The RIAA said Friday it has abandoned its policy of suing people for sharing songs protected by copyright and will work with Internet service providers to cut abusers' access if they ignore repeated warnings. The move ends a controversial program that saw the Recording Industry Association of America sue about 35,000 people since 2003 for swapping songs online. The RIAA's legal costs exceeded the settlement money it brought in. more

Paul McCartney greeted fans and signed autographs at the HMV London store on Sunday and he reportedly hinted at a2009 tour. Photos, videos and more details here

Britney Spears is reportedly taking Paris Hilton's sloppy seconds by dating Good Charlotte's Benji Madden, according to a tabloid. So take it for what it's worth. The pair have apparently been dating since Madden split with Paris Hilton a few weeks ago. more... oh wait that was from a tabloid report? Britney's rep has denied the poptart's involvement with the poptard. more

Barenaked Ladies are looking ahead to a 2009 in which the Canadian quintet will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a boxed set and, hopefully, some new music.more

The Black Dahlia Murder has added Arsis guitarist Ryan Knight to their line-up, effectively replacing departed guitar player John Kempainen.more

Some interesting additions to Guitar Hero: World Tour coming in January. Notably, three tracks from Travis Barker projects. Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" from Enema of the State, Plus 44's "Lycanthrope" from When Your Heart Stops Beating and Travis Barker's remix of Flo Rida's "Low."more

Aerosmith's guitarist Joe Perry has recorded his version of the Chuck Berry yuletide classic "Run Rudolph Run", and is offering it up to fans for free at AeroForceOne, the official Aerosmith fan club web sitemore

Birds Of Prey has completed their third full-length album. The effort is tentatively titled "Hell Preacher" and will hit streets next spring more

Warped Tour has announced a number of additions to the upcoming 2009 edition of the long-running tour. The new bands include Less Than Jake, Silverstein, Senses Fail, Streetlight Manifesto, The A.K.A.s, The Ataris, Alexisonfire, Black Tide, Dance Gavin Dance, Escape the Fate and Gallows.more

Panic at the Disco have already written songs for their next album, which will be recorded in 2009. The rush-release will see the album released next year - just 12 months after the band released current LP 'Pretty. Odd.' in March 2008. more

As you might have heard�California's been experiencing some wacky weather lately�in fact, it snowed in Malibu this week! [and at antiMusic HQ over a foot of the stuff] Was Keaton Simons foretelling the future when he wrote "Unstoppable" from his "Can You Hear Me" CBS Records debut album, which includes the lyric "I'll be going but I heard that it's snowing out in Malibu/babe can you believe it's snowing in Malibu"? Interesting coincidence. You can hear the song on his Myspace page

Brooklyn's Free Blood are ready to bust out of the city and head westward in 2009. The group have planned a mini-tour of the west coast in January. They also have an upcoming show in NYC and a mini-east coast tour is in the works for March. dates

Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Alesana, Fear Before, I Set My Friends On Fire, and With Grace We Fall will embark upon a U.S. tour next March. dates

Saturday morning the Warner Music Group pulled all of its music from YouTube as negotiations over payment with Google's video site reached an impasse more. Watch WMG sales drop without this form of promotion!

Old Crow Medicine Show (OCMS) are ending 2008 with a performance of "Alabama High-Test" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Tuesday, December 23. The track, from their latest album Tennessee Pusher, has proven to be one of their most popular live songs. Myspace link

In a positive sign for the 2009 touring season, sales for the upcoming Billy Joel/Elton John looks to be a smash, according to the promoter.more

Barricade (Eulogy Recordings) is currently in search of a new bassist. According to the group, "We're looking for a serious person... somebody who wants to play loud and fast, tour, have fun and is fun to be around." contradictory? You decide. More info here

Maryland Deathfest has announced Cephalic Carnage and Cattle Decapitation as replacements for Enslaved, Keep of Kalessin, and Swallow The Sun, whose North American tour together was scrapped. - more

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