Counter Aid '95, Natalie Merchant's CD Video Single, Poemfone,Sonicnet happenings

NEWS: > Counter Aid '95, where music performers man the registers at various retail outlets across the country to help raise money for those living with HIV/AIDS, is scheduled this year for December 2. Some of the stars who have currently signed up include: (New York) Evan Dando, Juliana Hatfield, Lisa Loeb, J. Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr.) and Sponge; (Los Angeles) Coolio, Mike Inez (Alice In Chains), Johnette Napolitano, Martin Page, Weird Al Yankovic; (Atlanta) Speech (of Arrested Development); (Miami) Rembrandts; (Minneapolis) Jayhawks. More artists are being added daily.

> Natalie Merchant's new single, "Wonder", will be released in enhanced CD format at no extra cost. This will combine the video for the single as well as two audio tracks, one of which is the previously unreleased "Baby I Love You". In addition, Merchant will be appearing on the Tonight Show on November 24.

> Poemfone: The Web Site - the best of new spoken word live, recorded and on the Internet - will be released in January. For those who are interested in seeing what it's like before then, there will be performances on Thursday, November 16 from 9:30-midnight at the @ Cafe in New York City. Hosted by Jordan Trachtenberg, spoken word performances will be given by Penny Arcade, Nicole Blackman, M. Doughty of Soul Coughing, Anne Elliott, Bobby Miller, Hal Strowitz, Sparrow and Edwin Torres.

> Sonicnet happenings: Nov. 13, Mystery Melrose Theatre (8 pm); Nov. 14 Superchunk (5 pm); Nov. 15 Bob's conscious party with Jim Carroll (8 pm); Nov. 20 Dead Milkmen (6 pm); Nov. 27 Hardcore conferences XI hosted by Roree Krevlin with Ignite. Sonicnet can be accessed on the WWWW at http://www.sonicnet.com