The White Stripes [ tickets ] will perform on the Dec. 1 episode of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," marking the first time a band has performed on the mock newscast.

"We've never had a musical performance on the show before--not because we haven't wanted one--but because we were holding out for a reunited Spandau Ballet," Stewart said in a press release. "This will have to suffice."

Gretchen Wilson [ tickets ], sidestepping the dreaded sophomore slump, debuts atop The Billboard 200 album chart this week with her second album, "All Jacked Up." About 264,000 copies of the set were sold during its first week in stores, according to Billboard.

Sheryl Crow [ tickets ]'s "Wildflower" bows at a distant No. 2 , while Three 6 Mafia enters the chart at No. 3 with its new set, "Most Known Unknown."

Tony Braxton's fifth album, "Libra," debuts at No. 4, while Kanye West's "Late Registration" falls two notches to No. 5.

The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand [ tickets ], Iggy & The Stooges, Kings of Leon, The Mars Volta, AFI, Sleater-Kinney and The Magic Numbers are among the initial acts confirmed to appear at this year's Big Day Out [ tickets ] festival, which traverses Australia and New Zealand next January and February.

More details are posted at the event's website.