Middle Row w Coco Mocoe

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BEST-SELLING SUBSTACK FOR THE PRICE OF A COFFEE IN THE MORNING ($6) TO UNLOCK THE FULL EPISODE: cocomocoe.substack.com Watch Kylie Jenner walk in the $50-million fantasy bra at the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CfPKryZ3pYHow was the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show able to go from innovator in the 90's, to the top of the world in the 2010's with performers like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber walking alongside their veteran angels, to cancelled in 2018 to the biggest retail comeback of all time in 2026 at this past week's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show? We examine the rise, the fall and rise again of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in today's episode of Middle Row w Coco Mocoe. TIME STAMPS & TOPICS: 0:00 - Introduction4:55 - The origin of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 6:30 - the VSFS was ahead of the curve with live-streaming in the 90’s9:40 - The rise and controversy of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in the early-2000’s15:13 - The peak of the VSFS17:00 - VS is the only retail brand that got 10m people to tune in to watch a commercial 18:09 - The downfall of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (the rise of Aerie and Savage x Fenty by Rihanna)23:00 - The identity crisis (the tour) + Jax’s viral song 26:05 - Going back to what works and hiring Adam Selman as Creative Designer in 2025 28:24 - The one change Victoria’s Secret made In the paid portion, we discuss: - My thoughts on the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - A similar brand that attempted to "rebrand" but failed SUBSCRIBE TO MY SUBSTACK TO UNLOCK THE REST OF THE EPISODE! --If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.Follow me for more:Instagram | @cocomocoeTikTok | @cocomocoeEmail | cocomocoe@gmail.comAdd the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna TracyVideographer: Operation PodcastEditor: Coco MocoeCreator: Coco MocoeFilming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angelesemail: cocomocoe@gmail.com#VictoriasSecret #Branding #Marketing #VictoriasSecretFashionShow

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LET'S HIT 1K REVIEWS ON SPOTIFY BY THE END OF 2026 🎀👏🏻📣🎉🤸🏼‍♀️🎊

You won’t get famous until people can recognize your silhouette in complete darkness. Or they can dress up like you for halloween. But what are the three visual anchors that make up an iconic look that can’t be replicated by your competition? Let’s discuss, coconuts 🥥This is a term I coined known as the halloween costume theory 🪦🧟🎃🐈‍⬛🕯️From Marilyn Monroe’s face to Steve Jobs’ glasses to Squid Game’s tracksuits, your brain decodes who they are in under a second. The main question here is why do some figures become permanent cultural fixtures while others vanish the moment the trend cycle shifts?In today’s visual breakdown, we unpack The Halloween Costume Theory and the Rule of Three Visual Anchors: the formula that pop stars, high-fashion houses, and legacy brands use to reverse-engineer cultural permanence. We explore why true identity is an aggressive process of elimination, how to pass the 1915 Coca-Cola “shadow test,” the subversive psychology behind signature color palettes (from Sabrina Carpenter’s powder blue to Charli XCX’s Brat lime and Olivia Rodrigo’s bruised purple), and the exact tactile props that turn an abstract person into living IP.What are your three visual anchors? Let’s find out. TIME STAMPS & TOPICS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:49 - The formulas that tell you if someone is going to be famous or not3:20 - Marilyn Monroe transformation5:40 - My original Halloween Costume Theory video that went viral 9:30 - The rule of three visual anchors12:08 - To know who you are, first know who you aren’t14:15 - How to find your three identifiers 14:42 - The shadow test 16:46 - The color palette17:24 - Light Blue21:00 - Red25:41 - Green29:40 - Purple36:10 - The prop 39:20 - What new costumes will trend this Halloween 2026If this breakdown resonated with you, consider subscribing to the Middle Row youtube channel for weekly deep dives into media psychology, cultural trend forecasting, and the architecture of modern fame.Follow me for more:Instagram | @cocomocoeTikTok | @cocomocoeEmail | cocomocoe@gmail.comAdd the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x...Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna TracyVideographer: Operation PodcastEditor: Coco MocoeCreator: Coco MocoeFilming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angelesmarilyn monroe, kylie jenner, halloween, halloween 2026, halloween costume, norma jean, fame, marketing, branding, pop culture, sabrina carpenter, taylor swift, olivia rodrigo, prince, michael jackson, britney spears, kim kardashian

