Jim Ryan

Chicago

Music Writer at Forbes

Music Writer at Freelance

Freelance music writer and Chicago-based radio/TV personality. Opinions are my own.

Articles

Jerry Harrison On Stop Making Sense, Remain In Light, Talking Heads At 50

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

Jerry Harrison poses prior to a screening of the classic 1984 Talking Heads concert film 'Stop ... More Making Sense.' Thursday, May 1, 2025 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IllinoisPhoto by Barry BrecheisenThis week, in celebration of their 50th anniversary, Talking Heads released a brand new video for one of their most enduring hits.
Grace Potter On Cinematic Feel Behind T Bone Burnett Produced Medicine

4 weeks ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

Rock history is littered with the fabulous tales driving the lore behind legendarily unreleased “lost” records like The Beach Boys’ SMiLE or Prince’s Black Album.
Mike Baggetta, Stephen Hodges, Mike Watt Defy Conventional Release As Mssv

1 month ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

Following the release of the album Wall of Flowers in 2019, which found guitarist Mike Baggetta backed by an incredible rhythm section consisting of bassist Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE) and drummer Jim Keltner (Bob Dylan), Baggetta hit the road in support of it backed by Watt and the equally terrific Stephen Hodges (Tom Waits, Mavis Staples, David Lynch).
Steve Stevens On Ciari Signature Series Guitar, New Billy Idol Album

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Jim Ryan

10 things to do in Toronto this weekend (May 23 to 25)Happy weekend, Toronto! It may not be a long one like last week, but it’s going to be a good one. The city is gearing up for summer, and in the …
Steve Stevens On Ciari Signature Series Guitar, New Billy Idol Album

1 month ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

For artists across the country, the idea of traveling with a musical instrument can be a complicated one both logistically and financially. Seeking to address that problem, Ciari Guitars has created a uniquely engineered instrument that’s foldable for travel, a guitar that’s able to be stowed easily in most airplane overhead bins or under most airplane seats. Partnering with guitarist Steve Stevens, Ciari launched their debut signature series, the Steve Stevens Signature Ascender, this week.
Adam Duritz On New Counting Crows Album Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!

1 month ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

What began in 2021 upon the release of the EP Butter Miracle, Suite One, is completed today as Counting Crows release the brand new album Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!, their first full length studio effort since 2014.
Jeff Bridges On New Album ‘Slow Magic,’ Improvisation And The Dude

2 months ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

By 1977, actor Jeff Bridges had already been nominated for a pair of Academy Awards in recognition of his work on 1972’s The Last Picture Show as well as Thunderbolt and Lightfoot three years later - but music was in his blood.
Patterson Hood On New Solo Album Exploding Trees And Airplane Screams

2 months ago | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

Over the course of the last 25 years, few songwriters have examined the human condition in quite the way Patterson Hood has, drilling down on the American experience over the course of 14 Drive-By Truckers studio albums and four solo records.
When Does ‘New Music’ Stop Being ‘New’?

2 months ago | barrettmedia.com | Jim Ryan

- Advertisement -First, I would like to thank Jason Barrett and Jeff Lynn for welcoming me to hopefully bring you thought-provoking, interesting topics for the world of Hot AC radio. Am I the most qualified to speak on these topics? Well, you can decide on that from article to article, but like most who have spent time programming in this format, I also have opinions and thoughts. To launch this new venture, I decided to try to answer the question: When does “new” music stop being new?
Billy Corgan On New Podcast ‘The Magnificent Others,’ Storytelling

Mar 25, 2025 | forbes.com | Jim Ryan

For rocker Billy Corgan, the curious mind and embrace of captivating storytelling that made the Smashing Pumpkins one of the best selling rock acts of the 1990s translates well to the idea of longform interviews via his new podcast The Magnificent Others. For Corgan, the idea is to go beyond the often stale idea of a one-on-one interview, engaging in actual conversations which create compelling character studies.