Empire was recently engaged by world-renowned wedding designer Colin Cowie to deliver a variety of talent for a private wedding at the Le Toiny Hotel in St. Barthelemy.

For this intimate event for approximately 100 guests, Empire secured The Tenors to perform a five song, a capella performance during the wedding ceremony. Located directly on the beach with unbelievable views of the ocean,The Tenors serenaded the family, wedding party, and guests with the songs “Everything I Do, I Do It For You”, “Smash Into You”, “Maybe I’m Amazed”, “The Best Thing About Me”, and “Let Me Love You”.

For the main party, Empire secured international superstar DJ Paris Hilton as a surprise musical guest to spin a two-hour, high energy dance set. Guests enjoyed her elegant stage presence while dancing the night away–some even danced with her on-stage!

In addition to The Tenors and Paris Hilton, Empire booked the synchronized swimming team The Aqualillies to provide atmospheric swimming throughout the evening.

Empire is one of the world’s leading sources of headline entertainment for private events and celebrations.

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On November 30, 2018, EBONY Magazine presented the 7th annual EBONY Power 100 Gala, honoring the nation’s 100 most powerful and influential individuals who have had a positive impact on the African-American community. These include Ebony Icon Award recipient, Motown Records, and the inaugural Chairman Award recipient, former BET Networks Chairman & CEO, DebraL. Lee.

This year’s Ebony Power 100 returned to the iconic Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom and was hosted by Chairman Emeritus of Ebony Media Operations, Linda Johnson Rice, Chairman and CEO, Michael Gibson, and Co-Chair, Willard Jackson.

Following red carpet arrivals in the Wilshire Ballroom, media room activations, sponsor activations, and an elegant cocktail reception, approximately 640 guests were seated for a dinner program emceed by comedian, actor, and humanitarian, Chris Tucker.

Over the course of the evening, attendees were entertained by musical performances, including Motown artist, JAMES DAVIS, and a rousing finalé performance by NE-YO, who brought the audience to their feet.

DJ Spicoli performed throughout the event, and DJ Clark Kent spun at the post-reception in the International Foyer and Terrace, where guests also enjoyed a variety of activities and sponsored social sharing stations.

Celebrities and A-listers in attendance and featured onstage included This is Us stars, Susan Kelechi Watson and Melanie Liburd, JB Smoove from Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen of The Gathering Spot, and the President of Motown, Ethiopia Habtemariam.

The Ebony Power 100 was presented by Nationwide, as well as other sponsors including United Airlines, Lexus, Diageo, and Motown. The event also partnered with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, raising funds throughout the evening through a text to pledge.

Empire was honored to serve once again  as event producer for the Ebony Power 100, responsible for venue logistics, décor, production, talent coordination, registration, videography, event logistics, and onsite management.

Empire partnered with Endeavor to celebrate 21 years of leading the high-impact entrepreneurship movement. This year’s gala celebrated the creation of over 1.5 million jobs by Endeavor Entrepreneurs and showcased Endeavor’s powerful global network of over 500 game-changing entrepreneurs and international industry leaders.

The Gala took place at Spring Studios and opened with a cocktail reception overlooking New York City's trendy Tribeca neighborhood. Guests enjoyed hors d'ouevres served on innovative hand-carried serving racks by PinchFood Design and sampled Rabbit Hole Distillery products from a laboratory-style bar as they circulated among exhibits showcasing Endeavor Entrepreneur products in food and beverage, retail, fashion, technology, and more. Signature cocktails featuring blueberries by Endeavor Entrepreneur company Grupo Interrupción* were served on an automated conveyor belt as well as an ever-changing array of Endeavor Entrepreneur products like Banza Mac and Cheese, Beesline lip balm, Pacari Chocolate, and more, for guests to take home.  

Following cocktails, all guests were invited to a seated dinner in the massive, minimalist Studios 3 & 4. The dinner program included keynote remarks by Endeavor Global’s Chairman, Edgar Bronfman Jr., and honored Bill McGlashan, Founder and Managing Partner of TPG Growth and CEO of The Rise Fund. At the conclusion of dinner, guests enjoyed a performance by Warner Music artist, Matt Maeson.

After dinner, guests moved downstairs to Endeavor's Scale Up Party in the cocktail space, now transformed into a nightclub. The afterparty featured music by Hannah Bronfman.

Empire collaborated with the Endeavor team to plan and execute this carefully-orchestrated event, for which every aspect of the design showcased the organization's mission and success stories. Designs included scenic exhibits, custom printing highlighting Endeavor’s global impact, and furniture fabrications that visually represented various Endeavor Entrepreneurs' inventions and business models.

Empire is a leading producer of innovative not-for-profit galas and proud to support this organization that has transformed local economies through innovation, job creation, and mentorship.

To learn more about Endeavor, please visit endeavor.org.

