Freelance Music Publicist, SiriusXM Host, Shameless Idealist, I talk about music in the media. Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
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40 years ago today, Tina Turner taught us that love is a second-hand emotion as 'What's Love Got to Do with It' hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 —a timeless anthem of independence and resilience.
My Chemical Romance’s 'The Black Parade' returns to multiple U.K. charts: #38 Album Sales (new peak), #67 Albums, #42 Album Downloads, #76 Album Streaming, and #8 Rock & Metal Albums. “Welcome to the Black Parade” rises to #17 Rock & Metal Singles.
My SiriusXM show: Interviews with OK Go, Rachel Platten, Sum 41’s Dave Baksh, and Dave Stewart— from viral videos to “Fight Song” to health comebacks and a Bob Dylan tribute. Wed 2pm + 7pm (all ET) Channel 167 and anytime on the SiriusXM app.
When albums become experiences: 10 concept records from Beyoncé to The Who that prove music can tell stories bigger than any single track. zurl.co/xo9uC
Bryan Ferry began working on Roxy Music's Avalon album at Crumlin Lodge in Ireland, where he stayed with his girlfriend Lucy Helmore, who became his wife in 1983. The album cover features the same lough visible from the lodge.
Duran Duran surprise fans with a rare mashup of “Rio” and Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” captured at a secret gig. It’s the chaotic brilliance you didn’t know you needed. zurl.co/OeXBr
Rod Stewart’s ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ hit #1 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1971. From missing cymbals to a forgotten mandolin credit, here are five wild facts that made the album a classic. zurl.co/Bu3s0
Watch The Manic Street Preachers make their television debut on ITV's "Transmission" in 1990, delivering a fiery performance of "Strip It Down" and showcasing the raw energy that would define their career. zurl.co/KUzPP
Hagen Brüggemann shares his final double single “Riding On The Waves / Lost In You” before the release of his 21-track debut album ‘Dysthymia,’ arriving September 5, 2025. zurl.co/iumy7
Photo Gallery: Coheed and Cambria at Toronto's Budweiser Stage on August 24, 2025 zurl.co/iB6h3
On this day in 1967, Louis Armstrong released his iconic single "What a Wonderful World." It was initially a flop in the US but became a global anthem of hope after being featured in the film Good Morning, Vietnam.
Steve Aoki and Gabry Ponte reunite for “Stewpid,” a euphoric new single on Armada Music built for dancefloors and festival season energy all year round. zurl.co/yQbEY
On this day in 1977, Cheap Trick's sophomore album, \In Color,' hit the shelves! While the band thought the production was "too slick," it gave us the polished studio versions of classics like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Clock Strikes Ten."
The Black Keys and Gary Clark, Jr. at Toronto's Budweiser Stage on August 31, 2025 zurl.co/IWWxq
If you could step into the studio for one legendary recording session, which would it be?
Graham Greene’s life was full of unforgettable roles and moments. From Dances with Wolves to The Green Mile to Red Dead Redemption 2, here are 20 amazing facts about the beloved Oneida actor and storyteller. zurl.co/pMSoN
Graham Greene has passed at 73. An Oneida actor whose role as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves brought him to the world, he gave us laughter, depth, and truth across stage and screen.
The Boomtown Rats’ ‘The Fine Art of Surfacing’ gave us “I Don’t Like Mondays.” From Apple-inspired lyrics to a Greenpeace rally cameo, here are five untold stories behind the 1979 classic. zurl.co/sli76
Billie Eilish’s debut 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' reenters Billboard charts at #199 on the Billboard 200 and #48 Top Rock & Alternative Albums, marking its 333rd week on the 200 and 166th on the rock tally.
Want your new fave artist? Here you go. Annahstasia performs a stunning live set at KEXP, showcasing “Be Kind,” “Take Care Of Me,” “Silk And Velvet,” and “Overflow.” zurl.co/tTDR0
MASON unleash their powerful new single “Waiting for You” as their album ‘Seconds to Impact’ arrives today via Eonian Records, blending soaring AOR hooks with bold, modern hard rock. zurl.co/DlE9c
Happy 48th anniversary to Meat Loaf's debut album, "Bat Out of Hell"! An epic rock opera that defied all trends and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Get revved up and blast "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" today!