WATCH THE OFFICIAL COVEN ACADEMY TRAILER HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZieRpGqz4Vw

This is a first for the middle row podcast! I am sitting down with the three leads of Disney's first YA show, "Coven Academy", Malina Weissman, Ora Duplass and Jordan Leftwich.

This is my first time having actresses on the show so to have it be with the newest faces of Disney is such a big deal! We talked about how they auditioned and got cast, the best and hardest days from filming on set and more.

I can't wait for you all to see the show when it comes out on Oct 1st on Freeform and streaming on Oct 2nd on Disney and Hulu.

TOPICS AND TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - What is “coven academy” about

3:24 - The first time Disney x Freeform have a young adult show

4:53 - Auditioning for the show

8:15 - Favorite memories from filming together

13:20 - The most difficult scene to film

18:36 - Comfort shows while filming

18:56 - The music they listened to to get into character

21:13 - Their big 3 in astrology

If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.Follow me for more:Instagram | @cocomocoeTikTok | @cocomocoeEmail | cocomocoe@gmail.comAdd the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna TracyVideographer: Operation PodcastEditor: Coco MocoeCreator: Coco MocoeFilming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

Re: the Stella Lefty discourse

TIME STAMPS + TOPICS:

0:00 - Introduction

2:40 - What is a nepobaby, by definition?

5:30 - The Rise of Stella Lefty

6:33 - Who is Stella Lefty’s family?

8:10 - Chappell Roan being accused of nepotism

8:46 - How should we define fame and how do we measure it

10:55 - How did one find fame before the rise of social media and tiktok?

12:50 - How record labels used payola to make artists famous

16:40 - Stella Lefty’s switch to country music

17:48 - The 5 marketing levers that helped make Stella Lefty famous

21:20 - Her family didn’t change. Her genre changed*

23:00 - “You have to be polarizing to be popular”

- Contagious book by Jonah Berger

24:50 - Polarization creates Radicalization

28:32 - No, you can not buy fame

29:18 - How do you get famous if you’re not a nepobaby

THANK YOU FOR 500+ REVIEWS ON SPOTIFY FOR THE PODCAST ❤️

Let's hit 1,000 by the end of 2026: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WMVk1vVWPwjTDuvCR45KJ

Help me hit 100k followers on IG by the end of 2026! https://www.instagram.com/cocomocoe/?hl=en

If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥

Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.

Follow me for more:

Instagram | @cocomocoe

TikTok | @cocomocoe

Email | cocomocoe@gmail.com

Add the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Coco Mocoe

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "CHEAP" HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7uGCoFZxk8&list=RDS7uGCoFZxk8&start_radio=1

Chase Hudson aka Huddy is gearing up to release his album "Somebody to Hate". This comes after growing up in the spotlight after finding fame on TikTok and creating the Hype House, alongside other musicians like Alex Warren and Addison Rae. He always stayed true to himself and because of that, has always been a trend setter for Gen-Z. Even working with fashion houses like dior.

