As the Sapphire Melody Awards progressed, the excitement buzzed not only inside ArtReam Hall but also in the press lounge just outside the main auditorium. Here, journalists from major music outlets, lifestyle magazines, and international news agencies were stationed, watching the ceremony unfold on large screens. They were scribbling notes, preparing headlines, and discussing every moment with the fervor only seasoned reporters could muster.

Following the recent delivery of Best Classical Group or Orchestra to Harmonique Ensemble, the press room was alive with chatter and speculation. The journalists were still buzzing from the moving speech by Maestra Clara Rousseau and the surprise of seeing a relatively young group from Montrose take home one of the night's most prestigious awards.

"Can you believe it?" muttered Benji Kim, a reporter from Music Daily, shaking his head in amazement. "Harmonique Ensemble really pulled through! I thought for sure it'd go to the Lucaris Chamber Orchestra."

Alicia Torres, a reporter from Classique Times, nodded in agreement, though her face bore a proud smile. "I thought the same. But that speech? Rousseau really captured the essence of what it means to honor heritage while pushing musical boundaries."

Their discussions quickly pivoted as they began speculating on the Best New Artist award, the category that had caught the attention of every journalist in the room. This category had become one of the most anticipated awards of the night due to the overwhelming talent nominated. The list of contenders was diverse and exciting, each artist bringing something unique to the music scene, and with the immense success of rookies this year, the predictions were difficult to pin down.

Martin Howe, an international correspondent for The Melody Gazette, chimed in from across the table. "This year's Best New Artist category is ridiculous. I mean, every single nominee could take it. You've got big contenders in every genre."

Alicia sighed as she scanned the names of the nominees on her tablet. "Moonlight alone has been everywhere. His songs have charted internationally, and there's so much mystery surrounding him. It's like he appeared out of nowhere, and now he's one of the biggest sensations of the year. But at the same time, someone like Raya Cho could easily take it. She's practically redefined R&B this year."

"Right? Raya's got that smooth, experimental sound that's both retro and modern," agreed Benji, still jotting notes. "And her fanbase is huge. But I don't know if it's big enough to eclipse Moonlight."

Evelyn Brooks, who was covering the awards for Eagle Country's Music Star, nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. Moonlight's got a different sort of pull—he's this enigmatic figure with that masked persona. I've covered artists for over a decade, but there's something really unique about him. And his album sales are insane, even outside Sakura Abode Country."

From the corner, Diego Mendez from Star Sounds joined in, holding his coffee cup tightly. "The guy's practically a phantom. Nobody knows anything about his personal life, and his music is… I don't know, it just hits different. It's raw, emotional. His album was like nothing I've heard recently, and fans are eating it up."

Across the table, Julia Tsai from Azure Weekly leaned forward, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "True, but Moonlight is up against some seriously talented people, and while he's had a massive year, Lamp from K Country also has a huge chance. They've broken records for a debut group, and they've got a fanbase that rivals anyone else's."

Martin nodded in agreement, tapping his fingers on his notepad. "That's fair. And Viper has that stage presence. They're like the ultimate performers. Their visuals, their choreography—it's next level. They bring in a whole experience, and they've got charisma for days."

Julia chuckled, flipping through her notes. "They do have that 'it' factor. But what about Zian Li? He's practically brought traditional Sakurean music into the mainstream. It's something different, and that kind of genre fusion is groundbreaking."

Evelyn shook her head, a smirk on her face. "Zian is brilliant, but the Sapphire Awards is more mainstream than experimental. They're more likely to reward innovation within popular genres. If Zian's going to win anything tonight, I think it'll be one of the technical awards."

The journalists' voices became animated as they threw around more names, each nominee bringing with them a different reason for being a potential winner. While Moonlight, Lamp, Raya, and Zian were high on most people's lists, other names came up in the conversation as well.

"Don't sleep on Juno Hahn," Benji chimed in, scrolling through his list of nominees. "The kid's only eighteen, but he's already being hailed as the 'next big thing' in pop ballads. His voice is something special, and he's been a hit with the younger crowd. That could work in his favor tonight."

Julia pursed her lips, considering his point. "True. Juno's young, and his songs are pretty relatable for his audience. But I wonder if the judges will give him the award this early in his career. They might see him as someone who's still growing into his potential."

Diego sipped his coffee thoughtfully. "Or maybe that's exactly why he'll win. You know, as a statement that he's the future of the industry."

Martin shook his head, skeptical. "Maybe. But the Sapphire Awards don't always go for the 'future potential' angle. They're more about impact, artistry, and contribution. So, while Juno is promising, he might have to wait his turn."

Alicia interjected, bringing the conversation back to Moonlight. "Honestly, I think this is Moonlight's award to lose. His influence has been huge, and he's kind of a phenomenon in a way the others aren't. But then again, the Sapphire Melody Awards does like surprises."

The group nodded in agreement, all eyes back on the screen as the current commercial break flashed across it. They could see that the program was about to resume, and the anticipation in the room grew even stronger.

"I just wonder," Julia mused, almost to herself, "if his mystique will work against him. Fans love it, sure, but the industry can sometimes be wary of mystery. They might go for someone they feel they understand better, like Raya or Lamp."

Benji shrugged, unconvinced. "Or they might embrace the mystery. Moonlight has been refreshingly different. He's relatable and real, even if he's enigmatic. It's like his music speaks for him. And isn't that what this is all about?"

Evelyn looked around, noting the quiet but palpable excitement on each of their faces. "Let's face it, no matter who wins, this year's Best New Artist category is going to make a statement. And that's what makes it so unpredictable and exciting. These are the artists who are shaping the future of music."

The screen flickered, signaling the return to the live broadcast. The Sapphire Melody Awards logo appeared, and the journalists collectively leaned forward, ready to capture the next big moment. A hush fell over the room as a figure in elegant attire stepped onto the stage, the evening's presenter for the Best New Artist award.

This was the moment they'd all been waiting for. Each journalist held their breath, pens, and notepads poised, eyes fixed on the presenter. As they waited, the atmosphere in the press lounge was thick with anticipation and curiosity, a quiet reverence for the art of music and the new voices rising within it.

The Sapphire Melody Awards were about to crown a new icon, and the world was watching.