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CIMA Is Taking Eight Canadian Music Companies to BIGSOUND 2026 in Brisbane This September

Eric Alper
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CIMA Is Taking Eight Canadian Music Companies to BIGSOUND 2026 in Brisbane This September

The Canadian Independent Music Association is organizing a business mission to BIGSOUND 2026 in Brisbane, Australia, running September 1 to 4, with space for eight Canadian music companies. The delegation will include curated business events developed in partnership with the Sydney Consulate and the BIGSOUND team, with support from an in-market consultant focused on building real connections within the Australian industry. It is a direct line into one of the most influential music industry gatherings in the southern hemisphere.

BIGSOUND draws over 1,700 conference delegates and more than 16,000 aggregate showcase attendees, bringing together tastemakers, industry leaders, and emerging artists across three nights of performances and full days of conference programming. Past speakers have included Nick Cave, Mike Shinoda, Amy Taylor, and Kelis. For Canadian companies looking to expand into Indo-Pacific markets, develop roster marketability, and build lasting international relationships, this is a high-value opportunity with genuine infrastructure behind it.

CIMA is also flagging that BIGSOUND may accommodate one to two Canadian acts this year, though artists must apply directly through the festival. The business mission is separate from artist showcasing and focuses on company-level connections and market development.

Participation is not guaranteed. Canadian music companies interested in attending can register their interest now via the CIMA survey at surveymonkey.com/r/CIMABIGSOUND26. More details will follow in the coming months.

Lil Baby Drops “Mrs. Trendsetter” Video While ‘My Turn’ Hits 7x Platinum On Its Sixth Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Lil Baby Drops “Mrs. Trendsetter” Video While ‘My Turn’ Hits 7x Platinum On Its Sixth Anniversary

Lil Baby delivers the official video for “Mrs. Trendsetter,” directed by Mikey Rare and arriving after a teaser clip that launched a dedicated social account and sent fans into full speculation mode about the song’s subject. The visual follows a group of women, each thriving in their own lane as creative director, media maven, and social influencer, moving through their day before linking up for a night out. It’s confident, celebratory, and built around exactly the energy the track carries.

“Mrs. Trendsetter” appears on ‘The Leaks,’ Baby’s December 2025 mixtape that debuted at number one on Billboard’s Rap Albums chart, number five on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and number 17 on the Billboard 200. It marks his fifth consecutive number one project on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart, a run that speaks for itself.

The release lands alongside a major anniversary milestone. ‘My Turn’ turns six this week and upgrades to 7x multi-platinum status, with individual tracks stacking fresh certifications including “Sum 2 Prove” at 9x platinum, “Woah” at 8x, and “We Paid” and “Emotionally Scarred” each at 7x. The album now sits at over 15 billion global streams and remains on the Billboard 200, a sustained commercial presence that few albums in any genre can match.

Between ‘WHAM’ debuting at Billboard 200 number one in January 2025, ‘The Leaks’ closing out the year strong, and “Superman” landing on Pitchfork’s 40 Best Rap Songs of 2025, Lil Baby is operating at a level that makes the ‘My Turn’ anniversary feel less like a lookback and more like proof of a foundation still very much in use.

Megan Moroney Sells Out Rodeo Houston and Sits Down With Drew Barrymore In a Whirlwind Week

Eric Alper
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Megan Moroney Sells Out Rodeo Houston and Sits Down With Drew Barrymore In a Whirlwind Week

Megan Moroney is everywhere right now, and she’s earning every moment of it. This week alone she delivered a sold-out debut performance at Rodeo Houston in front of 72,220 people at NRG Stadium, sat down for her first appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, and appeared as a guest on the songwriting podcast And The Writer Is with Ross Golan. Cloud 9 is her Billboard 200-topping third album, and its rollout has been relentless in the best possible way.

