Santana's Aids donation

Grammy-winning guitarist Carlos Santana is donating proceeds from this summer's Shaman tour in the US to fighting Aids in South Africa.

Funds from the US leg of his tour will be donated to Artists for a New South Africa who distribute money for Aids sufferers and research.

The tour, kicking off on 13 June, will include information on Aids at each concert venue, plus selected speakers.

Santana, who has been touring in Asia, was recently forced to cancel a gig in Hong Kong due to Sars fears.

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REM won't perform 'happy' songs live

Pop group REM intends to release a greatest hits album - but that does not mean they will be performing their more upbeat numbers live.

Losing My Religion and Man In The Moon will remain on the playlist, guitarist Peter Buck told the Los Angeles Times.

But Buck says he and Michael Stipe have agreed they will no longer perform Shiny Happy People, Stand or Pop 69.

"We were trying to write super, super pop songs for kids and we overstretched our abilities," Stipe explained.

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Beyonce album brought forward

The release date of Beyonce Knowles' debut album Dangerously In Love has been brought forward to June 24 in an attempt to thwart US internet pirates.

Columbia Records hope to capitalise as well on the success of the singer's new single Crazy In Love, featuring Jay-Z.

The album features guest appearances from Luther Vandross, Missy Elliott, Sean Paul and Outkast's Big Boi.

Knowles will perform with her Destiny's Child bandmates Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland in a June 14 TV special.

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Banzai heads to US

Cult TV series Banzai has been picked up by US television network Fox and will be broadcast in a prime time slot in the States from next month.

The Channel 4 spoof betting show will make its debut on 13 July.

The series will be the same as the British version apart from during the Mr Shakehands Man slot, when a fake reporter shakes hands with stars to see how long it takes them to pull away.

The American version will use US celebrities such as Frasier's Kelsey Grammer because UK participants including Chris Tarrant, Donna Air and singer Louise are unknown to the US audience.

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LA producer seeks Iraqi writers

US film and theatre producer George Larkin is hoping to give Iraqi writers a chance to stage their work in Los Angeles.

Larkin plans to produce a theatre show including short plays about the events leading up to the war in Iraq, stories during the conflict, and the effects of the aftermath.

"I'm not looking to do a specifically pro- or anti- war play. I just want to let writers tell their stories, be they dark or light," said Larkin.

The producer hopes most of the pieces will come from writers currently living in Iraq.