Though recent reports suggested that The Rolling Stones [ tickets ] weren't going to play two planned November concerts in Hong Kong, the group's tour director says the shows will go on as scheduled.

"We have received the deposit money from Hong Kong and the band's lawyers have a signed contract having concluded negotiations last week," Michael Cohl said in a statement. "This will be the first time in their 40 year history that The Rolling Stones have performed in Hong Kong and they look forward being part of the Harborfest festival."

Hong Kong officials developed the Harborfest concerts to spur tourism in the wake of this year's SARS outbreak. The Stones will play on Nov. 7 and 9.

No Doubt [ tickets ] fans will have plenty of gifts to wish for this holiday season. On Nov. 25, the group will release "The Singles 1992-2003," which features 14 previously released singles, as well as a new cover of Talk Talk's 1984 hit "It's My Life."

The same day also brings the release of the four-disc retrospective "Boom Box," a limited-edition box set that features "The Singles," the rarities disc "Everything in Time," and two DVDs--"The Videos 1992-2003," which compiles the group's music videos, and "Live in the Tragic Kingdom," a 1997 concert performance previously available only on VHS.

Tim McGraw [ tickets ], Vince Gill [ tickets ], Gary Allan, Terri Clark, Buddy Jewell, Joe Nichols, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton and Darryl Worley have been added to the list of performers at this year's CMA Awards, the Country Music Association announced. They'll join previously announced acts Toby Keith, Martina McBride, George Strait and Shania Twain.

The awards ceremony will air live on CBS-TV from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House on Nov. 6.

Indie punk label Go-Kart Records is allowing fans to download some of its current releases for free via its website.

"We at Go-Kart Records want to make it perfectly clear that the RIAA does not represent the views of all record labels," the company said in a statement. "We feel that only by embracing technology can we gain from it, and that a battle like the one that the RIAA is fighting can simply not be won.

"We do not believe that online downloads are all that is hurting the music industry. It is a combination of problems, CD burning being the most injurious. Of course, major labels will never take action against the manufacturers of burnable CDs, since in some cases they would then have to sue themselves (why would Sony sue Sony?). Instead they are going after the music fans, whom they hope to intimidate and extort.

"We also feel that the lack of original and meaningful music is part of the major labels' problem. Simply put, if there is better music, people will spend money to own it instead of downloading or burning it. The success of iTunes proves that people are willing to buy music online if it is delivered in an intelligent way that is respectful of the consumer."

The statement goes on to say that the label believes that if fans like the music they hear, they will support it by going to shows, telling friends and buying CDs. It is also asking fans to make donations via PayPal.

Rapper Ludacris [ tickets ] has agreed to design a line of footwear dubbed "Da' Hood Collection by Ludacris" for Sole City Inc. The line, which features athletic street shoes and boots, launches in February with the release of an athletic shoe dubbed "Da' Block."