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Presenting The Sneaker News Collector Club Web3 Ecosystem

Sneaker News Collector Club was created for one purpose: to connect with our community in the emerging web3 space. The Sneaker News community includes our global readers, social media followers, and now our growing family on Discord – and as we continue to explore the Web3 space, we’re excited to discover all the possible ways to make this relationship even more exciting. Even if you are a daily reader of Sneaker News and follow all our social channels, Discord allows you to get one step closer: you can chat with the Sneaker News Staff, connect with other members in the community, and even get inside access to special giveaways and rewards.
 
 
Sneaker News Collector Club also allows you to explore one of the fastest-growing technologies in the Web3 space: NFTs. Short for Non-Fungible Tokens, NFTs gained a lot of notoriety in 2021; as they continue to become increasingly popular, NFTs have proven to be a key piece in the future of Web3. Much like when social media first emerged and how Sneaker News became ingrained in lifestyle culture in the digital world, we’re just as excited to see how Web3 unfolds and we’re inviting you to join the Sneaker News Collector Club Ecosystem while it’s still early.
 
 
Here, we will detail the full ecosystem of the Sneaker News Collector Club. It will continue to evolve in parallel with Web3, but for now, we’re excited to embark on this emerging new space with some unique tools for our followers. This includes the Sneaker News Collector Club Membership Card, the SNKR FRENS NFT Collection, and the BRICKS NFT.
 
 
Join us later today (March 16th) at 5 PM ET for our Townhall on Twitter, where we’ll further discuss the Sneaker News Collector Club. Full project detailis and roadmap can be found at sncc.sneakernews.com. You can also join us on Discord as well as on @SNcollectorclub on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.
 
 

MEMBERSHIP CARD

 

The Sneaker News Collector Club Membership Card NFT is your ticket into everything Sneaker News in Web3. It is entirely free to community members, friends of the brand, and anyone looking to join us in the newest journey we’ve embarked upon.
 
 
The free Membership Card has many uses. It opens access to club sections of our Discord server where members will enjoy a variety of free perks, such as exclusive drop info, exclusive discounts with brands, the ability to communicate with Sneaker News staff members, enter and win giveaways, and more. The Membership Card also acts as a mint pass for the SNKR FRENS NFT Collection. The Membership Card NFT will be free to mint very soon and will be limited to a supply of 9000. For those interested in getting on the AllowList, please enter the raffle.
 
 

Sneaker News Collector Club Membership Card

SNKR FRENS NFT

 

In April, we will release SNKR FRENS, the first NFT PFP (Profile Picture) project from the Sneaker News Collector Club. The collection is a unique character-based NFT derived from the best traits and characteristics of sneakers both past and present as well as newly generated concepts.
 
 
Just 10,000 NFTs will launch in early April for the SNCC community. You can mint SNKR FRENS ahead of the public release if you hold a SNCC Membership Card NFT. SNKR FRENS owners will also receive a number of exclusive benefits, which include claiming BRICKS NFTs (which we will detail below), premium and preferential access to SNCC IRL events, and more. More information on distribution numbers and price will be laid out soon on Discord as well as on @SNCollectorClub on Twitter and Instagram.
 
 

Sneaker News Collector Club SNKR FRENS NFT

Sneaker News Collector Club SNKR FRENS NFT

Sneaker News Collector Club SNKR FRENS NFT

Sneaker News Collector Club SNKR FRENS NFT

Sneaker News Collector Club SNKR FRENS NFT

BRICKS NFT

 

BRICKS NFT is a reward and value based NFT for SNKR FRENS owners and the SNCC Ecosystem. In the IRL sneaker community, BRICKS are used to describe shoes that were once highly coveted, but have lost their appeal to the public. They may be undervalued, but still pack a punch.
 
 
Here’s how to attain a BRICKS NFT: BRICKS are primarily accumulated through SNKR FRENS ownership; you qualify to mint a free BRICKS NFT for every SNKR FRENS NFT you hold for thirty days. For example, if you hold three SNKR FRENS NFT for thirty days, you qualify for three BRICKS.
 
 
In Sneaker News Collector Club, BRICKS are a valuable commodity that can be used to access exclusive perks, including NFT redemption, exclusive giveaways, AllowList spots for upcoming launches, and more. You can also trade, sell, or buy more BRICKS and stack up, allowing anyone to acquire additional BRICKS for SN Insider redemption.
 
