This is the guy behind the ad-free blog.
I am not used to routine, which is how I like it. As a weasel, a flack, an officer to the press, a director, a dictator, a Coke and Chips for breakfast, and dinner for lunch kind of guy, I am a Lifelong Musicaholic.
I am one of the lucky ones for sure – getting to do during the days (and nights and weekends) what I love to do in the music industry: Be around passionate music lovers, fans, music industry folks (yeah, we’re still here!) talking about the newest album, the old record recently found in the basement or bargain bin, and memories of old cassettes in our pockets while adding songs daily to the playlists online. So, onto this bio… If I can borrow from Bob Dylan, “I found myself writing this story, this long piece of vomit, about 20 pages long.” He was talking about Like A Rolling Stone, mind you.
It really all stared out for my career because I wanted to work with the Smithsonian Folkways label. That was the beginning, and the game for me during my teenager years. Armed with a sense of fun and a never-ending love of both the myth and actual history, I was proud to represent the label for many years, alongside some of the greatest record companies of all time – Artemis Records, Hopeless Records, Putumayo World Music, Relapse Records, Bloodshot Records, True North Records, Linus Entertainment, Justin Times Records, KOCH, eOne, DRG, Go-Kart Records, Tzadik, Savoy Jazz, Borealis, Death Row, Revenant Records, Concord Records, Shanachie Entertainment, Real World, SPV, Cleopatra, Mobile Fidelity, Peaceville, Signature Sounds, Compass Records, Shadow/Instinct Records, Silva Screen America, Tuff Gong, Sunnyside, Righteous Babe Records, Moonshine Records, Yazoo, and so many more.
For the past 25+ years, Eric Alper has been at the forefront of the Canadian entertainment industry – making the Public in Public Relations his business. His enthusiasm, encyclopedic knowledge of the past and present have made him the go-to for music in Canada. He is also host of one of the top-rated SiriusXM shows “ThatEricAlper”. With over one million followers, friends and connections across his social media platforms, it’s clear to understand why he has been named a “must follow” by Billboard, Paste and National Post among others.
He has been a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 155 JUNO Award nominated-albums (and 14 in 2023), including 43 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, and 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums, and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Past and present clients include Ringo Starr, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, Bob Geldof, Pete Seeger, Jerry Garcia, Monty Python, Randy Bachman, Nickelback, Sinead O’Connor, Steve Miller, The Smashing Pumpkins, Little Big Town, Black Label Society, Osheaga Music Festival, NXNE, Lasso Montreal, Natalie MacMaster, DJ Khaled, Carole King, Jimmy Webb, Harmonium, Billy Ray Cyrus, Curt Smith, Rita MacNeil, Dr. John, Dwight Yoakam, Fred Eaglesmith, Joey Alexander, Ani DiFranco, Harry Shearer, Dan Zanes, Opeth, Cradle Of Filth, Jordan Knight, Chickenfoot, Bush, Duran Duran, Jeff Dunham, A-Trak, Judy Collins, Ashanti, Supersuckers, Joan Baez, Slash, Andy Kim, Robert Palmer, Rival Sons, Denise Donlon, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Alex Chilton, The Drifters, Colin James, Kathy Valentine, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Pussy Riot, Steve Gorman (Black Crowes), Lori Cullen, Murray McLauchlan, MonkeyJunk, Lee Aaron, Jane Bunnett, Jason Blaine, Dan Talevski, Gloryhound, Steve Vai, Big Sugar, Jesse