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SPOTIFY Brings Music Videos in Beta to Premium Users in US and Canada

Eric Alper
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SPOTIFY Brings Music Videos in Beta to Premium Users in US and Canada

Spotify is expanding its music videos in beta to Premium users across the U.S. and Canada, bringing fans closer to the music they love and enhancing the listening experience. Music videos have historically done much more than just accompany a song, shaping culture, style, and conversation. Now, millions more listeners in these regions will gain access to an initial, curated catalog of official music videos, including studio versions, live performances, and covers. While the video catalog is limited during this beta phase, Spotify assures fans that availability will grow quickly in the coming months, offering more visual content that a recent Burson survey found over 70% of users believe will enhance their experience.

This expansion means music videos now join a powerful suite of visual features on Spotify—such as Countdown Pages, Canvas, and Clips—that are designed to help artists connect with their fanbases. Spotify’s data shows that when fans engage with an artist’s music video, they are more likely to dive deeper into that artist’s world. Specifically, users are 34% more likely to stream a track again, and 24% more likely to save or share it in the following week after discovering a video. This effect is particularly strong among “super listeners,” who go on to actively stream the artist 85% more in the next month, on average, proving that music videos are a powerful way to build and deepen fandom.

Premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada can begin exploring the limited initial catalog right away, featuring artists like Ariana Grande, BABYMONSTER, Tyler Childers, and Carín León. To start watching, users simply open Spotify on their TV, desktop, iOS, or Android device, select a supported track, and tap “Switch to video.” The music video will start playing instantly where the song left off. To return to background listening, users simply press “Switch to audio,” or turn their mobile device to landscape for a full-screen video experience.

Users can easily discover more music videos, including live and cover versions, by exploring the Related Music Videos section beneath the player, visiting an artist’s profile under the Music tab, or checking out genre and era-specific playlists such as 90s Video Hits and Hip-Hop Throwbacks. With this launch, Spotify continues to support artists in sharing the full world of their artistry beyond just their sound. The music video feature will be available to all Premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada by the end of the month.

TAYLOR SWIFT Takes Over Spotify with Exclusive ‘Eras’ Sticker Drop

Eric Alper
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TAYLOR SWIFT Takes Over Spotify with Exclusive ‘Eras’ Sticker Drop

It has been nothing short of a massive year for Taylor Swift. Her highly anticipated album, The Life of a Showgirl, absolutely shattered Spotify records both before and after its release, even claiming the title for the most-streamed song in a single day in platform history. Now, as the year wraps up, she’s following that up with the release of her documentary series, “The End of an Era,” and the concert film, “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show,” both hitting screens this Friday, December 12th. Naturally, the music world is paying attention, and it’s clear the Swiftie phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down.

To mark this incredible run of achievements and these major film releases, Spotify is dropping a brand-new, limited-edition, eras-themed playlist sticker collection. Featuring visual elements drawn from across Taylor’s entire discography – from the ‘Keep it 100’ graphic from The Life of a Showgirl and the classic heart hands of Fearless, to the cozy cabin of folklore – these digital stickers let fans worldwide bring the spirit of her albums directly to life. It’s a fun, simple way for Swifties to personalize their music space right within the Spotify mobile app.

Using the stickers is easy: just select or create a playlist in the Spotify mobile app, tap the three dots, and choose “Create cover art.” From there, you tap “stickers” to explore the new pack, dragging and dropping as many era visuals as you want onto your cover art. Listeners can then customize the rest of their cover with text, background colors, and personal images to fully capture their own unique Swiftie spirit.

This celebration follows Taylor’s record-breaking year, which saw The Life of a Showgirl become the most pre-saved album Countdown Page in Spotify history, with over 6 million pre-saves before its October 3rd release. The album then became 2025’s most-streamed album in a single day, achieving the milestone in under 11 hours. The track “The Fate of Ophelia” single-handedly claimed the titles for most-streamed song in a single day and most-streamed song in a single week. Head over to the Spotify mobile app now to celebrate Taylor’s massive year and check out the eras-themed playlist sticker collection.

Supergirl Teaser: Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa Hit the Cosmos

Eric Alper
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Supergirl Teaser: Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa Hit the Cosmos

Okay, let’s talk DC. Forget the constant reboots and the grim ‘n’ gritty nonsense for a minute, because this Supergirl teaser looks like the real deal, or at least, the kind of weird collision that makes a comic book movie worth watching. You’ve got Milly Alcock—who you remember from House of the Dragon—playing Kara Zor-El, but this isn’t the sweet, bright-eyed cousin. This is a cynical superhero on an interstellar revenge quest after some ruthless threat hits her home. That’s a great setup. But the real hook? Director Craig Gillespie, the guy who made I, Tonya and Cruella—which, let’s be honest, were unexpectedly good—is running the show, and he’s paired her with the galaxy’s greatest anti-hero, Jason Momoa’s Lobo. That is pure, unadulterated comic book chaos, and if Gillespie can keep that energy focused, this thing is going to be far more than just another cape movie when it drops on June 26, 2026.