This episode is filmed in the Spotify movie theater

TOPICS AND TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction + What you will learn from this interview

5:12 - Reacting to his “Cheap” music video

6:57 - Felt boxed in/breaking out of that

7:28 - What the cameras and mics symbolize

9:10 - The best interview he experienced and why

10:30 - Why he named the album “Somebody to Hate”

12:26 - Staying true versus chasing trends

13:50 - What is an artist or movie that inspires him that might shock his audience

14:58 - Why did fashion embrace him when they rejected a lot of tiktokers in the early 2020’s

17:30 - The best styling advice he ever got

18:45 - What is different about this era stylistically than his previous eras

19:53 - The day he got a phone call from his previous label

23:15 - “We are zoo animals to these labels”

28:52 - Why did his generation of TikTokers take off with music (ex. Him, Addison Rae, Alex Warren)

31:45 - Where is the best place to go out in LA right now

32:40 - Last movie he saw in theaters

33:24 - Sun, moon and rising

36:25 - Talks about wanting to get sober being an inspo for his album

38:33 - What setting should someone listen to the album in

If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.Follow me for more:Instagram | @cocomocoeTikTok | @cocomocoeEmail | cocomocoe@gmail.comAdd the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna TracyVideographer: Operation PodcastEditor: Coco MocoeCreator: Coco MocoeFilming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "HOT WET DELIRIOUS" BY REBECCA BLACK HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX6ZbnN0z6E&list=RDMX6ZbnN0z6E&start_radio=1

Today's episode of "Middle Row w Coco Mocoe" podcast features Rebecca Black! Such a special guest. She started music over 10 years ago but has really honed her craft in the recent years after opening for Katy Perry, releasing her previous projects "Let Her Burn" and "Salvation" and now becoming one of the most sought after DJ's.

Now, she is gearing up to release her third studio album, "Age of the Exhibitionist". I wouldn't call this a rebrand. I would call it something else. We talk about that marketing myth in today's episode. Enjoy, coconuts! 🥥

TOPICS & TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Coco Mocoe’s Marketing Analysis of Rebecca Black

7:00 - Watching music video

11:59 - How to find a good stylist

13:10 - What is different about this era and album roll out versus her last

14:55 - The album cover was initially a mistake

17:23 - What was it like working with Katy Perry on the Lifetimes Tour

19:52 - What is one of the most difficult things about being a DJ that people don’t realize

21:50 - How she got into DJ’ing

24:20 - How did broiler room come about

27:35 - Being a female DJ in a male dominated space

29:50 - How chaotic is it in a booth when DJ’ing

39:00 - How has being a DJ helped her with creating her own music

40:50 - The “rebrand” strategy

If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.

Follow me for more:

Instagram | @cocomocoe

TikTok | @cocomocoe

Email | cocomocoe@gmail.com

Add the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9

Watch previous episodes of the podcast here

Charli XCX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HwNYv1VOpo&t=34s

Adela: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDhjDJybhsM&t=299s

Slayyyter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0CCuvFUHX0&t=29sKylie Cantrall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNBYiEpNwB4&t=1062s

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Coco Mocoe

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

I got adéla's first ever interview right after dream academy aired and just before she put out her first EP! I am so proud of this interview and it has been so magical to see her trajectory since then. She now has hit songs like, "Nicole Kidman" and "Aint in LA"

WATCH THE "SUPERSCAR" MUSIC VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn6ey6HOkP4

In this episode of "Middle Row w Coco Mocoe", we are joined by Adéla as she breaks down her music video for "Superscar". This was her second single, ever, and it already has over 1 million views on YouTube and she is building a cult-like fandom, as a result.

We discuss her background growing up Slovakia, her USSR ballet training, her time on "Pop Star Academy" on Netflix, her current relationships with castmates (including the KATSEYE girls), how she found her producer, Liam Benayon, how Grimes discovered her and more.

Adéla is going to be a huge star! I am so lucky to say that I got the first-ever, sit down interview with her. Her music, vision, athleticism and artistry is something huge labels would pay for even their biggest artists to have even a slice of.

Recently, she put out "Aint in LA", toured with Demi Lovato and performed at Lollapalooza 2026, and gearing up to release her debut album, PRIMA.

