COMING SOON:

John Stephens, Live at SOBs – Soul (DCN)
Columbia Records will release John's major label debut on December 28th, which also happens to be his 26th birthday! "Get Lifted" will be released under John's new [and hopefully prophetic] name, John Legend. John signed a production deal with frequent collaborator and R&B giant Kanye West in 2003. Before that, he kept busy by lending his soulful vocals to multi-platinum records from Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and Black Eyed Peas, to name a few. Recently, you might've caught his video for "Used to Love U" on BET or MTV, or maybe you saw his performance on BET's 10th Annual Walk of Fame concert special, honoring Smokey Robinson. Congrats on the flurry of activity and happy birthday, John!

Alan Pasqua, Russian Peasant – Jazz (Blue Forest Records)
"Russian Peasant" was The Orchard's #1 best-selling digital jazz release for the third quarter of 2004. Keyboardist Alan Pasqua has previously backed stars like Bob Dylan and Carlos Santana, and has worked with composers like John Williams and Quincy Jones. In the jazz world, Pasqua has worked with vocalist Joe Williams, The Brecker Brothers and others. On "Russian Peasant," Pasqua leads a jazz combo through eight tracks that inspired a critic at the Santa Fe Reporter to "feel like I was the star of a sumptuous, Oscar-winning film�The album is, in a word, beautiful."

The Autumns, The Autumns – Rock (Saturnine Anvil)
Los Angeles dream-poppers The Autumns have received some stellar press for their new CD, which was released in September. MOJO describes them as "masters of structure and dynamics," deeming "The Autumns" "glorious�unutterably beautiful" and "hugely powerful." Q Magazine calls it "impressive stuff" while Uncut calls it "euphoric" and "searing." Cocteau Twins bassist and frequent collaborator Simon Raymonde calls The Autumns "the best band this side of the Velvet Underground."

Zion Train, Original Sounds of the Zion – Reggae / Electronic (Universal Egg)
Best of luck to Zion Train, who are currently touring the UK (see dates). Formed in London in 1990, this acid-dub collective and European music fest favorite has collaborated with Studio One vet Devon Russell, Afro-Celt Sound System, Junior Reid, Maxi Priest, Transglobal Underground and many others. They also have received significant radio support from the late great John Peel [R.I.P].

Napster

Napster is no longer the controversial music service that originally stirred up the music business five years ago. They're fully legit now, selling authorized digital downloads by album or by track. They've retained the tight-knit community vibe that defined the original version, allowing users to scan other users' playlists. Napster's premium service subscribers receive the added benefits of free high bit-rate streaming of Napster's 1,000,000+ tracks, plus access to over 50 commercial-free radio stations, like "One-Hit Wonders" and "Party Anthems."

In January, Napster was named "best service for buying music online" by PC Magazine. In February, Napster announced that it was the first PC-only digital music service to sell over five million downloads, courtesy of over 1.5 million basic and premium subscribers.

Napster's UK and Canada stores, both launched this past May, have greatly extended the US-based brand's reach. Late last month, Napster UK announced that it now offers over one million tracks for sale - the first UK service to make that claim.

RELIX JAM OFF is a competition for unsigned artists. One grand prize winner will receive a recording contract from Hybrid Recordings. Ten artists will be chosen to contribute a track to a CD compilation that will be nationally distributed by Relix Magazine at music festivals and venues around the United States, and inserted in issues of Relix. Winners will also receive publicity on Relix.com and Jambands.com, and the opportunity to perform at a Jam Off Winner's Showcase in New York City. All genres accepted, although past winners have reflected Relix's editorial focus of improvisational jam bands steeped in the traditions of rock'n'roll, bluegrass, funk, roots, Americana and jazz. Application deadline: March 31, 2005. Application fee: $30.00, which includes a one-year subscription to Relix. For more information: www.relix.com/jamoff.

HOWARD ROSEN PROMOTION is a full-service radio promotion company. Established in 1985, they have nearly two decades of experience getting music played on the radio, through their strong relationships with hundreds of US-based radio stations. The company also has the resources to monitor how songs perform at various radio formats. Howard Rosen also offers video promotion. For more information, visit www.howiewood.com.