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Roc Nation Announces ROC Nation distribution Following the Merger of Roc Nation Label and Equity Distribution

Today, Roc Nation announces the merger of its Roc Nation Label and Equity Distribution (EQ) divisions to form ROC Nation distribution, a platform and destination for artists, led by the artist’s needs, interest and focus.

By merging these divisions, blending the business and recreating the formula, ROC Nation distribution will sign up any artist at any time to allow creatives to avail themselves of technology, music business expertise and freedom.

ROC Nation distribution is a hybrid, offering a unique blend of services. Artists who partner with ROC Nation distribution are independent, retain ownership of their master’s and creative control of their art. Artists also receive data analytics from a proprietary dashboard and have the ability to opt into various services across the company. We will sign all artists in all genres around the world.

Roc Nation was founded with an independent spirit and an artist-first mentality. The formation of ROC Nation distribution is a natural transition in the music space. The mission is to support and empower independent artists while providing them the tools and services to distribute their music. All artists signed to Roc Nation Label will join and benefit from the new ROC Nation distribution structure.

The music industry is undergoing a significant transformation. The rise of direct music distribution channels, combined with the influence of social media, has reshaped the traditional landscape. These developments have created a direct connection between artists and consumers, empowering artists to take greater control of promotion, marketing, creative direction, and business development.

How fans engage with artists and music has transformed the industry and reshaped our approach to music consumption. To join ROC Nation distribution go to:  rocnation.com/signup

Foreigner Celebrates Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction with Career-Spanning Set ‘Turning Back the Time,’ Featuring New Song by Mick Jones and Lou Gramm

Foreigner, one of the most successful bands in music history, will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 19. In celebration of this much-deserved honor, the band will release a career-spanning collection that includes “Turning Back The Time,” a previously unreleased track originally recorded in 1996 featuring Mick Jones and Lou Gramm.

On October 4, Rhino will release Turning Back The Time in 2-LP and CD configurations. The music will also be available from digital and streaming platforms on the same day. The new single “Turning Back The Time” debuts today.

“Foreigner’s membership in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a priceless highlight of my career. I hope that this collection of the songs that brought us here, along with some later recordings that light our way forward, will mean as much to all who listen to them as they do to me,” says Mick Jones.

“There are a number of songs that Lou Gramm and I wrote together that have never seen the light of day. One of them, “Turning Back The Time”, was co-written with Marti Frederiksen. Marti and I recently revisited and reworked the song. Because of the time that had passed, we were able to go back to it with a fresh perspective. The sentiment of the song spoke to us now more than ever and with the upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, we thought it an ideal time to let the world hear it.”

Starting with its self-titled debut in 1977, Foreigner delivered some of rock’s most enduring anthems. Turning Back The Time includes the Top 10 hits “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” and “Urgent.” The set also features the ballads “Waiting For A Girl Like You” and “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which reached No. 2 and No. 1 respectively.

The collection mainly draws from Foreigner’s first six albums, all of which earned platinum status or higher: Foreigner (5x platinum), Double Vision (7x platinum), Head Games (5x platinum), 4 (6x platinum), Agent Provocateur (3x platinum), and Inside Information (platinum). Mick Jones started work on reforming Foreigner in 2004 and that band, led by Kelly Hansen on vocals, is featured with songs from Feels Like The First Time (platinum). To date, Foreigner has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, cementing its status as one of the top-selling bands of all time.

Mick Jones continues to elevate FOREIGNER’s influence and guide the band to new horizons with his stylistic songwriting, indelible guitar hooks and multi-layered talents. Lead singer Kelly Hansen, one of rock’s greatest showmen, has led FOREIGNER into the digital age, inspiring a whole new generation of fans. Bassist Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, guitarist Bruce Watson, Chris Frazier on drums, and guitarist Luis Maldonado provide an unprecedented level of energy that has resulted in the re-emergence of the astounding music that speaks to FOREIGNER‘s enduring popularity.

