Random thoughts about the world of Modern Rock:

• On the eve of Mumford & Sons’ release of their new album, Wilder Mind, Glassnote’s Nick Petropoulos has three times the audience at radio with “The Wolf” and “Believe” that he had with lead single “I Will Wait” by Babel’s street date.
  
  
• James Bay’s “Hold Back the River” is really starting to take hold, with emerging airplay and more than 700k singles sold this week.
  
  
• X Ambassadors’ “Renegades” has become a runaway train, with spins up over 500x this week, skyrocketing #36-21*. Next stop is Top 10, and it has #1 in its sights.
  
  
• Thank you to Donny Fandango from KPNT St. Louis, who hosted his fifth annual 28-hour Radioathon supporting The Ronald McDonald House charities. This year Donny raised $31,000!
  
  
• Epic’s Modest Mouse has a very strong follow-up on their hands with “The Ground Walks, With Time in a Box.”
  
  
• Muse will more than likely begin the ceremony of dethroning themselves this week, as “Dead Inside” looks to go #1. Muse holds the record for longest #1 ever with “Madness” which was 19 weeks. It’s going to be a while before anyone unseats them.
  
  
• Garrett Capone (Crush Music) gets my MVP Award in the category of “I BELIEVE I HAVE SOMETHING special and I know I’m right,” the song’s been on the chart for 30 weeks now, and is now trending #9.
  
  
• John Allers and Wendy Rollins will have 25k people celebrating WRFF Philadelphia’s 8th Birthday Show on Sunday, with Of Monsters and Men, Hozier and Walk The Moon, among others.
  
  
  
  
• Cold War Kids’ “First” is a hit for Modern Rock Radio. Don’t worry about finding the next crossover song—your listeners will thank you for turning them on to this gem.
  
  
• Below is a shot of EdgeFest Dallas headliners The Offspring (Time Bomb) with iHeart’s Bob Pittman and Brad Hardin, among others. By the way, congrats to the band, manager Jim Guerinot and team Jacobs for a #1 Active Rock track and a still-growing Top 15 Modern Rock hit.
  
  
• Congrats to Ed Green and everyone at ATO Records for having the #1 album in America this past week with Alabama Shakes.
  
  
• It’s nice to see our friend Christy Taylor happy with her new gig as MD/Middays at KDKB Phoenix.
  
  
  
  
• I’m not sure who would ultimately win the award for “best radio station,” but if I had anything to say about it, WEQX Manchester would certainly be on the ballot.
  
  
• The one thing I consistently hear from programmers is how much they like hearing Wolf Alice’s “Moaning Lisa Smile” on the radio. It’s a great-sounding rock song.
  
  
• Our pal Todd Noker celebrates KXRK Salt Lake City’s 20th annual Big Ass Show on Saturday, featuring 311, Rise Against, Panic! At The Disco, The Airborne Toxic Event and other special guests.
  
  
• I firmly believe that everything sounds better on the radio, and that thought holds true with In The Valley Below’s “Peaches,” which, when given a chance, sounds amazing on the air. This record deserves your time—and has earned it, considering that it’s now Top 20.