To make it an easier viewing experience for you, here are the time stamps for the episode:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:51 - Snacks
• 4:00 - How Adela learned English
• 6:41 - The storyline of “SuperScar” music video
• 7:40 - The executive auditioning symbolism
• 8:51 - The Ashley O hair
• 9:49 - Little sister in the video
• 12:20 - Adela’s favorite shot of the video
• 12:57 - How she decided on pink hair
• 15:06 - How Adela came up with the title “Superscar”
• 17:45 - How she came up with the scar imagery for the cover art
• 18:22 - “I’m not in the business of being liked”
• 19:30 - Adela’s background & USSR ballet growing up
• 21:20 - What it was like appearing on “Pop Star Academy” on Netflix
• 24:30 - How she handles online hate
• 26:40 - Who Adela is still close to from the show & KATSEYE group
• 28:16 - The filming schedule of “Pop Star Academy” over the course of two years
• 31:26 - How she met her producer, Liam Benayon
• 32:00 - “Homewrecked” storyline
• 34:00 - Adela’s next song “Machine Girl”
• 34:50 - Industry interest in Adela since her first singles as an independent artist
• 36:05 - How Grimes discovered Adela and reached out to her
• 37:40 - Adela’s big three in astrology

Where you can find more of Adéla:

• Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qanRMyA5bNuTvz1dK45OP⁠
• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/adelajergova/⁠
• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AD%C3%89LAJERGOV%C3%81⁠
• TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@adelajergova?lang=en⁠

Where you can find more of Coco Mocoe:

• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cocomocoe/⁠
• TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@cocomocoe⁠
• Follow the official "Middle Row" playlist on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9?si=e4dc55829d754ad0&nd=1&dlsi=d97fc2d2e8c64f95⁠

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Coco Mocoe

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify LA

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

WATCH "BOY FOR A DAY" MUSIC VIDEO HERE⁠⁠WATCH "DENIM" MUSIC VIDEO HERE⁠

Kylie Cantrall talks about going from Disney Channel to pop star, her viral “Hollywood Hair Theory,” and the stories behind her music videos like “Denim,” “Boy for a Day,” and “Raised by Rihanna.” She shares hidden easter eggs, growing up in LA, and what it’s like creating music for Gen Z.

Watch the full interview on Middle Row with Coco Mocoe now.

Follow me!

Instagram | ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

TikTok | ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

Follow the official ⁠"Middle Row" playlist⁠ on Spotify

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Sammi Social | Comfort Creator

Photographer: Chase Hanssen

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify LA

Comment below what music artist you think is next to take off!

#KylieCantrall #DisneyChannel #PopStar #DenimMusicVideo #BoyForADay #MiddleRow #HollywoodHairTheory #GenZMusic

Does Christopher Nolan have a pattern when it comes to writing women? In this episode of Middle Row with Coco Mocoe, we analyze Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey through a feminist film lens—examining how his female characters often act as emotional vessels, plot catalysts, and symbols of male regret.

Drawing from Sverre Sigfussion’s thesis, "Noir Guilt Complex: The Death of Women as a Catalyst for Character Development," we look back at films like Inception, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and Oppenheimer, and map those character tropes onto The Odyssey’s key female figures: Penelope (Anne Hathaway), Circe (Samantha Morton), Calypso, and Athena.

Read the thesis here

Plus, we break down standout performances and the controversial casting of Travis Scott as the Bard.

CHAPTERS:

Introduction — 0:00

The 2015 Thesis — 5:03

The Prestige — 5:44

The Dark Knight — 6:28

Inception — 6:42

Oppenheimer — 7:44

Other male directors portrayal of women in the storyline — 11:40

SPOILERS AHEAD

Penelope in the Odyssey — 17:09

Circe — 19:16

Calypso — 24:16

Athena — 27:18

The making of the odyssey -- 30:54

If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.

