George Strait [ tickets ], Alan Jackson [ tickets ] and Brooks & Dunn [ tickets ] have signed on to perform at a charity event titled the Country Freedom Concert, which will benefit the Salvation Army's disaster relief efforts. It will take place on Oct. 21 at Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The concert, which CMT and Clear Channel Communications organized to honor rescue workers in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, will be broadcast live and commercial free on the Country Music Television network, CMT Canada and many radio stations.

CNet.com reported that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) have filed suit against MusicCity, Kazaa and Grokster, "which together form one of the most popular file-trading networks to spring up in Napster's wake."

These services do not have a central company--"a file trader using any one of [the services] taps into the same loose network of computers"--and this lack of centralization will make combating them more difficult than combating a centralized service like Napster.

EMI Recorded Music has signed an online-licensing deal with subscription service Pressplay, which also has deals with Universal and Sony, Billboard.com reported.

Earth Wind & Fire leader Maurice White, who retired from concert appearances in 1994, made a surprise appearance on stage at Universal Amphitheatre near Los Angeles on Tuesday night (10/2), ,joining the group to perform the song "Keep Your Head to the Sky," according to the band's publicist.

White continues to produce, co-write and sing on Earth, Wind & Fire’s recordings, and he is working on the band’s 23rd album.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is working on opening the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in L.A.'s Silver Lake neighborhood.

According to the article, "More than 20 teachers will rent space from the school, offering classes on instruments that range from clarinet and lap-steel guitar to electric bass and vocals."

J Records' rock act Soil has been added to the Merry Mayhem tour featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie and Mudvayne. The band will open the tour from Oct. 31-Dec. 6. Chicago-based Soil is promoting its record "Scars," which sits at No. 24 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart for the week of Oct. 6.