Briefly: Source Awards, Label News, Bangles, Travis, Sons Of The Desert, Pantera

Eminem, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg, Lil' Kim, Method Man & Redman and Cash Money Millionaires will appear at the "Source Hip-Hop Music Awards," which UPN will broadcast on August 29.

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EMI has entered the world of downloadable music. The label will place online more than 100 albums for sale, according to the Associated Press, which quotes senior vice-president Jay Samit as saying, "Consumers have spoken loudly that they'd like to get their music on something other than round silver platters.'' Mr. Samit perhaps left the room before hearing those same consumers say that they would like to get their music in exchange for something other than money.

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Sony Music Entertainment is going to lay off 500 people worldwide, Reuters reported.

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The Bangles will hold a Tuesday (7/18) press conference at West Hollywood, Calif.'s House of Blues to announce details about a reunion tour and album, according to the Los Angeles Times. The tour is tentatively set to visit San Diego (9/13), Las Vegas (9/15), West Hollywood (9/21-23) and Chicago (9/26).

The Bangles broke up in 1989, but reformed to record the song "Get the Girl" for the "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Vol. 2" soundtrack in 1999.

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Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley appears on the Getaway People's "Turnpike Diaries," due out on Tuesday (7/18).

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Also on Tuesday, at 6 p.m. PST, is Travis' webchat at travisonline.com.

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Launch reported that country group Sons of the Desert will play free shows in Valley Forge, Pa., New York, Chatanooga, Tenn., Tampa, Fla., and Jacksonville, Fla. The band will be asking for donations for the Jason Foundation, which works for teen suicide prevention.

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Elektra Records is holding a contest to give away a pair of tickets to the July 24 Ozzfest, featuring Pantera, at PNC Banks Art Center in New Jersey. The label is also holding a contest called "Pantera Pays Your Goddamn Electric Bill," in which the band/label pays the August electric bills of 10 contest winners.

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In other Elektra news, cmjmusic.com reported that the label is beginning Monami Entertainment, a soul music imprint. The imprint's first release is a CD from Jamie Hawkins.