Luna Halo January 2007On September 14, 2006, Luna Halo unveiled a brand new web site and formally announced a late January 2007 release of their debut on American/Warner Brothers Records. You may remember the name from a brief stint on Sparrow Records late last decade and early in this one with their 2000 record titled Shimmer. Only Nathan Barlowe, lead singer, remains from that initial Luna Halo effort. In fact, according to their myspace, they are a completely different band now than they were then. "After a few years [Nathan] assembled the first incarnation of Luna Halo, and had a good run with them until various members decided to grow up, get married, and move on. That left Nathan with little more than the name of the band and a determination to start again, with new guys and even higher ambitions."

(From the Newsboys Listserve) On September 12, Phil Joel, of Newsboys fame, officially released to the mainstream a much anticipated pop/worship project that he is calling deliberatePeople.

Joel notes that "the album is just a part of what has come out of this season. deliberatepeople.com is a website designed to serve, encourage and resource people as they seek the Lord on a daily basis."

An acoustic version of the song "Changed" is available for free via download by visiting the e-card for the record at http://www.indelibleonline.com/ecards/philjoel/DP_ecard.html.

The CD had been available the past 10 months at http://deliberatepeople.com/, but is now available in stores everywhere.

According to CMSpin.com and posts on Switchfoot's Myspace page, the San Diego-based rock band has plans to unveil its sixth studio album, titled Oh! Gravity on December 26. The release will be preceded by a tour of the United States in October and November.

Jon Foreman, lead singer, says "I feel very confident in saying that this record is the best recording that I've been involved in. I feel like our blood is still up there on tape: spinning around on a half inch machine on Santa Monica Blvd. That's the goal, I suppose. A piece of someone. The best part. Sacrificed for others to consume. In stereo."

One of the most talked-about sensations of 2005 and 2006 has been the live tour de force known as Mute Math.  From the Warped Tour to Bonnaroo to clubs across the country, the audiences keep coming back for more.  For the last 9 months or so, they've even been doing it without a label.

Although not many details have surfaced yet, their MySpace page announced that their label, Teleprompt Records, has signed an improved deal with Warner Bros. Records.  There are no details on the improvements, but the original disagreement was over them being marketed as a "Christian" band as was covered earlier.

P.O.D. made a special announcement for their Warriors (the P.O.D. fan club) in their latest e-mail sent Friday August 11, 2006. Following is the text from that e-mail: 

"IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

P.O.D. have left Atlantic Records. We've been proud to be Atlantic Recording Artists, but it's not the same place anymore. For most of our stay, we were blessed by a staff that was gracious towards our vision, faith, and love of music.... resulting in more than 7-million records sold. It's time to dream again with a new staff and we leave with grateful hearts.

(From Spinhouse Public Relations) American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is widely known for high-performance motorcycles and life-enthusiast-focused automobiles. August 10, they announced a sponsorship with Kutless, making the band the auto company's first music partnership.

The agreement, a joint effor of ASMC's Auto and Motorcycle divisions, makes Suzuki the exclusive sponsor of Kutless' upcoming tour - "the Hearst of the Innocent Tour Powered by Suzuki." 

(From the AP and Yahoo! Music) Clay Aiken is being sued by Jannie Holleman, author of an "unauthorized tribute" to the "American Idol" singer, claiming he defamed her and conspired to stifle sales of her book. Holleman's book, "Out of the Blue--'Clay' it Forward," incorporates interviews and recollections with stories from Aiken's fans. 

In the lawsuit, which was filed Friday, Holleman claims that Aiken and others conspired to defame her and depress sales of her book by denying they knew her, branding her stories as lies and emeaning the book on Aiken fans' web sites.

According to their web site and an article posted on www.iconofan.com, Relient K is back in the studio this month recording a follow up to their third consecutive Gold album, mmhmm. Upon completion of their recording, RK will head out on the fourth annual Nintendo Fusion tour, which will make 40 stops nationwide between September 27 and November 11. Fans of the band will get a preview of the new record during their set list. "We'll probably play two or three new songs," says Matt Thiessen, lead singer of Relient K. "It'll be a cool tour."

Updating a story posted earlier on inreview.net, according to Inpop Records, Newsboys new album is going to be a rock and roll record. The album, titled Go, will be a "return to their rock roots." This is the first rock album the band will release in five years and is a highly anticipated album from Newsboys. You can go to www.newsboys.com to pre-order the new disc and bonus materials, which are set to release on October 31, 2006.

According to www.idolonfox.com, American Idol's fourth place finisher during season five of the popular music contest, Chris Daughtry, has a new record deal. Daughtry, from North Carolina, turned down an offer to be the lead singer for the band Fuel last month. In stead, he has signed with Clive Davis in conjunction with 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by AI creator Simon Fuller, RCA Records announced Monday. Chris is expected to write and record for an album to be released later this year.