THE SURF BALLROOM PRESENTS: “Through Their Eyes” Event Honors 1959 Winter Dance Party

Eric Alper
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THE SURF BALLROOM PRESENTS: “Through Their Eyes” Event Honors 1959 Winter Dance Party

Sixty-six years ago, that terrible plane crash cemented the 1959 Winter Dance Party tour as a cultural watershed. It was the moment rock ‘n’ roll lost three of its brightest stars: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. But here’s the thing about great music—it never really dies, it just transforms. That’s why the Surf Ballroom, a National Historic Landmark and the location of that final show, is throwing down an unforgettable Sunday night event, “Through Their Eyes: 1959 Winter Dance Party Memories,” as part of their 2026 Winter Dance Party celebration. Forget the history books for a second, because this is about getting the story straight from the people who lived it, and those who carry the flame today.

This isn’t your grandma’s quiet museum lecture. It’s an immersive, history-infused rock ‘n’ roll night. You’ll get the real story behind the tragedy from author and historian Tommy Canale, whose book Shadows Over Clear Lake is required reading for anyone serious about this stuff. And then the band, The Holy Rocka Rollaz, a Minnesota rockabilly outfit, hits the stage to blast through the hits of ’59 with enough energy to power Clear Lake itself. But the real pull? The special guests. We’re talking The Valens Family, the niece of Buddy Holly, Sherry Holley, sharing intimate stories and vocals. This is the human element, the beating heart that makes the legend stick.

But wait, there’s more. The legendary Johnny Farina, instrumental steel guitar master of Santo & Johnny, will be there, live on stage. If you’re a music obsessive, you know “Sleep Walk,” the last #1 instrumental of the 1950s. That haunting melody is literally the soundtrack to the new Surf Music Experience Center’s immersive production, Not Fade Away, marking the moment the plane crash was discovered. Farina’s presence, bringing that unmistakable sound to the stage, is a major moment—a rare chance to experience a piece of musical history right where the history itself was made. The past meeting the present to keep the rock ‘n’ roll spirit alive. You want in? Hit the Surf Ballroom website.

ROB BOWMAN’S Definitive ‘Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985’ Arrives

Eric Alper
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ROB BOWMAN’S Definitive ‘Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985’ Arrives

Six-time GRAMMY-nominated music scholar Rob Bowman has teamed with Malaco Records—America’s longest-running independent label—to release ‘Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985’ on November 25, 2025. This nearly 750-page tome offers the definitive, never-before-told history of how the tiny hamlet of Muscle Shoals in northwest Alabama became “The Hit Recording Capital of the World.” Bowman masterfully utilizes meticulous research, including long-lost historical documents and first-hand accounts from an unbelievable group of nearly 100 key players, such as Mavis Staples and Mick Jagger—many of whom have since passed on or never spoken on the record before.

The book vividly chronicles how Muscle Shoals’ nine recording studios became the epicenter of American popular music, driven by the “dogged determination” of producer Rick Hall. It captures the region’s role as a soul powerhouse, recording genre-defining hits for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Percy Sledge (from studios like Fame, Quinvy, and Muscle Shoals Sound), before expanding into a rock and pop haven for acts like The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, and Joe Cocker. Later, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the area pivoted again to become a magnet for country artists, producing classic recordings for Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., and Jerry Reed.

Bowman, who previously earned praise for his definitive Stax biography, Soulsville U.S.A., utilizes his gifts for evocative storytelling to detail this unlikely saga of musicians, producers, and engineers. His work continues to gain acclaim, most recently helping to adapt his Stax biography into an HBO multi-part documentary series, Soulsville U.S.A., which was honored as a 2025 Peabody Award recipient. ‘Land of a Thousand Sessions’ promises to be the essential document on this critical chapter of American music history.

The Vibes Releases Highly Anticipated Debut Album ‘Penny for Your Thoughts’

Eric Alper
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The Vibes Releases Highly Anticipated Debut Album ‘Penny for Your Thoughts’

The exceptional Irish indie-folk-pop band The Vibes, hailing from Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, has released their highly anticipated debut album, Penny for Your Thoughts, available now. This remarkable record captures the band’s refined sound, presenting a cohesive collection shaped by their gorgeous melodic sensibilities and layered acoustic arrangements. The album showcases key singles like “Battle Scars,” “Head Over Heels,” and “Where I Wanna Be,” all featuring the group’s hallmark harmonies and contemporary pop-leaning production.