Cheap Trick’s 1979 album ‘Dream Police’ hit #6 with disco grooves, stacked vocals, and even boards used as drums. Here are 5 electric stories behind the platinum power-pop classic. zurl.co/WVu8S
What song has the most recognizable beginning?
Building a career in music isn’t easy, but with the right plan, it’s possible. I’ll help you get coverage, grow on Spotify, and keep momentum rolling. I’d love to hear from you: Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
Conan Gray’s 'Wishbone' debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales with 53,000 sold, his first chart-topper. It also launches at #1 Vinyl Albums, #3 Billboard 200, and #27 Top Streaming Albums.
Pottermore and Audible unveil more casting for Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions with Mark Addy as Hagrid, Daniel Mays as Dobby, and Alex Hassell as Lucius Malfoy. First audiobook out Nov. 4. zurl.co/Ib0zB
The Cars’ 1979 album ‘Candy-O’ hit #3 with iconic Vargas art, a model named Candy, and a handclap hook borrowed from the Routers. Here are five sleek stories behind the new wave classic. zurl.co/7UtNX
Watching Joy Division's 1979 performance of "She's Lost Control" is like glimpsing a monochrome dream. zurl.co/hjDBl
IMused Launches Ethical AI Music Platform to Protect, Credit, and Pay Artists debuts as the first ethical AI music platform, ensuring artists are credited and paid whenever their Musical DNA inspires new tracks. zurl.co/FMQoz
Lenny Kravitz returns home to headline The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival at Baha Mar, October 22–26, 2025, joining world-class chefs and Caribbean artists for a celebration of food, music, and culture. zurl.co/lh43m
38years ago this week, R.E.M. released Document, the album with "The One I Love," giving the group their first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and their first platinum album.
XG announce their debut full-length album, out January 23, 2026 via XGALX. The news followed their headline set at A-Nation after a breakout Coachella performance earlier this year. zurl.co/y0sDJ
Life is short. Play music.
J.I.D and Clipse release the official video for “Community,” directed by Omar Jones. The track is a standout from J.I.D’s new album ‘God Does Like Ugly,’ with a massive world tour kicking off soon. zurl.co/nEUik
Selena’s 'Dreaming of You' debuts at #4 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart 30 years after release. The album also reenters Top Latin Pop Albums and Top Album Sales, adding to her posthumous chart legacy.
All Time Low’s “Dear Maria, Count Me In,” from their album So Wrong, It’s Right, has been certified 4× Platinum in the U.S. for 4 million copies sold. Originally released in 2008, it became the band’s breakthrough single and a fan favorite.
Starset announce new album ‘SILOS,’ out September 12 on Fearless Records, featuring new tracks, interludes, and their haunting cover of “Shattered Dreams.” zurl.co/Hf2Ck
Kolton Moore & The Clever Few release new single “Brave the Weather,” from upcoming album ‘A Place That I Call Home,’ out September 26. Produced by GRAMMY-winner Matt Ross-Spang. zurl.co/0zirP
What's an album that changed your life?
Sarah Halter drops her fierce new single “Agitation,” a progressive metal powerhouse produced by Benjamin Hull, balancing brutality with beauty. Out now on all streaming platforms. zurl.co/q5AGr
Arctic Monkeys’ “I Wanna Be Yours,” their adaptation of John Cooper Clarke’s poem featured on AM, has been certified 4× Platinum in the U.S. for 4 million copies sold. Produced by James Ford and Ross Orton, it has surpassed 3 billion streams on Spotify.
Greta Gaines unveils her new album ‘Bird Before Light,’ exploring themes of midlife, faith, loss, and nature. Featuring Tim O’Brien, Raul Malo, and more, it’s out today on Big Air Records. zurl.co/giuXR
The Beatles score two U.K. top 40 singles: “I’ll Get You” rises to #16 Vinyl Singles and #21 Physical Singles, while “All My Loving” climbs to #18 Vinyl Singles and #23 Physical Singles. Albums '1962–1966,' '1967–1970,' and '1' also chart.