The Rodeo Houston show was a statement. Moroney sold it out in under half an hour, arrived on stage in her Cloud 9-pink Bronco, and delivered a setlist stacked with country radio number ones including “6 Months Later,” “Am I Okay?,” and the 4x platinum “Tennessee Orange.” The Drew Barrymore Show appearance covered everything from bizarre ramen flavors to post-breakup payback to the scream-along catharsis of her live show, which she describes simply as “group therapy.”

The Ross Golan podcast conversation goes deeper, covering the life-changing accident that led her to music, the stories behind “Tennessee Orange” and Billboard Hot 100 hit “Beautiful Things,” and the details of her writing process. As the latest guest in a lineup that includes Julia Michaels, Jack Antonoff, and FINNEAS, Moroney holds her own and then some.

With over 5.1 billion global streams, a 2025 MTV VMA win for Best Country, New Artist of the Year at the 2024 CMAs, and a massive international Cloud 9 Tour on the horizon, Moroney has moved well past rising star territory. She is operating at the top of the format, and the numbers prove it.

Portuguese Singer-Songwriter J.Mystery Confronts a World Gone Quiet On Sweeping New Single “Change”

Eric Alper
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Portuguese Singer-Songwriter J.Mystery Confronts a World Gone Quiet On Sweeping New Single “Change”

J.Mystery releases “Change” today, his most emotionally and sonically ambitious single to date. Written and recorded in Portugal with longtime collaborator and producer Francisco Reis, the track expands outward through string quartet arrangements and cinematic orchestration by Nikolai Gimaletdinov and IAN, giving it genuine scale without losing the intimacy at its core. J.Mystery calls it “one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve created to date,” and the music backs that up fully.

Lyrically, “Change” is an honest confrontation rather than a polished statement. Inspired by the current state of the world, the song presses hard on indifference and silence, circling the tension between fear and hope, between knowing you can act and choosing not to. The central question it asks is uncomfortable and direct: if you know you can make a difference, how do you live with staying quiet.

The release arrives at a meaningful moment in J.Mystery’s trajectory. In 2025, he earned a nomination for Best Music Video at Portugal’s Prémios Play, was named MTV Push Artist of December (the final artist to receive the distinction before MTV closed its Portuguese channel), and drew international attention from Wonderland and Clash Magazine. His atmospheric blend of alternative rock, electronic, and cinematic pop has built genuine traction across national radio and beyond.

This June, J.Mystery opens for Father John Misty across two headline shows in Portugal, performing at Sagres Campo Pequeno in Lisbon on June 1 and Coliseu do Porto AGEAS in Porto on June 2. He describes the opportunity as “an incredible honour,” noting he was personally chosen by Father John Misty and his team.

Southern California Melodic Death Metal Newcomers Ravenmocker Soar On Cinematic New Single “Where The Raven Flies”

Eric Alper
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Southern California Melodic Death Metal Newcomers Ravenmocker Soar On Cinematic New Single “Where The Raven Flies”

Ravenmocker drop their second single of 2026 with “Where The Raven Flies,” and it lands with genuine scope and weight. The Southern California melodic death metal quartet build an anthemic, cinematic track around the origin story of the Raven Mocker, a cryptid from Cherokee and Adirondack lore known as a harbinger of death that steals the remaining years of its victims. The mythology drives every element of the release, from the soaring melodic architecture to the music video filmed in Angeles National Forest by Darkslate Media.

Formed in 2025 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Tierney following his departure from Thrown Into Exile, Ravenmocker draws on his Native American heritage as a central creative foundation. Joined by guitarist George Patmas (ex-Dianthus), drummer Dylan Suierveld, and bassist Will Buckley (both of Levinia), the band pulls from melodic death metal’s classic era while weaving in blues, prog, jazz, and country influences. The new single is notably more expansive than their debut, featuring a key change and structural development contributed by Suierveld that gives the track its lofty, mountain-gliding feel.

Debut single “Infallible” cleared 75,000 views quickly and drew praise from No Clean Singing for its melodic hooks and feverish energy. “Where The Raven Flies” raises the stakes further, premiering on Decibel Magazine alongside the full music video. A debut EP is on the way later in 2026.