Penny for Your Thoughts benefits from stellar production credits, including the acclaimed Irish producer Ger McDonnell and the multi-Grammy Award–winning producer Greg Wells (Adele, Dua Lipa, John Legend). The Vibes have already established a powerful national presence, with previous singles consistently reaching the Irish Top 20. Blending folk-driven instrumentation with polished pop flair, and drawing on influences reminiscent of Snow Patrol and Dermot Kennedy, this debut marks a truly significant milestone, confirming The Vibes as one of Ireland’s most compelling acts to watch.

Melissa Etheridge Releases New Album ‘RISE!’ and Announces Massive “The Rise Tour”

Eric Alper
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0
Melissa Etheridge Releases New Album ‘RISE!’ and Announces Massive “The Rise Tour”

Melissa Etheridge Releases New Album ‘RISE’ and Announces Massive “The Rise Tour”

Melissa Etheridge, Shooter Jennings, Chris Stapleton, Johnny Cash, Sun Records,

The legendary rock powerhouse Melissa Etheridge has delivered her eagerly awaited new studio album, RISE, available now via Sun Records, and has simultaneously announced her massive “The Rise Tour” for 2026. This phenomenal new collection is Etheridge’s first studio album in five years and is positioned to be her most personal project to date, featuring 11 incredible new songs. The album boasts a stunning duet, “The Other Side of Blue,” with Chris Stapleton and was co-produced by Etheridge and the acclaimed Shooter Jennings, who called the experience “one of the greatest times of my life” and hailed her as “one of the greatest rock and roll artists of our lifetime.”

Giving fans a fantastic taste of the record, Etheridge released the new single, “Matches,” where she beautifully reflects on the spark that ignited her interest in music—Johnny Cash’s 1970 performance at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth. As she puts it: “When I say ‘Mama, let me play with the matches’ I really wanted to play that music.” Songs from this vital new album will be featured on “The Rise Tour,” which kicks off on March 26 in Detroit and travels across the country hitting major markets through May 9. This is a triumphant new chapter from an artist whose excellence and musicianship define a generation.

“The Rise Tour” Dates:

March 26 – Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Detroit, MI

March 27 – Venue TBA, Pickering, ON

March 28 – The Vine at Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo, NY

March 31 – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT

April 2 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH

April 3 – Stadium Theatre for the Performing Arts, Woonsocket, RI

April 4 – Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME

April 8 – Plymouth Memorial Hall, Plymouth, MA

April 10 – Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ

April 11 – Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, Patchogue, NY

April 12 – Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Poughkeepsie, NY

April 14 – The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT

April 15 – Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA

April 17 – Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, NJ

April 18 – XCite Center at Parx Casino, Bensalem, PA

April 19 – The Ramkat, Winston-Salem, NC

April 21 – Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount, VA

April 22 – Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, KY

April 24 – Venue TBA, Tulsa, OK

April 26 – ACL Live at The Moody Theater, Austin, TX

May 1 – The Factory, St. Louis, MO

May 2 – Four Winds Casino Resort, Silver Creek Event Center, New Buffalo, MI

May 3 – Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center, Carmel, IN

May 5 – Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead, Munhall, PA

May 6 – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY

May 8 – Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA

May 9 – Weldon Mills Theatre, Roanoke Rapids, NC

Neko Case Adds Second Leg of 2026 Tour Dates

Eric Alper
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Neko Case Adds Second Leg of 2026 Tour Dates

Just when you thought the phenomenal Neko Case was done with her massive trek, the indie rock trailblazer has announced a second run of 2026 dates, focusing on the West Coast in February and March! This comes after an already packed schedule throughout Canada, the Northeast, and the South in January. The woman is relentless, and honestly, we love her for it! Case is riding high on the release of her incredible memoir, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, which shot to No. 5 on the New York Times bestsellers list and has been named one of the best books of the year by everyone who matters.

And let’s not forget the music! Her eighth studio album, Neon Grey Midnight Green, is out now, and it’s a brilliant collection that follows her 2018 masterpiece, Hell-On (remember that “pitch-perfect roar of female defiance” that The Guardian raved about?). Neon Grey Midnight Green is a triumph, recorded live with a full band and featuring the PlainsSong Chamber Orchestra, where they deliberately left in the sounds of human breathing and rustling sleeves—a genuine, authentic move that reminds you just how real the music is. The new West Coast dates, which go on sale today, will feature Destroyer (solo) opening, so if you want to hear this essential music live, you need to get moving on tickets.

