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Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood Celebrated in New Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibition

Eric Alper
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Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood Celebrated in New Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibition

National Music Centre (NMC), in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), will reveal the updated Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame exhibition celebrating this year’s inductees: B.C.- born country star Lisa Brokop (Artist) and independent country music champion Joe Wood (Stan Klees Builder). Opening September 10 in Calgary, the exhibition launches just as Country Music Week takes over Kelowna (September 10–13).

Over her 35-year career, Artist inductee Lisa Brokop has earned three independent CCMA wins,13 consecutive CCMA female vocalist nominations, an ACM nod, multiple Gold records, recorded 10 studio albums, and charted 43 North American singles. She’s also written songs for artists like Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis, and Terri Clark. With deep respect for the legendary women of country music, Brokop has carried their stories forward through her own career. In 2016, she launched The Patsy Cline Project, an album paying homage to the American country legend with covers and original songs. Hot on the heels of the album’s success, she created Legendary Ladies of Country, a show touring North America featuring songs by female country greats and her personal inspirations, including Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Emmylou Harris. The updated exhibition features treasures from Brokop’s multifaceted career, including her very first handwritten lyrics for the 1985 song “Country is the Best to Me!”, and the wedding dress she wore on the cover of The Patsy Cline Project album.

“Being welcomed into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame has been the greatest honour of my career and I’m truly humbled by it,” said Lisa Brokop. “I have such gratitude to every person who has ever bought a ticket to a show, bought an album or T-shirt or given me their love and support in some way over these past decades, and I share this honour with you! I am thrilled that these pieces will be on display in this exhibition. They hold so many memories and dreams, and I can’t wait for people to see them and join me in the celebration!”

Stan Klees Builder inductee Joe Wood has spent nearly five decades championing independent Canadian country artists, helping deliver more than 10,000 songs to radio. With his wife Trudy, he co-founded RDR Music Group and broke new ground in music distribution, creating the first Canadian compilation CD, leading early digital delivery with Yangaroo/DMDS, and continually adapting to industry change. During his time in the industry, he has supported artists such as Gord Bamford, Tenille Townes, The Reklaws, Michelle Wright, Ian Tyson, Brett Kissel, and even Garth Brooks.

“To be recognized in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame is beyond anything I ever imagined when I first started out,” said Joe Wood. “This honour is really a celebration of the artists I’ve had the privilege to support, and the enduring spirit of independent country music in Canada. Stan Klees, the industry builder who this award was named after, was a friend of mine. Stan would have approved.”

The exhibition highlights Wood’s resilience in the music industry through personal stories, and a copy of 1989’s Promopak 1—the first-ever Canadian independent artist compilation CD.

“The National Music Centre is proud to honour Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood with this updated exhibition,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, NMC. “Their stories reflect the passion, artistry, and perseverance that continue to shape Canada’s country music landscape.”

“We are proud to honour Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood for their remarkable contributions to Canadian country music,” said Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “The CCMA is thrilled to celebrate their induction as both recognition of all they have accomplished and a tribute to the legacy they continue to build. This exhibition with the National Music Centre ensures their impact will be recognized for years to come.”

As the official permanent home of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, National Music Centre is the custodian of more than 2,000 artifacts (textiles, instruments, and photos) within the CCMHF collection. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and legacy of Canadian country music, the exhibition incorporates items from the 2025 inductees, as well as past honourees including k.d. lang, Jason McCoy, Rita MacNeil, Terri Clark, Paul Brandt, Hank Snow, Michelle Wright, Ian Tyson, and others. 

R&B Rising Star Danni Baylor Unveils Bold Debut EP ‘Things About The World That Burden Me’

Eric Alper
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R&B Rising Star Danni Baylor Unveils Bold Debut EP ‘Things About The World That Burden Me’

DMV-born and bred R&B artist and songwriter, Danni Baylor shares her surprise, vibrant debut EP Things About The World That Burden Me today via Global 7 Entertainment. Things About The World That Burden Me (TATWTBM) is alt‑R&B journey through overstimulation, disconnection, and finding peace in the noise. With soulful vocals and cinematic production, Danni unpacks the pressures of fame, social media, and image in today’s culture, giving her listeners “an opportunity to feel seen, to feel less alone, and maybe even to pause long enough to really listen — to the music, to themselves, to each other,” says Danni. 

Danni’s music offers a raw, relatable take on how digital presence often overshadows real human connection wrapped in playful, irresistibly catchy melodies. Things About The World That Burden Me cements Danni Baylor as a bold storyteller unafraid to blend cultural commentary with infectious rhythms.

‘Things About the World That Burden Me’ is me putting my thoughts and heart on record. I’ve always been the kind of person who feels the weight of what’s happening around me. These songs are my way of naming those burdens and finding the light inside them. Every track is a snapshot of how I see the world right now, but also how I choose to move through it — with honesty, warmth, and faith.”

Danni’s sound blends soulful melodies with lyrical depth, creating a space where listeners can connect with her personal experiences. Grounded in themes of love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and personal empowerment, Danni’s music is a reflection of her own journey. She began singing at the age of 5 in her family’s church and developed an early love for music inspired by artists such as Mary Mary, Brandy, James Taylor, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Karen Carpenter, India.Arie, Lauryn Hill, and more. Danni later toured as a background vocalist for gospel star Tye Tribbett and wrote for Fantasia Barrino and Billboard hitmaker Jason Nelson. She recently supported Grammy-winner Melanie Fiona on her “Say Yes” Tour. A BMI Trailblazer Award recipient, NAACP Image Award winning songwriter, and Billboard chart-topping lyricist, Danni is undeniably one to watch. Danni has received acclaim from BET, Baller Alert, Ratings Game Music, Ones to Watch, Sicka Vision and more. Stay tuned for more from Danni Baylor soon. 

