Home Blog Page 1038

Usher, Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan, Selena Gomez, Gracie Abrams & More Donate One-of-a-Kind Experiences For ASCAP Foundation Holiday Auction

Eric Alper
-
0
Usher, Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan, Selena Gomez, Gracie Abrams & More Donate One-of-a-Kind Experiences For ASCAP Foundation Holiday Auction

As the most musical time of the year approaches, The ASCAP Foundation unwraps the ultimate gift list for music fans, announcing the launch today of its fourth annual Holiday Auction. ASCAP’s top music creators donated an impressive collection – the largest in the auction’s history – of more than 70 exclusive items and experiences. Auction proceeds will support the organization’s mission to nurture the next generation of songwriters and composers. In the past year alone, ASCAP Foundation programs benefited more than 300,000 people, including 60,000 K-12 students from 700 schools.

Spanning genres and decades, ASCAP’s hottest hitmakers contributed items to the auction, including pop and R&B stars such as Chappell Roan, Usher, Selena Gomez, Tate McRae, Reneé Rapp, Gracie Abrams and JoJo; Latin icon Marc Anthony; acclaimed singer-songwriters Noah Kahan, Sara Bareilles, Jack Antonoff, Rob Thomas, Patti Smith, Laufey and Neko Case; country superstars Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Jordan Davis, Dierks Bentley and Carly Pearce; rising stars JVKE, David Kushner, Alex Warren and mxmtoon; songwriting legends Bernie Taupin, Paul Williams and Max Martin; rockers Coheed and Cambria, Huey Lewis and The News and Peter Frampton; indie hitmakers Big Thief, Father John Misty, Cigarettes After Sex and MUNA; celebrated Broadway and film luminaries Stephen Schwartz, Pasek and Paul, Ben Platt and many more.

Among the exclusive experiences for bid is a package of 2 VIP concert tickets for Usher’s 2025 European tour, including a “meet & greet” with the artist and travel vouchers.

The auction takes place online at https://www.charitybuzz.com/support/ASCAPFoundation from today through December 18.

Other exclusive experiences for bid include a private studio tour and lunch or dinner with legendary producer Jermaine Dupri (Usher, Mariah Carey), a live scoring session for hit show Only Murders in the Building with Emmy-winning composer Siddhartha Khosla, lunch in Atlanta or LA with artist, producer and philanthropist Akon and virtual guitar lessons with former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal. Participants can also bid on autographed guitars, vinyl, handwritten lyrics, VIP tickets to concerts and sporting events, meet and greets, personalized videos and more.

Additional donors include acclaimed film and TV composers such as John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon), Heitor Pereira (Despicable Me) and Patrick Doyle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire); as well as multimedia fine artist Mary Harris, Gibson Guitars and the Brooklyn Nets.

“It’s been an absolute joy to work with ASCAP’s top members to dream up unforgettable experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts to delight music fans this holiday season,”said The ASCAP Foundation Executive Director Nicole George-Middleton. “With over 70 items from music legends, chart-topping artists and more, this year’s auction is bigger and better than ever. We are unbelievably grateful to the ASCAP community for these incredible contributions that will help us raise the funds we need to continue supporting the next generation of music creators.”

More detail on auction items can be found at https://www.charitybuzz.com/support/ASCAPFoundation. Bidding is open now.

Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education, talent development and humanitarian programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States. www.ascapfoundation.org

Baby Shark and Sesame Street Team Up for a Magical Holiday Musical Celebration and Merchandise Collection

Eric Alper
-
0
Baby Shark and Sesame Street Team Up for a Magical Holiday Musical Celebration and Merchandise Collection

The Pinkfong Company, the global entertainment company, announced today an exciting collaboration between the global phenomenon Baby Shark and the iconic Sesame Street friends. This special collaboration will feature exclusive merchandise, a holiday music video, and a playlist set to premiere on both the Pinkfong and Sesame Street English YouTube channels. This heartwarming collaboration brings together two of the most iconic names in family entertainment as they share a message of joy and togetherness leading up to Baby Shark’s milestone 10th anniversary in 2025.

Set in a whimsical winter wonderland, the festive music video features a brand-new orchestral version of the world-famous “Baby Shark” song by Pinkfong. The updated arrangement is enriched with cheerful holiday elements—including the delightful sound of sleigh bells—that capture the magic of the season. Fans of all ages will enjoy seeing Sesame Street’s Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby join Baby Shark and William in a fun-filled game of tag, spreading holiday cheer with their playful energy.

