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Anberlin Bring the Never Take Friendship Personal 20th Anniversary Tour Through the Midwest and East Coast This Month

Eric Alper
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Anberlin Bring the Never Take Friendship Personal 20th Anniversary Tour Through the Midwest and East Coast This Month

Anberlin are deep into their 20th anniversary celebration of ‘Never Take Friendship Personal’, and the remaining dates of their expanded US run are all still ahead. The alternative band have a string of midwest and east coast shows running through June 10, each night with support from Emery and Watashi Wa.

The tour arrives alongside ‘Nevertake’, a reimagined version of the landmark 2005 album featuring Matty Mullins on vocals. “‘Never Take Friendship Personal’ was the soundtrack to my life when I was 17,” Mullins says. “To now have the opportunity to step into the role of vocalist for the band that inspired me is beyond surreal. Re-recording this album with my own voice has been a full-circle moment and an absolute dream come true.” That context gives these remaining shows added meaning for longtime fans and new listeners alike.

Upcoming Tour Dates (with Emery and Watashi Wa):

May 24 – Barnato, Omaha, NE

May 26 – Hal and Mal’s, Jackson, MS

May 28 – The Senate, Columbia, SC

May 29 – The Pyrle, Greensboro, NC

May 30 – The NorVa, Norfolk, VA

May 31 – Capital City Music Hall, Harrisburg, PA

June 2 – Amityville Music Hall, Amityville, NY

June 3 – Empire Live, Albany, NY

June 4 – Aura, Portland, ME

June 6 – Palladium, Worcester, MA

June 8 – Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ

June 9 – Electric City, Buffalo, NY

June 10 – Preserving, New Kensington, PA

Florida Metalcore Favorites Wage War Announce New EP ‘It Calls Me By Name’ With the Crushing Lead Single “Song Of The Swamp”

Eric Alper
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Florida Metalcore Favorites Wage War Announce New EP ‘It Calls Me By Name’ With the Crushing Lead Single “Song Of The Swamp”

Wage War are heading somewhere heavier and more rooted than anything they’ve done before. The Florida metalcore band have announced ‘It Calls Me By Name’, a 5-track EP due April 17 via Fearless Records, and lead single “Song Of The Swamp” arrives with a music video that sets the tone immediately.

“‘Song Of The Swamp’ is rooted in where we’re from,” the band says. “Driven by Florida and the raw aggression of nature, it’s a heavy track built on tension and hostility.” That description is accurate. The track is dense and aggressive, and it pulls from a very specific sense of place in a way that gives it real personality.

The EP as a whole doubles down on that identity. “It Calls Me By Name is about being drawn to your roots,” the band explains. “Five tracks shaped by Florida, the swamp, and the relentless aggression of nature. Built heavy, but still driven by the hooks that have defined us. It’s our signature sound amplified and pushed further into metal than we’ve ever taken it.” That combination of melodic instinct and genuine heaviness has always been Wage War’s strength, and this EP sounds like the most focused version of it yet.

‘It Calls Me By Name’ Track Listing:

  1. Song Of The Swamp
  2. 4×4
  3. Blindfold
  4. Karma
  5. Purify

Ava Max Takes Full Creative Control and Announces a Bold New Era With the Single “Kill It Queen”

Eric Alper
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Ava Max Takes Full Creative Control and Announces a Bold New Era With the Single “Kill It Queen”

Ava Max is making a statement. “Kill It Queen,” her new single out now everywhere, is the first track from a new chapter built around full creative control, a new team, and a sound that pushes her further than anything she’s released before. The big pop hooks are still there, unmistakably hers, but vocally and sonically this is Ava Max operating with a confidence and ambition that goes beyond anything on ‘Don’t Click Play.’

“I’m telling my story my way,” she says. “I’m doing things differently and it feels good. I feel empowered, reinvigorated, and I think you can hear it in this single. ‘Kill It Queen’ is for anyone who wants to feel unstoppable.” That energy comes through in the track, and the sharper avant-garde aesthetic surrounding the release signals that this reinvention runs deeper than a single song.

The foundation she’s building on is already formidable. Over 22 billion streams, multi-platinum plaques, and a string of smash hits including “Kings & Queens,” “My Head & My Heart,” “The Motto” with Tiësto, and “Whatever” with Kygo have established her as one of pop’s most consistent forces. “Kill It Queen” arrives as the version of herself she’s clearly been working toward.