With more Billboard Top 10 hits than Journey and just as many as Fleetwood Mac, FOREIGNER is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 80 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems, including “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Say You Will,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Long, Long Way From Home” and the worldwide #1 hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” FOREIGNER still rocks the charts more than 40 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard Top 200 album success. Streams of FOREIGNER’s hits exceed 15 million per week.

Turning Back The Time
2-LP Track Listing
LP One: Side One
1. “Feels Like The First Time”
2. “Cold As Ice”
3. “Long, Long Way From Home”
4. “Hot Blooded”
5. “Double Vision”
Side Two
1. “Dirty White Boy”
2. “Head Games”
3. “Urgent”
4. “Waiting For A Girl Like You”
LP Two: Side One
1. “Juke Box Hero”
2. “Girl On The Moon”
3. “I Want To Know What Love Is”
4. “That Was Yesterday”
Side Two
1. “Say You Will”
2. “Can’t Slow Down”
3. “When It Comes To Love”
4. “The Flame Still Burns”
5. “Turning Back The Time”

Turning Back The Time
CD Track Listing
1. “Feels Like The First Time”
2. “Cold As Ice”
3. “Long, Long Way From Home”
4. “Hot Blooded”
5. “Double Vision”
6. “Dirty White Boy”
7. “Head Games”
8. “Urgent”
9. “Waiting For A Girl Like You”
10. “Juke Box Hero”
11. “Girl On The Moon”
12. “I Want To Know What Love Is”
13. “That Was Yesterday”
14. “Say You Will”
15. “Can’t Slow Down”
16. “When It Comes To Love”
17. “The Flame Still Burns”
18. “Turning Back The Time”

Barenaked Ladies Celebrate 20th Anniversary of ‘Barenaked for the Holidays’ with Vinyl Debut

This holiday season, fans of legendary rockers Barenaked Ladies are in for a treat with the worldwide vinyl debut of their bestselling album, Barenaked for the Holidays. First released in 2004, the 20-track album blends original tunes (“Christmas Pics”, “Hanukkah Blessings”, “Green Christmas”) and seasonal classics (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “I Have a Little Dreidel”, “Auld Lang Syne”), with a heavy dash of the band’s signature wit. Adding a twist of holiday magic are special guests Michael Bublé and Sarah McLachlan, who lend their vocals to “Elf’s Lament” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”/“We Three Kings”, respectively.

Arriving October 18, Barenaked for the Holidays will be available in classic black vinyl via Warner Music Canada here, and Candy Cane Split (exclusively through the band’s official store) available to pre-order here.

Long beloved for their quick wit and hook-filled blend of alt-rock, pop, and folk, Barenaked Ladies (aka BNL) became international sensations in the late ’90s, thanks to a slew of memorable hit singles. But the Scarborough, ON band had been fixtures in the Canadian music scene for nearly a decade by then. Formed in 1988, BNL gained notoriety three years later when their self-titled demo tape (featuring the fan favourite, “If I Had $1000000”) became the first independent release to be certified Gold in Canada. That success led to a record deal and a string of best-selling albums, including 1992’s Gordon and 1994’s Maybe You Should Drive.

It was 1998’s multi-platinum-selling Stunt, however, that catapulted BNL to the next level, thanks to such massive hits as “It’s All Been Done”, “Call and Answer”, and the US No.1, “One Week”. The band enjoyed their superstar status over the next few years—releasing their best-selling follow-up, 2000’s Maroon (featuring “Pinch Me”); performing at the 2002 Winter Olympics; securing songs on major TV shows and soundtracks; and touring the globe several times over. But by the mid-aughts, after the release of their sixth studio album, Everything to Everyone (2003), the band was eager to return to their indie roots—a move they made with 2004’s Barenaked for the Holidays. The album served as the launching pad for their independently owned label and ushered in a fresh chapter for BNL while serving as a jolly gift to their fans.

