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Jensen Huang says that ‘without TSMC, there is no NVIDIA’

It’s safe to say that much of the world’s semiconductors run on designs built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). At the last estimate, the company accounted for about 64 percent of the world’s contract chip manufacturing.

These designs are powering many of the AI technology breakthroughs that NVIDIA is developing. With that in mind, it might come as little surprise that Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s CEO, had nothing but praise for TSMC during its recent Sports Day event.

Huang went as far as to say that NVIDIA wouldn’t exist without TSMC.

## Jensen Huang Honors TSMC at Sports Day

The comments were made during TSMC’s Sports Day, a recent event held at a stadium in Taiwan, as reported by the online news outlet Focus Taiwan. Huang expressed his admiration for TSMC’s pivotal role in NVIDIA’s history and its broad impact on technology, stating:

> “Without TSMC, there is no NVIDIA today. You are really the pride of Taiwan, you are also the pride of the world. Thank you for helping me build NVIDIA.”

## A Collaborative Partnership Spanning Three Decades

NVIDIA and TSMC have been working closely together for nearly 30 years. NVIDIA has consistently benefited from TSMC’s technological breakthroughs, which are integral to the development of NVIDIA’s cutting-edge products, including the Blackwell AI chips.

With such an extensive history of success, Huang clearly has more than a vested interest in maintaining strong relations with TSMC—especially as the company and the Taiwan region face challenges in trade and export negotiations with the United States government.

This enduring partnership continues to be a cornerstone for innovation in the semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence technology worldwide.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146757/jensen-huang-tsmc-pride-of-the-world

Jensen Huang says that ‘without TSMC, there is no NVIDIA’

With that in mind, it might come as little surprise that Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s CEO, had nothing but praise for TSMC during its recent company Sports Day. In fact, Huang went as far as to say that NVIDIA wouldn’t exist without TSMC.

Huang made these comments during TSMC’s Sports Day event, as reported by online news outlet Focus Taiwan. This past weekend, Huang attended the celebration held at a stadium in Taiwan. There, he acknowledged TSMC’s crucial role in NVIDIA’s history and its broader impact on technology:

> “Without TSMC, there is no NVIDIA today. You are really the pride of Taiwan, you are also the pride of the world. Thank you for helping me build NVIDIA.”

NVIDIA and TSMC have been collaborating for nearly 30 years. Throughout this time, NVIDIA has leveraged the technological breakthroughs developed by TSMC in its own products, including NVIDIA’s cutting-edge Blackwell AI chips.

Given this long-standing history and success together, Huang clearly has more than a vested interest in maintaining strong relations with TSMC—especially as the company and the Taiwan region navigate ongoing tensions with the United States government over trade and export policies.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146757/jensen-huang-tsmc-pride-of-the-world

Endangered North Atlantic right whales are making a slow comeback

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**Slow but Steady: North Atlantic Right Whale Population Shows Signs of Recovery**

The North Atlantic right whale (*Eubalaena glacialis*) is one of the most endangered large whales in the world. Their very name reflects their tragic history: these whales were considered the “right” whales for whalers to target, as they floated after being killed, making them easier to harvest.

Today, their biggest threats are ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. However, for once, there’s some good news from the marine conservation community.

According to a statement from the New England Aquarium, estimates for North Atlantic right whale populations are slowly increasing. Researchers from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, New England Aquarium, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimate that, in 2024, there were around 384 individuals—a 2.1 percent increase from the previous year’s count.

So far, 2025 has also shown promise. Heather Pettis, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium, shared with *Popular Science* that there have been 11 known calf births, zero detected deaths, and notably fewer significant entanglements and vessel strikes this year.

“The population increase is really good news, and so far, what we’ve seen in 2025 is also encouraging,” Pettis explains. However, she cautions, “We’re talking about a population of 384 individual whales—that’s still incredibly low. Yes, we’re seeing increases. They’re small, and we still are seeing injuries to animals from human activities. So, I say that we’re cautiously optimistic.”

Pettis emphasizes that conservation efforts must continue with urgency. Both regulatory processes and initiatives beyond regulation are essential. Creative industry solutions and public awareness campaigns play a critical role in protecting these whales.

In Massachusetts, for example, Cape Cod has implemented fishing limits during times when right whales are known to be present as part of its mitigation strategy.

One promising innovation involves new on-demand fishing technology currently being trialed in the U.S. and Canada. This technology aims to prevent whale entanglements by keeping vertical ropes—those that connect traps on the seafloor to buoys at the surface—out of the water column until fishermen need to retrieve their gear.