Rise Against Release a “Damage Is Done” Live Video Built Around Fan Art and the Band’s Belief in Collective Experience

Eric Alper
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Rise Against Release a “Damage Is Done” Live Video Built Around Fan Art and the Band’s Belief in Collective Experience

Rise Against have shared a new live performance video for “Damage Is Done,” a standout track from their latest album ‘Ricochet’, and it arrives as part of something larger than a standard music video release. The clip is the second visual produced through The A.R.T. Project (All Rise Together), a fan-driven creative initiative the Chicago-based punk rock band launched to celebrate community, collaboration, and expression around the record.

The concept behind the project is straightforward and genuinely generous. Late last year, Rise Against invited dozens of dedicated fans to create original posters inspired by ‘Ricochet’s lyrics, themes, and emotional urgency, and those pieces became the visual backdrop for the live performance videos. The fans themselves appear alongside the band throughout the footage, making the whole thing a document of the community that has built around this band over more than 25 years.

“Damage Is Done is about how hurt is not something that can be reversed, so we can either grow from it or let it unravel us,” says frontman Tim McIlrath. That kind of direct, emotionally honest framing is exactly what Rise Against have always done, and ‘Ricochet’ continues that tradition with the same urgency and melodic balance the band has maintained across their entire catalog.

The A.R.T. Project reflects a long-held belief at the core of Rise Against, that music is a collective experience, and that the people who show up for it are part of what makes it matter.

Foreigner Headlines Rock Legends Cruise XIV in 2027 With Lou Gramm, While a Massive 2026 Tour Run Is Already Underway

Eric Alper
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Foreigner Headlines Rock Legends Cruise XIV in 2027 With Lou Gramm, While a Massive 2026 Tour Run Is Already Underway

Foreigner are marking 50 years in a big way. The rock band behind “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” “Urgent,” and “Juke Box Hero” have announced they will headline Rock Legends Cruise XIV in February 2027, with original lead singer Lou Gramm joining them for a special performance of songs he recorded during the band’s earliest years. It’s a reunion moment built around the 50th anniversary of the March 8, 1977 release of the band’s iconic self-titled debut album.

Rock Legends Cruise XIV sails February 21-25, 2027, departing from Port Miami aboard Independence of the Seas. The five-day floating festival includes two full days at sea packed with live performances, a midweek stop in Costa Maya, and exclusive artist interactions throughout. A full lineup will be announced at a later date.

Before the cruise even arrives, Foreigner have a formidable 2026 schedule already in motion. An orchestral tour commences with a March residency at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and culminates with an appearance alongside the San Diego Symphony. In April, the band tours Florida with Lou Gramm as special guest, presenting Foreigner 4 in its entirety alongside many of their biggest Top 10 hits under the Foreigner 4 Deluxe banner.

June brings a 26-date European tour including sold-out shows across Germany, the UK, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. Then on July 23, Foreigner launches a co-headline amphitheatre tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd across the United States, one of the summer’s most compelling classic rock pairings.

At the heart of Foreigner’s legacy is founder Mick Jones, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee whose songwriting and musical leadership have guided the band across five decades. Their debut delivered “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Long, Long Way From Home.” What followed was an unstoppable run of rock classics, capped by the global number one ballad “I Want To Know What Love Is” from their fifth studio album ‘Agent Provocateur.’

Seventeen’s Vocal Duo DxS Brings the Serenade on Stage Tour to Macau and Taiwan This Summer

Eric Alper
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Seventeen’s Vocal Duo DxS Brings the Serenade on Stage Tour to Macau and Taiwan This Summer

Seventeen’s vocal sub-unit DxS, comprising DK (Lee Seokmin) and Seungkwan (Boo Seungkwan), is in the middle of their first-ever solo tour, and two dates remain for fans who haven’t yet had the chance to catch them live. The Serenade on Stage Tour 2026 still has stops in Macau on June 6 and Kaohsiung, Taiwan on July 25, and both represent a rare opportunity to see the duo in a more intimate, vocal-focused setting than Seventeen’s full group shows.

The tour supports DxS’s debut mini-album ‘Serenade’, a project built around the duo’s vocal harmony and emotional storytelling. Standout tracks include the mid-tempo ballad “Blue,” the harmony-layered “Echoes,” and the upbeat pop-driven “Moonlight,” and the album has drawn praise for the strength of both voices and the consistent theme of yearning and connection throughout.

DK and Seungkwan are two of the most distinctive voices in K-pop, and the sub-unit format gives both room to explore a more focused, vocally driven performance style that differs significantly from Seventeen’s high-energy group concerts. Adding urgency to the remaining dates, DK is expected to enlist for mandatory military service in South Korea later in 2026, making these final shows of the Serenade tour a genuinely meaningful moment for fans to witness the duo together on stage.

