️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️  Fox's smash hit series "Empire" had its season finale on Wednesday night, and the ratings once again grew.<unk> Fox's smash hit series "Empire" had its season finale on Wednesday night, and the ratings once again grew. According to Deadline, the drama reached 16.5 million viewers, up 10% from the 14.9 million who tuned in the week before. <unk> According to Deadline, the drama reached 16.5 million viewers, up 10% from the 14.9 million who tuned in the week before. Show has managed to grow its total audience every week since its premiere, a rare feat in the television landscape.<unk> Show has managed to grow its total audience every week since its premiere, a rare feat in the television landscape. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ Most fans weren't disappointed with Wednesday night's season finale.<unk> Most fans weren't disappointed with Wednesday night's season finale.<unk> Most fans were not disappointed with Wednesday night's season finale. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ <unk> <unk> <unk> Soundtrack<unk> achieved a rare success this week, debuting in the No. 1 spot on Billboard's top 200 album chart, topping Madonna's "Rebel Heart".<unk> Danny Strong told Deadline that he and fellow "Empire" creator Lee Daniels have steered the series to be both socially conscious (issues of race and sexuality were central to the plot) and night-time soapy. "I think that's one of the secrets of success to the show", Strong said. "I think that's one of the secrets of success to the show", Strong said. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️
16.5 million people watched the season finale.<unk> 16.5 million people watched the season finale.<unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> Soundtrack topped Billboard's album chart.<unk>