 

Sneaker News Collector Club BRICKS NFT

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BTS’ Jungkook Changed His ‘Genius’ Instagram Username and Army Is In Mourning

If anyone could cause an outpouring of heartbreak and grief just by changing their Instagram username, it’s one of the BTS boys. The group’s own Jungkook unveiled a new username for his profile — which is followed by 34 million — sending shockwaves throughout the Army fanbase on Wednesday (March 16).

It’s not so simple as Army not being able to let go. Jungkook’s old username — @abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz — was so widely loved both because of its quirkiness and its cleverness. The long string of letters distinguished it from typical usernames, and the omission of J and K from an otherwise perfect English alphabet served as a brilliant nod to Jungkook’s name.

Now, when fans want to catch up with BTS’ youngest member, they’ll have to get used to typing a much sleeker but less iconic username into the search bar: jungkook.97.

“No one gets it,” wrote one fan in mourning. “Jungkook’s alphabet username was pure genius, revolutionary, got famous brands and everyone talk about it. Jungkook earned the nickname ‘alphabet guy’ because of it, he was so proud of it and no one could’ve come up with that, except him.”

“We’re really out there screaming that Jungkook changed his username for all the world to see!” wrote another, alongside a screenshot proving the username change was trending on Twitter. “We’re so dramatic.”

In addition to an updated username, Jungkook’s new era includes performing at the 2022 Grammys. He and his bandmates — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin and V — will take the stage for the second year in a row and are nominated for the best pop duo/group performance award with their Hot 100 No. 1 “Butter.”

Witness the BTS Army going through the five stages of grief in some of their tweets below.

no one gets it. jungkook’s alphabet username was pure genius, revolutionary, got famous brands and everyone talk about it. jungkook earned the nickname ‘alphabet guy’ because of it, he was so proud of it and no one could’ve come up with that, except him

— koo admirer (@dreamjeons) March 16, 2022

We’re really out there screaming that Jungkook changed his username for all the world to see! We’re so dramatic 😆 pic.twitter.com/sKlijBiTjo

— 𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐀∞⁷ (@_RapperJK) March 16, 2022

no cuz jungkook’s IG username got so many people making it his brand and talking about it. he really is a trendsetter and the blueprint. user alphabet you will always be famous.

— hani⁷ misses bts (@itsbtszone) March 16, 2022

jungkook’s new username + his last 6 posts make him look so much like a fan acc 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/CEeJ7ouJZe

— YOONGI🌟 (@miniminicult) March 16, 2022

jungkook after typing his username incorrectly for the 165th time while logging in: man fuck this pic.twitter.com/KJIzzhQ54o

— YOONGI🌟 (@miniminicult) March 16, 2022

abcdefghi_lmnopqrstuvwxyz, you will always be iconic, the trendsetter. Absolutely brilliant of Jungkook for this username. the impact of this is insane! pic.twitter.com/dn81m3O5fh

— naz⁷ (@shy_taegi) March 16, 2022

me still searching with username #abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz and realized it had changed to jungkook.97 pic.twitter.com/vohVIYkjd0

— ୨୧ (@koofufy) March 16, 2022

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Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s ‘Gotta Believe’ Tops Gospel Airplay Chart

Tasha Cobbs Leonard posts her fifth (and third in succession) No. 1 on Billboard‘s Gospel Airplay chart with “Gotta Believe.” The song increased by 21% in plays in the tracking week ending March 13, according to MRC Data.

Cobbs Leonard penned her new leader solo.

The coronation also follows her March 9 announcement that she and her husband, producer Kenneth Leonard, have adopted a baby boy, Asher Amaris Leonard.

“I wrote ‘Gotta Believe’ as a testament of God’s faithfulness through a difficult time on our fertility journey,” Cobbs Leonard tells Billboard. “For this song to be the most-played song at gospel radio the same week we finalized adoption of my precious new baby is amazing! I am so grateful.”

“Gotta Believe” follows Cobbs Leonard’s “In Spite of Me,” which reigned for a week last June, and “You Know My Name (Live),” which led for a week in October 2019.

The singer-songwriter topped Gospel Airplay with her debut hit, “Break Every Chain,” for seven weeks starting in June 2013, and added her second No. 1 as a featured artist on Kirk Franklin’s “My World Needs You” (also featuring Sarah Reeves and Tamela Mann), a two-week leader in July 2017.

With five No. 1s on Gospel Airplay, which launched in March 2005, Cobbs Leonard ties six other acts for the fourth-best total. Among women, she and Jekalyn Carr trail only Tamela Mann, with eight No. 1s; Mann and Kirk Franklin boast the most leaders among all acts.

