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Ryan J. Downey

Longtime journalist and manager, as seen and/or read: Billboard, MTV News, The Hollywood Reporter, MSNBC, Loudwire, and more.

LINKIN PARK’s ‘From Zero’ Debuts at No. 2

LINKIN PARK debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 this week. From Zero, the band's first album without the late Chester Bennington, lost the No. 1 position on the Top 200 (which includes streaming equivalent albums) and Top Album Sales to Korean boy band ATEEZ but topped the Rock Charts with an otherwise impressive first week. From Zero did 72,000 in traditional physical and digital album sales, 24,000 in streaming album equivalents, and 1000 in track equivalent albums for a first-week number of 97,000, according to Luminate.  From Zero was made available in eleven vinyl editions (multiple color variants,

November 25th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

Week of November 25, 2024

Birthday wishes to Mario Rubio (5B), Jasper Schuurmans Stekhoven (Northern Music) (Nov. 26); Michele Stephens (ex-BMG), Matt Messer (El Camino Media) (Nov. 27); Jesper Strömblad (The Halo Effect) (Nov. 28); Bryan Sheffield (Photographer), JJ Casseire (33 & West) (Nov. 29); Nick Hipa (ex-As I Lay Dying) (Nov. 30); Chris Enriquez (Revolver) and Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald (publicist) (Dec 1). 

November 25th, 2024|Birthdays, Rock|

In Conversation with SPLIT PERSONA’s Zander Joel

I chatted with ZANDER JOEL of the young Las Vegas rock band SPLIT PERSONA. We talked about his parents, Guitar Hero, Van Halen, and Foo Fighters, writing songs in high school, moving from Truckee, California, to Reno, Nevada, and then Las Vegas, their harrowing first tour, and their brand new single, ‘Hypo.’ RYAN J. DOWNEY: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPOSURE TO MUSIC? ZANDER JOEL: I grew up in a diverse music-listening household. My mom was a big fan of Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, and The Rolling Stones. My dad was into heavier stuff like Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy Osbourne.

November 21st, 2024|Interviews, Rock|

KAT MYKALS Takes Over Loudwire Weekend

Loudwire Weekend has a new host.  “I am beyond excited to share that I am the new host of Loudwire Weekends and will be NATIONALLY SYNDICATED on more than 30 rock stations all across the country every Saturday and Sunday night from 7p to midnight," KAT MYKALS revealed on Instagram. "I’m not leaving Evansville, and everything else will stay the same. I’ll still be on during the week from 3p – 7p (CT), and I’ll still be out and about in the community supporting our nonprofit and emceeing events.” “This is a tremendous opportunity that 20-something Kat would have never

November 21st, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

FEVER 333 & STARSET Hit Hot Hard Rock Songs Chart

FEVER 333 and STARSET have new entries on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart this week.  The chart, which measures streaming, sales, and airplay, began in 2020. Linkin Park has spent ten weeks at No. 1 with "The Emptiness Machine." The release of From Zero sees "Two Faced" debut at No. 7, and the Mike Shinoda / Emily Armstrong-only version of "Heavy is the Crown" at No. 14.  STARSET's "Dystopia" is new this week at No. 17, while FEVER 333's "Hellfire" debuts at No. 18.  Here's the entire chart:  Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine”  Linkin Park “Heavy is the Crown” 

November 19th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE Tour Sells Out, Second LA Show Added

All 365,000 tickets for My Chemical Romance’s “Long Live" The Black Parade 2025 North American Stadium Tour sold out in a few hours last Friday. (Like the Oasis on-sale, plenty of fans are now mad at Ticketmaster.) Since then, they’ve added a second night in Los Angeles, at Dodger Stadium, on Sunday, July 27, 2025.

November 19th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

Week of November 17, 2024

Birthday wishes to Colin Richardson (producer), Kevin Welk (Welk Music Group), Keith Buckley (Many Eyes), Maria Gonzalez (publicist) (Nov 19); Tucker Rule (Thursday), Alex Lopez (P.O.D.), Joann Gullo (Extreme Management Group), Bob Lugowe (Brutal Panda Records) (Nov 20); Jon Wiederhorn (journalist) (Nov 21); Jimmy Throgmorton (Opera Ghost) (Nov 23); and Frank Godla (Metal Injection) (Nov 24). 

November 17th, 2024|Birthdays, Rock|

In Conversation with VELVET CHAINS’ Nils Goldschmidt

A conversation with Nils Goldschmidt, bassist of Las Vegas rock band VELVET CHAINS.  RYAN J. DOWNEY: Tell me about your first exposure to music. NILS GOLDSCHMIDT: I grew up in Chile and moved here [in my late teens]. My first exposure to music was probably when my mom put me in violin lessons at five years old. I didn’t quite enjoy playing violin – the girls aren’t interested in a violin player. Guns N’ Roses was the first band to really hit me. Did you find later in life that the violin lessons were helpful? NILS : Yes. I always

November 12th, 2024|Interviews, Rock|

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