Snoop Dogg Honors Tupac With Limited-Edition “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” Wine on 30th Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Snoop Dogg Honors Tupac With Limited-Edition “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” Wine on 30th Anniversary

Cali By Snoop has released its most personal bottle yet. “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” is a limited-edition red blend from Snoop Dogg marking 30 years since his and Tupac Shakur’s iconic collaboration of the same name. Alongside the wine, Snoop stars in a tribute film featuring archival behind-the-scenes footage from the original music video, the only one the two ever filmed together. “I can’t think of a better way to honor his legacy than with a drink,” Snoop says.

The wine itself is a Petite Sirah-dominant red blend with notes of toasty oak, dark fruit, toffee, and baking spice. Winemaker Michael Garrison of Treasury Wine Estates describes it as well-structured, with supple tannins and a long finish. The label pulls from a moment etched in hip-hop history, drawn from the 1996 VMA Awards, and includes a personal tribute to Tupac written by Snoop.

Both artists were signed to Death Row Records during the West Coast hip-hop boom of the 1990s, and the energy of that era runs through every element of this release. Cali By Snoop launched in 2020 with Cali Red and has since built a portfolio that includes Cali Smooth, Cali Rosé, Cali Gold, and more. “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” is available now at major retailers nationwide for $14.99.

Thirty years on, the friendship and the legacy it produced remain undeniable. This bottle is a fitting way to raise a glass to both.

Tedeschi Trucks Band Bring Their Madison Square Garden Debut to the Big Screen With ‘The Garden Party’

Eric Alper
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Tedeschi Trucks Band Bring Their Madison Square Garden Debut to the Big Screen With ‘The Garden Party’

Tedeschi Trucks Band have announced ‘The Garden Party’, a concert film documenting their sold-out Madison Square Garden debut on September 29, 2023. Directed by Grammy-nominated filmmaker John McDermott and co-produced by BAFTA Award-winner George Scott alongside Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, the film captures a two-and-a-half-hour performance featuring special guests Trey Anastasio, Norah Jones, and Lukas Nelson, woven together with commentary from the duo. “Going from Manny’s Car Wash to Madison Square Garden has been pretty surreal,” says Trucks.

The film premieres at Brooklyn Bowl in New York on Sunday, March 22, with full concert sound, family-friendly entry at $10 for adults and free for kids under 16, and all ticket proceeds going to HeadCount. The premiere falls mid-way through TTB’s ten-night run at the Beacon Theatre from March 10 to 28. A theatrical release follows later this spring, with an additional screening event at the Regent Theater in Arlington, MA on May 1, and more cities to follow.

The announcement arrives two days after the release of ‘Future Soul’ on March 20 via Fantasy Records, TTB’s sixth studio album and their most wide-ranging to date. Produced by Mike Elizondo (Twenty One Pilots, Eminem, Carrie Underwood) and co-produced by Trucks, the 11-track collection pulls from funk, rock, blues, soul, and punk, with singles “I Got You” and “Who Am I” already out now.

Between the new album, the Beacon Theatre residency, the film premiere, and a theatrical rollout on the way, Tedeschi Trucks Band are deep into one of the most active and rewarding stretches of their career.

Providence Industrial Techno Duo Snowbeasts Unleash “Abuse of Power” Remix EP With Three Dark Electronic Heavyweights

Eric Alper
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Providence Industrial Techno Duo Snowbeasts Unleash “Abuse of Power” Remix EP With Three Dark Electronic Heavyweights

Snowbeasts have expanded one of the sharpest tracks from their 2025 album ‘Dire Days’ into a full remix EP. “Abuse of Power” originally landed as a driving, EBM-fueled broadside against corruption and exploitation, with vocalist Elizabeth Virosa delivering its mantra in a deadpan, morose style that hits harder for its restraint. Heavy basslines, hard-hitting kicks, and ominous atmospheric textures made the original a dancefloor statement with genuine teeth. The remix package brings in three producers from the darker corners of the electronic music world, each pulling the track in a distinct direction.