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Camilo’s Most-Watched Music Videos: ‘Tutu,’ ‘Vida de Rico’ & More

Colombian singer-songwriter Camilo is celebrating his 28th birthday today (March 16), and Billboard celebrates by highlighting his most-watched music videos on YouTube.

Although he’s yet to enter the coveted YouTube Billion Views Club, Camilo’s on the way with the 2018 Mau y Ricky and Manuel Turizo collaboration “Desconocidos” that put him on the map. The playful music video, which shows all of the artists on a speed date, has accumulated over 830 million views at the time of publishing.

The clip is followed by his Pedro Capo-assisted “Tutu,” at more than 716 million views, “Tattoo (Remix)” with Rauw Alejandro and his feel-good cumbia “Vida de Rico,” both with over 700 million views at the time of publishing. Approaching the half-billion view mark is his collaboration with Ozuna, “Despeinada,” plus “Favorito” and “Por Primera Vez,” his first-ever collaboration with his wife, artist Evaluna Montaner. Each music video counts more than 450 million views.

On Wednesday (March 16), the Latin Grammy-winning star shared various videos on social media, showing fans how he kicked off his birthday: hugging his mother, sharing homemade oatmeal cookies and — in a clip filmed by Evaluna — washing his jeep while listening to Grupo Firme’s music.

Below, watch his most-watched YouTube videos.

“Desconocidos,” Mau y Ricky, Manuel Turizo, Camilo — 830M+ views

“Tutu,” Camilo, Pedro Capó — 716M+ views

“Tattoo (Remix),” Rauw Alejandro & Camilo — 700M+ views

“Vida de Rico,” Camilo — 700M+ views

“Despeinada,” Ozuna X Camilo — 470M+ views

“Favorito,” Camilo — 465M+ views

“Por Primera Vez,” Camilo, Evaluna Montaner — 459M+ views

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Britney Spears’ Instagram Has Disappeared

On Wednesday (March 16), Britney Spears‘ followers woke to a shock: the pop star’s Instagram account was nowhere to be found.

The popular account appears to have been deactivated without warning sometime in the last 24 hours. As recently as Monday (March 14), the singer had uploaded a touching post about motherhood to her feed, admitting she had “cried oceans” over her now-teenaged songs, Sean Preston and Jayden James, after years of custody disputes and legal drama.

Spears’ Instagram account has become the go-to platform for the superstar to share her unfiltered thoughts — along with a steady stream of NSFW photos — with her nearly 40 million followers in the wake of the conservatorship that controlled her life for the last thirteen years, ending last fall.

Since the landmark legal victory that earned the singer her freedom last November, she’s spoken out in no uncertain terms against everyone from her father and mother, Jamie and Lynn Spears, to her former management team and younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears.

Earlier this month, the “Toxic” singer took another public stand via social media, vowing to get “justice” for herself. “Nobody should ever be treated the way I was,” she wrote at the time. “The reason I bring this up is because ending the conservatorship is a huge deal but come on … THAT’S IT ??? They all got away with it !!! I’m not done. I want justice and I won’t stop until something is done to those who harmed me … and YES I was harmed !!!!”

Billboard reached out to representatives for Spears and Instagram.

Meanwhile, the pop star just signed a book deal to put her side of the story on paper for the first time in a tell-all memoir worth a reported $15 million.

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Lil Nas X Returns to Social Media & Teases Songs With Saucy Santana, NBA YoungBoy

Lil Nas X is back. After a three-month hiatus from Twitter and Instagram, the “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” artist surprised his devoted fans on Wednesday (March 16) when he finally started tweeting again from his account. Of course, there was a fitting joke at the ready.

“Why are people surprised I’ve been away for so long? Have y’all really never heard of maternity leave?” the 22-year-old hitmaker wrote, referring to the long running gag of him giving birth to his baby — also known as his debut album — Montero on Sept. 17. (Montero is now six months old.)

Fans of Lil Nas X have been concerned over the past few months after his sudden departure from social media platforms after sharing he that he contracted COVID-19 and joked about having “the Omarion or Alicia Keys variant” of the virus. But even the rapper has missed his own presence from the web: “I’m so happy i’m back on the internet. I missed me so much,” he wrote in a follow-up tweet.