THINGS ABOUT THE WORLD THAT BURDEN ME TRACKLIST:

“KOOLADE”

“LIAR LIAR”

“DISTRACTIONS”

“DND (Do Not Disturb)”

“INSATIABLE”

“Warm”

“GO HOME RODGER”

Surf Ballroom Opens New Music Experience Center with Immersive ‘Not Fade Away’ Journey

Eric Alper
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Surf Ballroom Opens New Music Experience Center with Immersive ‘Not Fade Away’ Journey

The public is invited to help celebrate the official opening of the Surf Music Experience Center beginning Friday, September 5. Located next door to the legendary ballroom, the Music Experience Center (MEC) will be open and FREE to the public this weekend only, from Sept 5 through Sept 7 – Buddy Holly’s birthday. 

In addition to newly-acquired artifacts, the MEC’s highlight is Not Fade Away: The Surf Ballroom Immersive Experience. More than an exhibit or video, it’s a transformative, multi-sensory journey through the birth of rock ‘n’ roll and the timeless sound that changed American music forever. Through immersive digital storytelling, historic artifacts, restored audio, and original archival materials, guests will walk in the footsteps of legends.

Celebrations to mark the historic occasion will include:

Thursday, September 4, 5:30: Exclusive sneak preview, guided memorial site tour and author Tommy Canale signing his book, Shadows Over Clear Lake: The Tragic Tale of the 1959 Winter Dance Party. VIP tickets for this event can be purchased on the Surf Ballroom website. 

Friday, September 5, 12 noon: After local students tour the new MEC, doors will be open to the public until 8 pm, when the Surf Ballroom hosts the Brothers Osborne show. Admission to MEC is FREE all day.

Saturday, September 6, 10 am – 6 pm: MEC is again open all day with FREE admission to the public. Rocker Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s will perform a FREE concert next door at the Surf Ballroom beginning at 6:30.

Sunday, September 7, 12 noon: Official ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of the Surf Music Experience Center. Remarks by family, board members and city officials will be followed by a celebration of Buddy Holly’s 88th birthday this day. MEC will be open 12 noon until 6 pm.

The 10,000-square foot Surf MEC will function as a visitors center for the Surf District, with exhibits of never-before-seen artifacts related to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and the groundbreaking fully-immersive experience, Not Fade Away. The MEC also includes:

  • Rooms for private music lessons
  • Spacious green room for artists and performers
  • Historical artifact exhibits
  • State-of-the-art immersive theater
  • The Palms Rooftop Cabana cocktail bar
  • The Palms Ballroom event space

The legendary Surf Ballroom & Museum is one of only four music venues in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark. Best known as the final performance site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, the Surf has welcomed generations of musical artists and fans since 1933. Today, it is a vibrant year-round venue that amplifies the legacy of music culture, education and performance – it’s where the music lives. The Surf is operated by the North Iowa Cultural Center & Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and will expand its offerings with the new Music Experience Center (MEC), an immersive attraction, artifact exhibit and event space, opening September 2025.

Fall Out Boy Marks 20 Years of Rock Classic ‘From Under The Cork Tree’ with Expanded Anniversary Edition

Eric Alper
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Fall Out Boy Marks 20 Years of Rock Classic ‘From Under The Cork Tree’ with Expanded Anniversary Edition

GRAMMY Award-nominated iconic multiplatinum rock band Fall Out Boy celebrates two decades of their influential 5x-Platinum breakthrough album, From Under The Cork Tree, with a very special new 20TH Anniversary Edition out October 17, 2025, via UMe. The original LP’s 13 songs are newly remastered, while the collection notably boasts previously unreleased alternate and acoustic versions as well as remixes, live recordings, B-sides, and more. It also captures key performances from this era with special “Live On BBC Radio” tracks. From Under The Cork Tree (20TH Anniversary Edition) will be available in multiple configurations, including a massive 3LP Deluxe Box, 2CD Deluxe Box, and Super Deluxe Digital. Pre-order From Under The Cork Tree(20TH Anniversary Edition) now HERE.

The group heralds its arrival by sharing the highly sought-after B-side “Start Today” on all streaming services. Fall Out Boy originally recorded this Gorilla Biscuits cover for inclusion on Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland Soundtrack in 2005. Prior to, the song was only available on the compilation and in the accompanying video game. However, this high-energy fan favorite finally lands on streaming platforms today! Listen HERE.

Beyond the unreleased material, both the 3LP Deluxe Box and 2CD Deluxe Box feature a treasure trove of extras. Each Box houses an exclusive letter to fans penned by bassist and primary lyricist Pete Wentz, a “Prom” photo from “Dance Dance” music video, and a comic book cover illustration drawn from the “A Little Less Than Sixteen Candles, A Little More Than ‘Touch Me’” music video. Other extras include memorabilia from the seminal Black Clouds and Underdogs Tour 2006, such as a tour poster, setlist, ticket stub, and tour sticker laminate.

From Under The Cork Tree first landed on May 3, 2005, reaching #9 on the Billboard 200. Among a myriad of staples, the 9x-Platinum smash single “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” climbed to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the 6x-Platinum “Dance, Dance” vaulted to #9. Not to mention, “A Little Less Than Sixteen Candles, A Little More Than ‘Touch Me’” went Platinum. In its wake, Fall Out Boy received a 2006 GRAMMY Award nomination in the category of “Best New Artist.” Gathering billions of streams, the album’s influence has been well-documented over the years. Rolling Stone touted it at #9 among the “40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time,” going on to note, “Fall Out Boy changed the course of emo-punk, pop-punk and pop itself with From Under The Cork Tree, which brought the scene mainstream.” NME proclaimed, “Fall Out Boy’s ‘From Under The Cork Tree’ inspired a generation.” Stereogum succinctly summed it up best, “Cork Tree is a classic.”