Winchester, Liona Boyd, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Joan Armatrading, Wanda Jackson, Gordon Lightfoot, Amy Ray, Jake Clemons, Kevin McDonald, Matt Andersen, John Prine, Jesse Cook, Of Montreal, Kris Kristofferson, Eva Avila, Snoop Dogg, Robert Munsch, Bilal, J. Dilla, Allman Brothers, Ben E. King, Fred Penner, Sue Foley, Kenny Shields and Streetheart, Sesame Street, Xzibit, The Wiggles, Bill Wyman, Sass Jordan, Midge Ure, Sasha & Digweed, Jimmy Rankin, Light Of Day Canada, Arrested Development, Paul Reddick, Alpha Blondy, Unearth, Kiran Ahluwalia, Public Enemy, Joe Budden, Mobb Deep, Sly and Robbie, Taking Back Sunday, Ziggy Marley, Underworld, The Wild, Quasimoto, Barney Bentall, Yesterdays New Quintet, Mayer Hawthorne, Lunch At Allen’s, Kensington Market Jazz Festival, The Cadillac Lounge in Toronto, Crystal Shawanda, The Mission UK, Cracker, Daniel O’Donnell, Madvillain, Frank Black, BadBadNotGood, Diana Panton, KRS-One, Aloe Blacc, Pete Rock, 54-40, Bonnie Bramlett, Janis Ian, 98 Degrees, Sundy Best, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Paul Oakenfold, Jake Miller, Solomon Burke, Devin Townsend, J Rocc, The Black Angels, Megadeth, Carl Cox, DJ Dan, Barbara Cook, David Archuleta, Downchild Blues Band, John Zorn, Leeroy Stagger, Ghostface Killah, DJ Drama, Slaughterhouse, Shooter Jennings, Everclear, Cormega, Andre Rieu, Dearly Beloved, Carole Pope, The Standstills, Diemonds, Secret Broadcast, Die Mannequin, Steve Earle, Dillinger Escape Plan, Raekwon, Matt Dusk, High On Fire, Slum Village, Christina Martin, Indian City, Autorickshaw, Bif Naked, Carl Dixon, Ori Dagan, The Smithereens, Carol Welsman, Bruce Cockburn, Hatebreed, Streetlight Manifesto, The Mahones, The Game, Thursday, Eric Bibb, Mick Fleetwood, The Prodigy, Third World, Duke Robillard, Heather Bambrick, Michael Kaeshammer, Jay Douglas, Max Parker, Myles Goodwyn, The Spoons, Madlib, Dio, Deborah Cox, Honeymoon Suite, Ian Anderson, Kim Mitchell, Pop Evil, In Flames, Amy Helm, Barbra Lica, Polina Grace, Maestro Fresh Wes, Katharine McPhee, Lorraine Segato, Tom Wilson, Ministry, Miss Emily, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Ray J, RJD2, Jurassic 5, DJ Z-Trip, Alchemist, The Kings, Chali 2NA, Steven Van Zandt, Gino Vannelli, The Boxer Rebellion, The Irish Rovers, King Crimson, Jean-Michel Jarre, Michel Petrucciani, Steve Hackett, Mastodon, All Time Low, Madness, The Cult, Jim Jones, Tom Russell, The Guess Who, Turbonegro, Charlatans UK, Master P, Asking Alexandra, The Trews, Los Lobos, Steve Forbert, Jesus Jones, Howard Tate, Electronic, Freddy Cole, Stereolab, Tim Booth, The Nylons, Christine McVie, RZA, The English Beat, Porcupine Tree, MF Doom and hundreds more.
I’ve been named to Billboard Magazine, Paste Magazine and The National Post’s best on social media, and honoured to be on Canadian Music Week’s Advisory Board and The City of Toronto’s Music Industry Advisory Council. I’m also the host of (wait for it) @ThatEric Alper’s Show on SiriusXM, Channel 167 on the Canada Talks Channel. One of the go-to music commentator across Canada, I’ve been honoured to serve on jury panels for Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program, CBC’s Searchlight, The Rockie Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards, and The JUNO Awards, among dozens of others across North America. I love to talk about music. If you’re looking for a commentator for your media outlet, please be in touch!
So, welcome to the site. If you’d like to reach out, I’d love to hear from you! The email is Eric@ThatEricAlper.com and the number is 647-971-ERIC (3742) and hope to hear from you soon.