Def Leppard return with their first UK/EU headline run since 2023, joined by Extreme. The 11-date tour hits major arenas in June and July 2026, including The O2 and Utilita Arena Sheffield. zurl.co/liO3s
Arctic Monkeys’ “R U Mine?,” later included on their album AM, has been certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. for 3 million copies sold. Written by Alex Turner with music by the band, it became one of their best-selling singles.
ALEXSUCKS drop their explosive new single and video “The Headache,” produced by Andrew Wells, blending alt-rock riffs, 80s synths, and touring chaos into one unforgettable anthem. zurl.co/txSM9
Five fans. Five chances to make superfans. Every small show can build a career if you know how to use it. Read the blog: The Truth About Playing to Five People—And How to Make It Count. zurl.co/e6Rnp
On this day in 1981, Prince released "Controversy" as a single, with him reciting the Lord's Prayer in full, and the verse "People call me rude / I wish we all were nude / I wish there was no black and white / I wish there were no rules." So great.
Jack Coyne’s Track Star* asks New Yorkers and musicians to ID songs for $5. How well do people really know music? zurl.co/fRK2i
Arctic Monkeys’ “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?,” from their album AM, has been certified 5× Platinum in the U.S. for 5 million copies sold. Written by Alex Turner and produced by James Ford, it remains one of the band’s most popular singles.
Synthet traces the iconic whistle-synth back to Junie Morrison and The Ohio Players’ “Funky Worm,” showing how a funk solo grew into a defining 90s hip-hop sound. zurl.co/sHJPP
Olivia Rodrigo’s 'Guts' and 'Sour' chart together in the U.K.: 'Guts' climbs to #26 Official Albums, #40 Physical, and #42 Sales, while 'Sour' rises to #30 Official Albums, #23 Streaming, but falls to #80 Physical and #83 Sales.
They Might Be Giants performed live at KEXP on June 16, 2025, delivering songs old and new including “Anna Ng,” “Doctor Worm,” and “Particle Man.” A must-watch session. zurl.co/YuXFc
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” from her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend, has been certified Platinum in the U.S. for 1 million copies sold. Co-written and co-produced with Jack Antonoff, it charted at #1 in the U.S., U.K., and Ireland.
Don’t Believe In Ghosts return with their indie rock album ‘But On The Bright Side,’ out November 7, featuring singles “Driver” and “Outta Your Head.” Album release party November 15 at Soho Live. zurl.co/IfV54
Swiss post-metallers Abraham drop new single “I Am the Vessel and the Vessel Is Me,” from their final concept album ‘idsungwussa,’ out Sept. 26 via Pelagic Records. zurl.co/WpHZl
Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” from Twisters: The Album, has been certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. for 3 million copies sold. Co-written with Jessi Alexander and Jonathan Singleton, it was featured in the 2024 film Twisters.
Che Noir teams with The Other Guys for ‘No Validation,’ a soulful, hard-hitting Hip-Hop project featuring Skyzoo, Ransom, Smoke DZA, Jae Skeese, Von Pea, Jack Davey, and 38 Spesh. Out now. zurl.co/QsRoI
Eminem’s 'Curtain Call: The Hits' becomes the first hip-hop album to spend 750 weeks on the Billboard 200. It joins Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Journey, Metallica, and Creedence Clearwater Revival in reaching the milestone.
Nine Inch Nails isn’t a crew of industrial rockers. The Weeknd isn’t a boy band. Some of the best “bands” are just one person. Blog’s up now! zurl.co/5Wp9Z
Pierce the Veil’s “King for a Day,” featuring Kellin Quinn, from Collide with the Sky, has been certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. for 3 million copies sold. It became their highest-selling single and was nominated at the 2013 Kerrang! Awards.
Stripping the Pistol finally releases their 2001 alt-rock single “I Think There’s Something Wrong,” a raw, urgent track featuring Matt Walker on drums. Out now after 24 years. zurl.co/C0sTN
Photo Gallery: Leon Bridges, Charley Crockett, and Noeline Hofmann at Toronto's Budweiser Stage on August 28, 2025 zurl.co/Gg85n
The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown unleash “Ain’t Nowhere to Go” with Maiya Sykes, recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606. Their star-studded album ‘Volume 3’ arrives Sept. 19. zurl.co/At1Mf
Max McNown’s “A Lot More Free,” from his debut EP and later included on his album Wandering, has been certified Platinum in the U.S. for 1 million copies sold. Written with Steve Fee and Jesse Reeves, it became his breakthrough hit.