Empire served as the producer of The Studio Museum in Harlem’s 50th anniversary celebration, with artistic direction by Red Maple Leaf. The annual Gala took place at the historic Park Avenue Armory in New York City with over 800 artists, philanthropists, cultural leaders, civic leaders, and business leaders in attendance, to celebrate the Studio Museum’s important role in promoting the work of artists of African descent as the Museum prepares to construct a new home at its longtime location on Manhattan’s West 125^th Street.

Guests made their way to cocktails by walking through some of the Armory’s historic and magnificent reception rooms. Upon entering the Wade Thompson Drill Hall, one of the largest unobstructed spaces in New York City, guests’ attention were drawn to a statement floral installation located in the middle of the cocktail space, surrounded by highboys with matching centerpieces and black sequin linens.

To signal the start of dinner, 30-foot high drapes were pulled back to reveal the rest of the Drill Hall. Guests were invited to the dinner space with a swell in music performed live by JukeBox Atlanta. A grand stage with sheer drape and long hanging crystal garlands, flanking screens, and tall statement centerpieces highlighted by pinspots on each table also drew the guests’ attention to dinner.  

The evening’s program featured remarks by Co-Chairs Jacqueline L. Bradley, Kathryn C. Chenault, Carol Sutton Lewis, and Dr. Amelia Ogunlesi; Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator; and Raymond J. McGuire, Chairman of the Board. First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray, presented the Studio Museum with a Mayoral Proclamation to commemorate the Museum’s historic 50 year legacy. The 13th annual Joyce Alexander Wein Prize, supported by George Wein, was presented to Los Angeles-based artist, Diedrick Brackens, confirming the rise of a boundary-defying young artist who has emerged within only the past seven years. Nancy Lane, a long-time member of the Studio Museum’s Board of Trustees, and currently the Chair of the Acquisition Committee, Co-Chair of the Building Committee, Chair of the Program and Collection Committee, and a member of the Nominating Committee, was also recognized that evening.

The evening ended with dancing on the sleek black dance floor to another live set by Jukebox Atlanta, and desserts in what was previously the cocktails space.

The Gala raised over $4 million in support of the Studio Museum’s operating costs, including key initiatives such as the collaborative, community-enriching in Harlem exhibitions and programs.

Empire was proud to work closely with the Studio Museum and Red Maple Leaf teams to deliver a flawless and memorable evening for The Studio Museum in Harlem.  

For more information on The Studio Museum in Harlem, please visit https://www.studiomuseum.org/​

Medidata is a global technology company with a passion for Life Sciences that is transforming clinical development across the globe. Medidata recently hosted their 19th Annual NEXT Conference at Spring Studios in New York City, hosting over 1,100 attendees.

Known for its tagline “Where Science Meets Technology Meets the Future,” Medidata NEXT provides a space where like-minded professionals, developers, data scientists, researchers, executives, and Medidata product experts connect, learn, and inspire each other.

Medidata took over every available space of Spring Studios, filling the venue with multiple sessions of thought-provoking content and an “Innovation Lounge” where attendees could fill up their coffee, grab a bite to eat, and network among sponsors and colleagues. Fourteen custom-built product demos showcased Medidata’s current suite of solutions for biotech and pharmaceutical companies that enable them to bring life-saving therapies to market more efficiently and effectively.

Composed of overlapping general sessions and eight distinct breakout tracks, Empire was tasked with optimizing the space for both large and small audiences for various sessions. Among the solutions deployed was a production design that allowed for the general session space to be converted into two separate, fully-equipped breakout session spaces and back again multiple times over the course of two days. Accomplishing this technical engineering feat while ensuring flawless execution required detailed planning and advance technology design.

Empire and Medidata’s marketing and event teams worked together seamlessly to bring the Medidata brand to life across every inch of Spring Studios. Bold, expressive signage stretched across the exterior and interior walls, while a series of bright LED screens presented Medidata’s visual identity to reinforce their position as the leading innovator and disruptor in Life Sciences.  

Empire is proud to collaborate with Medidata on this annual, top-tier business event.

To learn more about Medidata NEXT and to view excerpts of NEXT 2018, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH73SHvy1Z8&feature=youtu.be

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The Call for Code Initiative is a multi-year, global rallying cry for developers to use their skills and mastery of the latest technologies to drive positive change across the world through the code they create. Call for Code brings startup, academic, and enterprise developers together and inspires them to solve the most pressing societal issues of our time.

In its inaugural year, Empire worked hand-in-hand with Creator David Clark Cause and Founding Partner, IBM, to produce the first-ever Call for Code Global Prize Celebration at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco.

For 2018, the Call for Code Global Challenge invited developers to create solutions that significantly improve preparedness for natural disasters and relief when they hit. The response to this first-of-its-kind competition was astounding: Developers from 156 nations took part in the Call for Code, investing an estimated 1 million developers towards a specific mission to alleviate human suffering. The initiative had the support from a cross-section of experts, and humanitarian and international organizations including United Nations Human Rights Office, The American Red Cross, and the Linux Foundation.