Remaining 2026 Tour Dates:

June 6 – The Venetian Arena, Macau

July 25 – Kaohsiung Arena, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Brantley Gilbert Goes All-In as Equity Partner for Real American Beer Zero, a Full-Flavor Non-Alcoholic Beer

Eric Alper
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Brantley Gilbert Goes All-In as Equity Partner for Real American Beer Zero, a Full-Flavor Non-Alcoholic Beer

Brantley Gilbert isn’t lending his name to Real American Beer Zero. He’s an equity partner who helped shape the product from the ground up, and that distinction matters. Fourteen years sober, Gilbert wasn’t interested in a non-alcoholic beer that approached itself as a compromise or a wellness product. He wanted something that showed up the same way he does, full participation, no sacrifice in flavor or experience.

Real American Beer Zero is 29 calories, 3.9 grams of carbs, and less than 0.5% ABV, served in a 16 oz can and available in singles, four-packs, and six-packs. It follows the same brand identity as RAB Light, anchored in the “200% American” and “Hits Different” positioning, and it’s built for the same moments Gilbert’s fans already know, days outdoors, nights with friends, standing in a crowd at a country show.

“This is for people who want to show up, be part of the moment, and enjoy the same experiences with friends and family while staying true to their lifestyle,” Gilbert says. “Real American Beer Zero allows everyone to be included, while keeping the taste and culture people love about beer.” For someone with 7 No. 1 hits and over 8.3 billion career streams, that community connection is the whole point.

The launch is anchored by a national partnership with the USO, with RAB donating $1 per case sold of RAB Zero to the organization in support of active-duty service members and their families. RAB Zero will be available nationwide, on tour with Gilbert, through the brand’s website, and via select retail partners, with TikTok and Amazon channels opening within the coming weeks.

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Officially Becomes Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital

Eric Alper
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East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Officially Becomes Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital

Dolly Parton has put her name, her heart, and her legacy behind something deeply personal. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, a free-standing independent not-for-profit pediatric health system that has served the region for nearly 90 years, is now officially Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, marking a landmark moment for pediatric care in the region she calls home.

“Being fortunate to have grown up in the mountains of East Tennessee, I learned early on what it means to take care of one another,” Parton says. “Every child deserves world-class care, wrapped in kindness and love. I’m so honored to stand alongside this hospital and do my part to help bring more hope, more comfort and more healing to children and families.” Coming from someone who has spent decades backing that kind of commitment with real action, those words carry genuine weight.

Hospital President and CEO Matt Schaefer is equally clear about what the partnership means. “This is more than a name change. With Dolly’s support, we are strengthening our mission to deliver world-class pediatric care to families, ensuring every child who walks through our doors receives the treatment they deserve.” The hospital is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, and its mission of exceptional, family-centered care continues into this bold new chapter.

ABBA Voyage: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go Including That Amazing Set List

Eric Alper
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ABBA Voyage: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go Including That Amazing Set List

If you have tickets to ABBA Voyage, or you’re thinking about getting some, you’re in for something genuinely unlike anything else in live music right now. ABBA Voyage is a virtual concert residency held at the purpose-built ABBA Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, featuring digital avatars of the four members, dubbed ABBAtars, depicting the group as they appeared in 1979, using their original vocals accompanied by a 10-piece live instrumental band on stage. The digital versions of ABBA were created with motion capture and performance techniques alongside visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic, in what is the company’s first foray into music, and the project is one of the most expensive live music experiences in history, with a budget of $175 million. Here is everything you need to know before you go.

What Is ABBA Voyage?

ABBA have created the kind of concert they always wanted, performing for their fans at their very best as digital versions of themselves, backed by today’s finest musicians, blending cutting-edge technology, spectacular lighting, and some of the most beloved songs ever written. The live band was selected by James Righton of Klaxons and features Little Boots on keyboards. Most first-time visitors report being genuinely stunned by how real the ABBAtars look, with many saying they forgot they were watching digital avatars within the first few minutes.

Where Is It and How Do You Get There?

The ABBA Arena is located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The nearest public transport stations are Pudding Mill Lane and Stratford, which are some of the best connected in London, with easy transport links to the rest of the city, local regions, and Europe. Taking the DLR is by far the easiest option. Pudding Mill Lane station is a two-minute walk from the arena. Do not drive.