“Removing those vertical ropes from the water is a huge conservation benefit to right whales,” Pettis explains.

When it comes to reducing ship collisions, many stakeholders are exploring ways to better connect with mariners, informing them when they are entering areas where slowing down would benefit the whales.

Another potential avenue is related to right whale eyesight. A study on humpback whales published earlier this year suggests that their vision may be poorer than previously thought, meaning they might not see fishing gear until it’s too late to avoid it.

While similar studies on right whale eyesight haven’t been published, Pettis notes that there are discussions about which colors right whales might see better underwater. “Are there ways in which we could alter the color of ropes? Might that help? So that’s a lingering question,” she says.

As the North Atlantic right whale population slowly recovers, ongoing efforts combining science, technology, and community engagement remain vital to ensuring its future survival.
https://www.popsci.com/environment/endangered-north-atlantic-right-whales-are-making-a-slow-comeback/

‘I don’t see any ceiling – the sky’s the limit.’

**MBW’s World’s Greatest Managers: Ryan Richards on managing Sleep Token and the future of rock**

MBW’s *World’s Greatest Managers* series profiles the best artist managers in the global music business. Here, we speak to Ryan Richards, a rock drummer turned major manager currently guiding the career of one of the biggest breakout bands of recent years, Sleep Token.

*World’s Greatest Managers* is supported by Centtrip, a specialist in intelligent treasury, payments, and foreign exchange created with the music industry’s unique needs in mind.

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### From Drummer to Manager: Ryan Richards’ Journey

Ryan Richards once looked like he was on top of the world as the drummer and scream vocalist for Welsh post-hardcore legends Funeral For A Friend—one of the most successful UK rock bands of their generation. Touring globally and performing for thousands of adoring fans, the band released five albums and played hundreds of gigs.

However, in 2011 Richards found himself drawn to different thrills—not the typical sex-and-drugs-and-rock’n’roll lifestyle, but the smaller victories of advising and supporting local bands back in South Wales. Alongside a desire to spend more time with his young family in the Valleys, Richards decided it was time to rethink his future.

“I said, ‘I think my touring days are numbered’,” Richards recalls. “‘This management thing is where my passion is and where I see my future going forward.’”

Shortly after, Craig Jennings, the band’s manager at Raw Power Management, called him with an offer: “If you’ve made up your mind to do that, why not come and work with us at Raw Power and learn there?” It was a massive learning experience that helped shape Richards into the manager he is today. “It was the perfect next step.”

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### Building Future History and Managing Breakout Acts

Fourteen years on, Richards runs his own management company, *Future History*, and is among the most successful rock managers globally. In a UK industry craving new breakthroughs, the remarkable ascent of Sleep Token—one of three bands he managed when leaving Raw Power in 2018 to form Future History—has been a standout success.

The mysterious, masked UK rockers have headlined Download Festival, signed to RCA in America, and scored a No.1 record with their fourth album, *Even In Arcadia*, on both sides of the Atlantic. Their pop sensibilities, highly engaged fanbase, and savvy online marketing have propelled them to heights many rock and metal bands no longer reach: Hot 100 hits, late-night TV appearances, and the biggest US streaming week ever recorded for a hard rock band.

“This is uncharted territory for a rock band in 2025, but I always thought from the start this is where it would end up,” Richards chuckles. “I was always a true believer.”

Richards’ roster continues to grow with fast-rising rock acts such as Those Damn Crows, Holding Absence, Bambie Thug, President, Zetra, and Dead Pony—bands he would have loved growing up in South Wales.

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### Early Musical Roots and Industry Breakthroughs

Encouraged by his family, Richards began playing piano and keyboards as a child before settling on drums, influenced by a babysitter who introduced him to Bon Jovi and Guns N’ Roses. He played in several local bands before joining Funeral For A Friend.

The band’s breakthrough came when Kerrang! featured them as “The most exciting new band on the planet,” prompting them to take their music seriously. Signing to Atlantic Records UK and Sanctuary Artist Management soon followed, placing Richards in the unofficial role of liaison between band and industry—marking him out as a future executive in the making.

When Sanctuary dissolved, Funeral stayed with Craig Jennings at Raw Power Management, and Richards began helping local bands by providing contacts and gig opportunities. He later joined Raw Power full-time, working his way up before founding Future History to spend more time close to home in Bridgend.

