Embattled pop-star Britney Spears [ tickets ] is thanking fans for their support during her recent tabloid scandals via a personal message and racy photo, both of which she has posted online.

The image of Spears--a waist-up shot in which she is topless and covering herself with her white-gloved hands and arms--is posted at her website, along with a note in which she writes that her fans' "prayers have truly helped me."

"I am so blessed that you care enough about me to be concerned and will continue to live in this brighter state with all of you by my side during this trying time," the message continues. "We are all lights of the world and we all need to continuously inspire others and look to the higher power. You are all in my prayers. Godspeed. Love, Britney."

The message follows Spears' late-March completion of a month-long stay in a rehab facility, which she voluntarily undertook after tabloid outlets spent weeks documenting her erratic behavior.

Popular online retailer Amazon.com has announced plans to launch a digital-music store later this year, through which the company plans to sell MP3 files that will be unencumbered by copy-protection measures.

"Our MP3-only strategy means all the music that customers buy on Amazon is always [Digital Rights Management]-free and plays on any device," Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a press release issued Wednesday (5/16).

EMI Music, in a separate announcement, said its catalog will be part of Amazon.com's DRM-free offerings; last month, the label--announced that it had reached a similar agreement with Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is believed to be pushing for DRM-free arrangements with the other major labels, but, so far, none have officially announced plans to follow EMI's lead.

Amazon announced that its forthcoming store will include music culled from 12,000 labels, but, so far, EMI is the only label specifically named.

Fall Out Boy [ tickets ] bassist Pete Wentz and rapper Paul Wall [ tickets ] will team up for "an exclusive mash-up DJ set" as part of a May 25 benefit event in Montreal, according to a press release. Dubbed "Music Loves Fashion," the show will take place at Club 1234; proceeds will be donated to The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. Details are available at Club 1234's website, as well as at the Music Loves Fashion website.

Country singer Tracy Byrd [ tickets ] plans to give a free concert in one of 10 towns competing against each other as part of a charitable fundraiser spearheaded by Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in each of the 10 towns are currently selling "miracle balloons" for $1 each; the town that sells the most by the May 31 deadline will host a free concert from Byrd.

The towns in the running are: Marietta, OH; Athens, GA; Ft. Smith, AR; Charleston, SC; Siox Falls, SD; San Jose, CA; Decatur, IL; Baton Rouge, LA; Kissimmee, FL; and Pascagoula, MS, according to a press release. Proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network.