Offering something for everyone, BNL’s sole holiday release features 20 tracks that range from Christmas classics and Hanukkah favourites to original ditties about the joys of winter and beyond—many of which are made even jollier, thanks to BNL’s humourous spirit. Opening Barenaked for the Holidays is a measured rendition of “Jingle Bells”. Halfway through, BNL breaks into the parody version (“Jingle bells/Batman smells/Robin laid an egg…”), setting the tone for the album.

The group takes a more traditional approach to songs like “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah”, “Auld Lang Syne”, “I Have a Little Dreidel”, and Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, while an organ-based instrumental of “Carol of the Bells” (accented with harmonized hums from the band) is a refreshing take on the Yuletide classic. On the other end of the spectrum—in one of the album’s most hilarious moments—is “Deck the Stills” in which BNL breaks into a 30-second acapella interlude, singing “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young” to the tune of “Deck the Halls.”

Nearly half of the album is comprised of original material, including the earwormy “Green Christmas” (which appears in the 1999 Ron Howard film How the Grinch Stole Christmas), “Hanukkah Blessings”, “Christmas Pics”, and the reflective “Footprints”. The whimsical “Elf’s Lament” meanwhile, features a cameo by a then-relatively unknown Michael Bublé—fresh off his first JUNO win for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The band is also joined by the celebrated singer/songwriter Sarah McLaughlan, who lends her voice to an upbeat medley of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”/“We Three Kings”.

Peppered throughout Barenaked for the Holidays is a selection of synth-y instrumental interludes, built around beats programmed on a classic Casio keyboard. They include a bossa nova-infused rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, an up-tempo take on “O Holy Night”, and a cover of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” (which ends with a hidden round of “Happy Birthday” to Jesus himself).

Released in October 2004, Barenaked for the Holidays was embraced by fans and critics alike, earning a gold record in Canada, where it landed in the Top 30, and receiving high marks from the likes of Rolling Stone, who gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising, “Tapping into their inner child, the Barenaked Ladies make the holidays fun again.” AllMusic hailed, “The arrangements are nimble and…clever,” calling it, “more interesting and distinctive than the average holiday record.” PopMatters simply declared it to be, “silly, rollicking, goofy, and fun.”

Speaking on the album, co-founder Ed Robertson says, “Barenaked for the Holidays is a record I’m very proud of. It was fun taking a stab at a few holiday classics, but I think the real strength of the record is the original songs. ‘Footprints’ and ‘Snowman’ are among my favourites I’ve ever written. It’s always fun to revisit these songs around the holidays every year. It’s the only original music that we ONLY play for one month every year!!”

20 years later, Barenaked Ladies—which features Robertson (vocals, guitar), Jim Creeggan (bass, vocals), Tyler Stewart (drums, vocals), and Kevin Hearn (keyboards, guitar, vocals)—continues to hold a unique place in the modern pop canon. Over the course of 35 years, the beloved quartet has sold over 15 million records worldwide and built up an arsenal of hits such as “If I Had $1,000,000,” “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme.” Widely acknowledged as one of the best live acts on the planet, BNL has hosted a cruise, had their own Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour, and participated in the first-ever “space-to-Earth musical collaboration” with astronaut Chris Hadfield. To date, BNL has amassed eight JUNO Awards, garnered two GRAMMY nominations and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In September of 2023, the band released In Flight, their 18th studio album.

This fall, BNL are on an extensive tour in support of their latest album, In Flight. Fans can catch them across North America with shows through the fall. Scroll down to see a list of dates or visit the band’s website for tickets and more info.