Follow me for more:

Instagram | @cocomocoe

TikTok | @cocomocoe

Email | cocomocoe@gmail.com

Did you know that Love Island USA was originally considered a "failure to launch" during its first three seasons on CBS? From strict broadcasting rules to sanitized episodes, the show almost came to a complete close. Cut to today, and Love Island USA is running laps around major scripted drama series like Bridgerton and House of the Dragon to become the biggest show in the country.

In today’s solo episode of Middle Row with Coco Mocoe podcast, I’m breaking down my marketing theory on the exact decisions that catapulted this franchise into a cultural phenomenon.

We discuss the massive impact of the Bravo fandom, why Ariana Madix was the ultimate tipping point, and the logistics behind the real-time "war room" editing in Fiji.Most importantly, we explore the "Firehouse Effect" in marketing—the strategy of drowning out your competition through sheer volume of content—and how you can apply this to your own brand, music, or content creation journey (plus the dangerous risks of the 2020s digital surveillance state).

I want this to be a discussion rather than a lecture, so leave a comment below: why do you think Love Island USA became the #1 show in the US? What blind spots did I miss?

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us climb the charts, and subscribe for more pop culture marketing deep dives!

If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

3:10 - The History of Love Island USA

6:25 - Why they replaced Sarah Hyland as host with Ariana Maddix

10:10 - Why Ariana Maddix was the tipping point for the show

13:35 - How love island use has remained the most watched show in the U.S. for three years

16:30 - The firehose method

20:32 - The risk of the firehouse method: CBS’s Big Brother

28:48 - How to apply the firehose method in marketing to yourself

Follow me for more:

Instagram | @cocomocoe

TikTok | @cocomocoe

Email | cocomocoe@gmail.com

Add the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Coco Mocoe

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

#LoveIslandUSA #ArianaMadix #MarketingStrategy #TrendForecasting #MiddleRowPodcast #PopCulture #ContentCreator

Ella Langley has been putting out music for almost 10 years now, with her first song "Clear the Clouds" coming out in 2017. But what branding and marketing decision did she make a few years ago that turned her into the biggest artist in the world, with "Choosin Texas" being one of the longest standing #1 songs on the Billboard charts of the year?

Let me know in the comments what other trending topics, artists and celebrities you want me to cover in the "Middle Row w Coco Mocoe" podcast. New episodes every other Monday!

f you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.

Follow me for more:

Instagram | ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

TikTok | ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

Email | cocomocoe@gmail.com

WATCH MAD TSAI’S MUSIC VIDEO FOR “BITE”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GevLw6cqBI&list=RD2GevLw6cqBI&start_radio=1

How does a bedroom pop artist cross 200 million streams entirely on their own before signing to a major label? Today on Middle Row, we are joined by the artist Mad Tsai to break down his rise in music while finishing his degree at UCLA.

From the viral, LGBTQ+ fan-edit momentum of "Boy Bi" to the 100-million-stream milestone of "Stacy’s Brother," Mad Tsai explains how activating niche fandoms can activate internet subcultures to pull an artist's music into their world.

We dissect the fundamental shift in listener psychology; such as, contrasting traditional, forced record label marketing with the organic power of TikTok fan edits (ex. BookTok, anime edits, and viral Love Island clips). We also look at the data behind Alex Warren’s 134-post pivot for his hit "Ordinary," how Mad Tsai leaned into online friction and critics to fuel his rollouts for "DA DA DA" and "STRAYS," and the deep personal storytelling of culture and queerness that is a through line in his music.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

9:46 - Why his name is Mad Tsai

13:32 - Why artists have alter egos

15:20 - How to get 200-million+ streams before even signing to a record label

16:26 - Being a UCLA student while videos are going viral

17:57 - The personal challenge that made him viral

19:46 - The fan edits that made his songs viral

23:26 - The niche online that made his music viral

24:54 - Turning online drama into massive roll-out moments

25:46 - The online hate that kept him from posting music for 2+ years

33:13 - Mad’s ethnic background (Peruvian, Canto, Taiwanese)

36:18 - Mad’s queer identity

39:01 - Songs that explore his sexuality

41:20 - Where is the best spot to eat in LA

43:46 - Mad’s sun, moon and rising

44:31 - Mad’s upcoming tour

Subscribe to get notified anytime a new podcast episode of “Middle Row w Coco Mocoe” drops every other Monday!

