MTV is actually planning on promoting some artists that aren't on TRL, or featured in the background of whatever cartoon special they feel is the hot stuff of the moment. The Viacom owned conglomerate (MTV, M2, and mtv.com) plan to release Advance Warning for the low low price of $4.99. The compilation EP will be available as a free stream on mtv.com and when you buy the disc, you get an extra copy to give to a friend (this is done in an attempt to cut down on piracy.. they know you wanna share, just give em the $5 first). Artists on the compilation include the Ravonettes, the Exies, Sahara Hotnights, Kardinal Offishall (feat. Pharrel Williams), T.O.K., Maroon 5, and Format. Expect some on air promotion starting Feb. 24th.

Epic Records recording artist Incubus have taken steps to release themselves from that very title - they want to be released from their recording contract. The band filed a lawsuit against parent company Sony Corp. in order to get out of the promised four additional albums to the label. Band manager Steve Rennie has said of the situation that "Under current standard industry practices, Sony Music has been handsomely rewarded financially during this period while the members of Incubus have received very little compensation from their creative and professional efforts..." The band is still writing music and preparing for a followup to Morning View, but has no solid plans to enter a studio just yet. For the full story, click here.

Hopefully you heard that The Rolling Stones were doing a big charity concert last night... for free. The concert was organized by the Natural Resources Defense Council to raise awareness for the threat that 'Global Warming' poses to us and the planet. Appropriately enough, the concert was held in LA where the air is really clean. Former President Bill Clinton gave a speech to introduce the band about how dangerous Global Warming is, saying, "it is up to average citizens to stop the planet from burning up" (because, as he proved in his 8 years as president, politicians aren't going to do shit about it as long as they're getting fat campaign contributions from industries that are more profitable in the short run when they don't have to worry about how much irreparable damage they do to the planet). Anyway, the Stones played a 2 hour 15 minute set to a crowd in excess of 12,000 people, none of which were killed by Hell's Angels.

It has been reported that VAST will supposedly be releasing two albums in 2003. The first album (tenatively titled III) is looking for an early 2003 release. While frontman Jon Crosby has posted that the record is not done, he did confirm "We are planning on releasing more than two records in 2003." Wha? More than two? Maybe the third release this year is the song "Candle" to be featured on the Step Into Liquid surfing documentary. Or maybe it's the 7 EP's that are planned for release online and in limited edition pressings at their official website, when it relaunches.

Zwan are set to headline their first North American tour starting in March. As long as they play "Jesus, I/ Mary Star of the Sea" it should be worth checking out when they penetrate a 50 mile radius of your home. There should be more dates to follow, but for now check out those that magically appear when you hit 'more.'

Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige and Musiq are some of the artists to be featured the Stevie Wonder tribute album, Conception: An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder's Songs, due March 18th. Slowhand covers "Higher Ground" (remember the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1989?), Mary J does "Overjoyed" and Musiq does "Vision." Other artists include Glenn Lewis ("Superstition"), Angie Stone ("You Will Know") and "Black Coffey ("Rocket Love"). John Mellencamp and Dave Hollister will also contribute tracks, as well as India.Arie, with whom Wonder received a Grammy nomination for their cover of "The Christmas Song." Kinda cool tribute, I believe.

Three of the former members of Guns n' Roses (that would be Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, not Buckethead) visited Ray Charles' studio in South Central Los Angeles to watch Charles record with the Washington Preparatory School Jazz Band from Inglewood, California. Charles apparently called in Slash for some help, as the bepoufed one played on Charles' 2001 remake of "God Bless America." Search for that MP3!

Well, it isn't exactly free money (nor is it a brand spanking new story, but I want to make sure you guys take advantage of this so please do so). Think of it as the record industry returning a small portion of money stolen from you over the years. Basically, if you bought music in the USA between January 1, 1995 and December 22, 2000, the music industry owes you a portion of $67 million. So fill out the form on this site to get your money. You will get between $5 and $20 back, depending on how many people file claims. Stick it to the Man, man.