On arrival guests were met at the entrance by a mounted team of San Francisco first responders. The Awards event kicked off with a cocktail hour which included activations focused on hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes. Each activation had three elements–projected video footage of natural disasters, screen content to display developer solutions, and tablet computers with corresponding data. Guests were invited to interact with these activations and discover the impact natural disasters have once they hit.

The stage program began dramatically with an immersive sound environment in the dark that transported the audience into the middle of a natural disaster which led to the introduction of program host, Kate Parker, Meteorologist and Science Reporter at The Weather Channel. Other program participants included Deputy Fire Chief of the City of Palo Alto, Geo Blackshire, Chief of External Relations of UN Human Rights, Laurent Sauveur, Developer Evangelist, JOMA, and Communications and Policy Lead at Project Lantern, Subalekha.

Of the top three finalists, Project OWL was named the winner for their innovative IoT and software solution that keeps first responders and victims connected in a natural disaster. The winner was chosen by a panel of eminent judges that included former President Bill Clinton.

Call for Code concluded with an upbeat performance by Local Natives, who are also committed and interested in coding technology.

“Empire CEO J. B. Miller and his entire production team did a fantastic job creating a dynamic, immersive event for the inaugural Call for Code Global Celebration”, said Call for Code creator David Clark. “My team, as well as the team at IBM were thrilled with the results, yet I was not surprised, as I’ve engaged Empire countless times over the last 18 years, and they delivered, as they always have.”

To learn more and/or join next year’s Call for Code, please visit https://callforcode.org

Following the success of Harper’s BAZAAR's A-list “BAZAAR ICONS” event in New York City, the celebration continued in Tokyo with the help of Empire Entertainment Japan.

Attended by the leaders of the fashion, beauty and entertainment world, the star-studded event hosted over 150 celebrities and VIP guests taking over the exceptional Joel Robuchon Restaurant in Ebisu.

BAZAAR ICONS began with a grand VIP entrance before a large crowd of onlookers and flashing paparazzi cameras, continued into the multi-floor restaurant to the Bulgari Tunnel video shoot, and then into the main room where guests lounged, sipped champagne, and danced to a special headline performance by Japan’s most influential guitarist, Char.

Among the many celebrity and VIP attendees were Carine Roitfeld, Theodora Richards, Alexandra Richards, Mori Hikari, Yamada Yu, Tominaga Ai, Becky, MAKIDAI, ELLI-ROSE, Ellie (Chim↑Pom), Licaxxx, Hatakeyama Chiaki, Nagai Mijika, Julia Abe, Saila Kunikida, Kana Oya, Char, Ishimura Tomomi, Emi Meyer, Iruka, ATSUSHI (Dragon Ash), Mika Ahn, Kansai Yamamoto, Momoko Abe, CHIHARU, MIKI EHARA, Yuka Mannami, Kiko Arai, Rila Fukushima, Ai Hashizume, and Rina Fukushi.

Empire was proud to produce yet another successful BAZAAR ICONS event, once again proving its expertise in producing high-profile events around the world.

BAZAAR ICONS 2018 IN TOKYO DIGEST MOVIE

BAZAAR ICONS 2018 IN TOKYO: PARTY SNAP

BAZAAR ICONS 2018 IN TOKYO: INSTAGRAM POSTS

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A wide range of topics in the realm of geopolitics were discussed with the appearance of such special guests as Taro Kono, Foreign Minister of Japan, and Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo.

The GZERO Summit is a unique event in Japan that gathers Japanese CEO’s, political and opinion leaders from Japan and abroad, together for a day event where extensive discussions are undertaken about the current geopolitical situations around the globe.

It is the first partnership with Eurasia Group and Empire and we hope many more will follow in the future.

Empire coordinated overall planning, production, venue management, construction, creative management, printing, technical control, and on-site operation.

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adidas Japan launched AM4108, a new footwear line designed with ATMOS, a prominent Japanese streetwear and sneaker boutique based in Tokyo and manufactured in adidas SPEEDFACTORY. This footwear was launched at an event called ATMOS CON organized by ATMOS in Hikarie Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo. Empire designed this booth and customer experience including the short, but unique video captured by a robot arm and a tote bag customization service which was present at another SPEEDFACTORY-related event.

​At the Picture Gallery, adidas Japan held an event called “SPEEDFACTORY Tokyo” to introduce the future of shoemaking and adidas innovation. Huge shipping containers toured through key cities. Inside, guests experienced the latest data capturing technologies used for customization. Limited models from the AM4 series were designed for London, Paris, NY, LA, Shanghai, and Tokyo, and introduced in Japan for the first time. Empire coordinated local production, venue management, catering, guest takeaways (tote bag customization & on-site printing service), and on-site operation.