The Waterboys announce ‘Rips From The Cutting Room Floor,’ a 16-track companion to their Hopper-inspired opus, out Dec. 5 on Sun Records. First single “The Next Time I Saw Elvis” is streaming now. zurl.co/6XuSQ
The best nights end with ringing ears, sore feet, and the feeling that the world is a little brighter.
On this day in 1987, R.E.M. released Document — their fifth album and first Top 10 on Billboard. Featuring “The One I Love,” it marked a harder rock sound and their biggest success yet.
Hozier’s “Too Sweet,” from his EP Unheard, has been certified 6× Platinum in the U.S. for 6 million copies sold. The song topped charts in 14 countries, including the U.S. and U.K., and ranked as the U.K.’s fifth best-selling single of 2024.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Nonsense” reenters the U.K. Official Vinyl Singles chart at #39 and the Official Physical Singles list at #51 as anticipation builds for her new album 'Man’s Best Friend.'
Some album titles aren’t just music—they’re a workout for your tongue. From Fiona Apple’s marathon-length opus to OutKast’s Cadillac funk, here are 15 of the most fun album names to say. zurl.co/iHx9b
Dominic Fike’s “Babydoll,” from his debut EP Don’t Forget About Me, Demos, has been certified 2× Platinum in the U.S. for 2 million copies sold. It is the second track on the project and has become one of his most recognized songs.
The show doesn’t end when the lights go out. Here are 5 heartfelt ways artists can thank their fans after a concert—building loyalty that lasts. zurl.co/GramO
Aerosmith’s 'Greatest Hits' logs 100 weeks on the Billboard 200, their third album to reach the milestone after 'Toys in the Attic' (128) and 'Pump' (110). It ranks #157 Billboard 200, #11 Top Hard Rock Albums, and #34 Top Rock & Alternative.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour continues to be the only concert tour in history to gross over $2 billion but three tours in 2025 are climbing the list of the top 20 biggest tours ever. Read more: zurl.co/OLw6X
Koe Wetzel’s “High Road,” featuring Jessie Murph, from his album 9 Lives, has been certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. for 3 million copies sold. It became Wetzel’s highest-charting song, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights is now the most-streamed song of all time with 5 BILLION plays Check out the full top 20 list of streaming songs as of September, 2025. Read more. zurl.co/RlJHu
If you can have dinner with any musician, who would you pick?
30 years ago today, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially opened its doors in Cleveland, Ohio. The landmark event was celebrated with an all-star concert and became a permanent home for the history of rock music.
Jessie Murph and Jelly Roll’s “Wild Ones,” from Murph’s debut album That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil, has been certified 4× Platinum in the U.S. for 4 million copies sold. It peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
On this day in 1970, Debbie Gibson was born. In 1988 she topped Billboard with “Foolish Beat,” becoming the youngest female artist to write, produce, and perform a #1 hit.
Rihanna lands 5 songs on the U.K. Official Hip-Hop & R&B Singles chart: “Breakin’ Dishes” hits a new peak at #11, “Don’t Stop the Music” returns at #29, “S&M” at #33, “Stay” at #34, and “Love the Way You Lie” with Eminem at #36.
On this day in 1957, Elvis Presley played Vancouver’s Empire Stadium before 26,000 fans. It was just his third—and final—show outside the US, with tickets priced at $1.50 to $3.50.
Jessie Murph’s “Pray,” from her debut mixtape Drowning, has been certified Platinum in the U.S. for 1 million copies sold. Produced by Jenna Andrews, Gabe Simon, Stephen Kirk, and Chris Allgood, it peaked at #95 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Hearing Holly Johnson's isolated vocals for Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax" is a revelation! His voice is pure, unadulterated power and attitude. zurl.co/jxgGp
50 years ago this month, Heart gave us their incredible debut album, 'Dreamboat Annie'! The record, born in Vancouver, had rock radio staples like "Crazy on You" and "Magic Man." It's a true masterpiece that launched a legendary career.
