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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 Returns

Emily Armstrong is the new co-vocalist of Linkin Park. The band announced the addition of Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain on Thursday, September 5, 2024.  The news coincided with a new single and music video, a global livestream, and the unveiling of a forthcoming album and a half-dozen arena shows set for Los Angeles, New York, London, Hamburg, Seoul, and Bogota. Armstrong is best known as the singer for Dead Sara, whose most recent album, Ain't It Tragic, was released by Warner Records in 2021.  Brittain's extensive credits as a songwriter and producer in the rock world include work with 5

September 5th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

Allison Hagendorf & Chris Cantore Join Skratch ‘N Sniff Radio

The weekly syndicated rock mix show Skratch 'N Sniff has grown by two.  Allison Hagendorf will join on-air host Malcolm Ryder on the two-hour show, which is syndicated on over 55 stations across the Alternative and Active Rock formats. SoCal alt-radio vet Chris Cantore will also join as producer.  Ryker's experience as Creative Director at Alt 98.7 in Los Angeles and Senior Creative Director for Rock and Alternative at iHeartMedia has made Skratch 'N Sniff a go-to show for Rock and Alternative listeners.  Last year, Allison launched The Allison Hagendorf Show, a weekly video podcast series. She is the former

September 5th, 2024|Alternative, News Updates, News Updates, Rock|

Week of September 2, 2024

Happy Birthday wishes to Tim “Yogi” Watts (Demon Hunter), Bob Chiappardi (Concrete Marketing), and Cindy Frey (photographer) (September 5); Anthony Lauletta (Z2 Comics), Dionne Kemp (Jasi Entertainment Group), and Carl Severson (Good Fight) (September 6); Andrew Haug, Jared Willig (Townsquare Media), Tara Bouillet (Redrock Entertainment), DIAMANTE, Veronica Pulcini (Not Mine Projects), Finn Mckenty (The Punk Rock MBA), Chris Beattie (Hatebreed), and Corey Pierce (God Forbid) (September 7); and Jay Weinberg (Suicidal Tendencies) (September 8). 

September 5th, 2024|Birthdays, Rock|

WES STYLES Exits Bloomington’s Rock 96.7

Wes Styles vacates his position as OM/PD of Neuhoff's three-station group in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, effective this weekend.    The longtime programmer oversaw Active Rock WIHN (Rock 96.7) as well as Adult Hits WBBE and Hot AC WVHX (which are being sold to Woodward Community Media) since February 2019.    Styles announced the news via Facebook, writing, in part, "I have accepted a job out of state and will be leaving the weekend of Sept. 13. I want to say thank you to the team I've worked with at Neuhoff Media (too many to mention). Also thank you to anyone who

September 4th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

METALLICA Gives $100k to Seattle Non-Profits

Metallica finished the 2024 North American run of the M72 world tour over the weekend with two shows in Seattle, Washington.  With the help of the fans in attendance at Lumen Field, Metallica committed $100,000 to four organizations: Food Lifeline, Elizabeth Gregory Home, Jubilee Women’s Center, and Support+Feed. From the group's press release:  "Food Lifeline is on a mission to end hunger in Western Washington, providing nutritious food to 1.37 million people facing hunger. Distributing through a network of 350 food banks, shelters, and meal programs, the organization provides the equivalent of more than 282K meals every day. Food Lifeline simultaneously works to end

September 3rd, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

FALLING IN REVERSE Dominates Billboard Rock Charts

The Ronnie Radke-led Falling In Reverse dropped Popular Monster, their first album since 2017, last week.   Featuring the double-platinum title track (first released in late 2019) and gold-certified singles "ZOMBIFIED" (2022), "Voices in My Head" (2022), and "Watch the World Burn," the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Current Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. Popular Monster is No. 12 on the all-genre Billboard 200.    Falling In Reverse recently performed their biggest headlining show yet in Salt Lake City, Utah, for a reported 15,000 fans. Jelly Roll joined the band onstage to perform “All My

August 27th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

Week of August 26, 2024

Happy Birthday wishes to Jim Riley (The Ghost Inside) (August 27); Jeremy Wagner (Broken Hope), Matt Carter (Emery) (August 28); Jadd Shickler (Magnetic Eye Records), Hillary Melin (The Recording Academy), Tom Osborn (Easy Eye Sound) (August 29); Geoff Firebaugh (Hillbilly Casino), Matt Byrne (Hatebreed), and Gene Hoglan (Dethklok) (August 31).   

August 27th, 2024|Birthdays, Rock|

JAVE PATTERSON Joins South Carolina’s Active WTPT & Classic Rock WROG

Jave Patterson is back on the air.  He tells us he's joined Audacy in Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina as a PT/Weekend/Fill-in talent for Active WTPT and Classic Rock WROG.  "No official press release or statement, but I'm super happy to be back rockin' the airwaves and stream waves," he told #HAPPENS.  Patterson spent close to 25 years with Lotus Radio Corp. in Reno, Nevada, most recently as Operations Manager. 

August 27th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

A DAY TO REMEMBER Announce Fall Tour

A Day To Remember kicks off this fall's Couple More Shows tour on October 17 in Las Vegas.  The short trek will see the Florida band supported by August Burns Red and Stand Atlantic.  ADTR (sans the two support acts) will also perform at this year's When We Were Young Festival.  The tour dates are as follows:  10/17 - Las Vegas, NV - Fountainebleau Las Vegas 10/19 - Las Vegas, NV - When We Were Young Festival  10/20 - Las Vegas, NV - When We Were Young Festival  10/23 – Wichita, KS – Wave ICT 10/25 – Cincinnati, OH –

August 27th, 2024|News Updates, Rock|

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