Neko Case 2026 Dates:
Jan. 8 – Montreal, QC, Beanfield Theatre #
Jan. 9 – Ottawa, ON, Bronson Centre #
Jan. 10 – Geneva, NY, Smith Opera House #
Jan. 11 – Burlington, VT,  The Flynn #
Jan. 12 – Portland, ME, State Theatre #
Jan. 14 – Troy, NY, Troy Music Hall #
Jan. 15 – Stamford, CT, The Palace Theatre #
Jan. 16 – Wilmington, DE, The Queen #
Jan. 17 – Allentown, PA, Archer Music Hall #
Jan. 18 – Charlottesville, VA, The Paramount Theater #
Jan. 20 – Louisville, KY, Old Forester’s Paristown Hall #
Jan. 21 – Madison, WI, Barrymore Theatre #
Jan. 22 – Carmel, IN, Palladium #
Jan. 23 – Champaign, IL, Virginia Theatre #
Jan. 24 – Kansas City, MO, Uptown Theatre #
Jan. 27 – New Orleans, LA, House of Blues #
Jan. 28 – Birmingham, AL, Iron City #
Jan. 29 – Jacksonville, FL, Decca Live #
Jan. 30 – Orlando, FL, The Plaza Live #
Jan. 31 – Miami, FL, Midline #

Feb. 25 – Bozeman, MT, The Elm %
Feb. 26 – Missoula, MT, The Wilma %
Feb. 27 – Edmonds, WA, Edmonds Center For The Arts %
Feb. 28 – Beaverton, OR, Patricia Reser Center For The Arts %
March 1 – Tacoma, WA, Spanish Ballroom %
March 4 – Sacramento, CA, Ace of Spades %
March 5 – Monterey, CA, Golden State Theatre %
March 6 – Napa, CA, Uptown Theatre Napa %
March 7 – San Luis Obispo, CA, Fremont Theatre %
March 9 – Santa Ana, CA, Observatory %
March 10 – Scottsdale, AZ, Scottsdale Arts %
March 12 – Santa Fe, NM, Lensic Center %
March 13 – Grand Junction, CO, Avalon Theater %
March 14 – Fort Collins, CO, Washington’s %
March 15 – Boulder, CO, Boulder Theater %
March 16 – Aspen, CO, Belly Up Aspen %
# with Des Demonas   
% with Destroyer (solo)

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Announces Massive Lineup for Two Weekends in 2026

Eric Alper
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0
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Announces Massive Lineup for Two Weekends in 2026

The iconic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is back for its regular two weekends, April 23-26 and April 30 to May 3, promising a massive celebration in the Big Easy! Headlining this monumental event are absolute legends like Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, and Earth, Wind & Fire, alongside contemporary powerhouses such as Kings of Leon, Lainey Wilson, Jon Batiste, Tyler Childers, David Byrne, The Black Keys, and Lorde. This year features the thrilling return of Alabama Shakes and a cultural spotlight on “One Love Jamaica,” celebrating the island’s music, history, and artistry with sets from Ziggy and Stephen Marley, Sean Paul, and many others, complete with Jamaican food and cultural demonstrations. This festival is a dazzling fusion of heritage, massive talent, and unparalleled celebratory spirit—you absolutely must be there!

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Announce 20th Anniversary Tour Performing Self-Titled Debut

Eric Alper
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0
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Announce 20th Anniversary Tour Performing Self-Titled Debut

GRAMMY Award-winning duo Rodrigo y Gabriela have announced a series of very special shows to mark the 20th anniversary of their self-titled 2006 debut album, which they will perform in its entirety. The highly anticipated 20th Anniversary Tour 2026 begins on May 6th at Revel in Albuquerque, NM, and will culminate at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre on May 15th, with additional anniversary celebrations promised soon. The self-titled debut was co-produced by the duo with legendary British producer John Leckie and proved an immediate phenomenon, earning critical acclaim for their dynamic instrumental fusion of classic rock, heavy metal, and Latin melodies and rhythms.

The album swiftly found a global audience, debuting at number one in their adopted home of Ireland—the first instrumental album to ever top the Irish album charts—and found success on the Billboard Top 200 in the US. The record featured sizzling originals like “Tamacún” (later featured in the pilot of Breaking Bad) and revolutionary covers of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven” and Metallica’s “Orion.” This landmark album served as a milestone entry point to what has been a singular, two-decade musical journey for the duo, leading to countless sold-out shows at iconic venues and a 2020 GRAMMY Award for “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.”

With its breathtaking virtuosity and soaring spirit of invention, ‘Rodrigo y Gabriela’ established a one-of-a-kind path that continues to evolve with ambitious energy and mercurial vision. This anniversary tour is a must-see for fans, celebrating the album that captured the duo’s genius for reinventing heavy metal and classic rock through their acoustic guitar fusion.

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2026

  • MAY 6: Albuquerque, NM @ Revel
  • MAY 8: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
  • MAY 9: Highland, CA @ Yaamava’ Theater
  • MAY 10: Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater
  • MAY 13: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
  • MAY 15: New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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