Those of you who swear you appreciate rap music because you own a Roots CD rejoice -- the band is heading out on tour. Right now. Starting tonight. Seriously. If you live in Knoxville, get your ass out to the Tenessee Theatre, because you're missing some good shit. Those of you in the rest of the country, click on our friend "more" and find out when they're hitting your town.

Everyone's favorite industrial rockers (10 years ago, that is) Ministry have set up a website for their latest album, Animositisomina, complete with streaming media previews of the new album, behind the scenes videos, a signup form to join Ministry's own Piss Army (it's a takeoff on Kiss Army - get it?!?) fan club, and more. They also promise tourdates for their upcoming tour dates (rumor has it they might be touring with In Flames and Mudvayne, but you didn't hear that from me).

Eclectic Eels frontman E is releasing a solo album. Using the pseudonym MC Honky and adopting the persona of "a shy, native Los Angeleno in his mid-fifties who began his love affair with sound as a teenaged janitor at the Capitol Records studio in 1959", he will release I Am The Messiah through B-Unique on March 10th. Click "more" for a tracklist.

The next single from Ladytron, Blue Jeans will feature remixes by none other than Interpol and Josh Wink. The single will be released in a variety of versions and (of course) you'll have to buy them all to get every track. Check out "more" for tracklists. Oh yeah, and later this year Ladytron will be returning the favor to Interpol, remixing their "Untitled" for a future release.

According to Pitchforkmeda.com, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead have just finished work a new EP entitled The Secret of Elena's Tomb which features new studio tracks. The E.P. will be released this spring and will contain lots of bonus features.

For all of you simultaneous music-lovers yet meat-haters (read: vegetarians and vegans), say what: PETA recently released a celebrity vegan cookbook, which includes recipes by the likes of Fiona Apple, Sir Paul McCartney, and Moby. Fiona contributed her own recipe for Sweet and Sour Neatballs, which sounds... interesting.

Songs by Spoon, Lambchop, Superchunk, the Buzzcocks and others will be included on Merge Records' Survive and Advance (Vol. 2), due February 18th. The series' third volume is scheduled for summer, so check it.

On March 5th in Boston, you may see Idlewild, who are begining a 27 date club tour in support of their March 25th release, The Remote Part. On May 28th the band will begin a fifteen-date run opening for Pearl Jam... Which might have been reported differently before, but what the hey, you can email me and tell me otherwise.

Dude! Have you seen Johnny Cash's new creepy-arse video? Well, even if you haven't, guess what: Johnny Cash's late 80's/early 90's albums Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town, Boom Chicka Boom, Water From the Wells of Home and The Mystery of Life will be reissued with bonus material on February 11th. Sweet.

How much have you heard about the Rob Zombie movie project, "House of 1,000 Corpses"? Not enough: Zombie has teamed with the croonster Lionel Richie for "Brick House 2003," an updated version of "Brick House," a hit for Richie and the Commodores in 1977. The new version also features rapper Trina and will appear on the soundtrack to the cinematic wonder which will (finally) be released next month. The soundtrack is scheduled for a March 18th release, and also includes four new Zombie songs -- "Everybody Scream!," "Run, Rabbit, Run," "Little Piggy" and "Pussy Liquor" -- along with the title track, which previously appeared on his 2001 release, The Sinister Urge. The Ramones' "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," Buck Owens' "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass," Slim Whitman's "I Remember You," and tracks by Sam the Sham, the Pharaohs and Screamin' Jay Hawkins round out the soundtrack.

Bluebird will be heading over to the U.K for some radio performances and club shows to promote "Hot Blood" for Sweet Nothing Records. If you live in London or nearby come out of hiding and go to the shows. Dates in More.

Lots of video goodness popping up online. First check out Fischerspooner's video for the track "Emerge", off their upcoming new album #1 in Real Video or Windows Media. Next we have Taking Back Sunday's video for the song "Cute Without the E" off their latest album Tell All Your Friends (Real Video) . Then we have some links for the Supergrass video for the track "Grace" off their upcoming new album Life on Other Planets in Real Video or Windows Media. Moving along, how about some Cave-In, "Dark Driving" in Real Video or Windows Media. Lastly, some Vendetta Red "Shatterday" in Real Video and Windows Media.