October 17, 2008 marks the charity organization Free The Children's Second Annual National Me to We Day, an event formed to inspire and recognize youth-led action to create global change. Some of Canada's best musicians including Sarah McLachlan, Canadian Idol winner Theo Tams and Crash Parallel will be there alongside Mia Farrow, Nate Berkus, Justin Trudeau, and members of the Degrassi: The Next Generation cast to help celebrate the inspirational event.

Free The Children was founded in 1995 by then twelve-years-old Craig Kielburger, and the primary goals of the organization are to free children from poverty and exploitation, and free young people from the notion that they are powerless to affect positive change in the world. National Me to We Day began last year as a way to educate, inspire and empower youth to leadership through social action and volunteerism, and equip thousands of youth nationwide with the tools to become socially-engaged global citizens. Teachers and students are recognized at the event for their incredible achievements, and the main requirement to attend the event was a commitment to take on one local and one international action and participate in training to help see it through.

This isn't the first charity event Sarah McLachlan has participated in. She is well known for her work supporting many different charities over the years, including War Child, Make Poverty History, Sunnybrook Foundation, MusiCan and even starting her own - Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach an organization that provides Vancouver's inner-city youth with high quality music lessons. Theo Tams will also perform at the War Child Concert on October 7, 2008 at the Norfolk County Fair.

National Me to We Day begins at 9:30am and ends at 2:30pm at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. For more information on the event please check out the website here.

inMusic.ca is fulfilling one rock fan's wildest dreams. Picture this: you fly into New York City where you are whisked away on the Rock 'N' Roll Train to a secret location. Here, you witness the final dress rehearsal before AC/DC take off on their long awaited world tour! The only way to catch this exclusive performance is to win.

The worldwide tour - the band's first since 2001 - promotes 'Black Ice', AC/DC's latest studio album, available Monday, October 20, 2008.

Want to win? Enter out now at inMusic.ca.

R&B and pop superstar Usher will be making one Canadian stop in Toronto at the Kool Haus on Saturday, November 8, 2008 during his Ladies-Only One Night Stand Tour. He is set to perform a fifteen-city sweep on this exclusive tour, where he will be promoting his latest album 'Here I Stand'.

The tour, sponsored by Sony Ericsson, will allow ladies to get up close and personal with Usher in an intimate setting. Rather than playing the usual amphitheatres and stadiums, this time around he will be playing smaller clubs in order to give the all-female audience an opportunity to get closer than is normally possible for such a well-known performer. This will be a truly unforgettable event for the ladies, and as MTV.com points out, "Now that Usher is a married family man, he hopes to use this tour to prove that he still lives up to his sex-symbol status."

Don't forget to check out his official site for the latest news and tour information.

It's been almost a year since Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida took to the Toronto streets, busking for twelve hours straight in support of the humanitarian assistance charity War Child. His goal was to raise enough money to support War Child Canada's School Rehabilitation and Revitalization Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and after raising an incredible $22,000 that day, the Abala School was rebuilt and is now helping many children of war get the education they deserve.

On Thursday October 2, 2008, Maida will hit the downtown core once again, along with his Our Lady Peace bandmates; as will Brian Melo and many other celebrated Canadian musicians who will set up shop on street corners, in parks and in building atriums. Students across Canada have also been invited to participate in Busking for Change at their schools and communities, to raise awareness and support the cause. The city sanctioned day long event will take place from 8am to 8pm, and information on the locations as well as a full list of participating performers will be released on October 1, 2008.

This is a grassroots event so please help spread the word, and come out to support Our Lady Peace and Brian Melo as they bring awareness to this award winning charity. If you can't make it out to donate in person please click here to donate online, and help create a world where no child knows war.

The new video for AC/DC's "Rock 'N' Roll Train" is out now! Watch Angus and the guys rock the crowd, as well as the train tracks, to this incredible new tune off their first album in eight years.

Show your AC/DC love by requesting the video at MuchMusic. Click here to find out how, and keep up with everything AC/DC at their official site.

It's official, Eva Avila is all set to release her sophomore album 'Give Me the Music' on Tuesday, October 28. Eva is working with producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Chantal Kreviazuk); as well as with mix engineer Mark Needham, who has worked with artists like the Killers and Michelle Branch.

Her debut single "Give Me The Music" combines pop, soul and R & B and has shot up the charts since its release earlier this month. This track is just a taste of what fans can expect from her upcoming album. With a much larger role in the creative process of this album, Eva feels this project is more personal and reflective. "I've had the opportunity to spend a lot more time in each aspect of creating this album than the last; it reflects my personal style and where I want to go as an artist. It screams Eva! I'm really excited for my fans to hear the new album," gushes Eva.

Fans can look forward to the video premiere of "Give Me the Music" in early October. Watch her official site for the latest updates.