Experience the definitive version of Fall Out Boy’s From Under The Cork Tree this fall.

TRACKLISTING

3LP Deluxe

LP1

Side A
1. Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued
2. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World
3. Dance, Dance
4. Sugar, We’re Goin Down
5. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner

Side B
1. I’ve Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song)
2. 7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen)
3. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year
4. Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends
5. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me

LP2

Side C
1. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me”
2. Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows)
3. XO
4. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Live On BBC Radio)

Side D
1. Where’s Your Boy (Live On BBC Radio)
2. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World (Live On BBC Radio)
3. Dance, Dance (Live On BBC Radio)

LP3

Side E
1. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (TLA Radio Edit)
2. Dance, Dance (Tommie Sunshine Fire N Brimstone Remix)
3. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me (Alternate Version)
4. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year (Alternate Version)

Side F
1. Dance, Dance (RJD2 Remix)
2. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Acoustic Version)
3. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner (Acoustic Version)
4. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Instrumental)

2CD Deluxe

Disc 1
1. Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued
2. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World
3. Dance, Dance
4. Sugar, We’re Goin Down
5. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
6. I’ve Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song)
7. 7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen)
8. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year
9. Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends
10. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
11. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me”
12. Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows)
13. XO

Disc 2
1. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Live On BBC Radio)
2. Where’s Your Boy (Live On BBC Radio)
3. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World (Live On BBC Radio)
4. Dance, Dance ( Live On BBC Radio)
5. Start Today
6. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (TLA Radio Edit)
7. Dance, Dance (Tommie Sunshine Fire N Brimstone Remix)
8. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me (Alternate Version)
9. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year (Alternate Version)
10. Dance, Dance (RJDZ Remix)
11. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Acoustic Version)
12. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner (Acoustic Version)
13. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Instrumental)

Super Deluxe Digital

1. Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued
2. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World
3. Dance, Dance
4. Sugar, We’re Goin Down
5. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
6. I’ve Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song)
7. 7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen)
8. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year
9. Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends
10. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
11. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me”
12. Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows)
13. XO
14. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Live On BBC Radio)
15. Where’s Your Boy (Live On BBC Radio)
16. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World (Live On BBC Radio)
17. Dance, Dance ( Live On BBC Radio)
18. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Acoustic)
19. Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner (Acoustic)
20. Start Today
21. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me (Alternate Version)
22. Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year (Alternate Version)
23. Dance, Dance (RJDZ Remix)
24. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (TLA Radio Edit)
25. Dance, Dance (Tommie Sunshine Fire N Brimstone Remix)
26. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Instrumental)
27. Snitches And Talkers Get Stitches And Walkers
28. The Music Or The Misery
29. My Heart Is The Worst Kind Of Weapon (Demo)
30. Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Patrick Stump Remix)
31. Dance, Dance (Lindbergh Palace Remix)

Hailing from Chicago, Fall Out Boy — Patrick Stump (vocals/guitar), Pete Wentz (bass), Joe Trohman (guitar) and Andy Hurley (drums) — have cemented their position as one of rock music’s biggest-selling bands. Their eighth studio album So Much (For) Stardust debuted as the No. 1 Rock Album upon its March 24, 2023 release on Fueled By Ramen/Elektra/DCD2 Records. The album marked the band’s first new album in more than five years, and its first single “Love From The Other Side” immediately became a global hit, hitting No. 1 at Alternative Radio – an achievement that marked the band’s first career alternative No. 1 song. Fall Out Boy hit the road with their headline tour So Much For (Tour) Dust, kicking off the 25+ date North American summer trek with a show of epic proportions at Chicago’s famed Wrigley Field in June 2023; the tour continued across stadiums and arenas across the UK and Europe in October and November. Due to overwhelming demand, the tour continued across the United States with the sold-out 20+ date So Much For (2our) Dust. In July 2021, Fall Out Boy embarked on THE HELLA MEGA TOUR alongside Green Day & Weezer, playing live in front of over 1 million fans on a sold-out global stadium tour and marking the first time the three bands had headed out on the road together. The U.S. leg included numerous sold-out stadium gigs – including renowned venues like Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium. Critical and fan acclaim poured in, with USA Today hailing it “the most stacked line-up of any rock tour in 2021,” Billboard noting that each night was “serving up a buffet of hits in front of one of the largest concert crowds,” and Rolling Stone calling it “wildly entertaining.” The tour was nominated for both Major Tour of the Year and Best Rock Tour at the Pollstar Awards in 2021. The international leg of the tour took place throughout the summer of 2022. Fall Out Boy’s seventh studio album 

M A  N  I  A  debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in January 2018 and garnered a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Album. The record marked the band’s third consecutive and fourth overall #1 album respectively and featured the global smash “The Last of the Real Ones. In 2015, Fall Out Boy released their platinum, sixth studio album American Beauty/American Psycho, whichdebuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at #1 on iTunes in more than 22 countries upon its January 2015 release. The album’s first two singles “Centuries” and “Uma Thurman” have been RIAA-certified 4x and 2x platinum, respectively. American Beauty/American Psycho followed the GRAMMY-nominated band’s gold-certified album Save Rock And Roll, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on iTunes in 27 countries upon its April 2012 release and features the multiplatinum hit “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)” and hit “Alone Together.” Save Rock And Roll was the band’s second #1 debut; Platinum selling “Infinity On High” topped the chart in 2007 which followed multi-platinum breakthrough album “From Under The Cork Tree” released in 2005. Fall Out Boy was most recently awarded Alternative Artist of the Year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, and nominated for two 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, for Best Alternative (“Hold Me Like A Grudge”) and Best Visual Effects (“Love From The Other Side”). They were previously nominated for a 2019 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video (“Bishops Knife Trick”) and have won Favorite Artist: Alternative Rock at the 2015 American Music Awards, Best Rock Video at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards and Best Alternative Band at the 2014 People’s Choice Awards.

