Singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow told a congressional subcommittee on Thursday (May 25) that "to legislate that [a] record label should be recognized and credited as the author of [a] sound recording goes against my good Midwestern common sense." Crow and Michael Greene, chief executive officer of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, were among those urging the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property to repeal a recent amendment to the Copyright Act of 1976 that classifies sound recordings as "works for hire," meaning they are the record companies' property, rather than the artists', in perpetuity. ...

A Perfect Circle, featuring Tool frontman Maynard Keenan, will follow their stint as openers for Nine Inch Nails with a run on the Summersault tour in Canada. They join scheduled acts Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins and Our Lady Peace on the tour, which will begin Aug. 4 in Vancouver, British Columbia. ... Rock trio Jets to Brazil, led by former Jawbreaker frontman Blake Schwarzenbach, will tour eight Midwestern and East Coast cities in late June. The band's second album, Four Cornered Night, is due Aug. 15. ...

Bassist Justin Harwood has left Luna after eight years with the rock group. His replacement is Britta Phillips, who has been touring with Luna this spring. ... Ex–Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh will allow high-bidding fans to pick songs for Phil Lesh & Friends to play on their summer tour with Bob Dylan. Lesh's Unbroken Chain Foundation is hosting the ongoing charity auction on eBay, with proceeds to go to school music programs. ...

Prog-metal band Queensrÿche and British pop singer Joe Jackson have been added to the lineup for the June 23–25 opening of Seattle's Experience Music Project, an interactive music museum. Metallica, Dr. Dre, Kid Rock, Patti Smith, Beck and Snoop Dogg are among the scheduled performers. ...

Members of Chicago's LuvJones Productions and Pacifics have recorded two anti–Bloodhound Gang songs — "Dear BHG" and "Dear BHG part 2" — in response to the band's "Yellow Fever," which includes a string of Asian racial stereotypes in its lyrics. The protest songs are available in MP3 at the Yellow Fist Web site (www.2tongues.com/yellowfist). ... Canadian rockers the Tragically Hip are offering free downloads to fans who pre-order their new album, Music @ Work. The songs — "Fireworks," "Something On" and a video of "Grace, Too" — were recorded at the band's New Year's Eve concert and will be available May 23–June 16 at the band's Web site (www.thehip.com). ... Minneapolis rockers Lifter Puller will kick off a 17-date tour Thursday (May 25) in Bellingham, Wash. ...

TVT Records, the independent label that's home to such bands as Guided by Voices, XTC and Snoop Dogg, has filed a suit against controversial Web site MP3.com, a TVT spokesperson said. The case charges that the My.MP3.com online CD-storage and playback service infringes the label's copyrights by offering its music without a license. An MP3.com representative did not return a call for comment. ... The Blue Meanies, Alkaline Trio, MU330 and Mike Park will top the lineup for this year's punk/ska Plea for Peace tour, which kicks off June 27 in Chicago. The 30-show tour, which also features Link 80, Honor System, Lawrence Arms, Chris Murray and Dan Potthast, will donate a portion of its profits to peace and tolerance organizations. ...

Former Eric's Trip bassist Julie Doiron will tour North America through late May and June, with guest appearances from indie-rock all stars Lou Barlow (Folk Implosion), J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Jenny Toomey (Tsunami) and Howe Gelb (Giant Sand). The Canadian singer's LP Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars won a Juno Award in March for Best Alternative Album. ...

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler gave pop-rockers Lit a surreal moment to remember when he dropped by their studio to add background vocals on their new single "Over My Head." "We're sittin' around in Boston watching 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,' eatin' Thai food with Steven Tyler," Lit guitarist Jeremy Popoff said. "What else is there?" The track, produced by Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette), will be featured on the upcoming "Titan A.E." soundtrack (June 6). Singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow will testify before the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property on Thursday (May 25) during hearings on a controversial new law that classifies sound recordings as "work for hire," MTV News Online reported. The law, passed in November as an amendment to the 1976 Copyright Act, prevents artists from regaining rights to their work from record companies. Courtney Love, Prince and Don Henley have publicly called for the repeal of the law.

— sonicnet.com staff report