Through his role as the frontman for prolific dance-rock group Cobra Starship, as well his numerous business endeavors outside of his music career, Gabe Saporta is a renowned figure when it comes to the merging of both music and business. At 16 years old, Saporta founded the pop-punk band Midtown in 1998, and formed Cobra Starship in 2005. Rising to alt-rock stardom through hits like “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)” and “Good Girls Go Bad,” Cobra Starship became well known for their signature blend of electronic pop and pop-punk.
After Cobra Starship disbanded in 2015, Saporta moved on to other opportunities in the music business. That same year, Saporta co-founded The Artist Group (TAG), an artist management label, alongside The Academy Is… guitarist Mike Carden. In 2024 he founded Brotege, a male skincare company, and he is an experienced entrepreneur in the worlds of fashion, real estate and more.
Whether through his iconic discography, artist management endeavors or his entrepreneurship, Saporta knows the business like no other. Having dedicated his entire life to music, Saporta carries with him a unique love for the art and knowledge of the craft, making him one of the scene’s most skillful musicians and industry figures.
THE BUSINESS
Brotege is skincare for the bad guys who want to look good (while still being bad). Founded in 2024, Saporta’s company aims to provide men with approachable, reasonably-priced and effective skincare products. According to a statement on the company’s website, after Saporta hit his thirties — and found that his longtime favorite retinol-infused moisturizer was no longer available — he soon realized that a lot of his male friends were hesitant to embrace a good skin-care regimen, as the idea itself was a sign that one was growing old.
While self-care has become widely embraced in recent years, there still lies negative stereotypes about men actively choosing to pamper themselves. In fact, a 2023 study from CeraVe found that one in three men don’t have a skincare regimen. Saporta even notes that, once he and his friends all realized they were getting older, many of them found the idea of having a skin-care routine depressing, awkward and, in so many words, cringey.
To combat this apprehension that men have with taking care of their skin, Saporta set out to create the ultimate product aimed specifically at men who loathe the very thought of UV protection. Crafting a single, all-in-one moisturizer, Saporta created a product that is easy to use and perfect for those just stepping into the skincare game for the first time. Through affordable prices and humorous, punk-rock branding, Brotege is the ultimate cure for men who shudder when asked if they wear daily SPF.
THE BEATS
While Saporta is almost just as recognized for his business efforts as he is for his status as a rock star, it’s truly Saporta’s musical career that launched him into the limelight. Having loved music from a very early age, Saporta loved hip-hop music before falling in love with punk. At 16 Saporta founded Midtown, his very first band. While Midtown only lasted a few years, they developed a serious cult following.
After some legal troubles put an end to Midtown, Saporta decided that being a successful artist would require understanding the business as well. At 21, Saporta became a manager for rock group Armor For Sleep. Finally, in 2005, Saporta founded Cobra Starship. Hoping to find an outlet to create lighter music compared to the pop-punk style of Midtown, Saporta established Cobra Starship as a genre-defying outfit. Combining electronic elements with those of emo and punk, the group rose to multi-platinum stardom and toured alongside the likes of 30 Seconds To Mars, Fall Out Boy and Justin Bieber.
Nearly a decade down the line, several members of the band decided to focus on other projects or personal pursuits. In 2015, Cobra Starship announced they had officially disbanded, canceling plans on what would have been their fifth studio album. However, after releasing a handful of singles in 2021, the group reunited in 2024 to perform at When We Were Young festival and an additional number of select live shows. This year, Cobra Starship played at the 20th Anniversary show of Riot Fest as well as the Long Beach date of this year’s return of Vans Warped Tour.
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Keep up with Brotege: Instagram // TikTok // Facebook // X // YouTube // Website
Keep up with Cobra Starship: Instagram // TikTok // Facebook // X // Spotify // YouTube // Website