Yeat Pushes Rap Into the Future with ‘Dangerous Summer’ EP and “COMË N GO” Video Premiere

Eric Alper
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Yeat Pushes Rap Into the Future with ‘Dangerous Summer’ EP and “COMË N GO” Video Premiere

Fresh off closing back-to-back nights in Zurich with Drake on the $ome $exy $ongs 4 U Tour, multiplatinum rap innovator Yeat has released the video for “COMË N GO” — out now. Filmed on site at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cologne Cathedral, the 25-year-old rapper drew a crowd of thousands for the shoot after sending out the bat signal via his Instagram story earlier that day. Since its release at the start of the month, the BNYX-produced “COMË N GO” has emerged as the standout track from Yeat’s latest EP DANGEROUS SUMMER. Featuring upper-echelon collaborators including FKA Twigs, Don Toliver, SahBabii, and more, the project expands and elevates Yeat’s style like never before. Arriving alongside a Lyrical Lemonade video for “PUT IT ONG”, DANGEROUS SUMMER stands as a hit-laced preview of the next chapter in his creative odyssey, offering die-hards a glimpse at what’s to come on his long-rumored forthcoming LP, ADL (A Dangerous Lyfe). The aptly named EP arrives on the back of a truly dangerous summer for Yeat, including his co-headlining performance with Don Toliver at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival, a surprise performance with Drake at Wireless Festival in London, drawing a 120K+ person crowd at the Beach, Please! festival in Romania and closing down the three-day Clout Festival in Poland. The cover art for the project was shot by Harmony Korine and designed by the creative team at EDGLRD using live alligators (which almost bit him) in Broward County, Florida, where Yeat and Harmony rented out an entire motel to shoot the EP cover. He rolled out the features, artwork, and vision for the EP in guerilla-style, nuclear fallout themed signage –– further signaling the start of a fresh era for the superstar. With this new chapter, DANGEROUS SUMMER adds another defining moment to a year already stacked with milestones for Yeat.

Yeat’s last project, the #1 Billboard 200 charting LYFESTYLE, kicked off last summer when he teased new music during his special three-show North American run across New York, Los Angeles, and Portland. Within its first week of release, the 22-track album sold 89K+ equivalent album units, his highest first-week sales to date, and marked Yeat’s first-ever No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. This milestone was his fifth top 10 debut in under three years, following Lyfë (No. 10 in 2022), 2 Alivë (No. 6 in 2022), AftërLyfe (No. 4 in 2023), and 2093 (No. 2 in 2024). Building on that momentum, Yeat has kept up a relentless pace in 2025. He first previewed “Feël no wayz (Yeat mix)”, his extraterrestrial, autotune-drenched cover of Drake’s Views classic, during his set at the Sahara Stage during Coachella Weekend 1, where a 50-foot golden bell towered over the crowd in homage to his breakout hit “Gët Busy”. The remix follows this year’s standout single “The Bell” and his feature on “Work” with Anyma, the solo project of Tale of Us’ Matteo Milleri. Most recently, Yeat completed a nine-city international tour across the EU and UK, including his first-ever headlining show in London, which The Guardian hailed as a “ribcage-reverberating success”.


DANGEROUS SUMMER EP – Tracklist:
01. PUT IT ONG
02. LOCO
03. LOOSE LEAF
04. OH I DID (feat. NGeeYL)
05. COMË N GO
06. [ADL IS COMING]
07. IM YEAT (feat. BNYX)
08. M.F.U. (feat. SahBabii)
09. 2TONE (feat. Don Toliver)
10. FLY NITË (feat. FKA Twigs)
11. GROWING PAINS


Low-fi melodies, clever cutting lyrics, and a distinctly mysterious persona are all highlights that build up the enigma that is Yeat, one of the most interesting rises in music. The prolific rapper broke through in 2021 when his song “Gët Busy” began appearing in TikTok videos. The track became so ubiquitous that it caught the attention of heavyweight rappers, including Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Gunna, and many more. As his fame skyrocketed, so did the mania surrounding the artist’s cult-like following which led to the shutdown of a show in Los Angeles at The Roxy. Now, with two headlining tours under his belt, four Billboard Top 10 Album Debuts, and over 8 billion global streams, the young talent is well on his way to superstardom. Yeat was born Noah Smith in 2000. He began releasing music around 2015, taking notes from Young Thug’s melodic strangeness and the inventive production styles of rappers who were rising to prominence as he grew up. He started out using the moniker Lil Yeat, but shortened it to Yeat in 2018. That year, he released his first mixtape, Deep Blue Strips. From then on, he was in hyperdrive. As his fame skyrocketed, Yeat released the mixtapes Alivë and 4L, and the Trëndi EP, before the release of his first proper studio album. Up 2 Më was issued in September 2021 followed by a second studio LP, 2 Alivë, in early 2022. Just last year, Yeat was tapped by superstar Drake to collaborate on record “IDGAF” which is featured on Drake’s album For All The Dogs. The song, which was an instant hit, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Billboard Global 200. Recently, Yeat’s LYFESTYLE reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart selling 89K equivalent album units –– LYFESTYLE marked Yeat’s fourth entry into the Top 10 in only two years: Lyfë (No. 10 in 2022), 2 Alivë (No. 6 in 2022), AftërLyfe (No. 4 in 2023), 2093 (No. 2 in 2024) and now LYFESTYLE (No. 1 in 2024).

