Happens

Happens Happens is a curated new music experience. We are organically driven, targeting the active rock/alt

Going from teaching local music lessons to having your single go viral is the exact kind of plot twist we love to see. 📈...
09/03/2026

Going from teaching local music lessons to having your single go viral is the exact kind of plot twist we love to see. 📈

Sacramento’s own Jon Wiilde just dropped "Home Is You" featuring Rosie Darling, blending that perfect sweet spot of nostalgic folk with modern alternative pop. Between running a local music school, playing shows, and fostering over 30 senior rescue dogs, he’s living proof that good energy makes great records.

Major shoutout to Nick Bedding at Nettwerk Music Group for giving 's Shawn Alexander the VIP Access to get to know Jon this week!

👉 Head to https://happens.vip/category/alternative/artist-discovery-of-the-week/ to read our full Q&A with Jon Wiilde!

Making your second-ever radio call and getting completely roasted by the program director is a rite of passage. 💀Big Lou...
09/02/2026

Making your second-ever radio call and getting completely roasted by the program director is a rite of passage. 💀

Big Loud Rock’s Senior Director of National Promotion, Brien Terranova, dropped in for Famous Firsts with Shawn Alexander to recount his journey from a 19-year-old intern at Virgin Records to working hard rock records at radio.

Shoutout to Thaddeus Rudd for giving him his very first shot in the industry back in the day!

👉 Head to https://happens.vip/category/alternative/famous-firsts/ to read Brien's full interview and discover more industry stories!

📢 This year we're doing something a bit different 🚨Radio Nominations Are Now Open for ! Know an unsigned band in your m...
09/01/2026

📢 This year we're doing something a bit different 🚨

Radio Nominations Are Now Open for ! Know an unsigned band in your market that’s ready for a bigger stage? 2027 nominations are officially open thru September 30th. Radio professionals can nominate local unsigned artists for a chance to perform at 2027 in Las Vegas, February 23-25, in front of Alternative + Rock radio programmers, industry tastemakers, and fans. Find more info and submit nominations here: https://happens.vip/2027-contest/

Proof that the best therapy sessions don’t happen on a couch; they happen in a crowded room with turned-up amps 🎸London’...
08/27/2026

Proof that the best therapy sessions don’t happen on a couch; they happen in a crowded room with turned-up amps 🎸

London’s own LEAP just scored the #1 Most Added spot at Alternative radio with their monster single "Exit Signs"! Out of deep personal tragedy and mental struggles, lead singer Jack Scott joined forces with his best mates to build something truly healing and undeniably electric. Their new album "Entropy" pays direct tribute to Jack's late father, and they are officially kicking off their US tour dates this September. Huge shoutout to Edie Lundeen at Epitaph Records and 's Shawn Alexander for VIP Access!

👉 Head to: https://happens.vip/category/alternative/artist-discovery-of-the-week/ to meet LEAP and dive deeper into their story!

A classic music movie coming to life in real time is the ultimate dream. 🎬KROQ’s Megan Holiday breaks down her "Famous F...
08/26/2026

A classic music movie coming to life in real time is the ultimate dream. 🎬

KROQ’s Megan Holiday breaks down her "Famous Firsts" from early days riding around the IE with KOLA 99.9 to calling into KIIS to chat with JoJo On The Radio and learning the ropes from her mentor, Menace. When asked about her biggest career highlight, she pointed to her sit-down with iconic journalist Ben Fong-Torres. Growing up loving Almost Famous, being interviewed by the legend himself was a dream come true.

👉 Swipe through to check out Megan's industry firsts, and tap the Link in Bio for the full feature! Big thanks to Shawn Alexander for checking in.

08/25/2026

Procrastination is an art form, but leaving a crisp $100 bill on the table definitely isn't. ⏰

There are officially just 7 days left to grab your pass at the OG Rate of $399. On September 1st, that badge price jumps up to $499.

That extra hundred is way better spent on late-night casino floor runs, 3 AM pizza slices, and scouting future #1 hit bands at . 🎲🍕🎸

🎟️ Don't sleep on it! Head to https://happens.vip/2027-registration/ to lock in your OG Rate before midnight on August 31st!

Going from dialing into the radio station you worshiped as a kid to actually producing its wildest, most unpredictable s...
08/18/2026

Going from dialing into the radio station you worshiped as a kid to actually producing its wildest, most unpredictable shows is the ultimate full-circle moment. 📻🔥

Out Of Order Executive Producer Corey Irwin sat down with Shawn Alexander for our Famous Firsts series to break down his wild ride through the dial. From growing up on 90s The World Famous KROQ to spending a decade working side-by-side with the late, great Jed The Fish, Corey has built a career on making boundary-pushing, outlandish, and genuinely heartfelt radio. Shoutout to industry heavyweights like Ted Stryker Radio DJ Podcast Host, Nicole Alvarez, and Malcolm Ryker who helped shape the journey along the way!

"Working with Jed, I learned so much about making radio that engages and entertains, while also being totally unpredictable."

👉 Head to https://happens.vip/category/alternative/famous-firsts/ to read Corey’s full interview and get inspired by the journey!

Taking down an entire legendary radio station with a single static shock from your elbow is definitely one way to make b...
08/14/2026

Taking down an entire legendary radio station with a single static shock from your elbow is definitely one way to make broadcast history. ⚡️😅

Shawn Alexander sat down with Cleveland’s own Tony McGinty, Afternoon Host at WNWV 107.3 Alternative, for our latest "Famous Firsts" feature to talk early radio days, first concerts, and surviving ultimate broadcast blunders.

"I walked past a mic and an arm touched it, causing a static shock that froze the board and knocked WMMS off the air for several minutes."

👉 Head over to the link in bio or happens.vip to read Tony’s full "Famous Firsts" interview!

What happens when you build so much radio noise for a self-released band that a major label signs them just to catch up?...
08/12/2026

What happens when you build so much radio noise for a self-released band that a major label signs them just to catch up? 🎧

Marc Kordelos (Agent 001 at U.N.C.L.E.) shared about that grind firsthand recently with ' Shawn Alexander. From interning at WFNX back in the '80s to hosting his own "Knight of Independents" specialty show, Marc has been championing alt music from day one. Before Toad The Wet Sprocket signed to Columbia, Marc was on the ground in Denver planting seeds at KBCO and KTCL to break them wide open. That kind of grassroots passion is what pushes independent music forward.

👉 Tap the link in bio to read Marc’s full Famous Firsts story at HAPPENS.VIP!

That 1% battery remaining on Red Leather's phone saved his life. 📱⚡Meet Red Leather: the anonymous, Reno-born western ro...
08/06/2026

That 1% battery remaining on Red Leather's phone saved his life. 📱⚡

Meet Red Leather: the anonymous, Reno-born western rock powerhouse turning raw survival into sold-out world tours. From busking on Hollywood Boulevard in a red hat to dropping his raw new single "LAST CALL" off his sophomore album TAHOE, his personal journey and career trajectory is nothing short of legendary.

"‘LAST CALL’ is a song I wrote about a phone call that saved my life," he shared in his sit-down with Shawn Alexander.

👉 Hit the Link in Bio to read the full discovery feature and tap into the music!

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