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Sony’s Soneium Steps into the Limelight, Partnering with Idol Runway Collection’s Official App
Soneium, the Layer2 blockchain marvel forged in Sony Block Solutions Labs, is set to electrify the fan experience. A new alliance with IRC APP, the goto application for Idol Runway Collection (IRC) Japan’s vibrant fusion of idol culture and cuttingedge fashion promises to bridge the gap between Web3 innovation and fervent fandom. Get ready for a runway revolution powered by blockchain.
Unleashing a new era of fan engagement, the IRC is joining forces with Soneium’s AI-fueled IPFi infrastructure. Imagine a world where your passion translates into tangible rewards, where every contribution echoes across the blockchain. Asia’s entertainment scene ignited this revolution, and now, the West is catching fire, ready to redefine fandom as we know it.
Sony’s Blockchain Infrastructure for Entertainment
Imagine a world where the infectious energy of J-Pop idols collides head-on with the cutting-edge glamour of Tokyo’s fashion scene. That’s the reality YOAKE entertainment conjures with IRC, Japan’s premier idol and fashion fusion festival. Supercharged by a collaboration with the iconic Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC), IRC is exploding onto the scene. Forget “up-and-coming” – IRC is already a phenomenon. The 2025 event alone throbbed with the energy of roughly 11,800 fans and a staggering 107 idol groups, solidifying its reign as a must-see spectacle.
Imagine a world where your passion for J-Pop fuels more than just fandom – it fuels your wallet. This partnership ignites that reality, transforming passive listeners into active contributors. We’re not just talking about likes and shares; we’re talking about tangible rewards for measurable contributions to the J-Pop universe, unlocking a tidal wave of economic opportunity for creators and fans alike, starting in the heart of the world’s second-largest music market.
Unleash your superfan status with the IRC mobile app! This revolutionary AI scours platforms like X, rewarding positive vibes with “IRC Score.” Think good karma, blockchain style. The more love you spread, the higher your score climbs, automatically deposited into your on-chain wallet, gas-free! Ready to turn your tweets into treasure?
The first wave of IRC 2026 performers, including Nogizaka46, has been announced by YOAKE Entertainment. Source: YOAKE Entertainment
Unlock exclusive perks and shape the future of IRC 2026, Tokyo (March 15, 2026) through the ultimate fandom score! Ascend the ranks Regular, Bronze, Silver, Gold and reap real-world rewards like early ticket access, priority entry, and invites to premium venue experiences. But the power doesn’t stop there: your score unlocks the on-chain Fan Vote, giving you direct influence over tangible elements of IRC 2026. This isn’t just fandom; it’s a quantifiable contribution, expanding from idol culture to ignite anime, fashion, and beyond!
Step aside, Web3 pretenders! Sony’s just dropped the Soneium blockchain mainnet (January 14, 2025), and it’s not playing games. Think Hollywood meets the metaverse: a production-grade Layer-2 network built on Ethereum’s rock-solid OP Stack. Soneium isn’t just about faster transactions and cheaper fees, it’s a digital fortress for entertainment, gaming, and your precious intellectual property. Sony Block Solutions Labs unleashed this beast, promising scalable applications ready to ignite digital communities and empower creators. Get ready for a Web3 revolution, brought to you by the name you already trust.
Asian Entertainment Companies Pioneer Fan Ownership Models
Forget record labels and backroom deals. Girl group tripleS is rewriting the K-pop playbook, powered by blockchain. This isn’t just about catchy tunes; it’s about giving fans the reins. Imagine a 24-member supergroup whereyoudecide who sings which song and which sub-units take the stage. That’s tripleS. Through collectible NFTs and Komos tokens, fans wield real influence within the COSMO app, directly impacting the group’s creative direction. Think of it as K-pop meets decentralized democracy, where every NFT unlocks a voice in the future of tripleS.
Korea’s girl group tripleS took the stage at the 2024 Korea Blockchain Week. Source: Factblock
Before their first encore, tripleS was already cashing checks. Forget ramen budgets – members enjoyed pay rivaling established entertainment giants. How? A ₩10 billion ($6.8 million) war chest fueled by ingenious production and early NFT drops. This wasn’t just about money; it was a revolution. tripleS flipped the script on typical idol contracts, pioneering blockchain-powered fan co-creation and a radical, transparent system where value is shared, not hoarded. They’re not just a group; they’re a blueprint for the future of entertainment.
Forget crypto – China’s entertainment scene is building Web3 empires, brick by virtual brick. Think superfan economies fueled by direct access and exclusive perks, allwithoutthe blockchain buzzwords. HYBE’s strategic play with Tencent Music and Alibaba? A masterclass. Imagine official merch that screams “I’m a true believer,” personalized messages from idols, and fan clubs woven right into the platform. It’s ownership without owning – a revolution where engagement isn’t just liking a post, it’slivingthe brand. And that, my friends, is fertile ground for a participation economy that rivals anything Web3 promised.
Tencent Music’s superfan strategy is paying off big time: Bubble alone boasts over 2.3 million paying subscribers. G-DRAGON’s Macau concerts weren’t just shows; they were a phenomenon, drawing 36,000 fans live and a staggering 7 million online. This hybrid approach is the future. Think merch drops, tiered access, and immersive long-form audio China is architecting a multi-faceted superfan economy with Web3 DNA.
Lessons From Failed Web3 Entertainment Experiments
Momentrica, the NFT venture from K-Pop titans Dunamu and HYBE, met an unceremonious end on July 2, 2025. Despite the initial frenzy surrounding HYBE artists’ digital collectibles, the platform shuttered after bleeding 13 billion KRW ($8.88 million USD) in operating losses and 12.3 billion KRW in net losses. The culprit? A critical misstep: Momentrica treated NFTs as mere digital trinkets, failing to unlock their potential as interactive fan engagement tools. In a market already reeling from a downturn, this lack of utility proved fatal, leaving once-eager fans with little reason to stick around.
Momentrica’s digital trinkets versus tripleS’s participatory universe: a stark lesson in Web3 entertainment. One offered mere ownership, the other – genuine power. Momentrica delivered collectibles; tripleS, a voice. Forget passive consumption. The future demands engagement. If you’re building in Web3, participation isn’t optional; it’s the foundation. Don’t sell merchandise. Build a movement.
Can Sony’s Soneium succeed where others stumbled? Unlike Momentrica, Soneium embraces the power of the crowd, building a Layer-2 network designed for high-volume, interactive applications. Imagine voting made seamless, rewards distributed instantly, and communities buzzing with engagement. The fate of Sony’s blockchain ambitions now hinges on whether entertainment giants can craft compelling participation models atop this innovative infrastructure. Will they unlock the potential, or will Soneium become another blockchain ghost town?
Thanks for reading Sony Takes the Baton in Asia’s Entertainment–Web3 Convergence