“This collaboration is a wonderful celebration of friendship, joy, and the holiday spirit, embodying everything the holidays are about,” said Bin Jeong, CEO of Pinkfong USA. “As Baby Shark approaches its 10th anniversary, we are thrilled to team up with Sesame Street, like-minded friends that have brought happiness to generations of families.”

“Our previous collaboration with Baby Shark received an overwhelmingly positive response from families, and we are excited to expand on the vibrant music video to include a magical and meaningful holiday spin,” said Jennifer Gioia, VP of Content and Programming at Sesame Workshop. “As Sesame Street celebrates our 55th anniversary, we are happy to be a part of Baby Shark’s 10th anniversary milestone celebration year.”

Adding to the festivities, a special Print on Demand Apparel and Accessories Collection celebrating the friendship between Baby Shark and Sesame Street will launch in December 2024 through a partnership with Mad Engine.

Building anticipation for Baby Shark’s milestone anniversary, The Pinkfong Company released a special anniversary brand mnemonic that will kick off a year-long celebration filled with exciting surprises throughout 2025. The mnemonic combines Baby Shark’s iconic melody with upbeat orchestral elements, while its vivid, crayon-sketch-style 2D animation captures both the brand’s decade-long journey and its commitment to bringing everyday fun to kids and families around the world.

The special holiday music video is available on the official Pinkfong and Sesame Street YouTube channels.

The Pinkfong Company is a global entertainment company that delivers content and entertaining experiences around the world. Driven by award-winning brands and IPs, the company has created and distributed a range of content across genres and formats including original animated series, world live tours, interactive games, and more. Believing in the power of entertaining and engaging content, The Pinkfong Company is committed to connecting people around the world and bringing joy and inspiration to worldwide audiences of all ages. For more information, please visit the website or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Sesame Street is the pioneering children’s educational television program that debuted in 1969 and continues to reach children in more than 150 countries. Created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett during the Civil Rights movement, the show blends live performance, musical numbers, puppetry, and animation to educate and engage young audiences on school-readiness skills and values like empathy, kindness, and inclusion. Featuring timeless characters including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch, Sesame Street has become a standard-bearer for early childhood storytelling through carefully researched educational content that teaches literacy, numeracy, social skills, and cultural awareness. Sesame Street is produced by the global impact nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop.

Chaos Audio Relaunches Guitar Pedal, Offers New Plugins

Eric Alper
-
1
Chaos Audio Relaunches Guitar Pedal, Offers New Plugins

Bobby Joe Witt and David Zumsteg are highly successful, multi-faceted musicians and performers.

Both are sold on the Stratus multi-effects guitar pedal developed by Chaos Audio and value its utility and versatility.

This month, the Stratus pedal, introduced to the music marketplace late in 2022, is being relaunched even as Chaos Audio is making available a flight of effects plugins, 39 in all, that run on both the pedal and a Mac or PC.

Witt is a studio owner, a singer-songwriter and the lead vocalist and guitarist for a Christian metalcore band, To Fight For. He also plays drums and bass and is comfortable with musical genres ranging from country to jazz to rap.

As a player, Witt had experience with the XTOMP pedal manufactured by Hotone.

“Then I saw Stratus and I was, like, ‘OK, with this thing you can actually build full signal chains as one pedal,’ and I thought, ‘How cool is that?'” Witt said.

“I fell in love with Chaos Audio and the product. It sounds great, and it more than meets my needs in the sound studio and on the stage. It’s part of my rig, man. For me, Stratus is a staple.”

Witt sees Stratus as a good fit for both experienced and beginning players.

“It’s an all-arounder, dude,” he said. “If you know how to use Bluetooth, you can adjust all the effects right there.”

Zumsteg owns 442 Studios in Los Angeles. He’s a guitarist, bass player, vocalist and voiceover artist who uses his Stratus pedal when composing, recording, rehearsing and gigging.

He has found that Chaos Audio’s receptivity to suggestions from users is “absolutely spectacular. In fact, the customer service is what sold me on not one, but two Strati.”

Added Witt, “I feel like Chaos Audio is building a team of musicians who will endorse and support what they are doing in the field.”

User suggestions have led to product improvements and added functionality, like hands-free preset switching and AI amp modeling, that warrant a Stratus relaunch.

Meanwhile, Chaos Audio founder/CEO Landon McCoy knows there is a lot of pent-up demand for plugins. The company offered a Starlight shimmer reverb plugin free of charge in exchange for email addresses, and more than 12,500 people took advantage of the offer.

