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Speak up for the Canada Music Fund Now!

Eric Alper
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Speak up for the Canada Music Fund Now!

We need your help to raise the voice of the music community and get the federal government’s attention. You can do that in seconds by using the Canadian Independent Music Association’s action page to email Liberal MP’s and Canada’s Ministers of Heritage and Finance. Call on them to be Music Champions and remind them to keep their promise to increase the budget of the Canada Music Fund. Additionally, PLEASE tell your networks about the #canadamusicfund and use these images to share on social media!

Here’s why: The Liberal government, which has been a strong supporter of Canada’s music sector throughout the pandemic, promised in the last federal election to increase the annual contribution to the Canada Music Fund to $50 million by 2024-2025.

That’s huge because the Canada Music Fund (CMF) is a key part of what funds FACTOR’s ground-breaking investments in Canadian artists and music companies – including songwriters and music publishers. Last year alone FACTOR invested $21 million in the music sector. 6,500 artists have had support through FACTOR in the last five years.

But FACTOR’s budget can’t keep up with the growing demands for its programming. The other part of FACTOR’s annual budget comes from contributions from private radio broadcasters and those contributions are falling fast. For example, in 2020, FACTOR received $16 million in radio contributions. In 2024-25 those contributions could be as low as $2 million. This is why the CMF increase is so crucial. But look, that $50 million would only ensure that existing programming continues and is insufficient to create new programming for the live sector. That’s why most music associations across the country have called for an increase to $60 million.  

So if the government does not make good even on their $50 million promise to our sector, FACTOR’s budget could be cut in half over the next couple of years. If that happens companies will close, jobs will be lost, artists won’t get the investments they need to record or tour which will harm an already precarious local live music scene.

We don’t want that. So, let’s remind them to keep their promise.

Let’s do this!

Thank you,

Eric

First Trailer For Amy Winehouse Biopic Back to Black Is Here

Eric Alper
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First Trailer For Amy Winehouse Biopic Back to Black Is Here

A celebration of the most iconic – and much missed – homegrown star of the 21st century, BACK TO BLACK tells the extraordinary tale of Amy Winehouse, played by Marisa Abela. Painting a vivid, vibrant picture of the Camden streets she called home and capturing the struggles of global fame, BACK TO BLACK honours Amy’s artistry, wit, and honesty, as well as trying to understand her demons. An unflinching look at the modern celebrity machine and a powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent.

Global Superstar Maluma to Perform for SiriusXM and Pandora in Las Vegas

Eric Alper
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Global Superstar Maluma to Perform for SiriusXM and Pandora in Las Vegas

SiriusXM announced today that global superstar Maluma will kick off football’s biggest weekend with an exclusive concert for SiriusXM and Pandora on Thursday, February 8 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

SiriusXM and Pandora Present Maluma will feature Maluma performing songs from his latest album Don Juan including “Según Quién” and “COCO LOCO” as well as other fan favorites such as “Hawái.”

The special concert will be open to SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners. Fans can RSVP to attend the in-person show HERE.

The performance will air in its entirety on SiriusXM’s exclusive Latin music channels Hits Uno (ch. 151) and Caliente (ch. 152). Songs from the concert will also air on SiriusXM’s Viva and Flow Nación channels, and listeners will be able to access portions of the show on demand on the new SiriusXM app. Pandora listeners can access the Maluma Radio station HERE.

The Big Game weekend kick off concert will feature several special elements courtesy of this year’s lineup of brand sponsors including Chumba Casino, Discover, Doritos Dinamita, GNC, Norwegian Cruise Line, Paramount+, Shopify, and Hilton. From artist meet and greets to premium viewing lounges, these sponsors will help give fans an experience they’ll never forget.

SiriusXM remains committed to Latin music and its community, offering more than 15 Spanish-language music channels, in addition to opening SiriusXM’s Miami studios in 2023.

Hits Uno and Caliente, as well as a full suite of Latin music channels are available to subscribers nationwide in their cars and on the new SiriusXM app. Eligible customers can get their first three months of SiriusXM streaming for free. Click here to sign up and experience all that SiriusXM has to offer. See offer details.