Once the rapper’s return was out of the way, he revealed that he is currently sitting on two tracks, one with Saucy Santana and the other featuring NBA YoungBoy. “Which one y’all want first?” he asked his fans, sharing screenshots of the songs in his library — “Late to the Party” is the title of the collaboration with YoungBoy, while “Down Souf Hoes” is the name of his track with Santana. Lil Nas also shared an image of him hanging out with Santana. The goal of the collaborations? To “f–k the summer up,” Lil Nas added.

The rapper’s return comes at an advantageous time. He is set to appear at the 2022 Grammys on April 3 and will take the stage alongside Jack Harlow, likely to perform their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Industry Baby.” He is also nominated for a total of five awards, including three of the Big Four categories — record of the year, album of the year and song of the year. “Montero” additionally earned a nod in the best music video category, while “Industry Baby” earned a nod alongside Harlow for best melodic rap performance.

See Lil Nas X’s tweets below.

why are people surprised i’ve been away for so long? have y’all really never heard of maternity leave?

— MONTERO 🦋 (@LilNasX) March 16, 2022

i’m so happy i’m back on the internet. i missed me so much.

— MONTERO 🦋 (@LilNasX) March 16, 2022

which one y’all want first? pic.twitter.com/FACOFat6uz

— MONTERO 🦋 (@LilNasX) March 16, 2022

pic.twitter.com/FlXBQsm8VR

— MONTERO 🦋 (@LilNasX) March 16, 2022

we finna fck the summer up
🤧🚫

— MONTERO 🦋 (@LilNasX) March 16, 2022

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UK Competition Watchdog Clears Sony’s $430M Deal to Buy AWAL

LONDON — U.K.’s competition watchdog fully cleared Sony’s acquisition of Kobalt Music Group’s independent distribution and label division AWAL on Wednesday (March 16), following an eight-month probe into the $430 million deal.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a merger inquiry into the deal last July, which it upgraded to a phase two in-depth investigation in September amid concerns that it could lead to worse terms for artists and consumers.

At the time, the CMA said it was concerned that the loss of competition between Sony and AWAL might make it harder for indie acts to strike favorable deals, potentially denying them the chance to gain greater ownership of their rights.

Last month, the CMA provisionally cleared the merger on the basis that “the deal does not substantially reduce competition in the U.K. and may not be expected to do so in the future.”

Following a three-week consultation period, during which both Sony and European independent labels body IMPALA filed written responses to the provisional findings, that decision has now been upheld.

“We launched this inquiry as we wanted to be sure that this deal wouldn’t lead to worse outcomes for artists and fans,” Margot Daly, chair of the independent CMA Inquiry Group, says in a statement. “Having carefully assessed the merger we found that it is not likely to affect competition in a way that will reduce the choice or quality of recorded music available or increase prices.”

As part of its investigation, the CMA analyzed a wide range of evidence, including thousands of internal documents from both firms, as well as submissions from competitors and customers, and the watchdog’s own analysis of the U.K. recorded music market.

Areas the regulator focused on included the extent to which AWAL and Sony’s indie distribution arm The Orchard may have been expected to compete, should the merger not go ahead, and how closely Sony and AWAL would compete to sign successful artists.

In its final report published Wednesday, the CMA concluded that The Orchard and AWAL were not close rivals due to their different areas of focus, with The Orchard specializing in label services and AWAL focusing on artist services.

The CMA determined that AWAL “would not have been likely to materially expand its label business within the next two to three years” and therefore not become a closer competitor to The Orchard in the provision of label services.

Regarding artists signings, the regulation watchdog found that there was “limited evidence” to indicate that AWAL Recordings was a significant competitor to Sony over artist signings and that AWAL “would not have materially improved its competitive offering” were the merger to not go ahead.

In a statement, Sony Music Entertainment welcomed the CMA’s final ruling, which it said would allow the company “to focus on offering the best service for their artists, in an intensely competitive market with multiple competitors and many offerings.”

“This is the start of an exciting new venture for Sony Music Entertainment, AWAL and Neighbouring Rights, and ensures we can continue to deliver real benefits for artists globally as the music industry continues to evolve,” said the major label.

Sony will earn an estimated $1 billion in revenue from distributing independent labels through its AWAL and The Orchard operations.

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College Dropouts? There’s a new university degree on Kanye West

There is a new course about rapper and producer Kanye West beginning this year at a university in Montreal.

READ MORE: Divorce, Drake disses and problematic features: 10 talking points from Kanye West’s ‘DONDA’

Yassin Alsalman at Concordia University is launching a university class called Kanye vs. Ye: Genius By Design. The course will focus on his career – from his beginnings as a producer in Chicago to his rise to fame via albums like ‘College Dropout’ and ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.’

