Singer-songwriter Brett Dennen will receive the "Earth Charter and the Arts Award" from the Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions (CPR) at their 3rd Annual Earth Charter Summit on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Ventura, Calif. The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society for the 21st century.

Dennen's lyrics are an inspiring call to social action, and he promotes peaceful ideals through his music. Dennen co-founded The Mosaic Project, an outdoor school in California that unites racially diverse fifth grade students from different schools and income areas in a forum for peace education to build self-esteem and a sense of community. He serves as one of The Mosaic Project's program directors and developed the music curriculum, writing original songs that he teaches to the students.

"I believe that peace is possible and will be the greatest achievement ever known to humanity. In order to achieve this, we must know and l...

Hard rockers Avenged Sevenfold took home the coveted 2006 MTV Video Music award for "Best New Artist In A Video" at New York's Radio City Music Hall on August 31st. Nominated for their turbocharged hit single "Bat Country," the larger-than-life Huntington Beach, CA, quintet's win was determined entirely by fan votes on MTV.com. Avenged Sevenfold triumphed to bring home the moonman thanks to the power and passion of the band's huge devoted fanbase.

"Bat Country" is the second single from Avenged Sevenfold's current album "City of Evil," behind which the band have been touring non-stop for the last year, including a spring U.S. arena tour, European dates with legendary rockers Metallica and Guns N' Roses, and most recently, a headlining run on the mainstage at Ozzfest. The band will play the KROQ Inland Invasion radio show in Los Angeles alongside Guns N' Roses on September 23rd.

For their VMA acceptance speech, singer M. Shadows thanked Avenged Sevenfold's rabid fans, stating, ...

Naxos of America, the leader in independent distribution of classical music in the United States, and eMusic, the world's largest retailer of independent music and the world's second largest digital music service, will introduce MPkey, a series of downloadable classical music collections that offers an easy and affordable way to explore and enjoy the world of classical music online. As part of an unprecedented partnership that bridges the gap between the digital realm and brick-and-mortar retailers, eMusic and Naxos will make the first twelve beautifully packaged MPkey titles -- each of which contains hours of music drawn from the extensive Naxos catalogue -- available exclusively at Borders® stores nationwide from now to December 1.

"This new product in the Naxos family brings classical music to a whole new group of listeners," comments Naxos of America Chief Executive Officer Jim Sturgeon. "MPkey is easy to use and gets rid of any intimidation factor that people might feel...

Premier vocalist and songwriter, Joan Osborne, will be releasing her Vanguard Records debut, "Pretty Little Stranger," on November 14th.

Recorded in Nashville and produced by Grammy winner, Steve Buckingham, "Pretty Little Stranger" highlights the soulful sound of Joan Osborne with elements of country blues and Americana. This 12 song collection features six original tunes written by Joan including the first single, "Who Divided," "Shake That Devil," "After Jane" and the title track and also compositions by Kris Kristofferson ("Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends"), Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter ("Brokedown Palace") and Patty Griffin ("What You Are").

Joan stated, "I would call this my version of a country record -- some of it very traditional, some less so. It tells feelings and stories in very simple language, and I wanted to focus on that simple way of communicating, rather than be flowery and poetic. I needed to get down to the bare bones and I feel like we did a good job...

The late Billy Preston would have turned 60 on September 2nd. According to his dear friend and manager, Joyce Moore, he was really looking forward to marking the milestone birthday and had started planning a television special and big concert to celebrate the event.

Tragically the world lost Billy on June 6th.

Moore and her husband, the legendary Sam Moore, are asking radio around the world to begin playing his last recording on his birthday, this Saturday, September 2nd at noon to celebrate and remember Preston and his vast contribution to music.

Before Billy fell ill he participated in the recording of this version of his great Billy Preston authored composition, "You Are So Beautiful," with his dear friend Sam Moore for Sam's newly released (Aug 29, 2006) album "Sam Moore Overnight Sensational." His sudden coma moved Sam, Joyce and the album's producer Randy Jackson to find a way to complete the track as a loving and respectful tribute to their Billy P that includes voca...

