Week of 05/13/2024
Happy Birthday wishes to Hunter Burgan (AFI), Sean Akhavan (The Used & Atreyu manager) (May 14); Alex Hackford (Playstation), Michael Scoville (One King Down), Adam Mott (BMG) (May 15); Scott Reeder (Fireball Ministry/The Obsessed), Oscar Martinez (Rebellion Republic), Sonny Sandoval (P.O.D.), Dawn Marshman (Live Nation) (May 16); Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers (Big Picture Media), Dallas Taylor (Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster), (May 17); Morgan Freed (Emo Nite), Karen Rocco (NAMM), Julie Weir (Music For Nations) (May 18); Andy Marsh (Thy Art Is Murder), Greg Siegel (Live Nation), Mike D’Antonio (Killswitch Engage), and Zach Merch (video director) (May 19).
NICK WALTERS-OCEAN Named Out Of Line Music EVP/General Manager
German-based label OUT OF LINE Music appointed long-time music executive Nick Walters-Ocean as Executive Vice President of A&R / General Manager of North America. Ocean will build the label’s new U.S. home base in Miami, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The independently owned label houses artists such as Ten56., Cane Hill, Emarosa, True North, Being As An Ocean, Novelists, Combichrist, Villain of the Story, and more. Nick played an integral role throughout his 14-year tenure at Sumerian Records, working with artists like Bad Omens, Asking Alexandria, and Des Rocs. “OUT OF LINE Music is the perfect name and fit for
METALLICA Scores Fourth Consecutive Mainstream Rock No. 1
Metallica's “Screaming Suicide” tops the chart dated May 18, following previous 72 Seasons No. 1s “Too Far Gone?” (one week in November 2023), “72 Seasons” (two weeks last July) and “Lux Æterna” (11 weeks beginning in December 2022), according to Billboard. Metallica now has 14 No. 1 singles on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Only Shinedown (19) and Three Days Grace (17) have more chart-toppers in the chart's 43-year history. Metallica is tied for number three with Five Finger Death Punch and Foo Fighters. Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay: 19, Shinedown 17, Three Days Grace 14, Five Finger Death Punch
SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM A&R PETE GANBARG Launches Pure Tone Records
Pete Ganbarg launches Pure Tone Records, a joint venture with Atlantic Records. The GRAMMY Award-winning A&R executive will continue to A&R a handful of acts on the Atlantic Music Group roster, including Shinedown, Halestorm, and twenty one pilots, among others. Platinum-selling Canadian singer Forest Blakk, previously signed to Atlantic by Ganbarg, is Pure Tone's first official signing. An A&R veteran with 35 years of experience, Ganbarg started at Atlantic in 2008 as EVP of A&R and became President of A&R in 2018. Ganbarg personally signed and/or worked with the above-mentioned artists and Jason Mraz, Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez, Skillet, Matchbox
Rock Radio Veterans Set for 9th Annual LA Reunion
The 9th Annual Music Industry Reunion will be held on May 22, 2024, at Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, California. Pas Music Industry Reunion events in New York and Los Angeles brought together hundreds of industry folks from rock radio, management, publicity, and marketing firms. A special experience this year will celebrate the lives of three departed pioneering free-form rock DJs who passed away: Jim Ladd (KMET, KLOS, SiriusXM, KLSX, KNAC); Geno Michellini (KLOS, KOME, KMEL, KFI, KLSX); and Dusty Street (KROQ, KSAN, KLOS, SiriusXM, KMPX). Advance tickets are available here. Connect with The Music Industry Reunion via
STEVE ALBINI (1962 – 2024)
Steve Albini passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at his home in Chicago, Illinois. Steve recorded (he hated the term “produced”) essential albums from Nirvana, Pixies, and PJ Harvey. His extensive discography also includes work with Failure, The Breeders, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Superchunk, Helmet, Jawbreaker, Dazzling Killmen, Jesus Lizard, Neurosis, and many others. He fronted Big Black from 1981 to 1987 and the short-lived band Rapeman. In 1992, he formed Shellac with Todd Trainer and Bob Weston. A new Shellac record, To All Trains, was already scheduled for release next week via Touch & Go Records. I spent some
FALLING IN REVERSE Announce First Album Since 2017
The brand-new Falling In Reverse single “Ronald” features rapper Tech N9ne and Slaughter To Prevail frontman Alex Terrible. The track is set to appear on Falling In Reverse’s first album since 2017’s Coming Home. Popular Monster, arriving on Epitaph Records on July 26, will contain the double-platinum title track, as well as the gold-certified singles “ZOMBIFIED,” “Voices in My Head,” and “Watch the World Burn.” The track listing also includes “Last Resort - Reimagined,” “Ronald,” and five more songs. Popular Monster tracklist: Prequel Popular Monster All My Life Ronald (feat. Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible) Voices In My Head
BEARTOOTH Scores Second Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart No. 1
Beartooth notched their second No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay single in six months. “I Was Alive,” which went to No. 1 at Active Rock last week (and remains there a second week), is No. 1 on the May 11-dated Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The Caleb Shomo-led band first cracked the chart in 2015 with “Beaten in Lips,” which peaked at No. 33. “Hated” (2017) and “Disease”) (2018) both hit the Top 10. “I Was Alive” and their previous No. 1, "Might Love Myself," both appear on the band’s fifth album, The Surface, which debuted at No.
Week of 05/06/2024
Happy Rock Birthdays to Jeff Abarta (Epitaph Records), Dewey Halpaus (Peer Pleasure Podcast), Mark O’ Connell (Taking Back Sunday), Joey Bradford (The Used), Gary Tovar (Goldenvoice), and Carl Schultz (Action! PR) (05/06); Jesse Zuretti (Dååth) and Sammi Chichester (Revolver Magazine) (05/07); Jackie Andersen (SharpTone Records), Ricky Butt (Down Right Merch), and Daniel Weyandt (Zao) (05/09); Jamie Graham (Unique Leader Records) (05/10); Perttu Kivilaakso (Apocalyptica) (05/11); Tim Plumley (Universal Music) and Marta Demmel (Bleeding Through) (05/12).
RICH SHERTENLIEB Joins WZLX Boston
Former 98.5 The Sports Hub morning drive co-host Rich Shertenlieb will take over the morning show at WZLX Boston. The iHeartMedia classic rock format station parted ways with Pete McKenzie and Heather Ford less than a year after Kevin Karlson's sudden passing. The three co-hosts had been part of the WZLX lineup since 2005. “First and foremost, we’d like to thank Pete McKenzie and Heather Ford for all the laughter, wild stories, and fun moments they have brought to Boston morning radio over the years,” a message played on air Monday morning said, as reported by the Boston
