are losing weight, even those who branded themselves as body-positive icons. Others are being scrutinised for signs they're taking weight-loss drugs. Lana Del Rey, a star once reviled for no longer looking 25 years old, appeared at Coachella looking 25 years old. The internet's reaction to her reclaimed thinness was 'WE ARE SO BACK'. A stranger's weight loss, it would seem, is a harbinger of hope. Or maybe a testament that fat shaming works. 'I've seen a huge uptick in content online that promotes diet culture, and very often tips over into eating-disorder territory,' says Alex Light, a body-image speaker. 'A lot of it is subtle, disguised as 'wellness', but some of it is blatant – like 'what I eat in a day' videos glorifying extremely low-calorie [diets], or creators encouraging their followers to be 'skinny legends'.' When you start to notice them, the signs are everywhere. Noughties fashion trends are having a revival, along with the idealisation of Noughties-era bodies. Wellness discourse is crossing into alt-right territory. AI is making everyone even more image obsessedwith people asking ChatGPT if they're 'hot enough'. Politics is influencing beauty trends. Unabashed 'skinny influencers' are mainstream. What on earth happened, would be a fair question to ask. Didn't we all agree, around a decade ago, that diet culture was bad? That there's more to life than being thin? 'Arguably what scares me more is the engagement on these posts: thousands of likes and comments applauding the dedication, or asking for tips,' Light continues. 'It shows this isn't happening in a vacuum – there's a wider cultural appetite for this kind of content.' An 'anti-diet advocate', Light is the author of You Are Not a Before Picture and co-host of Should I Delete That?, a podcast she co-hosts with Em Clarkson, which attempts to apply the nuance 'that is often left out of the polarising conversations that take place on social media'. Indeed, these symptoms of our divided times could be linked to diet culture's big comeback. 'The algorithm doesn't tend to reward nuance, compassion or content that doesn't focus on aesthetics or transformation,' Light says. 'What's common is 'wellness' content that ends up reinforcing body ideals: 'gentle' weight-loss goals, 'healthy swaps' or hyper-disciplined routines. It might not look like traditional diet culture on the surface, but it reinforces the idea that your body is a problem to fix.' Dr Johanna Keeler, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders, confirms that seemingly benign social-media content can have an insidious effect. She points to a recent study of TikTok algorithms, which found that people with an eating disorder were far more likely to be shown appearance-oriented, dieting and exercise content. ('They were 4343% more likely to be shown toxic eating-disorder videos,' she adds.) The problem is that the algorithm perpetuates a 'vicious circle' – those with eating disorders are more likely to be shown triggering content, and the triggering content exacerbates disordered eating. 'The worrying thing is that, because of smartphones, we're exposed to this content a lot more.' This is made more extreme due to tailored content from the algorithms, causing vulnerable people to get stuck in a harmful echo chamber. It's not the first time social media has sparked these concerns. 'This era echoes pro-anorexia Tumblr, but it has a shinier, more socially acceptable veneer,' Light says. The website was host to a huge number of 'pro-ana' blogs that posted 'thinspiration' in the form of personal pictures and Kate Moss gifs, fostering one-upmanship around users' daily food intake and workout routines. While this phenomenon was more brazen in its promotion of dieting, Light argues that 'the result is the same: we're still being told that our value hinges on how small, controlled and ideal our bodies look'. A lot of today's viral content is more implicit in its promotion of the beauty standard – a cursory glance at Instagram's Explore page will reveal paparazzi pictures of celebrities in bikinis, their figures picked apart in the comments, and fitness influencers sharing weight-loss tips. 'It's dressed up as 'wellness', 'clean living' or 'biohacking',' Light says, referencing the coded terms creators use to avoid being cancelled. But as Keeler's research suggests, this can function as a gateway to more extreme, pro-ana subcultures, and influencers who are less precious about their wording. Liv Schmidt, a 23-year-old former TikTok creator, shared videos telling followers what she eats in a day 'to stay skinny', with slogans including: 'It's not a sin to want to be thin'. After being barred from the app, Schmidt started a membership programme she calls the Skinni Société, where subscribers pay $20 a month to gain access to her 'portion-controlled' food diaries, and group chats where members compare step counts and 'progress pics'. 'Seeing Gen Z engage with his rhetoric has been a big shocker,' says Gina Tonic, senior editor and podcast host at Polyester Zine. 'The worst thing I've seen is SkinnyTok and eating-disorder Twitter accounts making their way into 'normal' algorithms – being seen by many who didn't know they existed prior to that.' Though TikTok has banned the #SkinnyTok hashtag, the community is still active and growing on the app. 'You hope younger generations will be more socially aware but it's not necessarily the case; they make the same mistakes we do, and that's hard to watch.' Tonic notes the responsibility to police this content ultimately lies with social-media platforms, who seem to 'prioritise engagement over wellbeing and social justice'. She says an early sign of the pendulum swing back to diet culture was 'creators who centred their brand on self-love or body positivity or fat liberation shifting to be around weight loss'. Many TikTok users who have undergone transformations opened up about their use of GLP-1s, which have been hailed as miracle drugs while giving rise to ethical concerns. Part of a cultural shift to the pursuit of thinness at all costs, these admissions seem even more jarring to those who remember a time when showcasing diverse bodies on the internet was celebrated. 'In the 2010s, we had a mainstream wave of body positivity,' says Light. In an interview with BeautyMatter, beauty-industry critic Jessica DeFino said that, during this time, 'anti-diet culture limited what beauty standards the media could promote without facing public backlash'. But even if the movement was more about optics than genuine progress, with celebrities cashing in on wokeness for clout, Light claims this was preferable to the situation we find ourselves in. 'A lot of it wasn't perfect, of course, but it cracked open the conversation, gave marginalised bodies visibility and challenged narrow beauty standards.' And though it can seem like progress has been permanently reversed, Tonic believes sometimes things have to get worse before they get better: 'Fat liberation, a lot like feminism, has come in waves of popularity, and the tide seems to be out at the minute. I do think it'll come back full-force soon.' In the meantime, it's important to practise awareness, and to consider safeguarding measures. In a recent study, almost one in five UK women screened positive for a possible eating disorder. The most effective way to break yourself out of negative thinking patterns? Addressing that pesky phone addiction. 'Any sort of intervention to try to limit your exposure should help improve your appearance-satisfaction and wellbeing', Keeler advises. Tonic agrees, but also advocates engaging with online content that makes you feel good. 'I think making an active commitment to following and engaging with accounts that are body positive and seek to decentre and oppose these conversations will help so much,' she says. 'Curate a feed and algorithm that feeds you the right things. Negative things online are unavoidable at this point, but pointedly engaging with content that counteracts it will do wonders.' Light, similarly, has found hope by building a positive online community. 'The messages I get from people who've started to eat more freely, wear the clothes they love, stop punishing themselves… all of it reminds me that change is happening, even if it's gradual and it's not trending,' she says. 'I think a great question to ask yourself is, 'Who benefits from me believing I need to be smaller?' The answer is never you. It's the multi-billion-dollar diet industry. Knowing that I'm fine exactly as I am and that I don't need to be smaller is an act of rebellion. Real joy and confidence come from opting out.' If you're worried about disordered eating or concerned about someone else, there are resources that can help: ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
