Pearl Jam [ tickets ] has turned to Amazon.com to distribute its latest CD single, "Man of the Hour," which until now had been available only via the band's website and as a download via Apple's iTunes Music Store.

The Seattle band is using Amazon's Advantage for Music program, which Amazon claims, has enrolled "tens of thousands" of independent artists since its 1995 launch. The program typically serves as a way for little-known artists to gain international distribution.

"Pearl Jam is exploring a number of different ways to get music directly to its fans, following the recent fulfillment of its contract with Epic Records, with whom the band has not yet decided to resign," the band's manager Kelly Curtis said in a statement. "We have the opportunity right now to test the waters with a variety of progressive companies that are working to expand options for music fans and artists alike. It's a fun and interesting process, and we look forward to evaluating programs like Amazon.com's Advantage for Music to see how they work for a band like Pearl Jam. We will ultimately use this information to help us determine the band's next steps."

"Man of the Hour" is Pearl Jam's first release since its Epic contract expired. It was written and recorded for Tim Burton's new film "Big Fish."