Here’s A Skoal Chewing Tobacco Commercial From 1980 Featuring The Charlie Daniels Band

Eric Alper
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Here’s A Skoal Chewing Tobacco Commercial From 1980 Featuring The Charlie Daniels Band

In a nostalgic glimpse back to the 1980s, a Skoal chewing tobacco commercial featuring the iconic Charlie Daniels Band emerges as a testament to the era’s marketing styles. Set against a backdrop of Southern charm, the commercial not only promotes the product but also captures the essence of a bygone cultural moment. Against a soundtrack of twangy guitars and the unmistakable voice of Charlie Daniels, the advertisement seamlessly blends the allure of tobacco with the energetic spirit of country music. As the band members play their instruments with infectious enthusiasm, the commercial evokes a sense of camaraderie and rugged individualism, echoing the sentiments associated with the era’s country lifestyle. This vintage gem serves as a time capsule, offering a glimpse into the advertising landscape of the 1980s and the cultural symbiosis between tobacco and music during that period.

Sarah Brightman Once Released A Disco Version Of The Sound Of Music

Eric Alper
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Sarah Brightman Once Released A Disco Version Of The Sound Of Music

Sarah Brightman, the pop star-turned Andrew Lloyd Webber muse used her uncanny Julie Andrews impression with the vocal group Show Stoppers. It’s a Meco-style disco medley of songs from “The Sound of Music,” and it sounds just like you’d expect it to, which is brilliant.

Puddy Up Or Shut Up: Punk Rockers Comeback Track Gives The People What They “Want”

Eric Alper
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Puddy Up Or Shut Up: Punk Rockers Comeback Track Gives The People What They “Want”

Feeling worn down? Run over by life? Like you’re constantly at the mercy of malevolent forces beyond your control?

If you’ve survived the last few years, the answer is probably “yes.” But sweet vindication is here in the form of Puddy, the Canadian indie quartet that’s back after a prolonged absence with its triumphant revenge fantasy of a track, “What Do You Want?”

An eminently singable burst of punked-up fury, the song finds the band hurling invective at a “parasite” whose “meal ticket” has just been canceled after years of abused privileges. And from the way singer/guitarist Paolo Rizzo snarls out the chorus lyric, you can tell this is a man who’s well and truly over it.

What more do you want from me?
What more can you take from me?
Ain’t nothing to break in me
Nothing left to take from me

Puddy are recognized as pioneers of Canadian punk rock, but there’s nothing laid back about the way Rizzo’s and JV Bonhomme’s overdriven guitars and Tim Reesor’s lurching bass nail the unnamed tormentor to the wall, only for Eric Cohen’s drums to pummel him about the head in repeated, righteously indignant bursts.

The song, out now, along with an accompanying music video in which the group is seen wandering through a hazy limbo that’s meant to symbolize the mental fog induced by a life of setbacks. It’s an apt metaphor indeed for the less-than-linear career trajectory Puddy has followed since its founding in 1993 – a series of ups and downs recounted with endearing self-deprecation on the outfit’s official website, puddy.tv.

Having members scattered to the far-flung corners of Timmins, Niagara and Montreal hasn’t helped things any. Yet the band has defied distance and countless other obstacles to mount a comeback album, Demagogo, co-produced by Andy Curran (Envy of None) with Paolo and mixed by Vic Florencia (Danko Jones). “What Do You Want” is the opening salvo in that eagerly anticipated return to active duty, which culminates with the release of the full album in the spring. In the interim, Puddy will hone the new material at two specially arranged shows: one on Friday, January 19, at Camp Cataract in Niagara Falls, and the other on Saturday, January 20, at Bovine Sex Club in Toronto. Ticket pricing for each is set at a highly reasonable $10, as an intentional throwback to the cost of admission at the group’s last gig all the way back in 2012. In this case at least, the answer to the question “What do you want from me?” is “Way less than you’d be willing to pay.”

Al Simmons Returns With New Album ‘The Whistling Egg Man – and other tall tales’

Eric Alper
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Al Simmons Returns With New Album ‘The Whistling Egg Man – and other tall tales’

Al Simmons, the master of one-man, multi-prop, music-filled performances, is back with his latest release, “The Whistling Egg Man —and other tall tales.” For over 55 years, Al has entertained audiences worldwide, spreading joy and laughter to people of all ages with his clever comedy, delivered with heartwarming charm.

Hailing from Anola, Manitoba, Al has performed in theatres and at festivals across North America, sharing the spotlight with every major symphony orchestra in Canada and gracing the stages of Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Japan. However, in 2018, a fire devastated most of the props and costumes built over Al’s illustrious career. The outpouring of support from his fans, including donations and musical instruments, inspired Al to rebuild and continue, a testament to his enduring connection with his audience.

The next year brought the challenge of the COVID pandemic. Undeterred, Al turned adversity into an opportunity and revisited his vault of song ideas. He first recorded tracks “COVID Style” following every pandemic protocol– one musician at a time, everyone masked, and everything sanitized between takes. As restrictions lifted, Al switched from laying down individual tracks at Scott Nolan’s Song Shop, to bringing in an entire band for a fun-filled recording session at Larry Roy’s studio.

Al Simmons’ commitment to spreading laughter and joy is evident in every single one of these 14 novelty songs and stories. ”The Whistling Egg Man—and other tall tales” is a delightful collection of music and whimsy that showcases Al’s inventive wordplay, imaginative storytelling and the puns we have come to love and expect.

The biggest surprise of this recording does not come from puns or the delightfully goofy yet instructional lyrics, but from the poignant We Came Here Too Late. For the first time, listening to an Al Simmons song just might bring a tear to the eye. While Al’s mad cap songs offer something to kids and the children in all of us, We Came Here Too Late is for all the aging children, looking back over long lives.

Leanne Pearson Releases Heartfelt Ode to Love and Marriage In “I Do Again”

Eric Alper
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Leanne Pearson Releases Heartfelt Ode to Love and Marriage In “I Do Again”

Winnipeg, MB-born, Nashville, TN-based songwriting force Leanne Pearson has done it again with her new single. A culmination of her songwriting spark, notorious humor, and unique lyricism, “I Do Again” is a fresh ode to marriage and love.

The talented, multidimensional writer brings to the song the deeply personal story of the tumultuous journey she and her husband embarked upon as they planned their wedding nearly four years ago. But the restrictions of the 2020 global pandemic caused them to reschedule three times before finally canceling their big day and eloping—with an Elvis-themed ceremony, no less! In the fall of 2023, though, they finally got the wedding of their dreams, with friends and family in attendance.

The single speaks to the unconditional love the couple has for one another; despite the obstacles they faced, Pearson and her husband have learned to roll with the punches and take each challenging moment as a lesson in commitment and perseverance. And at the end of the day, Pearson found herself saying “I do” no less than three times.

“Now I got 3 rings for each time I said yes / No there ain’t nothing I’d change about it / I said it then, and I’ll say it now / I’ll take you by the hand and say I do again,” she writes in the new single.

Pearson’s country roots shine through as the singer sets a lyrical storyline to a traditionally twangy musical backdrop. Her ability to craft a compelling and emotional story through song has been recognized time and time again with a Top 50 and multiple Top 100 songs at Canadian Country Radio. This songwriting expertise takes the spotlight once more in “I Do Again.”

Pearson hasn’t stopped writing music since she wrote her first song at age 10. Now, years later, she’s still weaving stories with her words, and “I Do Again” places her talent, creativity, and passion for writing (and for her husband) center stage. It’s a single listeners will no doubt return to, time and time again.

Mockumentary/Spy Caper/Concert Video/Mashup Film “Mantrap” Made By Pop Group ABC To Promote Their Album The Lexicon Of Love In 1983

Eric Alper
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Mockumentary/Spy Caper/Concert Video/Mashup Film “Mantrap” Made By Pop Group ABC To Promote Their Album The Lexicon Of Love In 1983

A longform video that showcases the British pop group ABC, using songs from their album “The Lexicon of Love” to tell a spy-caper story of how the unsuspecting lead singer, Martin Fry, is duped into fronting the band because of his striking resemblance to another man associated with espionage. Will he stumble onto the deception before it is too late for him?

Woodsy Owl In the Anti-Pollution Short Film “Help Woodsy Spread the Word” From 1977

Eric Alper
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Woodsy Owl In the Anti-Pollution Short Film “Help Woodsy Spread the Word” From 1977

This is a musical film starring Woodsy Owl. It was designed to help elementary school children recognize pollution problems and their solutions. And because you’re watching it here, you know it’ll be…different.

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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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