Follow @ cocomocoe on socials:

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instagram.com/cocomocoe

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tiktok.com/@cocomocoe

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cocomocoe.substack.com

KATSEYE got Grammy nominations, a viral Gap campaign, a sold-out tour, and one of the best-selling albums in America, all in under two years. So why can't the girls escape criticism?

In this episode of "Middle Row with Coco Mocoe", I break down what I'm calling the "Katseye Kurse," the collision between HYBE and Geffen's K-pop machine and a Western fandom that plays by completely different rules. I get into the Manon hiatus and the silence that followed, the Dream Academy contestants who got recycled into HYBE's next global group, Saint Satine, the Mickey Mouse Club blueprint with dropped artists being launched into stardom, and why the label's biggest marketing win might also explain its biggest blind spot.

This isn't bad luck. It's a system that was built for impact. But who pays the price of the whiplash?

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

7:54 - Pop Star Academy on Netflix

12:03 - Mickey Mouse Club

14:12 - Who didn't make Katseye but have since launched music careers?

16:08 - The Introduction of Saint Satine aka Prelude

17:48 - The moment KATSEYE became a household name

19:32 - The Manon Hiatus

20:24 - Why doesn't Hybe address the Manon rumors?

21:33 - The importance of fan accounts

24:26 - Why the K-Pop infrastructure failed in western media

26:48 - The Gen-Z Vs. Gen Alpha Dilemma

30:03 - Can the "Katseye Kurse" be broken?

New episodes of Middle Row every other Monday. If you made it this far, you're already a Coconut — so make it official. 🥥 Subscribe to the channel and drop a comment below telling me which artist you think is about to take off. I read them all and it might just land them in the Middle Row seat.

Follow me for more:

Instagram | @cocomocoe

TikTok | @cocomocoe

Email | cocomocoe@gmail.com

Add the official Middle Row playlist to your library on Spotify to hear what songs and artists I think are going to break big next:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Coco Mocoe

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

How do you break a global pop star in 2026? Forget New York, Los Angeles, or London. The biggest paradigm shift in the music industry is happening thousands of miles away—and it all relies on a secret framework known as "Trigger Cities."In this episode of Middle Row, trend forecaster Coco Mocoe sits down with gen-z pop prodigy flowerovlove right after her historic Coachella set to unpack the exact viral trajectory that took her track "Breaking News" to #1 in the Philippines, racking up an astronomical 4.5 million creator videos on TikTok.We dive deep into the business mechanics behind international music marketing, why Manila is the hidden gateway to Western chart success, gatekeeping your creative vision, and how independent artists can build global power houses from a home garage.What We Cover (Timestamps):0:00 – The "Trigger Cities" Paradigm Shift changing the music business2:15 – Why Manila, Philippines is the ultimate algorithmic launchpad4:32 – Behind the Visuals: Deconstructing the "Breaking News" Music Video7:45 – The Accidental Tipping Point: How a muted TV clip created a 4.5M video trend10:14 – Reclaiming Pop: Why Black British artists get unfairly boxed into alternative genres13:10 – The Independence Blueprint: Learning from Billie Eilish & Finneas15:45 – Creative Control & Gatekeeping: Why flowerovlove refuses to use stylists18:22 – Coachella Secrets: Bringing out BINI and Niana Guerrero24:35 – Album Soon? Decoding the hidden Easter eggs in her fashionListen on the Go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zIXuFH...Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Substack (Ahead of the Curve Newsletter): https://cocomocoe.substack.com/Follow flowerovlove:Instagram: @flowerovloveTikTok: @flowerovlove#MusicIndustry #TriggerCities #flowerovlove #BINI #Coachella #MusicMarketing #PopMusic #TikTokTrends #IndependentArtist

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "BEAUTY PAGENT" BY HOLLY HUMBERSTONE ⁠HERE⁠ 📺

Holly Humberstone grew up doing ballet in a small English town and somehow ended up walking the runway at Wembley Stadium in front of thousands of people while nearly having a wardrobe crisis in real time. She is telling us everything.