Bob Dylan's Official Website announced the Canadian dates for his upcoming fall 2008 North American tour. The dates publicized so far include shows in Victoria, Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Regina and Winnipeg. This tour will commence with the release of the next in his series of beloved bootlegs: 'Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Volume 8', which will be released through Columbia Records on Tuesday October 7, 2008.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale now, so check out the tour section of Dylan's website for the pre-sale password to ensure you get the best seats available!

The fourth studio album from pop/opera quartet Il Divo is now ready and waiting to take the world by storm. It is available Tuesday November 18, 2008.

Entitled 'The Promise,' the album brings Il Divo's return with their richest and most diverse album to date. Produced with their long-trusted collaborator Steve Mac, it takes the group in a daring new direction. The twelve captivating tracks include an inspired version of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love" and a gorgeous interpretation of Leonard Cohen's classic "Hallelujah."

Visit Il Divo's official website for more information.

American Idol winner David Cook's debut album will be released on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 . Cook has teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Rob Cavallo on the album, known for his previous studio time with Green Day and Kid Rock.

Along with this announcement comes the launch of, www.DavidCookOfficial.com, which serves as not only his website, but as a social networking site for his fans. You can create your own profile; interact with David personally; contribute blogs, photos and videos; and find other fans in your area by using the local search tool.

Subscribers to the newsletter will be the first to learn the title to his upcoming album, and fans who become members on the site will be able to compete for points to earn special prizes.

Visit the site now to check out a welcome greeting from David, and feel free to send him an email to david@davidcookofficial.com.

International superstar and cultural icon Beyoncé has announced that her third solo album will hit stores on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. The first two singles-- "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies" --will be simultaneously released on Tuesday, October 7, 2008.

This announcement follows her stunning performance with Justin Timberlake at the Fashion Rocks fifth anniversary extravaganza, a star-studded concert honoring the relationship between music and fashion. Together they covered the 1968 classic "Ain't Nothin Like The Real Thing" at the New York Radio City Music Hall event, and he is reported to appear on her upcoming album.

With all songs co-written and co-produced by Beyoncé, this release is slated to be her most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to-date.

Keep up with all the latest new at her official website.

Pop superstar Britney Spears has announced that her sixth studio album 'Circus' will be released Tuesday, December 2, 2008; her 27th birthday. The first single from the album is titled "Womanizer" and was produced by the up-and-coming Atlanta production team The Outsyders. The single will hit radio airwaves Monday, September 22.

On the heels of an MTV VMA awards sweep, where Britney walked away with three Moonmen awards for "Video of the Year," "Best Female" and "Best Pop Video" for "Piece of Me," 'Circus' will be a follow-up to her critically well received album, 'Blackout'. For her latest effort, Britney has enlisted a stellar group of established producers/writers that include Dr. Luke (who wrote and produced the album's title track, "Circus"), Danja, Max Martin, Bloodshy & Avant and Guy Sigsworth (Madonna, Alanis Morissette, Bjork).

Britney Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade and to date; she has sold in excess of 62 million albums worldwide, that include 'Baby One More Time' (1999), 'Oops!...I Did It Again' (2000), 'Britney' (2001), 'In The Zone' (2003), and 'Blackout' (2007), eight #1 worldwide singles and four consecutive #1 albums.

Official website: www.britney.com

Christina Aguilera's first greatest hits collection 'Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits', will be released on Tuesday November 10. The album will feature ten of her most popular, chart-topping hits and include two brand new tracks in one CD collection.

Christina has also re-recorded two classic songs, "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful," which can only be found on this album. As a singer, songwriter, performer and producer, Christina Aguilera is one of the most accomplished artists of the last decade, selling more than 25 million albums worldwide.

"I can't believe it's been over 10 years since my first album and it was really exciting to put all of my favorite songs in one collection for my fans," said Aguilera.

Since 1999, Aguilera has had four #1 singles on the Billboard charts all of which will be included within the collection. In addition, the album will exclusively debut two original tracks "Keeps Gettin' Better" and "Dynamite." This will mark the international superstar's first album since the release of her 2006 'Back to Basics' album, which debuted at #1 and went on to sell over 3.7 million worldwide.

Following the success of her country-style cover of "These Boots Are Made For Walking," Jessica released 'Do You Know' this week, an album full of Nashville-worthy tunes that is set out to impress fans and critics alike.

Produced by Brett James and John Shanks, Simpson co-wrote all but three of the tracks featured on the disc, and with the help of Nashville's top shelf songstress Hillary Lindsey as well Dolly Parton, she brings country music to a whole new audience.

"Digging into her country roots for Do You Know is the most strong-footed move that Jessica Simpson has ever made," says Rolling Stone. "She's created an album where she consistently shows off her full bodied voice with solid, yet simple tunes that don't over-think the music," raves New York Post. "Parton wrote the title track and duets with her. You can't get a better endorsement in country. "Do You Know" is the CD's best song, and the one that is bound to earn her a country Grammy in February."

