Record label TVT has dropped its copyright infringement lawsuit against Napster and has entered into an agreement with the controversial file-sharing network, according to a joint statement from both companies on Thursday (1/25).

Under the terms of the agreement, TVT will withdraw its suit and allow music that it owns to be used for file sharing on the Napster service. TVT said in its statement that the move was prompted by an agreement that Napster recently struck with major label BMG, through which a subscription-based business model is being developed for Napster.

A number of other copyright infringement lawsuits are still pending against Napster, including those filed by the other four major record labels--Universal, Time-Warner, Sony and EMI--and separate suits filed by both Metallica and Dr. Dre.

Alanis Morissette [ tickets ] has finished recording her follow-up to 1998’s “Former Supposed Infatuation Junkie” (Maverick), according to her official website. The singer wrote, produced and arranged the new release “to have a harder more edgier sound,” the site said. A June 12 release date has been set for the as-yet-untitled album.

Guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd [ tickets ] is supporting a $350 million plan set forth by The Foundation for Arts, Music and Entertainment Inc., to build a music museum and to conduct renovations in his hometown of Shreveport, La., Billboard reported.

Joan Osborne [ tickets ] and Queen Latifah [ tickets ] will perform at the Take Back the Garden 2001 V-Day benefit on Feb. 10 at New York's Madison Square Garden, MTV reported. The event aims to raise funds for a variety of local, national and international groups ranging from Planned Parenthood to the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan.

Other celebrities scheduled to appear at the event include Oprah Winfrey, Melissa Joan Hart, Calista Flockhart, Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Brooke Shields, Julianna Margulies and Edie Falco, all of whom will read selections from Eve Ensler’s critically-acclaimed production “The Vagina Monologues.”