Track Listing (Vinyl)
Side A:
01. Jingle Bells
02. Green Christmas
03. I Saw Three Ships
04. Hanukkah Blessings
05. O Holy Night
06. Elf’s Lament (with Michael Bublé)
07. Snowman
08. Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Side B:
01. Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
02. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings (with Sarah McLachlan)
03. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
04. Carol Of The Bells
05. Footprints
06. Deck The Stills
07. Christmastime (Oh Yeah)
08. Sleigh Ride
09. Christmas Pics
10. I Have A Little Dreidel
11. Wonderful Christmastime
12. Auld Lang Syne

Barenaked Ladies North American Tour Dates:
September 1: Vancouver, Canada – Pacific Coliseum
September 16: Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre
September 17: Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater
September 18: Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater
September 20: Albuquerque, NM – Revel
September 21: Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater
September 22: Vail, CO – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
September 24: Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
September 25: Chesterfield, MO – The Factory at the District
September 27: Pittsburgh, PA – Rivers Casino Events Center
September 28: Charles Town, WV – Hollywood Casino Events Center
September 29: Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling Festival
October 1: Brookville, NY – Tilles Center
October 2: Rochester, NY – Kodak Center
October 4: French Lick, IN – French Lick Resort
October 6: Umatilla, OR – Rock The Locks
October 17: Columbia, SC – Township Auditorium
October 18: Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
October 19: Augusta, GA –Bell Auditorium
October 21: Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater
October 22: Fort Myers, FL – Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
October 23: Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound
October 25: Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium
October 26: Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
October 27: Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 29: Ames, IA – Stephens Auditorium
October 30: Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center Auditorium
November 1: Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Theater
November 2: Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre
November 3: Sioux Falls, SD – Washington Pavilion
November 6: Duluth, MN – DECC Symphony Hall
November 7: Madison, WI – Overture Center for the Arts
November 8: Mount Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

Why The Go-Go’s ‘Vacation’ Album Commercial is the Ultimate Summer Throwback We All Need Right Now

Remember when music commercials were as iconic as the albums themselves? The Go-Go’s nailed that vibe with their 1982 commercial for the Vacation album, and it’s a time capsule of pure, unfiltered ‘80s fun.

ABBA’s ‘Money, Money, Money’ and ‘Happy Hawaii’: The Australian-Produced Gems from Down Under That You Need to See

What do you get when you combine the infectious melodies of ABBA with the vibrant creativity of Australian animators in 1977? Pure magic! The animated music videos for “Money, Money, Money” and “Happy Hawaii” are not just a feast for the ears but a visual treat that takes you on a whimsical journey through the world of ABBA. Exclusively animated in Australia, these cartoons capture the playful spirit of the songs. These two animated gems were actually a test run for what could have been an Australian ABBA cartoon show, much like the popular Osmonds and Jackson Five cartoon series from the ‘70s. While the show itself never got the green light, another theory suggests these cartoons were intended as standalone clips for distribution to children’s magazine-style programs, similar to how music videos were shared with pop shows. Regardless of their original purpose, these two animated videos for “Money, Money, Money” and “Happy Hawaii” stand as unique, colorful tributes to ABBA’s timeless appeal.

Gene Krupa’s Electrifying Drum Solo in ‘Glamour Girl’ From 1948 Is The Definition of Coolness

If you’ve ever wondered what pure rhythm looks like, just watch Gene Krupa’s jaw-dropping drumming scene in the 1948 film Glamour Girl. In a few electrifying minutes, Krupa doesn’t just play the drums—he becomes the drums.

My Next Read: “Health and Safety – A Breakdown” By Emily Witt

Canadian Kiefer O’Reilly on Hallmark, Buddy Love and Vancouver

Photo courtesy of Premiere Talent Management

By Scott Campbell

Canadian Kiefer O’Reilly remembers – sort of – his first role appearing on screen.

“When Calls the Heart,” he said, the character’s name was Ephraim Noonan. “It was a Hallmark TV show. I had two lines. It was something about a funnel cake. That’s all I remember.”

Although O’Reilly’s experience with the show was brief, When Calls the Heart is still running. It was recently renewed for a twelfth season.

O’Reilly took the Hallmark wave into Christmas movies and featured in two – Time for You to Come Home for Christmas (2019) and Holiday Road (2023).

