Erica Banas: Writing Samples

95.7 BEN FM • 20th June 2024

Classic Rock Summer Songs: 15 Iconic Tracks, Ranked

Today (June 20), is the official first day of summer/summer solstice. With Earth tilting to the max toward the sun, we’re going to experience the longest day and shortest night of the year.

94.7 WCSX • 22nd May 2024

Apple Music 100 Best Albums List: 7 Legendary Bands Without an Entry

The Apple Music 100 Best Albums List is the latest music list that the internet is talking all about for good, bad and ugly reasons.

WRIF Rocks Detroit • 23rd August 2023

Avenged Sevenfold: Their 7 Best Songs Ranked

Avenged Sevenfold has racked up an impressive catalog and fan following in its over two decades of existence. Additionally, they’ve been one of the best live acts in all of rock during that time as well.

105.7 WROR • 3rd August 2023

'Hysteria': Every Track on the Classic Def Leppard Album Ranked

Def Leppard released their classic album Hysteria on August 3, 1987. It’s a masterclass of mixing hard rock edge and pop polish that creates a sound that’s impossible to ignore. Of course, the journey to get to Hysteria was long and not without its significant challenges.

105.7 WROR • 13th July 2023

Queen: Their 30 Best Songs Ranked

Queen is one of rock’s most beloved bands of all time, and that love has grown in recent years.

WRIF Rocks Detroit • 20th April 2023

10 Best Rock Songs About Weed

Whether celebrating 4/20 or simply unwinding after a long day of work, finding the best rock songs about weed will surely add to your high. Fortunately, we’ve taken the guesswork out of creating the perfect high playlist with our latest song ranking. From very strange cautionary tales to basically declaring your love for the herb, here are the ten best rock songs about weed.

WRIF Rocks Detroit • 14th April 2023

Metallica: All Songs Ranked Worst to Best

Metallica is one of the most revered bands of all time with a catalog any up-and-coming band could only dream of having. It’s impossible imagining the rock/metal landscape without them. With this in mind, we did a deep dive on the mighty Metallica catalog focusing only on albums/EPs with new material (sorry, Garage Inc.) but excluding Lulu, their infamous 2011 collaboration with Lou Reed for obvious reasons (not sorry about that.) Buckle in for a wild ride that will likely get very opinionated

WRIF Rocks Detroit • 17th March 2023

21 Best Rock Songs About Drinking/Booze

Pull up a stool and start running a tab, because we’re diving into one of rock’s most popular topics: Alcohol. From beer to wine to spirits, there are countless songs in rock history about drinking. Some of these songs are upbeat, while others are dark. Regardless, many have resonated with fans spanning multiple generations. When it comes to songs about booze, which ones are the best? Surely, that’s a great debate to be had sitting at any bar. Whether you find this list while at your favorite

94.7 WCSX • 28th October 2022

25 Best Sports Anthems, Ranked

With arenas and stadiums packed with fans once again, this got us thinking about all of those incredible sports anthems that provide the much-needed soundtrack during any given game. From rock to hip hop to EDM to pop, here are the 25 best sports anthems, ranked.

WROR • 10th May 2022

Duran Duran: Ranking the 7 Music Videos of 'Rio'

Duran Duran released their second album Rio on May 10, 1982. Even decades after its release, Rio can still be found at the intersection of style and substance. It’s pop/rock perfection in a lean nine-track package that can still cause the masses to dance their asses off while also finding time for introspection. Perhaps the prime examples of the album’s mix of style and substance came with its music videos, which thanks to the launch of MTV, helped catapult Duran Duran to stardom not just in th

93.3 WMMR • 10th April 2022

Halestorm: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked

Halestorm debuted in 2009 with their self-titled studio album. In the years since, they’ve grown into one of rock’s most popular acts with 12 top ten hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, with five of those songs topping the chart. With their fifth studio album, Back from the Dead, due out on May 6, here are Halestorm’s 20 best songs ranked.

Boston's ROCK 92.9 • 8th April 2022

5 Most Iconic Rock Star Siblings

Sometimes, rock and roll is a family affair. In fact, some of the biggest bands of all time were founded by or feature siblings. Here’s a look at the 5 most iconic rock star siblings.

WRIF Rocks Detroit • 23rd March 2022

Shinedown: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked

Shinedown has proudly helped carry the rock flag for nearly two decades. Arriving in the early aughts, Shinedown has racked up a ton of hits over the course of six studio albums. (The band’s seventh studio album Planet Zero is due out April 22.) From number one rock hits to deeper cuts, here are Shinedown’s 20 best songs ranked.

96.3 KKLZ • 10th March 2022

5 Music Producers Everyone Should Know

Some of the most influential forces in music are the ones behind the soundboard playing with various tracks and levels to make sure a song or album comes out just right. When it comes to producers, they can often make or break a piece of music. That’s certainly the case with these five music producers everyone should know.

Q105 • 16th February 2022

5 Most Infamous Myths in Rock History

The history of rock and roll is both long and storied, and it’s peppered with a number of wild myths, from the lurid to the absurd and everywhere in between. Here’s a look at the five most infamous myths in rock history.

WDHA FM • 10th February 2022

50 Best Power Ballads of All Time

Power ballads: They’re some of music’s most powerful expressions, and while their popularity exploded in the ‘80s, they can be found in multiple decades as is evident in our list. According to Cambridge University Press’ academic journal Popular Music, “The power ballad has become a mainstay of popular music since the 1970s…The songs are defined by the use of both a musical formula based on constant escalation and an expressive formula that combines the euphoric uplift created by rousing music

102.9 WMGK • 24th December 2021

Christmas Songs: 25 Classic Rock/Pop Tunes to Get into the Holiday Spirit

Now that it’s finally December, it’s time to fully embrace Christmas songs. (Sure, some may have started long ago, but many like to wait until Thanksgiving is in the rearview.) To help fully get into the holiday spirit, consider adding these 25 songs to your Christmas playlist.

95.9 The RAT • 24th December 2021

Christmas Songs: 25 Hard Rock/Metal/Punk Tunes To Help Deck the Halls

Now that it’s finally December, it’s time to fully embrace Christmas songs. (Sure, some may have started long ago, but many like to wait until Thanksgiving is in the rearview.) To help fully get into the holiday spirit, consider adding these 25 songs to your Christmas playlist.

94.7 WCSX • 10th November 2021

Motley Crue: Their 40 Best Songs, Ranked

Motley Crue, through all of the obstacles (and there have been plenty), has managed to survive for four decades. From the classics to the deeper cuts, here are Motley Crue’s 40 best songs, ranked.

100.1 WJRZ • 9th November 2021

'Friends': All Thanksgiving Episodes Ranked

Friends remains one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons and among the show’s most beloved episodes are its Thanksgiving episodes. So, what better time than now to rank these ten Friends episodes? Of course, if you’re checking this out after Thanksgiving, just make a sandwich with a “moist maker” and enjoy!