Drawing from the top echelon of recording artists and music industry executives, the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has assembled its most impressive group of judges in its history.

MC Development (the developer of this site) has released iDjembe 2.0, which lets you play the djembe on your iPhone or iPod Touch. iDjembe features authentic sampled sounds. Version 2.0 adds Virtual Drum Circle, which lets you send your beats to other players on your local network.

Legendary South African singer Myriam Makeba has died following a concert in Italy. I've been in shock since I read the news this morning, as she was one of my favorite singers.

Here's a vintage performance of her most well-known song, "Pata Pata" to remember her by.

I'm a big fan of Dave Matthews Band, so this news hit me hard today. LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia.

On April 29, an album of Johnny Clegg tunes covered by international artists will be available in iTunes.

Read more for the track list...

Australia WOMADELAIDE headline act Cesaria Evora has been forced to cancel her appearance after suffering a stroke in Sydney.

The 66-year-old singer from Cape Verde was due to star at Womadelaide tonight and tomorrow following Sydney Opera House performances earlier this week.

She was admitted to hospital for tests after feeling unwell for a few days.

A few days ago while browsing iTunes Music Store I found Vampire Weekend as one of my recommendations and I was hooked immediately. They have a unique sound blending Soukous guitars and other African styles with western classical and Ska-influenced indie rock. Their self titled debut album is my favorite album since Neon Bible.

Church musicians will mark Autism Sunday 2008 - the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, on Sunday 10th February 2008. Churches of all denominations have bee asked to remember over 60 million people with autism around the world, in prayer.

'Nothing Works Twice' is the first official release from Projekt A-Ko's forthcoming debut album.

Lucky Dube, a reggae star who launched his career with criticism of the former apartheid government, was shot to death in an apparent carjacking attempt as he was dropping off his children, police and his Web site said Friday.

The 43-year-old singer was shot Thursday night after two men approached his car in Johannesburg's southern Rosettenville suburb, police spokesman Eugene Opperman said.