Microsoft Windows and ReverbNation.com, an online marketing platform for musicians, have partnered to launch this program the aim of which is for artists and the sponsor to share in mutually beneficial promotion. Songs, in MP3 or M4A formats, are available online for free download and have a passive advertisement embedded alongside the album cover art that is seen by music fans when they play the song on their computer, portable device or phone. The sponsor gets advertising, the artist gets exposure, and the fan gets free music from established and emerging artists not available anywhere else on the web.

[An unnamed source told The Sun] "Paul wants to go out with a bang. He's played countless stadiums over his 50-year career and is on the hunt for the most unusual locations he can find.

On Axl Rose: "Like any other Guns N' Roses fan, I find Axl to be really insulting. He cost a lot of people their jobs, a lot of heartache and probably some mental breakdowns while he ----ed around on a record ['Chinese Democracy'] for 16 ----ing years � just because he wanted to be a dick. I firmly believe that the gods of rock 'n' roll just chose me to kick him out of the gang for gross misuse of power. Axl still has the opportunity to do something that no one expects him to do, which is something cool. I honestly think he can do it, but first, he really needs to control himself a bit, and most importantly, get a real friend."

Thousands of fans were camped out at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, 60 miles (100 kilometers) southeast of Edmonton, when strong winds and heavy rain struck about 6 p.m. on Saturday, sending people screaming and running for cover. Actor Kevin Costner who was about to perform with his band narrowly escaped serious injury.

"That's the plan," Smith tells Billboard.com, noting that what was announced as a one-year break turned into two for the quartet after touring to support 2005's "Stadium Arcadium."

The entire set list is at players' fingertips from the start, featuring genre-defining hits from some of the biggest rock artists and bands of all time, including The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Vampire Weekend. Players take complete control as Guitar Hero 5 allows gamers to personalize and customize how they experience music by being able to play with any controller combination -- multiple vocalists, guitarists, bassists and drummers, in any game mode. With the game's all-new Party Play Mode, getting the band back together has never been easier. Players can now jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly, without interrupting their jam session.

Elevating the Guitar Hero series to new heights with unmatched social gameplay, an enhanced style, new in-game artists and more rock legends, Guitar Hero 5 features new surprises and challenges that will fire-up long-time fret board fanatics and create a new generation of addicts.

Download your free copy of Paul McCartney's "Great Day" featured in the Adam Sandler film, "Funny People," here.

A Boston University student has been ordered to pay $675,000 to four record labels for illegally downloading and sharing music. Joel Tenenbaum, of Providence, R.I., admitted he downloaded and distributed 30 songs. The only issue for the jury to decide was how much in damages to award the record labels. more

OutKast Rapper Big Boi has been working on his solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, for quite some time. And now it looks like he will be taking the album to Def Jam rather than his previous home of Jive Records.more

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl made a special appearance Saturday (August 1) in his birth town after having a street named after him. more

Vancouver-based, New Zealand-bred hard rockers Like A Storm will open for Creed on 18 dates of the band's summer reunion tour.more

Sonic Youth have added seven shows to their upcoming tour of the US, with the new dates launching September 25 in Pomona, CAmore

Halloween II - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (Hip-O/UMe), released August 25, 2009, and co-produced by Zombie, manages to bring together dialogue from the film as well as music from MOT�RHEAD, THE MOODY BLUES, SCREAM (sans future member Dave Grohl), ROD STEWART, the MC5 and FOGHAT, alongside new psychobilly band CAPTAIN CLEGG AND THE NIGHT CREATURES.more

Blue Coupe featuring featuring original Alice Cooper Band member Dennis Dunaway and former Blue �yster Cult legends Albert (drums) and Joe (bass) Bouchard, have announced a handful of shows at the end of August.more

High On Fire will enter the studio in August to begin work on their fifth studio album. Pre-production will commence in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman (Metallica, Slayer) at the helm.more

Baroness has dropped off their current tour with Clutch. Here's a statement from the band: "We regret to inform you the people, our fans and friends, that we will not be finishing the tour with Clutch from July 31st in Calgary till August 8th in Baltimore. There are times in life when family takes priority over all, and is so in our case at this time."more

Rise Records is proud to welcome Those Who Lie Beneath into the family. Their debut album " An Awakening" is due out on October 13th.
Check out 2 brand new songs here.

The Letters Organize have announced a one-off reunion show to take place on August 28 at Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, GAmore

The Viper Room has announced that Ace Frehley will be appearing on their stage during the Sunset Strip Music Festival on Saturday, September 12th.

"Yesterday we posted a Myspace bulletin asking everyone to keep and eye out for our van and trailer after it disappeared from in front of Tyler's house at around 10 or 11 am that morning.

The Megadeth mainman nearly lost the use of his right arm in 2002, and revealed on Wednesday that he needed urgent attention once again. He was hoping medics would be able to patch him up so he could complete touring commitments for the year, but warned he might need more serious surgery later.

The tour will kick off August 29 at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco followed by a two-night headline stand at the Hollywood Palladium following on August 30 and September 1.

It is pretty serious. His family is still accepting donations for medical costs. Kyle was just a few weeks away from qualifying for health insurance through his work before this accident.

Author, clinician, drummer... Carmine Appice first came to prominence as the percussionist with the late 1960s psychedelic band Vanilla Fudge. He contributed distinctive background harmonies with bassist Tim Bogert, adding to the group's high decibel sonic assault. After five albums, Appice and Bogert left Vanilla Fudge to form the blues rock quartet Cactus with vocalist Rusty Day and guitarist Jim McCarty. Eventually, Appice left Cactus with Bogert to join Jeff Beck in the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice, and then later joined Rod Stewart's backing band in 1977, co-writing hit songs such as "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Young Turks". In 1978, Appice played drums on Paul Stanley's first solo album. He was a member of KGB featuring Ray Kennedy, Rick Grech, Mike Bloomfield and Barry Goldberg, and has recorded with Stanley Clarke, Ted Nugent, and Pink Floyd. He was the drummer for the bands King Kobra and Blue Murder, and toured with Ozzy Osbourne.