“There’s a huge following to those types of things,” he said. “There’s apparently a ‘Comic Con’ sort of thing just for Hallmark. A bunch of people go to that.”

(There’s an upcoming Christmas Con 2024 in Edison, Jersey, set for December and features appearances by Hallmark stars.)

“Holiday Road, we shot that last summer,” said O’Reilly. “It was really fun to work on. It didn’t feel like a Hallmark movie. Holiday Road, I felt, took it more as a comedy first. There are still many aspects of love and relationships like every good Hallmark movie.”

The synopsis of Holiday Road reads: “Stranded at an airport, a group of holiday travellers agrees to rent a van for a road trip to Denver. When their unexpected journey leads them into uncharted territory, they must navigate a series of misadventures that brings them closer together.”

BUDDY LOVE

Hallmark may make an impression, but it’s not O’Reilly’s big 2024 news. He is now a short film award winner. His project, Buddy Love, recently won at the London Global Film Awards with ‘Best Short Film,’ ‘Best Director,’ and Honorable Mention for ‘Best Screenplay.’

And who was the director? Kiefer O’Reilly.

“That was super fun to film,” he said. “Tom Cavanagh was insane to direct, and I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. It was a little bit surreal directing him.”

“I’m super proud of Buddy Love. I saw a lot of the other short films and I was a little bit surprised on how much it is winning.”

“The quick gist of the story,” said O’Reilly. “This guy Henry (played by Geoff Gustafson) whose wife passed away a long time ago. He hasn’t gotten over her. With the help of a robot (voiced by Cavanagh), who comes from this dating service, he helps rekindle love, but kind of in a different way, hopefully, you wouldn’t expect.”

O’Reilly hopes Buddy Love will be out on YouTube soon, along with other platforms. The short film has been in festivals for nearly a year now, but not many of his friends and family have watched it. The project, he said, had to have a festival run for a year before it could be released.

O’Reilly says a short film can be 40 minutes or two minutes. But the sweet spot is in the 12 to 20-minute range. Buddy Love runs for about 13 minutes.

“You don’t have the audience’s attention for an hour and a half,” he said,”because they are sitting down to watch a short film. If they want to watch a movie, they would watch an hour and a half movie.”

“Piper, the Pixar short film, is like 2 minutes, and it’s so good. There are ways you tell a story that are very short or very long. It is honestly up to the story.”

VANCOUVER

Buddy Love shot in Vancouver, where O’Reilly is from.

O’Reilly is a Vancouver Canucks fan, even with his claim of being part of Mighty Ducks history. He played on the Disney Plus series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. But he has since lined up other projects, too.

“I wrapped Playdate with Kevin James. He’s great to work with and super funny. You can tell he’s super passionate about the stuff he works on and wants to get it right. He would be doing different stuff over and over…I learned a lot from someone from that scale. There’s Happy Face and (an episode of) Alert.”

The day of the interview was O’Reilly’s birthday. He had turned 17 and was soon to get his license.

“I’m not a big cake guy,” he said. “I don’t like cake at all, if I’m being honest. I know it’s a hot take.”

Greenbank Senior Public School’s 1978 Rendition of Blood, Sweat & Tears “Spinning Wheel”

In 1978, the talented students of Greenbank Senior Public School came together to deliver a performance that’s nothing short of magical—a joyful, spirited take on the Blood, Sweat & Tears classic, “Spinning Wheel.” With a school band and choir that could rival professionals, these young Canadian musicians captured the essence of the song with an energy and enthusiasm that’s downright infectious.

Al Jourgensen’s Shasta Jingle: The Unbelievable Pop Gem from Ministry’s Mastermind

Before he redefined the sound of industrial metal with Ministry, Al Jourgensen was secretly crafting one of the most infectious pop jingles of the 80s—the Shasta jingle! The same genius behind the heaviest, darkest tracks in music history also gave us the bubbly, feel-good anthem that had everyone singing about their favorite soda in 1983.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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