In this episode of Middle Row, I sit down with BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone fresh off her Coachella return and the release of her sophomore album Cruel World. This conversation goes deep. We cover family grief, childhood nostalgia, and why this album era feels so different from everything she has done before. Holly breaks down the exact cinematic references shaping her new visual world, the vocal production tricks behind tracks like Blue Dream, and what creative burnout actually looks like when you are a rising indie-pop artist with the whole industry watching.

Plus the Taylor Swift Eras Tour call. She tells us what it was really like getting that surprise invite to open for Taylor, and the split-second decision she had to make while walking the Wembley runway that nobody knew about until now.

We also do a full birth chart breakdown because obviously we do. And if you are someone who studies music marketing, artist branding, or the business of going from bedroom pop to festival headliner, this episode is genuinely essential listening.

Holly Humberstone is one of the most interesting artists in music right now. This is the episode that explains why.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00:19 Holly Humberstone Ballet Background
• 00:01:34 Last-Minute Wardrobe Crisis
• 00:03:59 Wembley Stadium Runway Panic
• 00:04:41 Taylor Swift Eras Tour
• 00:07:11 Cruel World Album Lore & Family Grief
• 00:12:31 Birth Chart Analysis
• 00:18:45 Music Marketing & Artist Branding
• 00:24:12 Cinematic Visual Era Inspiration
• 00:31:05 Vocal Effects & Studio Production Secrets
• 00:36:50 Creative Burnout & the Reality of Rising Fame

Thank you coconuts for making it this far! Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts with a recommendation for what artists or topics you want next on the show ⭐️

Instagram: ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

TikTok: ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

YouTube: ⁠Coco Mocoe

Singer-songwriter Tiffany Stringer joins Coco Mocoe in the Middle Row, recorded live at the Spotify Theater. The Texas-born, Atlantic Records artist opens up about the making of The Lone Starlet — her debut major-label EP dropping May 8th — a five-part cinematic concept project inspired by Babylon and Singin' in the Rain that follows a fictional actress through the highs and lows of fame. Tiffany talks about how she convinced Atlantic to greenlight high-budget music videos straight out of the gate, what it was actually like touring as a Kidz Bop kid at 15, the odd jobs she worked when she first moved to LA (including babysitting a tortoise), and the TikTok commitment in 2023 that changed everything. She also gets into the philosophy behind her visual branding, the real-life inspiration behind her songs, and the emotional tension at the heart of The Lone Starlet — performing a version of yourself while figuring out who you actually are offstage. Co-signs from Halsey, Addison Rae, Tate McRae, and Dove Cameron. This one's a great one.

If this episode made you feel something, the best thing you can do is leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it takes 30 seconds and it genuinely helps Middle Row reach more people. And if you have a friend who's obsessed with finding artists before they blow up, send this one their way.

Follow along between episodes:

Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠@cocomocoe⁠⁠⁠

TikTok | ⁠⁠⁠@cocomocoe⁠⁠⁠

Add the official Middle Row playlist on Spotify and stay in the world: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9⁠⁠⁠

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Comfort Creator | Sammi Social

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

Email | ⁠⁠⁠cocomocoe@gmail.com⁠

Slayyyter almost quit music. Now she's headlining Coachella with a live band, a major label deal, and an album she made purely for herself.

The moment she stopped trying to go mainstream, the mainstream came to her.