Hexmaschine’s Kevin Brown pushes the BPM and injects a ’90s trance-techno edge. Caustic’s Matt Fanale goes groovy and acidic, rooting his version in classic body music territory. Sawtooth’s Lillian Martin leans into stomp-worthy industrial aesthetics, threading in political speech samples that expand the original’s themes outward. Together the four versions form a cohesive and genuinely varied package. The Providence duo, comprised of Galbraith and Virosa, have been building their hardware-driven, modular synth-powered sound since 2014 across more than 20 releases. ‘Dire Days’ earned comparisons to Front Line Assembly, Front 242, and ADULT.

Folk-Pop Storyteller Catie Turner Signs With TikTok SoundOn and Drops Intimate Audiotree Live Session

Eric Alper
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Folk-Pop Storyteller Catie Turner Signs With TikTok SoundOn and Drops Intimate Audiotree Live Session

Catie Turner has signed a distribution deal with TikTok’s SoundOn platform, pairing her independent momentum with one of the most powerful music discovery engines in the world. The partnership builds on an already proven relationship. Her breakout single “God Must Hate Me” first gained serious traction on TikTok, climbing past 100 million streams and introducing her candid, sharply observed songwriting to a global audience. SoundOn gives her the reach to go further while keeping creative control firmly in her hands.

Alongside the announcement, Turner releases a new Audiotree Live session featuring five tracks: “I Might,” “Not Young Just Dumb,” “Shrinking Violet,” “God Must Hate Me,” and “Tourist Attraction.” Stripped back and filmed in Audiotree’s intimate studio setting, the session is Turner at her most direct. She moves between vulnerability and wit with ease, and her vocal delivery and lyricism land with the kind of emotional weight that doesn’t need production to prop it up.

Turner first came to national attention on American Idol with her original song “21st Century Machine,” and has since built a catalog that spans 200 million career streams, one million social followers, and praise from Rolling Stone and Ones To Watch. Previous releases “Comedown,” “Friends,” and “Last Name” kept that trajectory moving, and new music is on the way under the SoundOn deal. With creative independence and platform-powered distribution locked in, Turner enters 2026 with real wind behind her.

Ava Franks Deliver Cinematic New Anthem “Good Scar”

Eric Alper
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0
Ava Franks Deliver Cinematic New Anthem “Good Scar”

New York-based songwriter Ava Franks has delivered a striking new entry into the indie pop landscape with her latest single, “Good Scar”. The track lands today as a defiant exploration of romantic bravery, moving away from the hesitation that often defines early adulthood. Franks has built a reputation for sharp, coming-of-age storytelling, and this release solidifies her trajectory as a vital voice for her generation. It is a record that prioritizes emotional honesty over safety.

The production on “Good Scar” is a lush, widescreen experience, featuring sparkling synths and driving bass guitars that provide a grounded contrast to ethereal vocal layers. Ava collaborated with multi-platinum producers Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta to create a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive. The track carries a melodic weight that demands attention, building toward a crescendo that captures the rush of a new connection. It is an irresistible piece of pop craftsmanship that feels instantly familiar yet Refreshingly bold.

The core of the song explores the willingness to accept eventual heartbreak in exchange for the depth of a current moment. Franks describes the sentiment as wanting “everything with them, the good and the bad,” a theme that resonates throughout the single’s dream-like arrangement. Influences of Sarah McLachlan’s lyrical precision and Lorde’s atmospheric production are evident here, but Franks maintains a distinct identity that is entirely her own. This is sophisticated pop music that refuses to hide behind metaphors.

Following the success of her previous single “Every Day,” which earned critical nods from tastemakers like Earmilk and LADYGUNN, Franks continues to iterate on her sound with impressive speed. Since debuting in 2021 with “3 Pines,” she has consistently released music that reflects the turbulence and beauty of being in your early twenties. “Good Scar” is a high-impact milestone in that journey, proving that Ava Franks is a talent with the momentum to match her creative ambition.

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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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