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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.

BADFLOWER Hits No. 1

BADFLOWER is No. 1 at Active Rock this week.  According to the Mediabase chart updated tonight (Sunday, December 08), the band's latest single, "Detroit," moves into the top spot. I discussed the song with frontman Josh Katz a little while back. Read that full Q&A right here.  Breaking Benjamin, Jelly Roll, Linkin Park, Three Days Grace, HARDY, NOTHING MORE, Pop Evil, Scott Stapp, and Green Day round out the rest of this week's Active Rock Top 10. 

December 8th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

Week of December 09, 2024

Happy Birthday wishes to Alex Pappas (Finch) (Dec 09), Mikey Carvajal (Islander), Nick Martin (Sleeping With Sirens), Billy Rymer (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Freddy Morris (Roc Nation) (Dec 10); Samantha Maloney (ex-Hole, Motley Crue) (Dec 11); Chris Shields (10th Street), Keara McCauley (Warner Music Group), Andy Williams (ex-Every Time I Die), Ian Solomon (Merchnow) (Dec 12); Stephen Keech (Haste The Day), Jim Rota (Fireball Ministry) (Dec 14), Maxwell Green (ex-Escape The Fate), Ronnie Radke (Falling In Reverse) (Dec 15). 

December 8th, 2024|Birthdays, Rock|

Watch DUFF MCKAGAN At KLOS Helpful Honda Rock Room

Earlier this month, on November 12, GUNS N' ROSES and ex-VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan came to the KLOS Helpful Honda Rock Room (a "secret location" in Los Angeles) for an interview with television and radio veteran Matt Pinfield, followed by a set of solo songs. A video of his performance can be seen here.

November 26th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

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|

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|

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