Keep an eye on her official site for the latest news and tour dates.

23 year old Theo Tams from Lethbridge Alberta was crowned the 2008 Canadian Idol winner last night! A university student and classically trained musician, Theo triumphed in the final two with his impressive performances of Jann Arden's "Good Mother" and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is".

His first single "Sing" was delivered to radio stations across the country this morning and available for download on iTunes now. Click here to get it for yourself!

As the excitement unfolds, check out Theo's official site for all the information you need!

Last night Britney Spears kicked off the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with a nod to the award show's 25th anniversary. MTV, however, wasn't the only one with something to celebrate. Britney herself was the biggest winner of the night, winning three out of her three nominations.

The pop princess triumphed over many top acts to take home Video Of The Year, Best Pop Video and Best Female Video, all for her "Piece Of Me" video. Chris Brown also took home Best Male Video for "With You".

For more highlights from the exciting ceremony including performances check out the MTV Canada site.

Canadian artist Crystal Shawanda's album, 'Dawn Of A New Day', entered the Billboard Country Albums Chart in the US at #16, making Shawanda the highest charting full-blooded Native American country artist in the SoundScan era. The album features her emotional debut single and Top 20 hit, "You Can Let Go," which continues to climb the country radio charts in the US, while her current Canadian single "What Do I Have To Do" has reached the top 10.

Michael McCall of the Associated Press writes "'Dawn Of A New Day' suggests Nashville has discovered another strong female vocalist capable of establishing her own point of view." You can check out the video for "You Can Let Go" here.

Crystal grew up on the Wikwemikong reservation on Canada's Manitoulin Island where she and her family found daily comfort and hope through music. Shawanda means "Dawn of a New Day" in Crystal's native Ojibwe language, and a new day is what music has given Crystal. A citizen of both the U.S. and Canada, Crystal has always turned to her music, which she credits for saving her life. 'Dawn Of A New Day', which was produced by Scott Hendricks, is dedicated "To Those In Need Of Hope." It is available now.

Earlier this week, the first track from Eva Avila's forthcoming sophomore album hit radio airwaves. With the labour day behind us, "Give Me The Music" is a high-energy piece of summer to hang on to. The track is currently streaming on Eva's site, and keep an ear out for it on the following stations:

Z103.5 Toronto, FLOW Toronto, CHUM FM Toronto, Virgin Radio 999 Toronto, FM92 Brantford, Energie Radio Montreal, CKOI Montreal, C100 Halifax, Z103.5 Halifax, Hits 991 St John's, The Beat Vancouver, Wired Saskatoon, Energy1015 Calgary,

To celebrate the release of "Give Me The Music", a brand new splash page is up on evaavila.com. While Eva is in the studio putting the finishing touches on the album, she's brought along a camera to give us a peak at what she's been up to. Stay tuned for her updates, but in the meantime check out the site for all the latest news and visit the Eva forum to talk about the new single with other fans!

A single mother trying to support her kids, a businesswoman in the boardroom, a female astronaut - Alicia Key's newest video "Superwoman" pays tribute to women from all walks of life.

Alicia is looking for a touching story of why you consider yourself or someone you know to be a Superwoman. The person with the story that touches her the most will receive a phone call from Alicia.

What specific qualities do you think today's "Superwomen" embody? Tell us why you consider yourself to be a "Superwoman" and how you have overcome adversities and defied the odds. This is a chance for women all over the world to honor our sacrifices and celebrate our accomplishments!

There are three ways to enter:
1. Call Alicia at 646-248-5158.
*Long distance charges apply
2. Share your story at Alicia's Site
3. Upload your story to YouTube and post it here

Good luck, and don't forget to check out the video for inspiration.

In honour of the Tuesday, September 23 release of Kings of Leon's 4th studio album 'Only By The Night', the band began releasing one "home movie" a day starting on September 1. The videos will appear on www.kingsofleon.com, which has also been relaunched for the album's release.

The 23 home movies will act as webisodes that give fans an insight into the life of the band while they record 'Only By The Night'. So far, we've had two playful and witty looks into recording the tracks "Use Somebody" and "Sex On Fire", the first single from 'Only By The Night'.

Stayed tuned to the official Kings Of Leon site, which now boasts new community features, to check out the home movies as they are released daily.

The "Rock 'N' Roll Train" left the station yesterday, when AC/DC's newest track hit radio airwaves across the country. Their first single in almost 8 years, "Rock 'N' Roll Train" has reached the top 10 on Canadian Rock Charts within 24 hours.

According to ACDC.com, "Rock 'N' Roll Train" is just the first page in the latest chapter in AC/DC history." The song will appear on 'Black Ice', available Tuesday, October 21, alongside 14 other tracks produced by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against The Machine).

Stream the song online at ACDC.com, ACDCrocks.com, or onthe band's official MySpace page. The video is set to premiere next month.