Elton John Powers ‘The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical’ Cast Album Onto CD, Digital and Vinyl

Eric Alper
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Elton John Powers ‘The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical’ Cast Album Onto CD, Digital and Vinyl

The original cast recording from The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical is set to be released on CD, Digital & LP formats on 19th September via Island EMI. To pre-order the album please click here.

Today also sees the release of new single ‘Miranda Girl’, sung by Georgie Buckland who plays Andy in the hit musical – to listen to the exclusive first released track and watch the music video, please click here.

The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical, has consistently smashed sales records since opening at the Dominion Theatre last year, becoming the fastest selling show in the theatre’s history and continues to be a Box Office hit in the West End.

Composed by musical icon Elton John, with lyrics from Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick, these songs are a reminder that dreams – like fashion – never go out of style. The CD and Digital release contains all 18 songs from the musical recorded by the celebrated Original West End Cast, which includes Vanessa Williams (Miranda), Matt Henry, MBE (Nigel), Georgie Buckland (Andy), Amy Di Bartolomeo (Emily), Rhys Whitfield (Nate) and James Darch (Christian), as well as two previously unheard Elton John Original Demos, while the LP will include a selection of 12 tracks. The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical is produced in the West End by Kevin McCollum, David Furnish, and Jamie Wilson. The cast recording is produced and mixed by Giles Martin, with the Elton John Original demos produced by Matt Still and Kim Bullard.

The Elton John Original Demos formed the architectural drawings the musical was built from. The new album marks the first time fans can gain an insight into this incredible creative process with Elton’s recordings of ‘I Mean Business’ and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ included in the CD and Digital release.

Elton John says: “The subject matter of The Devil Wears Prada absolutely screams out for music. It’s been one of my favourite films of the last 20 years, so when the conversation came up about me writing the music for the stage version, it was an absolute no-brainer. I’m always looking forward, never backwards, so it absolutely had to be a modern, contemporary score. The best musicals leave people with a joyous feeling, and that’s completely how I felt writing this. ‘It has been wonderful to see the response & success of the stage show and hearing the fantastic reactions to the songs.”

The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical, features an all-star, award-winning creative team led by Elton John (Tammy Faye, Billy Elliot: The Musical, The Lion King), direction & choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman, Hairspray), lyrics by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub (Suffs) and Mark Sonnenblick (KPop Demon Hunters, Theatre Camp), book by Kate Wetherhead (Ever After, Submissions Only), set design by Tim Hatley (Life of Pi, Back to the Future), costume design by Gregg Barnes (Some Like It Hot, Legally Blonde), lighting design by Bruno Poet (The Tina Turner Musical, Frankenstein), sound design by Gareth Owen (Come From Away, & Juliet) and casting by Jill Green CDG.

Hilariously fun and fabulously stylish, The Devil Wears Prada tells an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to e. Choose your outfit carefully and get ready for a new musical that’s hautter than hell! The musical is based on Lauren Weisberger’s best-selling 2003 novel and the 2006 blockbuster film from Twentieth Century Studios which went on to gross $326 million worldwide and received two Academy Award nominations.

CREDIT: @danny_with_a_camera

CD + DIGITAL TRACKLISTING:
01 I Mean Business (Including Prologue)
02 House Of Miranda
03 I Only Love You For Your Body
04 How To Survive At Runway
05 Girl For The Job
06 In Or Out (Part 1)
07 Dress Your Way Up
08 In Or Out (Part 2)
09 The Devil Wears Prada
10 Miranda Girl
11 Bon Voyage
12 The Old You
13 Paris City Of Dreams
14 Who’s She
15 Seen
16 Your Twenties
17 Stay On Top
18 What’s Right For Me
19. I Mean Business (Elton John Original Demo)
20. The Devil Wears Prada (Elton John Original Demo)

LP TRACKLISTING:
Side A
01 I Mean Business
02 House Of Miranda
03 How To Survive At Runway
04 Dress Your Way Up
05 The Devil Wears Prada
06 Miranda Girl

Side B
01 Bon Voyage
02 The Old You
03 Who’s She
04 Seen
05 Stay On Top
06 What’s Right For Me

Rap Titan Offset Expands His Vision on ‘KIARI Deluxe’ with Star Features and Anthemic Production

Eric Alper
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Rap Titan Offset Expands His Vision on ‘KIARI Deluxe’ with Star Features and Anthemic Production

Today, GRAMMY Award-nominated, multi-platinum superstar Offset releases the KIARI:OFFSET deluxe album— an expansion of his critically acclaimed third solo project out now on Motown Records. The KIARI deluxe edition includes a new BNYX Mix of the smash lead single “Bodies” featuring JID as well as the CeeLo Green collaboration “How Did We Get Here,” among other songs. Listen to the full project HERE.

Additionally, Offset has just released a slew of minimal but impactful, conceptually consistent videos all directed by SheShe Pendleton and Mikey Rare for the songs on KIARI’s tracklist, including “Back in That Mode” featuring YFN Lucci, “Prada Myself” with Teezo Touchdown, “Favorite Girl” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, and “Pills,” Offset’s powerful, Nina Simone-sampling team-up with YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Those and nine others join the previously released videos for singles “Never Let Go” with John Legend, “Professional,” and, of course, “Bodies.” 

