Pete Townshend, Aerosmith, Widespread Panic and American Hi-Fi will perform at this year's Yahoo! Internet Life Online Music Awards. The fourth-annual event will take place at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on September 20th, where Townshend will contribute a rare solo performance as well as take home the Online Pioneer of the Year Award. The honor is given to an individual who has been at the "forefront of the music world's Internet Revolution."

Townshend was an obvious choice for the award after releasing his six-album box set The Lifehouse Chronicles through his official e-commerce Web site, www.eelpie.com, last February. Previous Pioneer winners include David Bowie and Chuck D.

The ceremony will also feature awards in categories including "Best Official Site," "Best Overall Music Site" and "Best Album First Released Online." Nominees in all categories have yet to be finalized but will be featured in Yahoo! Internet Life magazine's October issue.

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(August 10, 2001)