CHAPTER 810: SAPPHIRE’S MEDIA COVERAGE

Inside a sleek, modern studio located in the bustling heart of Catadrid, six seasoned music journalists sat around a long glass table, microphones positioned in front of them, and large screens mounted on the walls showing the ongoing 130th Sapphire Melody Awards. This wasn’t just any broadcast—it was the live coverage of the awards by SoundSphere, one of the most popular music news portals in Sakura Abode Country. Their live stream was being held on the company’s Ruby Channel, a platform dedicated to live music coverage, and tonight, over 20,000 eager fans were tuned in to watch their reactions to one of the most prestigious nights in the music world.

The studio had a polished, futuristic look, with bright LED lights highlighting the excitement and energy of the event. The screens alternated between showing clips of the awards ceremony, including performances and speeches, and the live feed from the studio, where the journalists were actively discussing each moment as it happened. Their reactions, insights, and predictions had garnered a loyal following, and fans loved watching their sharp commentary, hoping to catch their unique takes on the night’s biggest events.

The six journalists seated around the table were a diverse group, each bringing their own expertise and style to the coverage. There was Mika Tanaka, a sharp-witted journalist with a reputation for her in-depth knowledge of the pop scene; Ryuji Oshima, a former rock musician turned journalist, known for his no-nonsense attitude; Akira Ito, a seasoned producer who had worked with some of the biggest artists in Sakura Abode; Sophia Diaz, an international correspondent with a specialty in global music trends; Kento Mori, a classical music critic and one of the most respected voices in the industry; and Jin Aoki, a tech-savvy journalist who focused on music innovation and the role of digital media.

As the awards played out live on the screens behind them, the commentators in the studio were deep in discussion, reacting to each new development in real-time. The Best Traditional Album award had just been delivered, and the journalists were wrapping up their thoughts on Yuko Matsumoto’s win.

"I think Yuko’s win was well-deserved," Mika said, her voice bright and enthusiastic. "Her album ’Whispers of the River’ was a masterpiece. You could feel the history and culture of Sakura Abode Country in every note."

Ryuji, seated next to her, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was solid. Traditional music can be a tough sell in today’s industry, but Yuko has this way of making it feel fresh without losing the soul of the genre."

The live chat was buzzing with reactions, the comment section flying with messages as fans chimed in on the journalists’ discussion.

[@FolkFan87]: "YES! So glad Yuko won! That album is magical."

[@MusicLover123]: "Mika always gets it right! Yuko’s album was a piece of art!"

[@RockstarX]: "Ryuji is too soft, come on! Yuko is good, but I’m waiting for the rock category to kick off."

Sophia, who had been monitoring the international reactions to the awards, added, "It’s also fascinating to see how Yuko’s music is resonating outside of Sakura Abode. I’ve been tracking the charts in Eagle Country and Pangu Country, and her album has been making waves there too. It’s a testament to how traditional music can bridge cultures."

Akira chimed in next, bringing a producer’s perspective to the table. "What stood out to me was the production quality. Her album was meticulously crafted—every instrument, every vocal line, perfectly placed. It’s not easy to balance traditional sounds with modern recording techniques, but she nailed it."

As they continued to chat, the livestream audience grew more animated, with fans either agreeing or disagreeing with the panel’s comments.

[@ProducerGeek99]: "Akira knows what’s up! Production on Yuko’s album was flawless!"

[@PopJunkie22]: "Yuko’s great, but when are they gonna talk about the pop categories?!"

Mika glanced at the live chat, laughing at the requests for more pop discussion. "Don’t worry, we’re getting to the pop soon! But first, we have something big coming up."

The lights in the studio shifted slightly as the screens showed the transition to the next performance—the highly anticipated rock set by ZoZ. The audience watching the live stream knew what was coming, and the chat started exploding with excitement.

[@Rock4Life]: "ZOZ!!! Time to ROCK!"

[@ShredderSoul]: "ZoZ is about to blow the roof off the ArtReam Hall."

[@LiveForGuitar]: "Kai Matsuda’s solos are life. Let’s gooooo!"

As ZoZ launched into their first song, "War Cry," the studio filled with the heavy riffs and thundering drums that had made the band world-famous. The commentators were silent for a moment, letting the performance speak for itself, but their reactions were being captured by the cameras, and the viewers loved every second of it.

Ryuji, the resident rock expert, was visibly excited. "Man, these guys never disappoint," he said, leaning forward in his chair. "That riff hits hard every single time."

Kento, the classical critic, had a more analytical view but couldn’t help nodding along to the beat. "I may be more of a traditionalist, but you have to appreciate the technical precision in their music. It’s raw, but it’s controlled."

Mika laughed, watching the two men with amusement. "See? Even Kento can’t resist the power of rock!"

As ZoZ transitioned into their second song, "Ghosts in the Machine," the live chat became a frenzy of comments, with fans sharing their reactions and love for the band.

[@Headbangerz87]: "This is why ZoZ is GOAT! No one does it better!"

[@RockReign]: "I need to see them live again. 10/10 performance."

[@ClassicalOrDie]: "Kento’s face during that guitar solo is all of us right now lol."

By the time ZoZ finished their performance with their anthem "Fury of the Fallen," the energy in both the hall and the studio was at an all-time high. The commentators were quick to share their thoughts as the cameras cut back to them.

"That was insane," Ryuji said, still buzzing from the performance. "I’ve seen these guys live a bunch of times, and they never let up. ZoZ is a force of nature."

Sophia nodded in agreement. "Their global influence can’t be overstated. They’ve sold out tours in places like Pangu Country, where rock isn’t even a dominant genre. That tells you how powerful their music is."

[@GlobalRockFan]: "Exactly! ZoZ is everywhere."

[@ZoZForever]: "This performance is gonna be trending worldwide for sure!"

The chat continued to explode with reactions, but the journalists were already shifting gears to discuss the next major moment—the delivery of the Best Rock Song award.

Atreus, the rock superstar from Nordic Country, appeared on screen, and the commentators immediately focused their attention. "This is going to be huge," Ryuji remarked. "Atreus is a legend in his own right, and the competition for Best Rock Song this year is fierce."

As Atreus introduced the nominees, the journalists speculated on who might take home the award. "I think it’s going to be one of the Nordic bands," Akira mused. "They’ve been dominating the scene lately."

Sophia, however, had her own prediction. "I’m leaning toward Black Reign from Eagle Country. Their album was massive this year."

The chat was filled with predictions as well, with fans passionately debating who would win.

[@RockHead007]: "It’s gotta be Fenrir from Nordic Country. Ragnarok is a masterpiece!"

[@TeamEagle]: "Nah, it’s Black Reign’s year for sure."

When Winter’s Bite from Nordic Country was announced as the winner for Best Rock Song, the studio erupted in reactions, with Ryuji slamming the table in excitement. "I called it! Winter’s Bite takes the crown!"

As the band gave their emotional acceptance speech, the journalists analyzed the significance of their win. "This is a big moment for Nordic Country," Sophia noted. "Their rock scene has been growing steadily, and this award solidifies their place on the global stage."

The live chat continued to buzz with comments, the viewers as engaged as ever in the unfolding events of the night.

[@NordicPride]: "YES!!! Winter’s Bite for the WIN!"

[@EagleFanForever]: "Heartbroken for Black Reign, but Winter’s Bite killed it too."

As the night continued, the commentators and viewers remained glued to the screen, their excitement and passion for music uniting them in this global celebration of sound.