It has been known that Pearl Jam is no longer under contract, after 18 years of recording for Sony-affiliated labels, and there has been a good deal of speculation about who would release the rock act's next album.

Kelly Curtis, who has managed Pearl Jam since day one, conducted a wide-ranging interview with Billboard on Sunday night, confirming that the band's next release -- rumored to be called "Backspacer" and currently scheduled for an early fall release -- would arrive without a U.S. label but backed by a consortium of partners, including Target as the "big box" retail partner. - A lot more details

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