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Lauren Freebird Captures Quiet Heartbreak in ‘Ceiling Fan’

Eric Alper
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Lauren Freebird Captures Quiet Heartbreak in ‘Ceiling Fan’

Country-rock artist Lauren Freebird releases her new single, “Ceiling Fan,” now available on all digital streaming platforms. Lauren Freebird’s “Ceiling Fan” captures the quiet unraveling that happens when love goes silent. Set against acoustic guitar, soft fiddle, and her signature unforced delivery, the song channels the weight of emotional detachment and the inner voice that surfaces when something isn’t right.

“If I move real fast, my eyes can sometimes catch a single blade / on the bedroom ceiling fan,” she sings. “Helps to numb these thoughts away / a way to run away from the possibility / of falling for you / so I’ll focus on the blades.” It’s a subtle yet striking metaphor – a snapshot of distraction as self-defense, set against the backdrop of late-night stillness.

Reflecting on the song’s inspiration, Freebird shares, “When we wrote ‘Ceiling Fan,’ Todd had brought in a beautiful poem that offered a glimpse into the mind of a woman caught in an empty, transactional relationship.

“Sadly, it’s a feeling many women are all too familiar with. The loneliest I’ve ever felt was when I wasn’t alone. The words moved us so deeply, we finished the song around a campfire in just 30 minutes.”

Brandon Wisham Drops Summer-Ready Country-Rock Anthem ‘She’s Good’

Eric Alper
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0
Brandon Wisham Drops Summer-Ready Country-Rock Anthem ‘She’s Good’

 Breakout country artist Brandon Wisham shares his brand-new single “She’s Good” – a full-tilt country-rock banger built for summer nights. The fourth song released by the 22-year-old rising star, “She’s Good” is the latest testament to his formidable vocal chops and first-rate songwriting talent.

Still riding high off his recent recognition as SiriusXM The Highway’s latest Highway Find – an honor previously granted to country heavyweights like Parker McCollum and Luke Combs – “She’s Good” marks one of the most dynamic offerings yet as he prepares to hit the road this fall with Tyler Hubbard, Lakeview, Austin Snell, and more to be announced.

“Myself, Jared Conrad, and Chandler Baldwin wrote ‘She’s Good,’ which is a feel-good song bottling sunshine and a light breeze with each lyric – yet a story that channels heartbreak, marrying the two ideas to make you feel both emotions,” says Wisham.

Produced by his frequent collaborator Brandon Hood (Ty Myers, Mackenzie Carpenter), “She’s Good” explodes with a high-energy sound forged with the help of A-list musicians like guitarist Tom Bukovac (a multi-award-winning session player known for his work with legends like Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, and more). As the song opens, Wisham leans into his romantic side and paints an adoring portrait of the one he loves: “If I’m Johnny, she’s June, yeah, she melts me with the bluest/Eyes that I’ve ever seen/I’m a little hell-bent, she’s an angel heaven-sent/Too good for a guy like me.” With its blazing guitar riffs, pounding drums, bright keyboard melodies, and punchy background vocals, “She’s Good” doubles down on its euphoric mood at the chorus (“She’s good/As that Gulf Coast weather/Late July, 85, nothing better/Like mama’s apple pie, cold beer Friday nights/Like a bait-takin’, record-breakin’ bass on the line”). But at the refrain’s final lines, Wisham flips the script and reveals the devastating truth of the situation: “She’s good/As it gets in a country song/Too bad she’s good as gone.”

Earlier this week, Capitol Music Group announced that Wisham had signed a deal with the iconic label group in partnership with The Core Records. Hailed as a “bold new voice in country music” (Entertainment Focus), he made his debut in March with the arrival of “Back Together,” returned in May with “Better Than The Day” (his first feature on SiriusXM’s The Highway), and found himself crowned a Highway Find upon releasing the introspective coming-of-age anthem “Growin’ Up” in June.

Raised in Williamston, South Carolina, Wisham achieved major success with the first song he ever wrote – the heartrending “Pain Won’t Last,” a track he penned at age 19 about losing his father to Covid. Along with cutting his own version of “Pain Won’t Last” for 2023’s platinum-certified Religiously. The Album., country superstar Bailey Zimmerman enlisted Wisham as support for a major tour that launched in Los Angeles in early 2024. Known for his impassioned live performance, Wisham later toured with Josh Ross and made his CMA Fest debut this June.

Bootie Brown Unveils Genre-Defying Single ‘UnAwake’

Eric Alper
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Bootie Brown Unveils Genre-Defying Single ‘UnAwake’

Legendary rapper, producer, and creative force Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) continues to redefine sonic boundaries with the release of his latest single “UnAwake,” a vibrant, genre-blurring anthem that fuses opera, soul, funk, and experimental hip-hop into one hypnotic soundscape.

A founding member of the iconic alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, Brown helped shape the West Coast’s non-gangsta rap identity with era-defining tracks like “Passin’ Me By” and “Drop.” Now, with “UnAwake,” he’s pushing the envelope once again, this time into UltraHipFunkWave, a genre which he has created, that is as visionary and undefinable as Brown himself.

Legendary rapper, producer, and creative force Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) continues to redefine sonic boundaries with the release of his latest single “UnAwake,” a vibrant, genre-blurring anthem that fuses opera, soul, funk, and experimental hip-hop into one hypnotic soundscape.

A founding member of the iconic alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, Brown helped shape the West Coast’s non-gangsta rap identity with era-defining tracks like “Passin’ Me By” and “Drop.” Now, with “UnAwake,” he’s pushing the envelope once again, this time into UltraHipFunkWave, a genre which he has created, that is as visionary and undefinable as Brown himself.

Originally produced by Fabrice Grassin, the track takes unexpected, cinematic turns with Brown’s bold orchestration. He enlisted an opera singer and a live violinist to deepen the drama and tension within the arrangement, adding lush textures that elevate the song’s emotional weight. The addition of Chicago soul singer Peven Everett brings a pulsing, danceable energy, accentuating the track’s ethereal yet grounded duality.

True to Brown’s multidisciplinary spirit, “UnAwake” feels like a soundtrack to a dream-state revolution, a swirling blend of abstract thought, emotional gravity, and unapologetic rhythm. It’s a reminder that Bootie Brown is not just a voice from the golden era of hip-hop, but a sonic explorer charting new territory for future generations.

Chase McDaniel Confronts Generational Pain on ‘My Side Of The Family’

Eric Alper
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Chase McDaniel Confronts Generational Pain on ‘My Side Of The Family’

Big Machine Records singer-songwriter Chase McDaniel wrestles with the possibility of a generational curse in “My Side Of The Family” – listen below and watch the Robby Stevens-directed music video.

Bringing audiences even closer to the unfiltered story at the core of his autobiographical debut album, Lost Ones, McDaniel digs deeper into his past without holding back during this internal dialogue. For as heavy as the subject matter may be, however, he offsets this weight under producer Lindsay Rimes with a lithe and light melody of deftly plucked banjo, acoustic guitar, and fiddle that’s further driven by his dynamic delivery.

On the verses penned by McDaniel, Zach Kale, and Seth Mosley, he counts his blessings, including a loving future wife and supportive father-in-law. Yet, the brutally openhearted and honest hook sees him grapple with what could happen down the line, “Do I got them same demons running in my blood / ‘Cause I got that strange feeling, if I have son / That I’m gonna pass down the same things.” He confesses, “So, I pray he don’t take after me and my side of the family.”

Making its mark during National Suicide Prevention Month, Lost Ones – dropping September 19 – is a body of work born from his calling of bringing strength to anyone who feels hopeless or adrift. With every track co-written by McDaniel, like his current chart-climbing single “Burned Down Heaven,” the 12-track introduction shares the most painful aspects of his life, including his struggle with depression and the life-altering experience of losing his father to addiction.

Ho99o9 Unleash ‘Tomorrow We Escape’ with Heavy-Hitting Collaborations

Eric Alper
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0
Ho99o9 Unleash ‘Tomorrow We Escape’ with Heavy-Hitting Collaborations

Los Angeles by way of New Jersey outlaws Ho99o9 (horror) have detailed their third album, Tomorrow We Escape, out September 9th. With features from Chelsea Wolfe, Greg Puciato, and MoRuf (full track listing below), today they’ve released a new, Dave Sitek-produced track “Incline” feat. Nova Twins, Pink Siifu, and Yung Skrrt. It arrives with a politically charged, fashion-forward video that you can see here. The track follows the first single “Upside Down,” a neck-snapping blend of warped guitars, woozy melodies, and driving bass lines.

A true amalgamation of all the band’s influences—experimental hip-hop, digital hardcore, future-facing punk, metal, jarring industrial, and off-kilter electronics—the album is their most emotionally charged offering to date, rooted in personal struggle and triumph.

Tomorrow We Escape Track Listing:

1. I Miss Home (feat. MoRuf)
2. Escape
3. Target Practice
4. OK, I’m Reloaded
5. Psychic Jumper
6. Incline (feat. Nova Twins, Pink Siifu & Yung Skrrt)
7. Upside Down
8. Tapeworm (feat. Greg Puciato)
9. Immortal (feat. Chelsea Wolfe)
10. LA Riots
11. Godflesh

Mad Sneaks Confronts Beauty in Discomfort with New Single “Dirty Blood”

Eric Alper
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0
Mad Sneaks Confronts Beauty in Discomfort with New Single “Dirty Blood”

Mad Sneaks, the Brazilian band known for its dense, introspective sound inspired by ’90s rock, presents their new single “Dirty Blood” — a work that doesn’t ask permission to enter: it invades, unsettles, and, paradoxically, comforts.

Without following a linear narrative, the lyrics unfold as a fragmented outpouring, with no promises of healing or easy solutions. It’s the raw exposure of intimate chaos, like molecules colliding all at once. Between drags of a cigarette and thoughts teetering on the edge of collapse, each fragment of the song intensifies the emotional delivery, revealing the most honest way to narrate feelings that don’t fit into traditional structures.

“Dirty Blood” delivers dirty poetry in its most visceral sense — not to beautify suffering, but to accept it as an inevitable part of blooming. The metaphor is powerful: one must decay before sprouting again, like a seed that only germinates after it breaks down. The black sheep — often a symbol of rejection — is redefined here as the purest and most integral, a manifesto of authenticity in a world of masks and manufactured speeches.

This is not a song made to please. It provokes, challenges, and invites reflection. It’s for those who understand that there is beauty in discomfort, truth in exhaustion, and purity in what, at first glance, seems impure.

Hallmark & Grand Ole Opry Unite for ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’ Starring Nikki DeLoach, Kristoffer Polaha, with Music by Brad Paisley

Eric Alper
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Hallmark & Grand Ole Opry Unite for ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’ Starring Nikki DeLoach, Kristoffer Polaha, with Music by Brad Paisley

Hallmark Channel and the Grand Ole Opry are setting the stage for a magical trip across time with A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, a new, original movie starring Nikki DeLoach (Curious Caterer Mysteries, Our Holiday Story) and Kristoffer Polaha (A Biltmore Christmas, The Christmas Quest), premiering this year during Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event. Production begins later this month at iconic locations including the Grand Ole Opry House. The movie will feature familiar faces from the Opry’s star-studded cast, with artists to be announced.

The network also announced that Grammy Award-winning country music superstar and Opry member Brad Paisley will write original music for A Grand Ole Opry Christmas and will also perform. Additionally, Paisley will write and record the official anthem for the network’s 2025 Countdown to Christmas on-air campaign.

“As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th birthday this year, this is the perfect time for us to partner with this beloved, iconic American institution and create Christmas magic together,” remarks Darren Abbott, Chief Brand Officer, Hallmark. “Nikki and Kris are fan favorites and we know they will beautifully bring to life this emotional and heartfelt story that is sure to become an instant classic.”

“Our goal in this milestone year is to put the Opry, its artists and the rich songwriting traditions that have made country music a global sensation in front of more people than ever before,” shares Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, the Opry’s parent company. “Our partnership with Hallmark brings these elements to life this holiday season through a creative and uplifting take on a uniquely Nashville story.”

“Having the incredibly talented Brad Paisley write and perform original music for the movie is what Christmas dreams are made of,” Abbott adds. “And we’re equally excited to have him write and record an original song that will be the soundtrack of our on-air campaign throughout the season.”

“The Hallmark Channel to me is a major part of finding the joy and the spirit of the holidays,” remarks Paisley. “We turn it on and leave it on in our house like Christmas tree lights or decorations, it’s a major part of the atmosphere for us. I loved the challenge of creating that same magic with this music by letting it take you to the same place that these movies and this world Hallmark has built. Can’t wait for you to hear what all we’ve done. Also, knowing the Opry is the setting for one of these movies is very inspiring.”

Hallmark is launching an exclusive collection of Hallmark and Opry co-branded products, including greeting cards, apparel, accessories, jewelry and gifts – the perfect way for fans to celebrate Christmas in country style. The collection will be available to shop later this year at Hallmark.com, Shop.Opry.com, The Opry Shops and at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City.

The film is described as Gentry Woods (DeLoach), daughter of late country music icon Jett Woods – half of the famed duo Winter and Woods – abandoned her dream of a songwriting career and distanced herself from her father’s legacy following his tragic car accident 30 years prior. When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent Jett at their centennial celebration at Christmas, she’s hesitant to return to the place steeped in bittersweet memories. Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue’s oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995. Gentry’s lifelong friend Mac (Polaha) a country music talent manager, finds himself in 1995 as well. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Gentry gets precious time with her father, creative inspiration to finish the song she began decades earlier as a teen and learns surprising answers to questions about her father that have followed her for the last three decades.

Sarah McLachlan Shares “Gravity” From Forthcoming Album ‘Better Broken’

Eric Alper
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Sarah McLachlan Shares “Gravity” From Forthcoming Album ‘Better Broken’

Global pop star Sarah McLachlan releases “Gravity,” the second single from her highly anticipated album Better Broken, due out September 19th via Concord Records. The first song recorded for Better Broken, “Gravity,” delves deeper into McLachlan’s emotional life and explores the complexities of her relationship with her older daughter. With its graceful string arrangement (courtesy of Patrick Warren), the tender piano ballad channels both quiet heartache and tremendous compassion in its words of loving benediction.

“For a long time my daughter and I had a very combative and fraught relationship, and what I came to realize is that so much of what I perceived as obstinance or rage was actually masking a ton of anxiety on her part,” says McLachlan. “We went to counseling together, and I learned that she felt so alone and unvalidated by me—which was devastating to hear, but it led us both to change the way we communicate with each other. I wrote ‘Gravity’ as a way of saying to her, ‘I’ve always loved you and want the best for you, and you’re perfect the way you are.’”

Mainly recorded at the legendary Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, Better Broken instills a potent new energy into her lush and moody form of pop-rock, with contributions from esteemed musicians like Wendy Melvoin (a former guitarist for Prince and the Revolution), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Bob Dylan, David Bowie), multi-instrumentalist Benny Bock (Lucy Dacus, beabadoobee), and pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz (Kacey Musgraves, Florence + the Machine). In a monumental leap for McLachlan, Better Broken finds her widening her creative circle and working with producers Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius) and Will Maclellan (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers).

The track listing’s myriad high points include “Gravity,” The first song she recorded for the album that delves deeper into her emotional life and explores the complexities of her relationship with her older daughter, “One In a Long Line,” an irrepressible anthem railing against the rapid erosion of women’s rights in recent years, “Long Road Home,” a rapturous love song, the pedal-steel-laced reverie “Reminds Me,” a lovestruck duet with Muna’s Katie Gavin, and the title track, out now. All throughout Better Broken, McLachlan and her fellow musicians bring an ineffable beauty to her expression of longing and grief and fierce determination.

During her three-decades-long career, McLachlan has won three Grammys, 12 Juno Awards, and sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan also founded the groundbreaking all-female music festival Lilith Fair, featuring an A-list lineup for female alternative musicians of the moment, including Sheryl Crow, Jewel, The Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb, Fiona Apple, Erykah Badu, Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant and more. McLachlan is also a philanthropist and the founder of Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM), a not-for-profit that offers music instruction and mentorship at no cost to children and youth facing barriers to access. SoM was founded in Vancouver in 2002 and it currently serves over 1,200 students a year with locations in Vancouver, New Westminster and Edmonton. McLachlan personally covers the administrative costs so that every dollar raised goes directly to support the students.

The Lumineers Announce 2026 Australia & New Zealand Dates for ‘Automatic World Tour’

Eric Alper
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0
The Lumineers Announce 2026 Australia & New Zealand Dates for ‘Automatic World Tour’

Presales start on Thursday, August 14th at 11 am local time ahead of the general sale on Friday, August 15th at noon.

Captivating audiences around the globe with their rich instrumentation, raw lyricism, and undeniable chemistry, the duo will deliver some of the most unforgettable performances this summer. Currently on tour in North America and having already lit up sold-out arenas with rapturously received shows across Europe and the UK, the news follows the release of the band’s acclaimed fifth studio album, Automatic, out now via Dualtone. ​

A stunning evolution in both sound and sentiment, Automatic is The Lumineers’ first collection of new music in three years. Upon release in February 2025, it debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on Top Rock Albums, Americana/Folk Albums, and Independent Albums. Fans’ first taste came in the form of lead single “Same Old Song,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart – the pair’s eighth song to reach the top spot.

The Lumineers 2026 Australia & New Zealand Automatic World Tour Dates:

Jan 3 – Christchurch, NZ @ Christchurch Town Hall
Jan 6 – Auckland, NZ @ Spark Arena
Jan 9 – Melbourne, VIC @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Jan 13 – Brisbane, QLD @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Jan 16 – Sydney, NSW @ Qudos Bank Arena
Jan 18 – Adelaide, SA @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Jan 21 – Perth, WA @ RAC Arena

Frontier Touring announces the return of beloved American folk-rockers and two-time Grammy nominees The Lumineers, bringing their hugely anticipated Automatic World Tour to Australia and New Zealand in January 2026. Renowned for their soul-stirring live shows and emotive songwriting, The Lumineers will perform in Christchurch, Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth –their first visit since 2022’s sold-out run.

Presales start on Thursday, August 14th at 11 am local time ahead of the general sale on Friday, August 15th at noon.

Captivating audiences around the globe with their rich instrumentation, raw lyricism, and undeniable chemistry, the duo will deliver some of the most unforgettable performances this summer. Currently on tour in North America and having already lit up sold-out arenas with rapturously received shows across Europe and the UK, the news follows the release of the band’s acclaimed fifth studio album, Automatic, out now via Dualtone. ​

A stunning evolution in both sound and sentiment, Automatic is The Lumineers’ first collection of new music in three years. Upon release in February 2025, it debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on Top Rock Albums, Americana/Folk Albums, and Independent Albums. Fans’ first taste came in the form of lead single “Same Old Song,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart – the pair’s eighth song to reach the top spot.

The Lumineers 2026 Australia & New Zealand Automatic World Tour Dates:

Jan 3 – Christchurch, NZ @ Christchurch Town Hall
Jan 6 – Auckland, NZ @ Spark Arena
Jan 9 – Melbourne, VIC @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Jan 13 – Brisbane, QLD @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Jan 16 – Sydney, NSW @ Qudos Bank Arena
Jan 18 – Adelaide, SA @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Jan 21 – Perth, WA @ RAC Arena

Mother Love Bone’s ‘Shine’ and ‘Apple’ Return in 35th Anniversary Reissues Sept. 26

Eric Alper
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0
Mother Love Bone’s ‘Shine’ and ‘Apple’ Return in 35th Anniversary Reissues Sept. 26

UMe celebrates the legacy of one of the most quietly influential bands in history, Mother Love Bone, by reissuing the Seattle, WA group’s Shine EP and seminal full-length debut Apple on September 26th. This reissue is a testament to the enduring impact of Mother Love Bone’s music and a must-have for any serious music collector. Both Shine and Apple will be available in multiple physical configurations, including CD, standard black vinyl, or limited-edition color vinyl variants. A limited-edition, newly remastered Japan-exclusive Mini-LP/SHM-CD that includes the Shine EP and the debut full-length album Apple will also be available on October 10th.

The CD version of the Shine EP includes “Capricorn Sister (Album Version)” as a bonus track, not included on the LP. The Shine vinyl formats feature a four-song track list repeated on both sides, and it is available in three options: a standard black vinyl, a limited-edition Purple Haze vinyl, and a limited-edition Skyblue vinyl LP.

Fully remastered for the 35th anniversary, Apple has been officially released for the first time since 1990. The CD version includes two bonus tracks not included on the vinyl format: “Gentle Groove” and “Mr. Danny Boy.” At the same time, the vinyl formats will be available in standard black vinyl, a limited-edition Red Alert color vinyl, or a limited-edition Apple Habanero color vinyl.

Mother Love Bone’s sound, a unique blend of larger-than-life rock ‘n’ roll and intense nascent alternative, was first introduced on the Shine EP on March 6, 1989. This release showcased the interplay between drummer Greg Gilmore, lead guitarist Bruce Fairweather, the late legendary frontman Andrew Wood, and the tandem of guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, who would later co-found Pearl Jam. The band’s influence on the grunge and alternative rock scenes is undeniable, and their music continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans.

The EP also effectively set the stage for the band to deliver a classic in the form of Apple. The latter arrived on August 14, 1990, in the wake of Wood’s untimely passing, which had occurred less than five months earlier. Despite this tragic loss, its 13 tracks stood as a testament to both the frontman’s outsized talent and the once-in-a-lifetime chemistry shared by his bandmates. The album yielded favorites such as “Crown Of Thorns” and “This Is Shangrila,” among many others. To date, it has generated tens of millions of streams.

Shine EP

  1. Capricorn Sister (Album Version) [Bonus Track]
  2. Chloe Dancer / Crown Of Thorns
  3. Half Ass Monkey Boy
  4. Mindshaker Meltdown
  5. Thru Fade Away

Apple

  1. This is Shangrila
  2. Stardog Champion
  3. Holy Roller
  4. Bone China
  5. Come Bite The Apple
  6. Stargazer
  7. Heartshine
  8. Captain Hi-Top
  9. Man Of Golden Words
  10. Capricorn Sister
  11. Gentle Groove [Bonus Track]
  12. Mr. Danny Boy [Bonus Track]
  13. Crown Of Thorns

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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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