Alsalman wrote on Instagram: “I want to bring something new and fresh to students. An opportunity to bring more amazing guests to the University and to discuss the world through the lens of one of the most influential artists of our generation.

“This class isn’t only about Kanye. It’s about community, creativity, responsibility, accountability, fame and mental health, dreams and nightmares – and more importantly, self-actualisation.”

He concluded:”Welcome To Graduation.”

You can see the full post here:

In other Kanye news, his 2021 album, ‘DONDA‘, has recently been certified platinum by the RIAA, with over one million equivalent album sales since its release in August 2021.

The album was released following multiple delays and several changes to the album itself. The progress of the album was charted through several listening parties, where West would make changes to it following each one.

In a three-star reviewNME described ‘DONDA’ as “incredibly – and unnecessarily – long”. It is his ninth solo studio album to reach the platinum mark, with only 2019’s ‘Jesus Is King’ and the recently released ‘DONDA 2′ not having yet reached one million.

‘DONDA 2’ – a direct follow-up to ‘DONDA’ – was available exclusively via his bespoke Stem Player platform and unique to the £200 device made by the rapper’s Yeezy Tech enterprise.

Four songs from the record – ‘Security’, ‘Pablo’, ‘Broken Road’ and ‘We Did It Kid’ – were made available to Stem Player owners on February 23, following a listening party and live performance in Miami the night prior. Four more songs followed the next day, then a further 12 more songs on February 25.

Following the release, West said he had made over $2.2million (£1.6m) in Stem Player sales in the 24 hours after his announcement that it would be the only way to listen to ‘DONDA 2’.

However, ‘DONDA 2’ has since been ruled ineligible for inclusion in the Billboard charts because it violates Billboard’s merchandise bundle policy. As per an article in Billboardalbums sold with merchandise are ineligible for inclusion.

The post College Dropouts? There’s a new university degree on Kanye West appeared first on NME.

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New Margate festival LEISURE launched with Mitski, Nilufer Yanya, Sorry and more

LEISURE, a newly launched festival in Margate, has announced some of the names that will be on the bill for its inaugural event.

READ MORE: Mitski – ‘Laurel Hell’ review: meta musings set to her grandest music yet

Set to take place at Dreamland on June 24, 2022, the one-day event will be headlined by Mitski, with other names including Soccer MommyNilufer Yanya, Sorry and more.

LEISURE is a boutique event run by independent promoters Bird On The Wire. It’s “a day of music and rides on the British seaside and a unique opportunity for artists to play a significant yet bespoke festival,” as per a press release.

The ethos of the festival is to “create an inclusive, inspiring and laid-back atmosphere, with artists split between two stages for a streamlined experience”.

L’Rain and High School have also been announced on the line-up, with the festival promising that more names will be announced soon.

This isn’t the first time Bird On The Wire have put on an event at Dreamland. In 2019, they hosted a 10-year anniversary event at the Margate venue with Mac DeMarco headlining.

“We’re thrilled to finally return to Dreamland after such a brilliant day there in 2019,” the promoter said in a statement. “It’s a line-up that we feel passionately about and we couldn’t have hoped for a better headliner than Mitski for this first edition!”

Tickets go on sale on Friday (March 18) at 10am, priced between £35-£45. You can get them here.

Mitski returned earlier this year with ‘Laurel Hell’, her first album in four years.

In a recent interview, the she discussed her decision to take a hiatus from music and said how “absolutely terrible” it feels to be releasing music again.

“How does it feel to be releasing a record again? Terrible. Absolutely terrible,” she told the BBC, before going on to explain her complicated feelings about her career. “It’s like, ‘Oh Jesus, here we go again. I thought I was having fun and now it’s no fun anymore’.”

But while she was taking a break from music she was also “filled with regret and grief” thinking “maybe I’d made a big mistake”.

The post New Margate festival LEISURE launched with Mitski, Nilufer Yanya, Sorry and more appeared first on NME.

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Nike Continues Its “NY vs. NY” Series With An Air Force 1 Low Inspired By Famous Basketball Courts

New York City basketball may no longer be in its hey-day, but it continues to produce some of the toughest hoopers in the country. As summer and its leagues inch closer, another Nike Air Force 1 Low “NY vs. NY” proposition has emerged.

