Amazon.com launched the beta version of its digital music service, offering over 2 million DRM-free mp3's. Although only two major labels ( Universal Music Group and EMI Music ) are participating due to the DRM-free policy, several independents are taking advantage of the opportunity. Heading directly in competition with iTunes , Amazon's service can run completely through your web browser of choice, though a small application to save our music directly to iTunes...

If you're on the Giant Step site (which you are), then there's a pretty high chance that you're a fan of Mark Ronson's music. With the European Video Music Awards just around the corner on Nov. 1 in Munich, Ronson has been nominated for Best UK and Irish Act . Regardless of where you are in the world, you can still help Mark win by stuffing the ballot.

Joe's Pub in the Park just announced the addition of very special guest Patti Smith to the Saturday, September 29th Marc Bolan (of Tyrannosaurus Rex) 30th anniversary tribute. The night celebrates 60 years since Bolan's birth and 30 years since his passing with a 90-minute concert at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park (9 PM sharp). To name a few guests that have also been confirmed: Clem Burke (Blondie/Drums), Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith/Bass), James Mastro...

Adam "MCA" Yauch, Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz have asked M.I.A., Lily Allen and Mr. Cocker to record guest vocals for a re-version of their latest instrumental album, The Mix-Up . Other acts are said to be in question as well, but the Beastie Boys have focused mainly on "a bunch of British people" because "it'll be interesting to see what they do with the stuff," the band told Billboard.com. The Beasties are also rumored...

The most respected reggae imprint Greensleeves is observing its 30th anniversary with a 2-CD compilation of classic tracks, entitled From Dubplate To Download . Released at the beginning of the month, the album fittingly contains 30 songs, each meant to represent a year in the label's existence. It is available as both a physical CD and a digital download - and fear not, the download version contains digital artwork and a PDF of the sleevenotes, which document...

Common will be joined by Q-Tip (original member of A Tribe Called Quest ) on the rapper's 2K Sports Bounce Tour to promote Common's recent B-Ball Zombie War CD compilation. The two are said to be banding together for a studio release as The Standard but have yet to record original material for it. Percee P of the Stones Throw stable, who just released his debut, will also accompany on the tour. Q-Tip's The...

In Berlin, the city Sonar Kollektiv calls home, Apollo Soul presents 10 Years of Sonar Kollektiv this Friday, 9/21. (Yes, it's been that long)! It is truly a milestone for the record label that's released work by everyone from Âme, Clara Hill, Outlines, Dimlite, Dixon, Seiji, Trickski, Fat Freddy's Drop, Benny Sings and a roster of other ground-breaking artists alongside the imprint's founding members Jazzanova . Whether it's broken-beat, folk, nu-jazz,...

One of New York's favorite venues Joe's Pub is giving away five pairs of tickets to each of two upcoming Joe's Pub in the Park events at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park : 1) Lesley Gore, Jill Sobule, ETHEL and The New Standards on Wednesday 9/19 2) Patty Griffin, Allen Toussaint and The CMA Songwriters on Thursday 9/20 To enter, simply send an mail to tickets@joespub.com with the name of the show you'd...

Bobby Byrd , the soul singer, arranger and collaborator with James Brown , died of cancer yesterday at his home in Loganville, GA. Best known for featuring on "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine" and founding the Famous Flames , the Godfather of Soul's backing band, Byrd also recorded what would become hip hop classics "Hot Pants" and "I Know You Got Soul." Bobby Byrd was 73.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year in March with the Furious Five , Grandmaster Flash continues to celebrate and expand on his illustrious career with a book of biographical memoirs entitled The Grandmaster Flash Story and a new album The Bridge (on Flash's own Adrenaline Entertainment ). Both set for a 2008 release, the book will be written by David Ritz , author of Ray Charles and Marvin...