Tickets, Seating, and What to Expect

Seated tickets start at £39.70 and Dance Floor tickets start at £56.20. The best seats are in Blocks C and H for a central, unobstructed view. The Dance Floor is a general admission standing area right in front of the stage, offering the most immersive and energetic concert experience, with easy access to bars. Visitors aged between 16 and 25 can get £35 Dance Floor tickets. The show runs for 100 minutes with no interval, and whether you’re on the dance floor or in the auditorium, you’ll be on your feet dancing within minutes.

Practical Tips Before You Arrive

Arrive early, as doors open 90 minutes before showtime and the pre-show atmosphere is great. Get your drinks before the show starts, as bar queues can be long. Make sure your ticket is saved offline in case of poor signal. Nearby Westfield Stratford City offers a huge range of restaurants and is a 10-minute walk away, so consider eating before the show. Photography and audio or video recording of the concert is strictly prohibited, to keep the contents of the concert a secret for future audiences and limit distraction for those around you. Dress up in 70s-inspired glittery outfits if you’re feeling it. Plenty of people do, and it genuinely adds to the atmosphere.

The 2026 Setlist

The updated 2026 setlist includes over 20 tracks from across the band’s catalog. ABBA added new songs including “Money, Money, Money,” “Super Trouper,” and “Take a Chance on Me” to mark the show’s third anniversary from May 27, 2025, sitting alongside already included hits. The current setlist is:

  1. The Visitors
  2. Hole In Your Soul
  3. SOS
  4. Knowing Me, Knowing You
  5. Chiquitita
  6. Fernando
  7. Super Trouper or Take a Chance on Me
  8. Mamma Mia
  9. Does Your Mother Know
  10. Eagle
  11. Lay All Your Love on Me
  12. Summer Night City
  13. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
  14. Money, Money, Money
  15. The Name of the Game
  16. Waterloo
  17. I Still Have Faith in You
  18. Don’t Shut Me Down
  19. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
  20. Dancing Queen
  21. The Winner Takes It All
  22. Voulez-Vous

As of September 2023, ABBA Voyage had sold more than 1.5 million tickets and generated over $150 million in sales, outperforming many major live shows. The show is currently booked through November 2026. If you have tickets, you’re in for a night you genuinely won’t forget.

What Is a 360 Deal and Should You Sign One? Here’s What Every Artist Needs to Know

Eric Alper
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What Is a 360 Deal and Should You Sign One? Here’s What Every Artist Needs to Know

What Is a 360 Deal and Should You Sign One? Here’s What Every Artist Needs to Know

TAGS: 360 deal, music industry, record label, artist rights, music business, touring revenue, merchandise, endorsements, music publishing,

The music industry can feel like a maze, and one of the most talked-about terms you’ll encounter as your career grows is the “360 deal.” Whether you’ve heard it from a manager, seen it in a contract, or stumbled across it in a music business article, understanding what it means could be one of the most important things you do for your career. So let’s break it down together, clearly and honestly, so you can make the best decision for you.

A 360 deal, also called a multiple rights deal or all-in deal, is a contract between an artist and a record label in which the label takes a percentage of revenue from all of an artist’s income streams, not just recorded music. That means royalties from touring, merchandise, endorsements, acting, publishing, fan clubs, and more can all become part of the label’s share. The name comes from the full circle of an artist’s career. Labels began pushing these deals in the early 2000s as digital disruption collapsed traditional album sales and they looked for new ways to recoup their investments in artists.

From the label’s perspective, a 360 deal makes sense. They invest heavily in an artist’s development, marketing, promotion, and recording costs, and they argue that if they help build the artist’s entire brand, they deserve a share of everything that brand generates. Labels like Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group have all used variations of this structure. The percentages they take from non-recording revenue can range from 10% to 30% depending on the deal, and the terms vary widely from contract to contract.

From the artist’s perspective, a 360 deal requires careful thought. For emerging artists who need label resources, funding, and industry connections to get started, accepting a 360 deal might open doors that would otherwise stay closed. However, as an artist’s touring and merchandise revenue grows, often significantly larger than their recording income, giving away a portion of that to a label can become a real financial consideration. The key is in the details. Who controls what? For how long? What are the exit terms? These are exactly the questions a music attorney should help you answer before you sign anything.

So should you sign one? There’s no single answer, and that’s actually a good thing because it means the right decision is entirely personal to your situation. If a label is offering meaningful support, resources, and a genuine path to a wider audience, and the terms are fair and clearly defined, a 360 deal can absolutely work in an artist’s favor. If the terms feel one-sided or you already have income streams you’ve built independently, it’s worth negotiating hard or exploring other options. The most important thing is that you never sign anything without trusted legal advice. You’ve worked hard to build your art and your audience. Make sure any deal you sign reflects that value.

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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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