Happy Wednesday! I’m back from vacation! This week’s #HAPPENS Alternative Artist Discovery is Deep Sea Diver. “What Do I Know” is the new single from the Seattle band’s fourth album and Christy Taylor at KNDD (107.7 The End)/Seattle is leading the charge with some good early indicators. Deep Sea Diver lead singer/guitarist Jessica Dobson says, The song ‘What Do I Know’ came out of a very playful and existential place. I needed a reminder to not take myself so seriously and I ran with that theme in the recording and production of the song. Most of it was recorded very quickly by me at my home studio and it is comprised almost entirely of first takes on drums, guitar and synth. I also loved exploring some of my guitar influences like Television, Brian Eno, Wilco and mashing all of those up into my own rock song. I had fun being free with the lyrics and adding in strange vivid lines like ‘there’s a spider in the milkshake’…” Big thanks to Scott Perlewitz at Sub Pop Records for VIP Access. Get to know Deep Sea Diver on Artist Discovery Of The Week. You can also Listen & Download the new single available today on the #HAPPENS Alternative Downloads page HERE. 

Lorde “What Was That” is #1 Most Added this week on the Mediabase Alternative Add Board. Congrats to Republic’s Amanda Dobbins & the Lorde team! It’s the first new music from Lorde in 4 years. The music video has over 2.4 million views since it was released last week. It’s featured on this week’s #HAPPENS Alternative Video Spotlight. 

Ratings Love! Nielsen March ‘25 PPM Ratings were released last week. Here’s the latest Alternative stations to post 6+ increases: WKQX (Q101)/Chicago 2.9-3.1, KNDD (107.7 The End)/Seattle 3.4-4.1, KXRK (X96)/Salt Lake City 3.8-4.2, KKDO (ALT 94.7)/Sacramento 3.4.-3.5, KXTE (X107.5 Xtreme Radio)/Las Vegas 2.0-2.5, WLUM (FM 102/1)/Milwaukee 3.0-3.1, WROX (96X)/Norfolk 1.4-1.8, and WOKV-HD2 (X99.5)/Jacksonville 1.5-1.7.

More good news… Myra Dehais has joined Thirty Tigers as VP/Rock & Alternative Promotion. Myra was caught up in the Atlantic/Elektra merger last year The official press release with all the quotes is coming soon. In the meantime, you can congratulate Myra HERE.

So great to see Matt Pinfield posting on socials again as he continues to fight back from a stroke. Remarkably, Pinfield will make is first public appearance tomorrow.  

Green Day is getting honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame tomorrow (5/1) and Pinfield will be there to emcee the event held adjacent to Amoeba Music. It will be streamed live at 11:30am (PT) at www.walkoffame.com. 

The White Stripes and Soundgarden are among the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Class Of 2025. The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony happens on Saturday, November 8th in Los Angeles. See the list of 2025 Inductees HERE.

Real Estate announce The Wee Small Hours: B-Sides And Other Detritus 2011-2025 is coming September 19th.

Eddie Vedder, Hozier, Green Day are headlining Ohana Festival on September 26-28.

So sad to learn yesterday about the passing of Mike Peters of The Alarm. Find more details on Alternative Music Info.

New Music Friday Albums out this week from Blondshell, Briston Maroney, Car Seat Headrest, Lucius, NewDad, PUP, and Suzanne Vega.

Beachlife Festival is this weekend in Redondo Beach, CA! My old pal Christopher The Minister has L.A.-based indie alternative artist Devon Thompson making her festival debut this Sunday 5/4. Devon was discovered by The Minister and producer James Salter and was signed to their indie label Exquisite Feline. Beachlife Festival will be headlined by Lenny Kravitz (Friday 5/2), Sublime (Saturday 5/3), and Alanis Morissette (Sunday 5/4). Find the set times HERE.

ALTERNATIVE ALBUMS

New Albums Out This Friday 5/2

Blondshell – If You Asked For A Picture (Partisan)

Briston Maroney – JIMMY (Atlantic)

Car Seat Headrest – The Scholars (Matador/Beggars)

Lucius – Lucius (Fantasy/Concord)

NewDad – Safe (EP) (NewDad)

PUP – Who Will Look After The Dogs (Little Dipper/Rise)

Suzanne Vega – Flying With Angels (Cooking Vinyl)

MORE ALBUMS HERE

ALTERNATIVE GOING FOR ADDS

Impacting May 6, 2025

The Ataris “Car Song” (Regime Music Group) 

ROLE MODEL “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” (Interscope)

Mike Peters Of The Alarm Loses Long Battle With Cancer

Sad to report the passing of Mike Peters, the frontman of The Alarm, who lost his 30-year battle with cancer on April 28th. Peters was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1995 and later with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. His journey was one of resilience. He continued to tour and record music through multiple relapses, undergoing experimental treatments while using his platform to raise awareness and funds to help others affected by cancer. 

Last April, just before embarking on a 50-date US tour, he was diagnosed with Richter’s Syndrome, an aggressive form of lymphoma, and despite extensive treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, including a clinical trial and innovative CAR-T therapy, doctors were unable to prevent the cancer progressing.

A voice of defiance and hope both on and off the stage, Peters first rose to prominence in the early 1980s with The Alarm, whose powerful anthems like “Sixty Eight Guns”, “Strength”, “Rain In The Summertime” and Sold Me Down The River” helped define a generation of alternative rock. Known for their rallying cries and heartfelt lyrics, The Alarm garnered a devoted international following, with Peters’ raw vocals and commanding stage presence at the heart of it all over a music career that spanned five decades.

Peters refused to let his illness silence him. Instead, he turned his fight into a mission to help others. Alongside his wife Jules, he co-founded Love Hope Strength, a music-driven cancer charity that revolutionized awareness and action around stem cell donation. Through its innovative “Get On The List” campaigns has added over 250,000 people to the global stem cell registry and helped secure thousands of potential life-saving matches for patients worldwide. Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Peters never forgot his roots, often performing in support of Welsh causes and championing the community spirit of his homeland. Peters was 66 years old. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jules (58), and their sons, Dylan (20) and Evan (18).

Anyone wishing to donate to the Love Hope Strength Foundation can do so via Love Hope Strength Foundation – JustGivingPeters HERE.  

Watch the Mike Peters Tribute 1959-2025 video HERE.