Alan Cross
The Future of Music With Radio Legend Alan Cross - Ep. 33: The Music Biz Weekly Podcast
Nov1011:19 PM
Filed in: Podcast
Alan Cross is a Canadian radio broadcaster and a music writer… and admitted professional musical geek. He started in radio in 1980 and moved on to become Program Director at The Edge in Toronto, then the Senior Program Director for Corus Interactive and then Head Curator for Explore Music. His radio show The Ongoing History of New Music debuted in February 1993 and since then it’s… well, it's taken on a life of its own. There have been over 690 one-hour episodes... making it the longest-running music documentary in Canada and one of the longest in North America—if not the world!
Alan also has a weekly national column in the Metro newspaper and most recently has not only started a brand new radio show, The Secret History of Rock (Astral Radio), but he's also become the new voice of Aux.tv.
So click play and join us music nerds as we chat about music, technology and the shifting tides in the entertainment industry.
You can subscribe to The Music Biz Weekly Podcast on iTunes here, listen to it on Soundcloud here, or use the player below.
Click To Read More...
Satellite Radio and Social Media: A Discussion
Jun3009:58 AM
Filed in: Opinion
Today we bring you yet another music industry video discussion, care of AUX.tv.
This discussion features Alan Cross, David Marsden, AUX Weekly's Barry Taylor and Jay "Mad Dog" Michaels from Virgin Radio. Find out how satellite radio compares to terrestrial radio and how the new technology of social media is keeping the 'older' radio technology fresh.
Is Satellite Radio really the lazy man's iPod? Watch the video below for this intriguing discussion and leave your comments and thoughts below!
Click To Read More...
The Role Of The Radio DJ: A Discussion
Jun2910:05 AM
Filed in: Opinion
We're happy to bring you another video from AUX TV featuring Alan Cross from Explore Music, David Marsden, AUX Weekly's Barry Taylor and Jay "Mad Dog" Michaels from Virgin Radio.
In this roundtable discussion, the panelists discuss the role of the radio DJ as gatekeepers of music - what freedoms do DJs need to guide music culture? Does the current state of commercial radio allow DJs any freedom for editorial choices?
Radio DJs used to be cultural gatekeepers, a trusted music filter who listened to all of the bad music so you didn't have to. Has this era passed? Where are things going from here?
Watch the video below and leave us your comments on your thoughts!
Is Radio Dead? A Discussion.
Jun2511:49 AM
Filed in: Opinion
Check out this video below featuring Alan Cross, David Marsden, AUX Weekly's Barry Taylor and Jay "Mad Dog" Michaels from Virgin Radio.
It's the age-old question of the state of today's airwaves, and these industry veterans break down the pros and cons of how deejays can operate.
Click To Read More...
Explore Music Features Black Hat Villain
Jun2508:10 AM
Filed in: Music News
I've worked with a lot of bands over the years, but I've never seen one develop as much momentum as Black Hat Villain have in such a short span of time. The Black Hat Nation received another huge shot in the arm today as Canada's favourite music historian/DJ/author/blogger Alan Cross has featured the band and their track "Country" on his Explore Music website and nationally syndicated radio show. This is the second time he's featured the band this year! Killer.
Here's what Alan Cross had to say on today's feature:
"We’ve also covered Black Hat Villain in the past. They’re from Victoria, BC and play the same kind of stuff you’d hear from Chevelle or Breaking Benjamin. Sludge and snarl. Their EP is called My Generation. See what you think of a song called “Country”."
Check out the Explore Music website here.
Shamwow! But wait, that's not it. In other breaking news this week, rock music blog Rockstar Weekly has featured a live review of Black Hat Villain's recent live performance at the Thorny Bleeder Records Showcase in Vancouver. This is such a glowing review we're blushing! The writer clearly gets the band and feels as passionately about their music and their live show as much as we do.
Check it out the full review below:
Written by Dan Savoie on Wednesday, 23 June 2010
BLACK HAT VILLAIN
MY GENERATION (EP)
Buy it on iTunes
"One of the best bands to come out of Vancouver, BC is the dirty and dangerous rock n’ rollers Black Hat Villain. The band has released a 6-track EP, My Generation, which quite frankly could be the best release of the year. The tracks are hard hitting and grab you from the opening of the title track through to Country, the EP’s closer. The only weakness that I can come up with about the My Generation EP is that it is only 6 tracks long and way too short - but it is only an EP after all.
My Generation is a catchy anthem and could truly be the voice of the next generation, while One Way Street, All My Friends Are Dead and Rain Or Shine are a bit more crunchy and direct. Throughout the CD, there is a powerful rhythm section providing the driving power of the band, while the guitars and harmony vocals sell it.
RockStar Weekly recently attended a Thorny Bleeder Records showcase and that’s where we caught a Black Hat Villain performance. It was the crowd interaction and the fist pumping that made us want to investigate what all the fuss was about. By the time they played My Generation, the audience was transfixed on the band and we were sold on their ability to rock the crap out of us.
It’s exciting to hear a band that loves to rock out and kick some serious ass. Rush might have owned it in the 80s and Nickelback are the current reigning champions of melodic rock n’ roll, but Black Hat Villain are the most likely successor to Canada’s international rock throne. This is honest sounding vintage rock n’ roll with a bit of punch. And a band like this only comes around once in a generation – my generation."
From Rockstar Weekly, appears as originally published here.
Click To Read More...
Tonight at CMW
Mar1012:31 PM
Filed in: Tour Dates
Canadian Music Week officially kicks off tonight in Toronto.
So if you're reading this blog AND you're in Toronto, you can catch three of our artists performing at showcases tonight!
Click To Read More...
Explore Music: TV Heart Attack 'Wolves'
Jan0806:32 PM
Filed in: Music News
For the second time in just two months, Canada's most respected radio DJ, Alan Cross, has featured TV Heart Attack. The buzz just won't stop for these guys and 2010 is promising to be the best year yet for this four-piece.
Their hauntingly beautiful Wolves is the Indie Track Of The Day on the Explore Music website. Check out the feature here...
Click To Read More...
Alan Cross Launches Online Music Show
Jan2711:45 AM
Filed in: Music News
Alan Cross, the music historian/DJ from Toronto's 102.1 The Edge, is launching a new online music show next week.
Click To Read More...
