Napster announced on Tuesday (6/26) that it has signed licensing deals with the Association of Independent Music and the Independent Music Companies Association, two groups that represent independent European record labels--"over 150" labels, according to the announcement.

Former Metallica [ tickets ] bassist Jason Newsted talked about his new power trio EchoBrain and its forthcoming album while on KNAC.com's Breath of Fire show.

According to the website, Newsted "revealed the band members to be 24-year-olds Brain Sagrafina (drums) and Dylan Dawkin (guitars, vocals). ... The album was produced by Brian Dobbs, an associate of Metallica producer Bob Rock, and features guest appearances from Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett (who plays on "Suckerpunch"), former Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin, and some of the musicians from San Francisco Symphony Orchestra that performed on Metallica's S & M. He also mentioned that he and Dobbs will be producing up-and-coming new bands, beginning with Dallas punk/metal road warriors Speeddealer. ..."

Newsted said that he will take EchoBrain on the road, though the touring would not be as extensive as Metallica's.

Linkin Park will perform on this year's Family Values tour, Sonicnet.com reported.

TVGuide.com reported that pop band O-Town, which was created on the TV show "Making the Band," has fired manager Lou Pearlman. Pearlman also once managed Backstreet Boys' and 'NSync, both of which groups ultimately fired him.

New York Yankees' centerfielder Bernie Williams--who is allegedly a fairly accomplished guitarist--will take the stage with the Jazz Mandolin Project at Thursday's (6/28) second annual Jammy Awards, to take place at New York's Roseland Ballroom. Williams and band will cover Ornette Coleman's "Ramblin,'" according to a press release.

From liveDaily contributing writer Don Zulaica's interview with Styx's Tommy Shaw:

LiveDaily: You, along with groups like Journey and Boston, always got bashed for being "corporate rock" ...

Tommy Shaw: What tipped it off was our manager, Derek Sutton, who never gave interviews, gave this one interview to the New York Times in which he said, "Marketing Styx was like McDonald's marketing hamburgers." And that was the shot heard around the world, that's how we got labeled "corporate."