Music Choice, the multi-platform music network that programs, produces, and distributes video and audio music content for TVs, PCs, and cell phones, announces a joint promotion with Equal Vision Records to promote SEEMLESS' highly anticipated new album, "What Have We Become." The entire album can be heard, without interruptions, exclusively on the Music Choice Rock audio channel, which reaches over 30 million digital cable homes nationwide, from August 29 through September 5. Millions of digital cable subscribers across the country can also watch SEEMLESS' music videos as often as they'd like at no cost on Music Choice On-Demand, the most popular free video-on-demand music service nationwide.

SEEMLESS' "What Have We Become" hits stores on Tuesday, September 5. Recorded at Massachusetts' legendary Longview Studios (AEROSMITH, THE ROLLING STONES), the album was produced by Peter Rutcho and SEEMLESS and has been described as "a blend of rock 'n roll soul and heavy metal blues." "Wha...

Street-smart pop-soul singer-songwriter MoZella will hit the road this summer as a special guest of her best-selling Warner Bros. Records labelmate Daniel Powter. The twelve-date tour, which launches July 17th in Philadelphia and culminates August 4th and 5th in Los Angeles, will stop at theaters across the country, giving audiences a chance to hear songs from the 24-year-old Detroit native's upcoming debut album, "I Will," which will be released by Maverick Records on September 19th.

Following the shows with Powter, MoZella, who has previously opened for Lifehouse and Dave Matthews Band, will embark on "Uncorked & Unplugged," a nationwide tour in which MoZella joins recording artists Sierra Swan and Elan to partner with three innovative California wineries -- Solaris, Moon Mountain Vineyards, and Dynamite Vineyards -- for an unconventional blend of wine-tasting and live concerts. Each venue will offer an intimate setting for fans to discover new music and new wines. MoZella, t...

Multi-Grammy Award winner Verdine White (of Earth, Wind & Fire) and prominent businessman Scott Julion, have teamed up and formed J.E.P. Entertainment, a new Artist Management/Music Production Company. Julion is a fashion industry veteran whose clients have included Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker, Halle Berry, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and Arsenio Hall, just to name a few as well as corporate giant SEARS. The company will be based in Los Angeles.

"Scott and I have over 25 years of experience in the entertainment business," stated White. "J.E.P. will develop the raw talent of vocalists and musicians in order to prepare them for today's competitive and ever- evolving music market."

The first release from J.E.P. will be a six piece band from Orange County, California, SlapBak. "When Scott and I heard SlapBak's music and saw them perform, we knew they had the talent and passion that we were looking for. We are proud to present them as the first release from J.E.P. Rooted in old...

Music icon Carlos Santana and the Santana Band will perform the last of their trio of extraordinary all-star concerts at the 40th annual presentation of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland on Wednesday, July 12. Titled "Santana!," Carlos and the Santana Band will be joined onstage by jazz icon Herbie Hancock, contemporary R&B star Beverley Knight, horn-driven greats Tower of Power, alt-star Eagle-Eye Cherry, multi-lingual rocker Draco and more. It is scheduled to take place at the Auditorium Stravinksi, the largest of the Festival's three halls.

"Santana!" is the third and final of the themed shows that Carlos Santana conceived for this year's Festival, all featuring an array of internationally renowned guest artists, and all paying tribute to the global musical influences -- African, Cuban, Brazilian and more -- that have shaped and inspired Santana's artistic legacy and made them one of the world's most popular and enduring groups.

"Everyone shou...

You may have heard Holly Brook's sweet, affecting voice on her duet with hip-hop juggernaut Fort Minor, "Where'd You Go?" The track is burning up at radio and on MTV. Along with national appearances on MTV's "Total Request Live" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," fans can now catch Brook live when she opens for Daniel Powter this summer. Holly will be supporting her debut album -- "Like Blood, Like Honey" -- on this tour, which begins July 17th in Philadelphia, PA.

"Brook makes piano-driven pop alongside her cashmere voice," says The Los Angeles Times. Her debut album (released June 6) is an intimate collection of dusky, sepia-toned gems that she co-produced with Jon Ingoldsy, who has worked with Madonna and Elton John.

Performing professionally since the age of 6, Brook is single-minded and steadfast when it comes to her music. She is a true musician (who plays the acoustic guitar, dulcimer, and piano). Take it from Fort Minor frontman Mike Shinoda when he says, "Holly is ...