Radiohead has entered a “proper studio” to work on the band’s seventh studio album. No release date has yet been announced for the as-yet-untitled disc. The band has been working on and off at its studio since early 2004. While the band works on the disc, it will also need to decide upon a release strategy for the disc since it is currently without a label, having fulfilled its contract with EMI when it released Hail to the Thief in 2003…

Live will return to the scene with a new album, Songs From the Black Mountain in mid-November on Epic Records. This marks the band’s first album since they completed their association with Radioactive/MCA. “The River,” the first single from the disc, will be delivered to U.S. radio in mid-September…

The ninth annual Hellfest was canceled Wednesday (August 17), just two days before the festival was scheduled to take place at Trenton, New Jersey's Sovereign Bank Arena. The Trentonian reported that the festival, which was to feature 180 bands including headliners Public Enemy, Hatebreed, and Killswitch Engage, was canceled after the arena claimed that promoters had failed to secure the proper insurance policy for the event...

Kanye West spoke out during an interview for an MTV special about the use of the word “gay” and prejudice in hip-hop music. He explained that being called a “mama’s boy” during his childhood “made me kind of homophobic.” The rapper changed his tune when he learned that one of his cousins was gay. “It was kind of like a turning point when I was like, ‘Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I’ve been discriminating against gays.’” He added, “Not just hip-hop, but America just discriminates. And I wanna just, to come on TV and just tell my rappers, just tell my friends, ‘Yo, stop it.’” The artist’s highly-anticipated sophomore album hits store shelves August 30…

Michael Jackson avoided arrest Wednesday after he sent an attorney to a hearing in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jackson was fined $10,000 by U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon for missing two previous court dates in the case where Jackson is being sued civilly by a plaintiff who said that he was lured into Jackson’s limousine during the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans and sexually assaulted…

City officials in Los Angeles, California rejected a demand Wednesday for $18 million by the family of late rapper Notorious B.I.G. to end a lawsuit that accuses two former Los Angeles police officers of conspiring in the rapper’s murder. Family lawyers said that they had pursued a settlement in order to spare the city further litigation over the rapper’s death…

Slipknot is threatening Burger King with legal action, claiming that its image and persona has been co-opted by the fast-food chain’s marketing campaign for its new chicken fries. The band’s lawyers claim that Coq Roq, a phony metal band featured in commercials for the restaurant chain, was created as a “look-alike, sound alike ‘band’ in order to influence the Slipknot generation to purchase Chicken Fries.” Burger King has asked a District Court judge in Miami, Florida to issue a “declaratory judgment” that the ad campaign does not infringe on Slipknot’s publicity and trademark rights…

Starsailor will release its new album, On The Outside, October 18. The disc, which was recorded and mixed in Los Angeles, California in April and May, was produced by Rob Schnapf (Beck, Vines)…

The Distillers have parted ways with bassist Ryan Sinn. Sinn posted a message on his MySpace page announcing that not only is he no longer with the band, but that the band is no more. The band’s publicist said that Sinn is incorrect and that the remaining members of the band are working on a new album…

Trapt will tour North America in support of its new album, Someone In Control. The band will kick off its trek September 22 in Chico, California and remain on the road through mid-December. Blindside and Aphasia will support Trapt…

Knockout Entertainment chairman Ray J will release his new Knockout/Sanctuary CD, Raydiation September 20 and will star in the popular UPN series, One on One. The series premieres September 19…