In the hands of BNYX (Travis Scott, Playboy Carti, Yeat, Drake), “Bodies” leans deeper into the original song’s heavy source material — Drowning Pool’s iconic 2001 nü-metal hit of the same name. Incorporating grinding guitars, pounding drums, and loads of shadowy atmosphere, the new version adds extra heft to Offset and JID’s already celebrated verses. Upon release, the scorching single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, became the #1 added song at Urban Radio, and racked up universal praise — including from The Source (“a bold summer return”), BET (“smash single”), UPROXX (“Offset and J.I.D. go hard”), HotNewHipHop (“urgent, reflective, and necessary”), and Complex, who ranked JID’s verse the sixth best of the year. Vibe called the cut an “earth-shattering lyrical clinic [where Offset] brought his hard-nosed, aggressive flow, which matches the 808s and drums, and fellow ATLien J.I.D. dropped one of his best guest verses ever.” The duo have since discussed the hit with Variety, Genius, and AP News.

With Offset’s birth name as its title, KIARI finds the Atlanta icon at the top of his game, as open and vulnerable as ever, flexing and reflecting on his journey thus far over immersive production fit for an arena. KIARI explores the different sides of Offset and shows his diversity as an artist who’s able to seamlessly weave between records for the club and thought-provoking cuts rich with real-life introspection. As Rolling Stone wrote in their four-star review, “KIARI underscores Offset’s critical gifts, tapping into his chutzpah while demonstrating even more growth.” VIBE noted, “It is every side of the Atlanta rapper that fans grew to love over the last decade, and a sign that he is as fortified as ever by himself.” And HotNewHipHop added, “The album balances raw storytelling with polished hooks, showcasing his growth as an artist determined to carve out a lasting solo legacy beyond Migos.”

In Offset’s own words: “KIARI is me. I challenged myself as an artist and really put it all into the music. I took my time putting this project together,” he said. “I know who I am, and I hope the world gets to understand who KIARI is through this album.”

KIARI sounds as rich as Offset’s lifestyle thanks to not only to additional appearances from Gunna and Key Glock, but also majestic production from Honorable C.N.O.T.E., London on da Track, London Jae, Fridayy, FNZ, Oz, and BoogzDaBeast, among others. With orchestral flourishes, mood-setting melodies, unexpected instrumentation, distinctive samples, and cameos befitting Offset’s culture-moving might, the songs are big enough to support the outsize vision of a man, father, and son who came from nothing, walked through fire, and isn’t wasting another moment of the incredible life he’s made for himself.

Offset announced KIARI this month with a raucous Times Square takeover where doppelgangers dressed in suits recreated one of the album’s artwork variants. He’s been making waves elsewhere too. Included on the KIARI Deluxe tracklist is the previous one-off single “Swing My Way,” which came with a Kid Art-directed video starring supermodel Anok Yai. More recently, he’s discussed the new album and more in appearances on Apple Music 1’s The Ebro Show, 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, and The Shop. He also made a triumphant return to Hot Ones, featured on the premiere episode of Complex‘s “Interview with a Magician,” and stole the show at Milwaukee’s Summerfest in late June when he brought a fan onstage for an unforgettable performance of Migos hit “Walk It Talk It” — watch HERE.

With KIARI Deluxe now out in the world, Offset continues to build his larger-than-life legacy.

Offset, KIARI Deluxe Tracklist:
1. “Enemies”
2. “Pills” feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
3. “Professional”
4. “Back in That Mode” feat. YFN Lucci
5. “Different Species” feat. Gunna
6. “Bodies” feat. J.I.D.
7. “Love You Down”
8. “Run It Up” feat. Key Glock
9. “Set It Off”
10. “Folgers”
11. “All of My Hoes”
12. “Calories”
13. “Checkmate”
14. “Backends Fasho”
15. “Prada Myself” feat. Teezo Touchdown
16. “Never Let Go” feat. John Legend
17. “Favorite Girl” feat. Ty Dolla $ign
18. “Move On”
19. “Bodies (BNYX MIX)”
20. “Athlete”
21. “History”
22. “How Did We Get Here” feat. CeeLo Green
23. “Swing My Way”

It should be hard for a rap legend to grow more legendary, but Offset makes it look easy. After helping define 2010s trap music with somersaulting triplet flows, addictive lingo, and indelible anthems, the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum superstar born Kiari Cephus has continued penetrating the worlds of rap, fashion, and pop culture, flaunting a rare combination of inborn showmanship, impeccable taste, verbal aggressive, and deadly sincerity. With the mighty Migos catalog under his belt, he began his solo journey with the disarmingly personal, Gold-certified Father of Four (2019). He leveled up again with 2023’s Set It Off and is expanding once more with KIARI — an album that thrillingly walks the crossroads of block-boy instinct and grown-man wisdom over production fit for arenas. He forecasted the project with “Bodies,” a J.I.D.-assisted scorcher that returned Offset to the Billboard Hot 100, won universal praise from fans and critics alike. But Offset became an icon years ago. With 3x Platinum singles like “Clout” and collabs like his Diamond-certified Tyga team-up “Taste,” he’s amassed over 2 billion solo streams in the U.S. alone. He’s also left his mark on fashion runways (Balenciaga, Jeremy Scott) and film/TV (Atlanta, NCIS, Baby Shark’s Big Movie). But it’s less a career than a lifestyle, and KIARI — a perfect mix of business and pleasure sporting Offset’s birth name — asks the question: Why choose which sides to show the world when you can just share all of them? 

Why Are So Many Artists Selling Their Catalogue? Here You Go.