The Stratus pedal and Chaos Audio Plugin Bundle, which unlocks the new batch of plugins, are both priced at a highly competitive $249. But during Cyber Monday week, Stratus is only $219 and purchasers are able to add the plugin bundle for just $80.

“If you buy a plugin — or all the plugins — for Stratus, you can also use it on the Mac/PC platform,” McCoy said. “Go on your computer, download the plugins from our website, sign in with your account and you don’t have to pay for them again. No other company offers such cross-platform deals.”

Maynard James Keenan and Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty Shine on Public Access TV in 1987

Eric Alper
-
0
Maynard James Keenan and Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty Shine on Public Access TV in 1987

Before Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer, Maynard James Keenan gave us a glimpse of his early artistry with Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty on public access TV in 1987. This rare footage captures the raw creativity and charisma of a soon-to-be icon in an unfiltered setting.

During this time, he wrote an early version of “Sober”, later Tool’s first successful single, and he would be well on his way.

Video: The 27th Annual Grammy Awards in 1985: Prince, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper And Retro Commercials

Eric Alper
-
0
Video: The 27th Annual Grammy Awards in 1985: Prince, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper And Retro Commercials

What a time to be alive! The 27th Annual Grammy Awards in 1985 brought us legendary wins from Prince (Purple Rain), Tina Turner (What’s Love Got to Do with It), and Cyndi Lauper (She’s So Unusual). Watching it now, complete with commercials, is like stepping into a time machine filled with epic music and vintage ad jingles we can’t forget.

Video: Hot Topic Store Managers Meeting In 2006 Bring Emo Bangs, Skinny Jeans, and Pop Punk Dreams

Eric Alper
-
0
Video: Hot Topic Store Managers Meeting In 2006 Bring Emo Bangs, Skinny Jeans, and Pop Punk Dreams

What a throwback! The Hot Topic Store Managers Meeting in 2006 was a glorious time capsule of band tees, studded belts, and MySpace anthems. A gathering of pop culture curators who shaped every mall goth and emo kid’s wardrobe, if you ever shopped at Hot Topic, you owe them your teenage rebellion.

The Peppermint Trolley Company Is Sunshine Pop’s Hidden Gem and Has A Brady Bunch Connection

Eric Alper
-
0
The Peppermint Trolley Company Is Sunshine Pop’s Hidden Gem and Has A Brady Bunch Connection

In 1968, The Peppermint Trolley Company released I’ve Got to Be Going, a standout track that epitomized their sunshine pop sound. Best known for their single “Baby You Come Rollin’ ‘Cross My Mind” and arranging The Brady Bunch theme song, the band’s music left a lasting impression despite their brief time on the charts. Their evolution into the rock/soul group Bones highlights their enduring creativity and influence in ’60s pop culture.

Rare Backstage Footage and Director’s Cut Bring New Life to Pink Floyd’s ‘Live at Pompeii’

Eric Alper
-
0
Rare Backstage Footage and Director’s Cut Bring New Life to Pink Floyd’s ‘Live at Pompeii’

Dive behind the scenes of Pink Floyd’s Live at Pompeii with rarely seen backstage footage, intimate interviews, and Adrian Maben’s elusive Director’s Cut. This glimpse into the making of the 1972 concert film reveals the band’s meticulous artistry as they transformed the ancient amphitheater into a timeless sonic masterpiece.

Lenny Kravitz’s Rare Vocals on Madonna’s “Justify My Love” Highlight a Pop Masterpiece

Eric Alper
-
0
Lenny Kravitz’s Rare Vocals on Madonna’s “Justify My Love” Highlight a Pop Masterpiece

Released in 1990 as the lead single for The Immaculate Collection, Madonna’s provocative “Justify My Love” broke musical and cultural boundaries. While the song famously features Madonna’s sultry spoken word, rare vocals by Lenny Kravitz add an intriguing layer to the track’s hypnotic, experimental sound. Co-written by Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, this iconic collaboration remains a bold statement on empowerment and sexual freedom.

Watch Pink Floyd Perform A Saucerful of Secrets Live in 1972

Eric Alper
-
0
Watch Pink Floyd Perform A Saucerful of Secrets Live in 1972

In 1972, Pink Floyd delivered an otherworldly performance of A Saucerful of Secrets that showcased their mastery of live experimentation. This iconic live rendition remains a defining moment in the band’s evolution and a testament to their avant-garde brilliance.

1...1,0371,0381,039...3,042Page 1,038 of 3,042

Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

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

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper