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MMA’s Surge in Popularity

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has grown exponentially from an obscure combat sport to a global mainstream sensation. This dazzling metamorphosis was brought about by historical benchmarks, strategic media partnerships, and cultural assimilation, just like the MelBet app, which has enabled fans to bet more on sports during such games. Today, millions of people worldwide are enthralled by MMA, thereby demonstrating its dynamic nature and wide reach.

The MMA’s Journey

The growth process of this sport can be outlined with reference to various events and persons of interest:

  • Initial stages: In 1993, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was held, where fighters from different martial arts backgrounds came together, thus creating a unique competitive atmosphere.
  • Unified rules: During the early 2000s, unified rules were implemented, which standardised the game, making it safer and more attractive to a wider audience.
  • Notable fighters: Legends like Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock helped popularise MMA through their unique set of skills combined with memorable fights they participated in.
  • Worldwide expansion: Internationalisation efforts saw UFC hold events in Japan, Brazil, as well as Europe, which led to a diversification of fans across continents for greater support base establishment.

All these milestones show how adaptable MMA is as it rose from obscurity into international recognition.

Media and Broadcasting Milestones

From all points of view, media and broadcasting played a significant role in bringing mixed martial arts into the limelight. “The Ultimate Fighter” reality television show that premiered in 2005 was the turning point, as it offered fans an exclusive glimpse into fighters’ lives and training, thus considerably growing its popularity. Moreover, signing major deals with ESPN and Fox Sports, among others, has served only to push MMA even higher by making live events together with exclusive content available to millions of households worldwide. 

In addition, the digital epoch saw the light at the end of the tunnel for this sport through platforms like UFC Fight Pass, which have increased its outreach. Now, fans can stream live fights or watch any previous event from their library. These strategic alliances with various media outlets across different countries were responsible for turning what used to be just another fringe sport into a worldwide entertainment giant within mainstream sports culture today.

Impacts on Culture

MMA was able to influence popular culture in a big way, appearing in movies, TV programmes, and video games. Combining skill with entertainment has made it a popular attraction among people globally, hence making it part of contemporary enjoyment. This sport’s cultural presence is enhanced, as well as the fact that it is one of the major global sports.

Celebrities’ Involvement

MMA’s profile enhancement was brought about by celebrity involvement. For instance, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Conor McGregor, being some of the highest-paid endorsers, have increased their popularity among a larger audience. More so, celebrities have been involved by attending events, promoting, and even going to train in MMA gyms, which has made it even more popular. 

This has helped to bridge the gap between sporting fans and those who enjoy entertainment, thus attracting a wider audience. By leveraging celebrity influence, MMA has effectively broadened its outreach while also establishing itself within popular culture.

Social Media Dynamic

Social media offers MMA an opportunity to reach out and engage its audience like never before. On platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube, fighters can connect directly with their fans and share training routines, behind-the-scenes content, and personal stories. Through this direct interaction, a strong bond arises among fans who consider themselves stakeholders in both the game and the players involved in it. 

Also, social media helps enhance live event coverage and outlining moments, which makes it easier for supporters to get involved in the event on a real-time basis. The sport’s rapid growth is attributed to this dynamic interaction that builds an international fan base that is loyal beyond doubt.

Technological Advancements in Training

Thanks to technological advancements, the training methods in MMA have changed dramatically. Some advanced techniques, for instance, smart gloves and motion capture systems, are now being employed by fighters to monitor and analyse their activities in real time, which makes them more productive. Another example is the growing use of virtual reality to simulate different fight scenarios without any actual harm. 

These progressions enable fighters to become better equipped while reducing the number of injuries sustained during training sessions. This application of contemporary tech has made MMA’s training programme much more sophisticated than ever before.

Regulatory Changes and Safety

Because of the increasing importance placed on safety in MMA, many regulations have been enacted over time. Key improvements include:

  • Unified rules: Designed so that it could be played safely anywhere globally, these rules were established in the early 2000s.
  • Medical protocols: Better screening techniques before fights as well as post-fight evaluations provide closer monitoring of fighters’ health status.
  • Weight classes: Clearly defined weight classes promote fairness in matches, hence reducing instances of severe injuries.
  • Protective gear: This includes new types of gloves that last longer and mouth guards, among other things that make fighting safer.

These laws have helped encourage greater public participation by assuring that fighter safety always comes first.

Final Words

MMA’s rise into popular culture can be traced back to a combination of historical milestones, media influence, advances in technology, and strict safety measures. Thus, the reasons for this multi-pronged approach were not only to raise the sport’s profile but also to ensure that it continues to be relevant to future generations. As it becomes more mainstream, its impact on popular culture and sport will continue escalating, thereby cementing its position as a major worldwide sport.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

LooPS Find An Endpoint To Sorrow In New Single “Mourning Girl” And Announce New Tour Dates

Eric Alper
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LooPS Find An Endpoint To Sorrow In New Single “Mourning Girl” And Announce New Tour Dates

One of the hardest things about a relationship is realizing when to let go. And when the relationship is with a song you’re writing, you can sometimes have just as much trouble knowing when it’s finished.

Both scenarios are at play in “Mourning Girl,” the latest single from British Columbia’s favorite acoustic-pop duo, LooPS. A sad farewell to a love that’s run its course, the song has an arrow-through-the-heart immediacy that belies the long and involved path it took to reach its final form.

In a full-on show of tearjerking balladry, lead singer Kevin Roy pours out a metaphorical 40 to a girl who isn’t coming back, while partner Jon Fennell chimes in with piano and backing vocals that provide a poignant echo:

Mourning girl, filled with dreams left incomplete
A shattered soul left on my own
Mourning girl, I wish I could have seen the sign
She’s left me now, she’s never coming home

The song was first written years ago, when Roy was finding the strength to move on from a long-distance situation, he knew couldn’t survive his stint in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As a writing exercise, “Mourning Girl” served its purpose, and Roy quickly filed it away, part of a chapter in his life that was closing before his eyes.

Flash-forward to years later, by which time the relationship was long defunct and Roy had developed severe PTSD and retired from the RCMP to pursue music full time. He was working by then with partner Fennell, who came upon Roy’s old demo of the tune and suggested they dust it off, with some key tweaks like replacing Roy’s acoustic guitar with his own keys. A full-fledged LooPS song was born.

It was typical, they say, of the way they work. Hence the name of the band itself, which signifies the unbreakable interdependence of equal parts—and also their use of loop pedals, like the ones that insinuate themselves into “Mourning Girl” as its melancholic tensions mount. Not for nothing, the name is also an homage to Kamloops, BC, the town where the two men met and formed a full-time musical partnership in 2019.

“Mourning Girl” made it to the group’s self-titled first album, which was produced by JUNO- nominated producer and BC Music Hall of Famer Doug Cox and released in spring 2022. But Roy and Fennell had always considered the 11-track LooPS to be basically a demo, and when it came time to step up their game by working at EchoPlant studios with producer/engineer David Ziehr, revisiting the song was one of their first priorities.

The newly re-redone and polished version of the number is actually the second recording to emerge from those sessions. The first was “Last Goodbye,” a summer 2023 single that was slightly sprightlier from a musical standpoint but explored similarly forlorn thematic terrain. That track has generated over 35,000 streams on Spotify alone. While “Mourning Girl” is more obviously and uniformly doleful, both numbers live up to the thumbnail Roy and Fennell commonly use to describe their music: what it would sound like if Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi were to have a musical baby.

Their live shows, though, are anything but somber. In addition to their world-class originals, LooPS maintain a repertoire of literally hundreds of covers, from hits of the 1960s to today’s top 40. It’s why they always go down a treat, whether they’re playing intimate gigs in small venues or high-energy, large-scale shows. And with “Mourning Girl” now out, they’re back on the concert trail to prove it. Current dates are as follows:

June 27 – Deadfall Brewing, Prince George
June 30 – Valhalla Music Fest, Terrace
July 5 – Summerland Waterfront Resort, Summerland
July 12 – Scotch Creek Hub, Scotch Creek
July 19 – Portside Pub in Gastown, Vancouver
July 21 – Overlander Day, Kamloops
July 27 – Stoneboat Vineyards, Oliver
August 2 – Summerland Waterfront Resort, Summerland

These summer shows find Roy and Fennell cruising on the momentum they began to build up on their first BC-wide tour in 2021-22, which saw them playing 12 shows over three weeks in 10 different cities. But that’s nothing compared to the feat they pulled off on July 8, 2023, when they broke a Guinness World Record by performing nine concerts in as many cities starting in Squamish and finishing in Langley within the space of 12 hours. The effort raised $18,402 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

LooPS have a proud history of supporting charities: On Remembrance Day 2020, at the height of Covid-19, they performed three separate 90-minute livestreamed shows to raise money for the Kamloops Legion poppy fund, and in December of that year, they created a 24-day “musical advent calendar” to benefit The Salvation Army. They ended 2020 with a marathon five-hour livestream in which they rang in the New Year for every time zone in Canada, offering a sense of community and solidarity to their fans in the midst of the countrywide lockdown. Other prestigious appearances by the group have included a six-song set in the Vancouver Island MusicFest, Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Memorial Cup.

All that activity and accrued good will have paid off in spades. LooPS made the top 100 in the 2021 CBC Music Searchlight competition, and they were named Best Band/Singer in the 2022 and 2023 Kamloops This Week Readers’ Choice Awards. Their loyal and rapidly expanding Canadian fanbase now numbers over 6,000 followers spread across all relevant social-media platforms.

To keep the ties with their followers strong, they’ve spent the last two years hosting a weekly podcast series, “LooPS: Diary of an Indie Band”—a personal “accountability journal” in which they tell stories, share their progress as a group and promote other musicians. As of this writing, the podcast has reached over a dozen countries, with over 35 episodes released thus far.

“Mourning Girl” and the current shows are an episode all their own—another installment in LooPS’ ever-deepening romance with the listening public. But unlike the doomed love that inspired the song in the first place, this is an affair that happily has no end in sight.

Making Waves: Les Stroud And Slash Hit A High Sea On “One Giant Farm”

Eric Alper
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Making Waves: Les Stroud And Slash Hit A High Sea On “One Giant Farm”

For decades now, Les Stroud has been using his platform as an award-winning filmmaker, composer, singer-songwriter, author and world-famous adventurer to lobby passionately for the preservation of the natural world. With the release of his new song “One Giant Farm,” he’s inviting us all along to make a deeply emotional reckoning with a particularly devastating reality: the sacrifice of marine life on the altar of human greed and whim.

A track from the newly remastered and expanded vinyl edition of Stroud’s 2019 album, Mother Earth, “One Giant Farm” decries the harrowing destruction of our oceans in the service of nothing of value. It’s a protest only Stroud could make so convincingly and poetically. And with guitar god and fellow committed conservationist Slash in tow to lend a fret-burning “ditto,” the track becomes a stirring rallying cry against the exploitation of marine creatures.

“The ocean is a bucket we just keep dipping a net into until it’s cleaned out,” Stroud laments. “The wildlife are nothing more than commodities to be consumed and farmed, and we are indifferent to their suffering. So I began with a call to action—a challenge to the masses: ‘Stop living blindly/ Hear what I say/ Stand up/ Don’t walk away.’ In other words, ‘Where do you think you’re going? You’re going to stand still and listen to this.’”

Our attention duly held, the song makes its point in no uncertain terms:

I know this world is smaller now
Don’t ignore this simple truth
The Earth is not one giant farm

It’s a philosophy of Stroud’s that’s only been strengthened by the images he’s witnessed and the experiences he’s had while traveling the globe to shoot his acclaimed environmentalist travelogues, like his hit TV docuseries, Survivorman. In particular, he was honored to have made the final cut that saved a baby humpback whale from its entanglement in a discarded, free-floating “ghost net.” (The Coast Guard said “Let it be”; Stroud politely declined to listen.) What’s rewarding to live, though, can be painful to revisit.

“The video we produced for ‘One Giant Farm’ is hard to watch,” Stroud admits. “It brought my editor to tears, and I have friends who still can’t watch it.” But there were others—like a certain guitarist—who felt just as strongly that the clip was essential viewing:

“Slash told me during the recording of his solo that the whole reason he was there was based on me going through with showing this video to the world,” Stroud says. “If I didn’t show the video, he wouldn’t contribute his solo.”

The six-string great certainly upheld his end of the bargain. The finished track runs through several moods and tempos, beginning with some guitar keening that’s appropriately whale-like. When the rhythm kicks in, Slash follows suit in an almost Spanish style, tracing curlicues on his neck pickup on the way to one of those overdriven crescendos we all know and love.

For Stroud, the rerelease of Mother Earth is a watershed moment in the 35 years of songwriting and music-making that’s accompanied his ongoing mission to celebrate and protect nature. Expanded from its original seven tracks to 10, the record was produced by the legendary Mike Clink, whose history with Slash goes all the way back to Guns N’ Roses’ groundbreaking 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction. Seven-string virtuoso Steve Vai and saxophonist/vocalist Mindi Abair are just two more of the immensely pedigreed musos who join Stroud on the album to help him preach respect and protection of the world’s precious resources.

And there’s waay more where that came from. Over the coming years, Stroud plans to release literally hundreds of songs he’s recorded in the course of his adventures, making a hefty addition to his already mighty repertoire of rock, world, prog, folk, blues and balladry. Proceeds from those projects will go toward (naturally) wildlife and wilderness protection and preservation. Sales of “One Giant Farm” in particular have been earmarked to support organizations like WWF, IFAW and The Dolphin Project, ensuring that the fight for marine conservation continues on the front lines.

While he does his best for the planet, Stroud is being honored in kind. Most recently, his “Gypsy Soul” was nominated for Best Country/Bluegrass Song in the 2024 International Acoustic Music Awards. That followed his strong showing in the 2023 competition, in which another Mother Earth cut, “Arctic Mistress,” had been a finalist for Best Song, and
Les Stroud and the Pikes (his collaborative project with Potvin’s Northern Pikes) had reached the finals for Best Group/Duo. The same year, the Canadian Screen Awards nominated Stroud in the categories of Best Direction, Lifestyle or Information and Best Original Music, Factual, Lifestyle, Reality or Entertainment (with partners Kevin Kossowan and David Bateman).

For Stroud, all of it—awards, music, activism—is in service of a future that’s not so much idyllic as it is simply workable. “Yes, we are forced to live lives of conflict; we can’t escape that,” he says. “I drive cars and live in a house. But we can turn a corner. We can fix this mess. We can ‘free the dolphins and save the whales.’ We can ‘love the land and love the sea.’ But I beg the world to open its eyes. To not live ignorantly. To protect and preserve and fix and clean and restore once again our great places in nature.”

Yes, there are wonders all around us. And they deserve to be cherished. Mother Earth gives us 10 more.

Afropop Artist ADEOLUWA Sings To Vulnerability In Love With “Under The Moonlight”

Eric Alper
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Afropop Artist ADEOLUWA Sings To Vulnerability In Love With “Under The Moonlight”

Nigerian-born and Canadian-based artist ADEOLUWA is steadily crafting a memorable music career. Following the release of his EP “King of Detours” in January 2024, he embarked on a successful Canadian tour and released a brilliant Afropop EP called “For The Fourth” coinciding with the first tour day.

“Under The Moonlight” is a part of this scenic EP, blending hypnotic indie pop melodies with the best of Afrobeats in this single. The artist shares that the recording of the track was a truly intimate experience, infusing Afropop sounds with modern pop elements in a fresh and authentic way. Indeed, the song has the power of creating a psych-like soundscape, mixing captivating synth harmonies and traditional African rhythms in a clever way.

The unique fusion of the sound and the lyrics create a space for reflection. This, according to the artist, was what he experienced sitting under the moonlight and feeling the weight of his emotions whilst looking at the vast night sky. He adds: “The night sky has always been a source of inspiration for me. There’s something about the moonlight that makes emotions feel more intense and real.”

The essence of the song lies in its ability to make the listeners feel the rawness of love – the need, the desire, and the vulnerability that comes with it. This idea is manifested in the chorus, poetically enriched by the addition of nature elements:

“Under this moonlight, I need your warm sun,
I can’t keep floating in these wild oceans,
Sinking and falling, I’ll just keep praying
You reach for me, please reach for me.”

Slowly but steadily, the song builds an ethereal atmosphere that explodes when the minute two arrives. Energetic pop drums and a more up-tempo rhythm open up the bridge, along with harmonious chorus voices that complement ADEOLUWA’s rich and deep tone. All of these elements create an epic feel, magnifying the celebration of love in its most vulnerable form: “It’s about letting someone see your true self and hoping they embrace it.”

The artist’s impressive highlights include headlining the SaskMusic Winter Showcase, where he earned five nominations from the SaskMusic Awards, including a nomination for the inaugural “AfroBeats Artist of the Year” category. As one of 2024’s must-listen up-and-coming acts, he has been airplayed on numerous radio stations and featured on Spotify official editorial playlists such as New Music Friday.

While the Afrobeats genre has conquered global top charts in the past years, some of ADEOLUWA’s music referents include Nigerian international acts such as Adekunle Gold. In fact, Nigeria has become a significant hub for artists whose music transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. Next up is ADEOLUWA, who has become known for his experimental style, innovative music and mesmerizing live performances.

Toronto’s K-Pop Rising Artist Sydney <3 Explores Social Anxiety In "Anywhere But Here"

Eric Alper
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Toronto’s K-Pop Rising Artist Sydney <3 Explores Social Anxiety In

Certainly, the impulse to flee uncomfortable social situations is a universal experience. However, for Toronto artist Sydney <3 and countless others, these episodes keep kicking in repeatedly without an apparent reason. This time, social anxiety has been an inspiration for the talented K-Pop artist, infusing “Anywhere But Here” with raw emotion. The song, already available in three different versions - Bilingual, Korean and English - will surely resonate with listeners who suffer from this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r63gcD-a228 Sydney <3’s debut single “Picture Perfect, released in January this year, smashed through the digital sphere with over 50,000 streams across all major platforms. But that's not all – the lyric video accompanying the track has captivated audiences, racking up an impressive 100,000 views. And it didn’t stop there; her magnetic presence has caught the attention of Spotify editors in Asia, setting the stage for an unstoppable journey into the spotlight, truly emboding the creative intersections and evolving influences between Korean, American and Canadian music. With a flair for K-Pop and a clear American 2000’s Pop influence, the song follows a melodic and catchy sequence of synthesizers that immediately gets stuck in the listener’s head. To create “Anywhere But Here”, Sydney <3 collaborated with well-known Adam H. (known for his work with K-pop artists such as Super Junior, Girls Generation, TVXQ, BoA and Lee Hyori) along with Don Wolf (White Wolf, Poison, Falco, Point of Power, Project X), and adds: “My favourite part of the creation process was learning how to create a storyline within the song. I liked watching their creative process in coming up with the music to go with the lyrics.” https://open.spotify.com/album/78ciF696Xfki1ZI8Vqko8z?si=YTl87cXbRjqI-Ayob69UOw As social anxiety becomes an increasing condition among teenagers, 16-year-old Sydney <3 aims to help others feel less alone in their struggles. She shares: “Anywhere But Here” is important to me, because it’s a relatable topic.” The artist reflects her internal battles and worries throughout the song, resonating with the shared issues that many others face:
“Maybe tomorrow things will finally be better,
And maybe I can start putting myself back together.
Maybe I’ll wake up and not feel the pressure,
Maybe maybe never comes.”

Surprisingly, the hopelessness of the lyrics doesn’t come across that way thanks to the melody, which helps create a soothing atmosphere. Indeed, Sydney <3 states that this isn’t something accidental: “I hope the song doesn’t make anyone feel sad or upset. I hope the song is relatable and helps people feel like they’re not alone with their feelings.” And further shares more details about her personality: “I want people to know that it’s okay to be awkward with others when you meet them for the first or 10th time. I know I am.” When the chorus unfolds, the artist even reflects some of anxiety’s physical manifestations: “Take me anywhere but here,
I can’t catch my breath,
Heart is beating out my chest.”

As a young artist, Sydney <3 also draws inspiration from her daily life and rich internal universe. Apart from personal experiences, characters in books, images on social media and therapy sessions also nurture her creativity. Moreover, she has been immersed in the arts from a very young age, participating in ballet, hip-hop, and jazz dance lessons. A standout moment in her education was the opportunity to train with Cara Chisholm, known for her roles in the award-winning masterpiece “Les Misérables” and other acclaimed musicals such as “Phantom of the Opera”. Sydney <3’s journey as an artist is just beginning, but her ability to transform personal struggles into relatable, compelling music is already making a significant impact. With "Anywhere But Here," she not only highlights the challenges of social anxiety but also offers solace and solidarity to those who experience it. As she continues to blend her diverse influences and experiences, there is no doubt that Sydney <3 will continue to inspire and resonate with listeners around the world.

Hamilton Rocker ANDREW IRVING Releases Heartfelt Tribute “Hometown Heroes” Honouring First Responders

Eric Alper
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Hamilton Rocker ANDREW IRVING Releases Heartfelt Tribute “Hometown Heroes” Honouring First Responders

Andrew Irving, the multi-faceted singer and songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario, has announced the release of his newest single “Hometown Heroes” – available now.

Inspired by two of his lifelong friends, a firefighter, and a police officer, Hometown Heroes honours the courage and dedication of first responders who work tirelessly to make our world a safer place. This touching song spotlights the many everyday heroes whose selfless actions and unwavering commitment improve the quality of life in our communities.

“Movies and TV shows have taught us to admire superheroes”, Irving explains. “But we don’t often enough think about the heroes that surround us in our day-to-day lives, in our cities and our hometowns.”

When Irving and his longtime collaborator, Mike McCormick, first experimented with a new chord structure and ambient guitar riff, they realized they had created something exceptional. This uniquely epic sound called for an equally epic theme.

“And the result of this collaboration was Hometown Heroes”, Irving proudly proclaims. “It’s a song that not only celebrates first responders but also encourages everyday acts of love and kindness.”

Irving’s latest single stands as the anthem for his forthcoming tour across Canada, dedicated to honouring and expressing gratitude to first responders. This concert series will serve as a platform for uplifting and acknowledging the individuals who selflessly safeguard our communities. Irving will commence the tour in his hometown of Hamilton with a performance at The Anchor Bar on July 27th, followed by a second concert in Brantford, Ontario on August 24th.

For over two decades, Irving has passionately advocated for his community through music, addressing issues of mental health and addiction. Four years sober, his journey deeply influences his music, specifically in the powerful song “Scars.” Irving’s career spans across Canada, Europe, and the U.S., with notable collaborations and performances alongside major acts like The Watchmen, Our Lady Peace, and I Mother Earth.

Crown The Empire Announce 2024 ‘Not Dead Yet’ Tour

Eric Alper
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Crown The Empire Announce 2024 ‘Not Dead Yet’ Tour

Today, Crown The Empire announced their 2024 Not Dead Yet Tour w/ support from special guests Dark Divine, Capstan and ONI. Produced by Live Nation, the 21-city tour kicks off on August 2 at Nile Theater in Mesa, AZ making stops across North America in Chicago, Toronto, New York and more before wrapping up in Dallas at House of Blues Dallas on August 31.

Crown the Empire have steadily established themselves over the past decade as a force of nature in the rock world. They have shared stages with Slipknot, A Day To Remember, Dance Gavin Dance, Black Veil Brides, Falling in Reverse, Underoath, and more. To date, the band has released five studio albums – The Fallout (2012), The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways (2014), Retrograde (2016), Sudden Sky (2019), and DOGMA (2023). They have garnered praise from Alternative Press, Billboard, Kerrang!, Nylon, Rock Sound, and more. Their impressive catalog has earned them 825M streams worldwide.

CROWN THE EMPIRE: NOT DEAD YET 2024 TOUR DATES:
Fri Aug 02 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
Sat Aug 03 — Los Angeles, CA — The Regent Theater
Sun Aug 04 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
Tue Aug 06 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
Wed Aug 07 — Denver, CO — Summit
Fri Aug 09 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
Sat Aug 10 — Davenport, IA — Capitol Theatre
Sun Aug 11 — Chicago, IL — House Of Blues Chicago
Tue Aug 13 — Detroit, MI — Saint Andrew’s Hall
Wed Aug 14 — Toronto, ON — The Opera House
Thu Aug 15 — Montreal, QC — Club Soda
Sat Aug 17 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza Powered By Verizon 5G
Sun Aug 18 — Boston, MA — Paradise Rock Club presented by Citizens
Tue Aug 20 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of Living Arts
Wed Aug 21 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage
Fri Aug 23 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
Sat Aug 24 — St Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live
Sun Aug 25 — Ft Lauderdale, FL — Revolution Live
Tue Aug 27 — Charlotte, NC — The Underground
Wed Aug 28 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
Fri Aug 30 — Houston, TX — House of Blues Houston
Sat Aug 31 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues Dallas
Sun Sep 1 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center

Tim Minchin Returns To North America This Summer With 13-City North American Tour

Eric Alper
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Tim Minchin Returns To North America This Summer With 13-City North American Tour

Tim Minchin, the Olivier Award-winning, Grammy and Tony Award-nominated poly-talent returns to North America this summer with An Unfunny* Evening with Tim Minchin and his Piano, a 13-city tour beginning on August 3 in Vancouver produced by Live Nation.

Acclaimed for his brilliant music composition, lyrics, keyboard skills, vocal prowess, and laser sharp wit, Tim has sold out some of the most prestigious venues around the globe including London’s O2 Arena and The Royal Albert Hall; and his native Sydney Opera House. Typically barefoot in performance, he plans to wear shoes this time. Tim Minchin said this about the tour, “It has been over a decade since I played solo in the States, and I’m SO fkn excited to be back. Nothing compares to US audiences.”

An Unfunny* Evening with Tim Minchin and his Piano comes with the strongly worded disclaimer that ‘this is not a comedy gig,’ although there are no guarantees about the absence of amusement. Minchin will perform songs drawn from his 2020 studio album, Apart Together, his musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day, his TV and film writing, and his early song-writing days around the turn of the century.

BIO: In addition to two decades of award-winning live performance and multiple recorded specials, Tim is the composer and lyricist of smash-hit stage musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day, which continues to return again and again for sold-out engagements in London and other markets around the world. He is also a screenwriter (of the award-winning Upright, in which he stars alongside House of The Dragon’s Milly Alcock), a screen actor (Atticus Fetch in Californication, Friar Tuck in Robin Hood 2014, Darius Cracksworth in Disney’s The Artful Dodger), and a public speaker (his commencement speeches have over 150 million views online, and will soon be published in book form by Penguin Random House). Stage roles include his acclaimed Judas in the 2014 UK / Australian Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Rosencrantz in the Sydney Theatre Company’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He is a voice actor, has published two children’s books and a graphic novel, and sometimes get into trouble for criticising fundamentalists of all stripes. His 2020 studio album, Apart Together, peaked at #2 on the ARIA charts. Among many accolades, he has won two Olivier Awards for Best Musical, a British Composers Award for Best Score, a Logie for Best Supporting Actor, an ACTAA for best TV comedy performance, an Edinburgh Comedy Award for best Newcomer, a Whats On Stage Award for Best Actor in a Musical, The Richard Dawkins Award for Science Communication, and an Order of Australia for Services to the Arts and the Community. He has been nominated for some Tonys and a Grammy.

TOUR DATES AND VENUES:
Vancouver BC Sat Aug 3 Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Portland OR Tue Aug 6 Newmark Theatre
Seattle WA Wed Aug 7 Moore Theatre
San Francisco CA Fri Aug 9 Masonic Auditorium
Los Angeles CA Sat Aug 10 Orpheum Theatre
Denver CO Tue Aug 13 Paramount Theatre
Austin TX Thu Aug 15 ACL Live – Moody Theatre
Dallas TX Fri Aug 16 Majestic Theatre
Toronto ON Tue Aug 20 Massey Hall
Minneapolis MN Wed Aug 21 State Theatre
Boston MA Fri Aug 23 Boch Center Shubert Theatre
Washington DC Sat Aug 24 Warner Theatre
New York NY Sun Aug 25 Town Hall

Prince And The Revolution’s ‘Purple Rain’ Is Out Now With New Immersive Audio Mix

Eric Alper
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Prince And The Revolution’s ‘Purple Rain’ Is Out Now With New Immersive Audio Mix

NPG Records and Paisley Park Enterprises, in partnership with Warner Records, are pleased to announce the release of a brand-new Dolby ATMOS mix of Prince and the Revolution’s iconic 1984 album, Purple Rain, which is available to stream now via participating digital partners.

40 years ago this month, Prince shattered all expectations and made music history when he released the album Purple Rain, followed by the hit movie of the same name weeks later. The 9-track LP went on to win two Grammy awards (“Best Rock Performance by a Group” & “Best Album of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture”), two American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. In 2012 the Library of Congress added the album to the National Recording Registry, which only accepts sound recordings that “are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States.” Purple Rain spent 24 weeks at #1 on the Billboard album charts, sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and appears on countless ‘Best Of’ polls, most recently achieving the #4 spot on Apple Music’s Top 100 Albums Of All Time.

The new ATMOS presentation of Purple Rain has been meticulously mixed from the original multi-track master tapes by Prince’s protege and Best Engineered Grammy nominee Chris James. It is available now via all participating Digital Service Providers, with an audiophile Blu-ray to be released later in 2024.

As part of the festivities honoring Purple Rain’s 40th anniversary, Paisley Park Enterprises is welcoming Prince fans to Celebration 2024, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, MN, from Thursday June 20 – Monday June 24. The annual event features live concert performances by The Revolution, Morris Day, The New Power Generation, and other special guests. The event also provides the first sneak-peek preview of the Purple Rain musical currently in development and production.

Warner Bros. Discovery will reissue a newly restored 4K version of the Purple Rain motion picture on June 25, with a limited theatrical run scheduled to start on July 3. June 25 will also see a special 4K screening of the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival, featuring a virtual Q&A with Susan Rogers, Prince’s longtime sound engineer.

In addition to these Purple Rain reissues, Prince’s catalog is also now available in full on Snapchat and other social media for the next generation of Prince fans to engage, discover and enjoy.

Prince was an iconic American musician, singer, songwriter, bandleader, performer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, and a pioneer in artists’ rights and freedoms. Born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he released his debut LP, For You, in 1978 and went on to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time, eventually selling more than 150 million albums. Over his 40-year career, his work received unprecedented critical praise as well as official recognition of his achievements including seven Grammy Awards, seven Brit Awards, six American Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, NAACP Awards, a Grammy President’s Merit Award, a Billboard Icon Award, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score for the film Purple Rain). His albums, 1999 (1982), Purple Rain (1984), and Sign O’ The Times (1987) frequently appear in rankings of the greatest albums of all time. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, the U.K. Music Hall Of Fame, and the Rhythm And Blues Music Hall Of Fame, and more.

Prince was a leader in philanthropy, giving privately and without fanfare to countless charities and causes that he championed and a trailblazer in music, fashion, art, and practically all forms of entertainment. Prince is considered by many to be the greatest artist of all time.

The Evolution of Band Merchandise: From T-Shirts to Hoodies

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Music-related clothing and accessories have been staple merchandise in the music industry and have been used as a way for fans to connect with their favorite bands. Since its inception, the merchandise has evolved in variety to meet the new fashion trends, technological advancements, and changing commodity preferences of fans. Two of the oldest and most memorable representations of band merch are T-shirts and hoodies that have been through many changes. The process of how, from a simple T-shirt saying ‘I was at the concert’ to the hoodies of today, is well described in this article.

The Rise of the Band T-Shirt

One can name the presence of band merchandise at the beginning of the 1960s when rock and roll was emerging as the youth began looking for means to support their favorite artists. The band T-shirt could not be left behind; it became more of a norm. These shirts were plain and often needed a logo or artwork, but whatever was put on them was usually uncomplicated, perhaps a band name or an album title. With the change in rock and roll to a cultural movement, the T-shirt underwent a similar transformation and was transformed into a work of art and a symbol of fan allegiance.

In the 1970s and 1980s, band T-shirts became even more popular with new punk and heavy metal music styles. Punk rock bands such as The Ramones and heavy metal bands including Metallica also designed their T-shirt images that became synonymous with punk and heavy metal, respectively. These shirts were not only items of commercial consumption; they were statements of defiance and a badge of solidarity worn by fans to concerts, nightclubs, and even work. This is because the T-shirts are relatively cheap to produce and accessible to the public, making it possible for bands to reach many fans and make them feel like they are in a joint group.

Designing the Perfect Hoodie

The idea of a band hoodie is something other than something that can be simply put on a piece of cloth and be called band merchandise. It involves a reflection on the design, the best type of material most appropriate to use, and the audience’s preferences. Musical groups need to consider how their designs will be viewed when printed on fabric and what their shirts want to say. The logo can be simple or crafted in a large font, while the textual and pictorial images form part of the composition that contributes to the fans’ desire to own the hoodie.

As for those who will make their band hoodies, an excellent amount of information is available on the Internet. How-to guides such as ‘how to design a hoodie’ offer information and guidelines on creating a design that captures the fans. This is because the guide gives detailed information on developing an appealing design. These guides range from picking the proper color schemes to selecting the right font for messages on T-shirts and other products to be branded to help ensure that bands create merchandise that will be unique in the market.

The Transition to Hoodies

This also applies to the development of fashion trends and the emergence of band merchandise. Starting in the 1990s and continuing through the 2000s, hoodies started appearing in the music scene. Originally, hip-hop culture brought hoodies to the mainstream market, as they were effectively a more stylish and practical replacement for the T-shirt. They offered more space for complex designs and were more liberal when using graphics and typographic features.

Soon, hoodies found popularity among bands and fans, becoming a favorite accessory to incorporate into everyday wear. The extra use of a hood and their warmth made them suitable for cold climates and the outdoors, especially when performing during the evening. Bands adopted the hoodie as an alternative but, at the same time, a familiar means of identification and a sense of belonging, as T-shirts were.

The transition from T-shirts to hoodies also pointed to the general alterations in the apparel market. The more streetwear popularized and incorporated within the culture to mainstream society, the more the hoodie shifted from casual apparel to a statement piece. Bands noticed this shift and aligned their merchandise to fit this change, and this is evident in merchandise designs created to cater to diehard fans and fans who do not attend as many concerts. In the present day, hoodies are essential clothing items in bands, often used to display artwork, dates of performances, and other ingenious designs that are representative of the band’s personality.

The Future of Band Merchandise

Band merchandise is an essential and popular trend, and technological progress is expected to lead to further developments. Some companies offer fans an increasing number of ways to make the products distinctive for the buyer by including their name, favorite lyrics, or any other feature. Also, the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials for making the products is increasing in the market due to the increased awareness of musicians and artists on environmental causes.

Virtual and augmented reality also poses opportunities for evolving band merchandise. Imagine being able to have a fitting over a virtual hoodie or having virtual concerts with the ability to buy concert-specific merch. These may help change the way fans engage with and patronize band merchandise.

Conclusion

The gradual shift from T-shirts to hoodies or from simple graphic art to prints and embroidery is indicative of changes in society’s culture and fashion as well as innovation in technology and art. It is essential for artists, as they are the ones who have made it a critical part of fan culture and an additional means of income. 

Moving forward, merchandise related to a band’s name will remain relevant and popular, providing fans with new opportunities to be closer to their idols. Whether it is the stereotypical T-shirt or some new trendy hood, the relationship between bands and their followers has not changed, and the merchandise remains the bridge between them.

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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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