Eric Alper
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Why Are So Many Artists Selling Their Catalogue? Here You Go.

In recent years, selling music rights has become one of the most defining financial moves for major artists. Bob Dylan’s landmark publishing deal, Bruce Springsteen’s record-breaking sale, and Shakira’s publishing transaction highlight a growing trend.

Selling an entire catalogue, rather than just master recordings, gives artists immediate liquidity and long-term financial security. By converting unpredictable royalty streams into a guaranteed lump sum, musicians lock in wealth that can be reinvested or used to secure their future. This immediate payout reduces reliance on fluctuating sales, streaming rates, or touring income, creating stability in an industry often defined by uncertainty.

Another motivation lies in estate planning and the transfer of generational wealth. Catalogues are complex assets, made up of publishing rights, performance royalties, and synchronization fees that require ongoing administration. By selling the entire catalogue, artists simplify matters for their heirs and ensure that the value of their life’s work is transferred as cash or diversified investments rather than an intricate web of intellectual property rights.

Timing the market is also a critical factor. Catalogues can appreciate significantly in value, especially when interest in music rights is high and investors compete to acquire proven works. By selling during a peak, artists maximize returns and capture high multiples on annual revenue, securing wealth that may exceed what they would earn if they held onto rights indefinitely. This approach allows them to benefit from market trends rather than risk potential devaluation in the future.

Many artists also sell because of the administrative burden of rights ownership. Managing publishing requires monitoring usage across territories, negotiating licenses, and ensuring collection of royalties from multiple societies. For those who want to focus on creativity or simply enjoy retirement, handing over these responsibilities to a buyer provides peace of mind and removes the need for constant oversight.

The full sale of catalogues also opens doors to greater synchronization opportunities. Buyers of catalogues often have entire teams dedicated to pitching songs for film, television, advertising, and gaming placements. When an artist sells everything, they grant the buyer full control, making it easier for these companies to pursue licensing opportunities aggressively without needing further approvals. This can unlock the full potential of a catalogue in ways that might not have been realized if the artist retained partial control.

Selling a catalogue can also serve as a strategy for diversifying an artist’s financial portfolio. Rights are valuable, but they are also tied to consumption patterns, technological shifts, and cultural trends. By liquidating, artists can transform this concentrated asset into a mix of real estate, stocks, or other ventures. This diversification protects their long-term financial health and reduces dependence on the continued performance of their music alone.

For some, catalogue sales provide capital for new creative ventures. Artists use these funds to launch labels, invest in startups, or develop projects beyond their existing body of work. Instead of seeing their catalogue as a static source of royalties, they view it as leverage for reinvention, allowing them to expand their careers into new artistic or entrepreneurial spaces.

Another driver is the changing economics of the industry. Streaming generates income at scale, but it often takes years to recoup significant sums. By selling rights, artists trade long-tail earnings for upfront guarantees, insulating themselves from the uncertainties of streaming models and shifting payout structures. This strategy ensures they benefit from the streaming boom without being exposed to its volatility.

Creative freedom also plays a role. When an artist sells their catalogue, they no longer carry the pressure of maximizing its commercial potential. Instead, they can explore new directions without being tethered to past material. In many cases, this decision allows artists to embrace experimentation or step away from the business side of music altogether, knowing their legacy is secure.

Finally, long-term legacy considerations influence these decisions. An outright sale ensures that catalogues are placed in the hands of companies with the infrastructure to preserve and promote them. This increases the likelihood of sustained visibility, cultural relevance, and ongoing discovery by future audiences. Artists gain confidence that their work will continue to thrive, while simultaneously securing the financial rewards during their own lifetimes.

10 Concept Albums That Nailed It

Eric Alper
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0
10 Concept Albums That Nailed It

The concept album remains one of music’s boldest experiments—an artist’s chance to turn a record into a world. By threading songs together with narrative ambition, sonic detail, and thematic unity, musicians elevate albums into immersive experiences that extend far beyond their tracklists. Artists gravitate to this form because it allows them to fuse storytelling with sound, transforming a collection of songs into a single canvas where every note, lyric, and transition carries purpose. Concept albums ask listeners not just to hear, but to inhabit.

ected by tone and arrangement, creating a dreamlike diary of innocence, doubt, and desire.

Beyoncé – Lemonade
Lemonade unfolds like a visual and sonic journey through heartbreak, healing, and reclamation. Beyoncé curates genres from country to trap into a cohesive arc of resilience, binding them with deeply personal lyrics and cinematic production that render the record an intimate epic.

David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Bowie introduces Ziggy as a persona and constructs an album where glam theatrics and cosmic anxiety collide. The record functions as a serialized narrative, with each song serving as a chapter in the saga of an alien rock star whose brilliance burns out as quickly as it shines.

Green Day – American Idiot
Green Day reimagines punk urgency as theater, using American Idiot to narrate a suburban antihero’s disillusionment in a fractured America. The record’s explosive riffs and tightly sequenced suites create a coherent, character-driven drama that feels both intimate and politically universal.

Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid
Monáe designs The ArchAndroid as a sprawling Afrofuturist film without visuals, channeling sci-fi myth and radical politics into genre-blurring compositions. From orchestral overtures to funk odysseys, the album sustains its conceptual throughline while celebrating innovation as a form of liberation.

Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar crafts a coming-of-age memoir that plays like a film, with skits, recurring motifs, and narrative arcs binding the tracks together. Each song feels like a scene in his Compton story, where personal detail and universal themes intertwine into a fully realized narrative record.

Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville
Phair structures Exile in Guyville as a song-for-song response to the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St., turning the framework into a fiercely personal statement. The album achieves cohesion through its raw intimacy, sharp lyricism, and conceptual ambition, transforming critique into a fully realized world of its own.

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
What’s Going On channels political urgency into a continuous suite, with tracks bleeding into each other as though part of one long prayer. Gaye layers lush arrangements with social commentary, creating an album that feels like a singular statement on humanity, empathy, and hope.

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
This record operates like a philosophical cycle, where each track flows seamlessly into the next, exploring time, mortality, greed, and madness. Its sound design and lyrical motifs create a closed system of thought, transforming the album into a sonic meditation on the human condition.

Radiohead – Kid A
Radiohead dissolve traditional rock structures into glitch, electronic textures, and spectral melodies, yet the record remains tightly bound by atmosphere. Kid A unfolds as a dystopian soundscape where disorientation itself becomes the unifying concept, pulling the listener into its haunted cohesion.

The Who – Tommy
Pete Townshend transforms rock into opera, sculpting Tommy as a narrative of trauma, transcendence, and messianic spectacle. Musical themes reappear and evolve across the album, ensuring that the story of the “deaf, dumb, and blind kid” carries coherence both lyrically and musically.

The Art of Rewriting: How 12 Drafts Transform a Song into Its Best Self

Eric Alper
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0
The Art of Rewriting: How 12 Drafts Transform a Song into Its Best Self

Every songwriter knows the spark of inspiration. A melody appears, a lyric lands, a chord progression feels right. But the true craft begins not in that first burst, but in the willingness to shape, reshape, and refine. Rewriting is not failure—it is an act of devotion to your song. When you rewrite a song 12 times, you are not chasing perfection. You are uncovering new dimensions of meaning, sound, and truth. Each draft is a chance to grow, learn, and build confidence in your artistry.

The Power of Persistence

Persistence is the quiet engine of songwriting. Writing a song once is exciting. Rewriting it again and again is where mastery forms. Each version you create gives you perspective. You begin to see how a lyric changes the tone of a verse, how a different bridge shifts the emotional arc, or how a new rhythm unlocks energy you didn’t know was there. The twelfth draft is not just a better song—it is proof that persistence always pays off.

Actionable Advice

  • Commit to a process, not just a product. Allow yourself multiple drafts before deciding a song is “finished.”
  • Set milestones. Decide that you will push for at least three rewrites before evaluating a song’s direction.

Every Rewrite Reveals New Possibilities

Each rewrite is an exploration. The first draft captures raw emotion. The second draft sharpens structure. The third clarifies voice. By the fifth or sixth rewrite, you begin experimenting—changing perspective, adding metaphor, shifting key, or altering groove. You realize that the song is not one fixed idea but a living, breathing creation with countless potential forms.

Actionable Advice

  • Ask “What if?” What if the chorus opens the song? What if the second verse is spoken instead of sung? What if the hook repeats one line instead of three?
  • Invite surprise. Use rewrites to test ideas you normally resist. Often, the unexpected unlocks the most powerful results.

Deepening Connection with the Material

Rewriting builds intimacy with your song. The more you live inside the lyrics, the more you uncover hidden layers of meaning. A word you choose on draft one may feel shallow by draft seven; by draft ten, you discover language that expresses the exact emotion you carry. The process teaches you to listen to the song as much as you write it. The song speaks back, and you respond.

Actionable Advice

  • Read lyrics aloud. If a line feels disconnected from your truth, it needs refinement.
  • Ask why. For each lyric or chord, ask why it belongs. If you cannot answer, consider rewriting it.

Refining Lyrical and Musical Elements

Rewriting allows small changes to accumulate into transformation. One misplaced word can dull an entire chorus. One extra measure can throw off momentum. With each draft, you sand down rough edges. You find stronger rhymes, clearer metaphors, more precise melodies. By the twelfth draft, the song feels inevitable—as though it always existed this way, waiting for you to find it.

Actionable Advice

  • Highlight weak spots. Identify the one section that feels less strong and focus your rewrite there.
  • Refine rhythm. Test lyrical phrasing against different rhythms to see where the song gains energy.

Building Creative Confidence

When you rewrite a song 12 times, you prove to yourself that creativity is renewable. You discover that inspiration is not a one-time gift but a resource you can tap again and again. Each draft strengthens your belief that you can navigate the challenges of songwriting. By the time you share the song with others, you not only have a piece of music you love—you also carry the unshakable confidence of someone who has done the work.

Actionable Advice

  • Keep all drafts. Saving each version shows you how far you’ve come and reminds you of your creative capacity.
  • Celebrate progress. Instead of waiting until the final draft, recognize growth at each stage.

The Songwriter’s Mindset: Growth Over Perfection

Rewriting 12 times is not about perfection—it is about growth. Each version teaches you something about craft and about yourself. You gain patience. You sharpen instincts. You build resilience. Most importantly, you learn to trust that your voice has depth worth exploring. The song becomes more than music—it becomes a record of your evolution as an artist.

Actionable Advice

  • Adopt a growth mindset. Instead of asking, “Is this song perfect yet?” ask, “What can I learn from this draft?”
  • Enjoy the journey. See rewriting not as correction, but as creation in its purest form.

Rewriting a song 12 times is not excessive. It is generous. You give yourself and your music the gift of time, attention, and care. Each rewrite builds persistence, reveals possibility, deepens connection, refines craft, and strengthens confidence. The process itself becomes the reward. When you finally share the song, you know it carries the best of your effort and the truth of your voice.

Songwriting thrives on this kind of devotion. The more you rewrite, the more you grow. And in that growth, you not only create better songs—you also become the songwriter you are meant to be.

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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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