Imaginary Road Studios

03/27/2026

It’s the 50th anniversary of Windham Hill—to be sure you don’t miss what’s ahead, join Will Ackerman’s email list.
https://www.williamackerman.com/join

03/17/2026

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Windham Hill and I am humbled by the swift passing of time and that not a week goes by where I do not hear from lovely people reaching out to let me know how much the music of Windham Hill has touched their lives.
There are some wonderful projects in the works to commemorate this anniversary and topping the list is the incredible documentary by Tal Skloot, A Quiet Revolution: The Story of Windham Hill Records. At long last, here's a sneak peek scene and a chance to donate a small contribution to keep this film going and reach the finish line! - Will
The sample scene can be viewed beginning March 14 through April 10, 2026, at the link below.

This sample scene ' Playing from the heart' is a sneak peek into how the film will look and feel. Please share with friends and contribute to our virtual event to help complete the film.

03/08/2026

This is seriously heartbreaking for artists.
Are you a SiriusXM SPA fan?
Then by you are now fully aware that SPA channel has (essentially) DISAPPEARED, because inexplicably, they have moved the channel to 746, only accessible by the app via a new receiver or smartphone.
For Feb and March, Sirius has replaced 68 with a “Message Worship” station. This is a test, folks. If no one protests this change, it will be PERMANENT. THERE'S ONLY 3 WEEKS LEFT!
Why does this matter?
It’s not just about the inconvenience of the app, the artists you love, will now only receive what is called a “streaming rate” vs a radio programming rate, which are a TINY fraction of the rate that they would receive on the main satellite channel 68. In other words, Satellite plays vs App plays are NOT equivalent money. I have spoken to many, many of my musician friends who rely on SPA68 for a significant portion of their artist income these days. They are devastated and frightened by this turn of events.

If you would like to get it SPA back to 68, we invite you to protest to SiriusXM and let your opinion sway the outcome here:
https://tinyurl.com/bringbackSPA68
You can also contact SiriusXM by way of the following:
email:
programmingfeedback@siriusxm.com
scott.greenstein@siriusxm.com
listenersupport@sxm.com
Or call:
1-888-539-7474

You CAN help bring it back! We need every voice out there to protest loudly that SiriusXM is making a huge mistake and must bring SPA back to 68! Thanks everyone. And please share-

02/16/2026

Are you a SiriusXM SPA fan?
Then by you are now fully aware that SPA channel has essentially DISAPPEARED, because inexplicably, they have moved the channel to 746, only accessible by the app via a new receiver or smartphone.
For Feb and March, Sirius has replaced 68 with a “Message Worship” station. This is a test, folks. If no one protests this change, it will be PERMANENT.
Why does this matter?
It’s not just about the inconvenience of the app- the artists you love, will now only receive what is called a “streaming rate” vs a radio programming rate, which are a tiny fraction of the rate that they would receive on the main satellite channel 68. In other words, Satellite plays vs App plays are NOT equivalent money. I have spoken to many, many of my musician friends who rely on SPA68 for a significant portion of their artist income these days. They are devastated and frightened by this turn of events.

If you would like to get it SPA back to 68, we invite you to protest to SiriusXM and let your opinion sway the outcome here:
https://tinyurl.com/bringbackSPA68
You can also contact SiriusXM by way of the following:
email:
programmingfeedback@siriusxm.com
scott.greenstein@siriusxm.com
listenersupport@sxm.com
Or call:
1-888-539-7474

You CAN help bring it back! We need every voice out there to protest loudly that SiriusXM is making a huge mistake and must bring SPA back to 68! Thanks everyone. And please share-

05/23/2025

Ann Sweeten's new album "Still" is out today! It's a beautiful album full of heart and spirit. Ann's playing continues to evolve and surprise and "Still" is her most intimate and expressive album to date. Please give it a listen and help celebrate new music from one of our favorite artists!

Ten emotionally-charged, heartwarming instrumental melodies blended with brilliant textural elements, from Massachusetts's-based pianist-composer Ann Sweeten.

05/19/2025

Ellis Paul played the Stone Church last night here in town and we caught up over coffee this morning. Long time no see! We figured out it had been 21 years!
If you don't know Ellis Paul's music, do yourself a favor and find him here: https://www.ellispaul.com/

03/09/2025

If you haven't heard of Platform8, the project created by Tom Eaton & Noah Wilding, I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite band! (Those "in the know" will understand why this project is especially close to my heart.) Their new single FLY is hitting the soundwaves here: https://lnk.to/platform8fly

02/28/2025

Echoes Needs Our Help! This is Significant, Folks. Echoes is heading into debt. Let’s keep them going!
It would be hard to overstate how much the radio program Echoes has done to showcase and support musical artists every day for 35 Years.
Listening to every 2-hour long show, back to back, would take 3 YEARS!
https://echoes-store.myshopify.com/collections/support-echoes
My own life has been intertwined with John Diliberto for decades now. John and Kimberly did so much to make Windham Hill Records the successful label that it became and in the process helped create careers for so many brilliant musicians over the years; George Winston, Liz Story, Michael Hedges, Shadowfax and Alex deGrassi among so many others. Multitudes of musicians who might not have ever been heard are indebted to John; myself included.
If you are unaware of what Echoes is/does:
“Echoes is a daily two-hour music soundscape, distributed by Public Radio International and broadcast on over 110 radio stations from Maine to California. With host John Diliberto, a writer for Billboard, Pulse and other magazines, Echoes brings together a wide array of styles, from acoustic to electronic, jazz to space music, the avant-garde to rock. Echoes is a sound that is cross-cultural and trans-millennial, merging cultures and forms, technology and tradition, the ancient past and the possible future.”
Please support John and Echoes to keep this unique and remarkable program alive so that opportunities will continue to exist for brilliant new musicians to be discovered and find a home. ---Will Ackerman
Please Share & Donate here:
https://echoes-store.myshopify.com/collections/support-echoes

02/23/2025

Woke up this morning to this marvelous Pitchfork review by Alex Robert Ross! A million thanks, Alex!

Read Alex Ross’ review of the album.

01/24/2025

Platform8 strikes again with their new single, Warmth.
Tom Eaton & Noah Wilding have created a sound completely unique and compelling that I hope you love as much as I do. Please follow them and give them a listen and your love. - Will

Listen to Warmth by Platform8, Noah Wilding, Tom Eaton.