In this episode of Middle Row with Coco Mocoe, Slayyyter gets honest about the moment she decided to stop chasing commercial success and just make something she'd be proud of. They talk about the Saturn Return that stripped everything back, the Bunny Man lurking in her visuals, and how "Daddy AF" quietly became a good luck charm for indie cinema; such as, showing up in both Anora and Bodies Bodies Bodies before soundtracks.

Plus: writing "Crank" in 30 minutes, the social climbing culture that inspired Starfucker, and why she'd rather drink at an old man biker bar than anywhere near Silver Lake 🍿

If this episode made you feel something, the best thing you can do is leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it takes 30 seconds and it genuinely helps Middle Row reach more people. And if you have a friend who's obsessed with finding artists before they blow up, send this one their way.

Follow along between episodes:

Instagram | ⁠⁠@cocomocoe⁠⁠

TikTok | ⁠⁠@cocomocoe⁠⁠

Add the official Middle Row playlist on Spotify and stay in the world: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9⁠⁠

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Comfort Creator | Sammi Social

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify Theater, Los Angeles

Email | ⁠⁠cocomocoe@gmail.com⁠⁠

WATCH HAIDEN HENDERSON'S MUSIC VIDEO FOR "tension" HERE: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6DblInZjEs&list=RDx6DblInZjEs&start_radio=1⁠

Haiden Henderson went from studying aerospace engineering at USC to becoming one of gen-Z's top rising rock stars with over 100-million streams on Spotify. He is friends with KATSEYE and Tarayummy, is the muse of celebrity photographer Maxamillion Polo and just got back from his tour for his recent EP, "tension", and will be opening for 5 Seconds of Summer on their UK leg of tour in 2026.

Follow me!

Instagram | ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

TikTok | ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

Email: ⁠cocomocoe@gmail.com⁠

Follow the official "Middle Row" playlist on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9?si=e4dc55829d754ad0&nd=1&dlsi=d97fc2d2e8c64f95⁠

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Creator Comfort | Sammi Social

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify LA

Comment below what music artist you think is next to take off!

This week on Middle Row, Coco Mocoe sits down with alt-pop artist Seb Torgus, and his story might be the most unexpected come-up in music right now. Before releasing music, Seb was working as a janitor in Chicago. Now he's based in LA, rocking iconic red hair, and building friendships with some of the biggest names in the alt and rock world including Yungblud and Jessie from The Neighbourhood. In this episode, Seb also talks about collaborating with Jesse Jo Stark, the daughter of Chrome Hearts founders Laurie Lynn and Richard Stark, and what it means to carry his Croatian heritage into his artistry as he sets his sights on becoming the first Croatian pop star.

Filmed in the Spotify theater 📍

Follow Seb Torgus on Instagram: ⁠@sebtorgus⁠

Follow Coco Mocoe on Instagram: ⁠@cocomocoe⁠

Subscribe to the ⁠Middle Row YouTube channel ⁠for full video episodes.

WATCH DEBBII DAWSON'S VISUALIZER FOR "YOU KILLED THE MUSIC" HERE: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFLh58plBYg&list=RDaFLh58plBYg&start_radio=1⁠

She's opened for Role Model and Beaches — and she's just getting started. In this episode, I sit down with Debbii Dawson for a candid conversation about her path as a music artist, how her Indian heritage has influenced her sound and identity, the experiences that shaped her, life on the road, and the moments that made her believe she was meant for this. If you're into indie music, emerging artists, and real talk about the creative process, this one's for you.

Follow me!

Instagram | @cocomocoe

TikTok | @cocomocoe

Email: ⁠cocomocoe@gmail.com⁠

Follow the official "Middle Row" playlist on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9?si=e4dc55829d754ad0&nd=1&dlsi=d97fc2d2e8c64f95⁠

Executive Producers: Coco Mocoe & Trinna Tracy

Videographer: Operation Podcast

Editor: Coco Mocoe

Creator: Coco Mocoe

Filming Location: Spotify LA

Comment below what music artist you think is next to take off!