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### Growing Future History Amidst a Changing Landscape

Initially working solo from a home office—a setup that enabled survival through the COVID shutdown—Future History is now expanding rapidly with Download Festival boss Andy Copping joining as director.

“With rock being such a growing genre, I’d like to think it might empower the scene to have more leverage or influence,” Richards says.

Meanwhile, Richards reunited with Funeral For A Friend for their biggest-ever gigs, including a Cardiff Castle headline show. At the same time, he remains focused on nurturing rising acts like Bambie Thug (who recently signed a publishing deal with Universal) and President, whom he describes as “the quickest out of the traps” he’s ever worked with.

“It’s hard work being a rock band,” he notes in his mellifluous Welsh tones. “Climbing that hill can be slippery and steep. But with rock on the rise, I like to think it might empower the scene to have more influence. We’ll certainly keep trying.”

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### MBW Interview Excerpts: Streaming, Mystique & Rock’s Future

**Sleep Token’s mystique is rare for a band in 2025. How much has that helped their rise?**

I love that stuff. Social media has changed the dynamic between bands and fans, often eliminating mystique, but I think you *can* choose to keep it. Sleep Token’s anonymity creates a deeper, almost spiritual connection between band and fans because there’s separation. The band doesn’t use social media, interviews, or press in conventional ways. This builds more substance around the story, making live shows a unique, unspoken dialogue.

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**Will that mystique last, or will the band eventually reveal themselves?**

That’s unlikely. The fanbase respects and indulges it. Unlike the curiosity around bands like Kiss or Slipknot in the past, people today value the mystery and separation. In an age where anyone can find spoilers online, not spoiling the magic is part of the appeal.

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**Conventional wisdom says rock doesn’t perform well on streaming platforms. How have you bucked that trend?**

A lot of people still have a narrow view of what rock or metal sounds like, shaped by legacy bands like Metallica or Iron Maiden. Sleep Token are often labeled metal because that’s their heaviest element, but they incorporate pop, R&B, electronic, and piano-led music—often more so than heavy guitars.

After more mainstream exposure, listeners realize Sleep Token aren’t strictly a metal band; they paint with many colours to express a wide range of emotions, making their music accessible beyond traditional genre boundaries.

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**Are Sleep Token receiving the industry respect their success deserves?**

There’s a wave of optimism about rock’s future and its trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see if that spreads beyond our circle. I’ve been in the industry long enough to know rock is a vital and enduring part of music culture that never truly dies. Whether that recognition manifests in mainstream awards remains to be seen, but for me, fan response is what truly matters.

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**When you joined Funeral For A Friend, did you expect their success?**

Back then, we measured success a lot differently. Getting a demo on a covermount CD for an indie magazine or playing London felt like ‘making it.’ There was no grand plan, but things escalated quickly from there.

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**Has your experience as a musician helped you as a manager?**

Absolutely. It’s been the biggest contributor to my success. I always tell bands, “If I’m advising you, it’s because I’ve done it myself.” I’m not some know-it-all; I’ve learned alongside them.

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**What will Andy Copping bring to Future History?**

Andy is someone I’ve known and respected for years. He’s supported Funeral For A Friend and me personally from early on. Having someone with his experience, contacts, and friendship as a director has been invaluable for our growth and success.

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**If you could change one thing about the music industry right now, what would it be?**

Streaming compensation for artists, especially emerging ones, needs to improve. It’s vital for new artists to earn a decent income early on to remain independent and develop their craft. Unfortunately, many are forced to sign bad deals just to get some income, which can trap them later with no assets.

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**Is there a difference between Ryan Richards the rock star and Ryan Richards the manager?**

[Laughs] No! When I’m with Funeral For A Friend, I’m still the one arranging, liaising, and preparing. That experience helps me manage bands well. Rejoining as a musician is a nice treat and a privilege I enjoy when the opportunity arises.

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**How big can Sleep Token get?**

I don’t see any ceiling for them. They’re some of the best songwriters and most exciting live performers out there. With those two elements, the sky’s the limit—no matter the genre.

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Ryan Richards continues to shape the future of rock music, blending his experience on stage with a keen understanding of artists’ needs offstage. With Future History’s expanding roster and a focus on innovation and respect for artistry, he’s helping redefine what success means for rock bands in the digital era.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sleep-token-manager-ryan-richards-on-guiding-the-career-of-one-of-the-biggest-breakout-bands-of-the-last-few-years/