Akin to past offerings, the upcoming sneakers are inspired by the various basketball courts throughout the city that have gained legendary status due to their players, tournaments and reputation. Unveiled in Grade School sizing, the Air Force 1 couples black and green tones throughout the synthetic leather and mesh upper, with the latter color calling out to locales such as Dyckman and West 4th. The thematic “NY vs NY” logo appears on the top of the tongue, while sock-liners feature the names of seven tournaments that pop up throughout NYC during the summer. Underfoot, the kid’s shoes boast a clean white midsole, light gum brown outsole combination that injects a touch of lifestyle to the made-for-basketball design.

Enjoy official images of the pair ahead, and anticipate a Nike SNKRS launch ahead of the summer’s start.

Elsewhere under the NIKE, Inc. umbrella, the Jordan 1 “Georgetown” is expected stateside on April 2nd.

Where to Buy

Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.

Nike Air Force 1 Low “NY vs NY”
Release Date: 2022
Color: Black/Green/Gum

Grade School: N/A
Style Code: DV2204-001

After MarketAvailable Now

Images: Nike

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Make History, Not Hype In These New Balance Sneaker Essentials

Once a wardrobe staple of the late Steve Jobs, the 992 has become a go-to option for dads in the Midwest and supermodels out in Europe. If you’ve ever worn a pair, you get it. But if you haven’t, what’re you waiting for? You’ll be in good company.

New Balance 992

New Balance 992

New Balance 992

Created to honor the 990’s 37th anniversary, the 990v5 pushed New Balance’s design language forward, as it favored a sportier look than past designs in the series. And as one of the brand’s best-sellers over the last four years, the “facelift” was welcomed.
 

New Balance 990v5

New Balance 990v5

New Balance 990v5

Touted as “The Ultimate Leisure Shoe” when it debuted with the help of Casablanca, the 327 is the perfect example of the past and present meshing together well. Its design language is vintage, but still manages to feel new.

New Balance 327

New Balance 327

New Balance 327

The 2002R has quickly become one of the brand’s most exciting designs. A modified version of a pair that first launched in 2010, the sneaker combines all-day cushioning with a technical upper that’s equal parts retro and fresh.

New Balance 2002R

New Balance 2002R

New Balance 2002R

As one of New Balance’s newest lifestyle options, the XC-72 blends performance elements from the 1970s with fashion-forward design cues. Sleek and edgy, it’s truly a “Sports Car For Your Feet.”

New Balance XC72

New Balance XC72

New Balance XC72

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Kobalt Promotes Catrin Drabble to CFO, Replacing Tom Sansone

Catrin Drabble has been promoted to chief financial officer at Kobalt, replacing longtime CFO Tom Sansone effective April 15, the company announced Wednesday (March 16). Sansone, who replaced James Fitzherbert-Brockholes in the role back in mid-2016, will transition to an advisor role.

Drabble joined Kobalt in 2017 and most recently held the title of executive vp, corporate development and finance, where she oversaw the fine print for “hundreds of millions worth of signings and acquisitions,” the company said, and played a key role in reorganizing the financial planning and analysis team and the sale of AWAL and KNR to Sony for $430 million in 2021.

“Tom has been an incredible leader for Kobalt over the past six years and has led the business to be in the strongest financial shape it has ever seen,” said Kobalt CEO Laurent Hubert. “I am glad he will remain as a close advisor, and we all agree elevating Catrin was a natural next step for the company. Catrin has constantly been a high-performer with a deep understanding of music business economics. She has been the key leader in bridging finance and investment teams, as well as a critical part of our path to profitability.”

Tom Sansone

Sansone, who previously held top positions at Gilt Groupe and PriceWaterhouse Coopers, added that he was “proud to leave Kobalt in the strongest financial position it has ever been” and praised Drabble as a “perfect successor.”

Said Drabble, “Now is a pivotal time for Kobalt as we look to build on our recent profitable momentum, and I am proud to work alongside such a fantastic team in driving our company forward.”

As the soon-to-be former CFO and his successor alluded to in their remarks, Kobalt is coming off its first profitable year in the company’s 20-year history. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, Kobalt posted $5.8 million in net income on revenues of $519.4 million — up from a $66 million net loss and an 11.5% jump in revenue compared to 2020.

“Having hired Tom in 2016 and working closely with him since then, I have truly enjoyed his camaraderie both on a daily basis and during our bigger capital raises and transformative work. I thank him for his time at Kobalt,” said founder and chairman Willard Ahdritz. “I have always been impressed by Catrin’s extensive knowledge and work ethic while working with her in my capacity as CIO of Kobalt Capital, and seeing her growth over the last five years has been exciting. I am pleased that she will now take on the position of CFO.”

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