LOU BRUTUS & RANDY HAWKE Acquire HardDrive Radio
Longtime host Lou Brutus and Programming and Content Director Randy Hawke acquired HardDrive Radio (including HardDrive and HardDrive XL) from its longstanding partners, United Stations Media Networks/Gemini XIII. The news comes via a press release from the duo's newly formed company, BruteHawk Industries. BruteHawke Industries also announced a strategic sales and distribution partnership with USMN/Gemini XIII. "The new partnership is perfect. It allows all of us to focus on what we do best," said Brutus. "We will continue to crush the world with loud music and the finest rock star interviews known to mankind, as well as lay waste to what
FROM ASHES TO NEW’s “Barely Breathing” Enters Active Rock Top 10
FROM ASHES TO NEW enters the Top 10 on this week's Mediabase Active Rock chart with "Barely Breathing." Lines Of Loyalty and Black Veil Brides have the biggest moves up the chart. Lines Of Loyalty’’s “Hurts To Be Human” (C3&B Entertainment) moves from No. 41 to No. 36, while BVB’s “Bleeders” (Spinefarm) jumps from No. 36 to No. 31. The Active Rock Top 40 also sees upward movement for Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, NOTHING MORE, Billy Morrison & Ozzy Osbourne, HARDY, The Warning, Motley Crue, Sleep Theory, Daughtry, Sum 41, Bad Omens, Wage War, Tim Montana, P.O.D., Fame
Original STAIND Drummer Jon Wysocki Has Died
Jon Wysocki, founding member of STAIND, passed away at age 53. The former drummer for STAIND's death was confirmed in a May 18 social media post from his most recent band, Lydia's Castle: “On 5/18/2024 at 8:02 pm, Jon Wysocki passed away surrounded by family and friends that loved him dearly."
Family Life Ministries To Acquire Three Townsquare FMs
Townsquare Media recently made a deal to sell three upstate New York classic rock stations to Family Life Ministries Radio. The stations include the classic rock simulcast of WTBD, Delhi, NY (97.5); WDHI, Delhi, NY (100.3); and WIYN, Deposit, NY (94.7). Townsquare applied to the FCC for STA (Special Temporary Authority) requests for those three signals in January. “Due to economic conditions in the market, the licensee was forced to take the station off the air temporarily,” Townsquare Media wrote. Family Life Ministries Radio acquired the stations for a reported $150,000. Family Life owns FM stations in upstate New York.
ONI Drops “Control”
ONI, the Active Rock band fronted by Jake Oni, premiered a brand new single, "Control." "Control" was written by Oni and producer Josh Gilbert, the former bassist for As I Lay Dying and current bassist in Spiritbox. After an exclusive debut via Sirius XM's Octane, "Control" is now available via YouTube and streaming DSPs. ONI's most recent album, The Silver Line, arrived last year. The band's touring history includes treks with Megadeth, Gojira, and Devin Townsend.
ANTHONY “ROACH” PROFFITT Out At Southwest Florida’s Rock 103.3 After Format Change
Anthony "Roach" Proffitt, a 16-year Southwest Florida Rock market fixture, has left Fort Myers' Rock 103.3. In a Facebook post shared last week, Roach wrote: "I'm sorry to say that Rock 103.3 is no longer part of rock radio in Southwest Florida." Sun Broadcasting launched Rock 103.3 on W377AP Bayshore/93.7 WHEL-HD2 Sanibel/Fort Myers in March 2022, overseen by Roach, former 93X WXNX Program Director. (Sun flipped WXNX to Country in September 2020.) Roughly two years later, Sun has now flipped 103.3 to Sports. "We left on amicable terms," Roach told #HAPPENS Shawn Alexander. Roach can be reached at his company,
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
