IndependENTS Day '08 To Bring The World's Largest Auction of Indie Music

Independent's Day will take on a double meaning this year as the world's first ever global independent music celebration is scheduled to begin on 4th of July weekend.

The event will kick off in New Zealand, and with participation from 10 countries including the UK, Spain, Austria, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Italy, France and the United States, boasts to be the largest ever auction of independent music, rarities and memorabilia.

The 10-day ebay auction has been coordinated by the World Independent Network, with National Trade Organizations governing each countries activities.

In addition to the heavy label releases, each participating country will release a compilation album of the nation's best independent artists, whose profits will go to benefit the charities MusiCares, Coalition Against Living Miserably, and The Musicians Benevolent Fund. Further funds and support will be raised for independent artists and labels in underdeveloped countries and a sponsoring of local music initiatives meant to connect schools and colleges with companies.

Listings for each nation's comp albums are said to begin circulating circa June 9; an announcement mentioned the following bands, but did not confirm whether any would be included on the compilation:

Radiohead, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Nickelback, Arctic Monkeys, Bjork, Thom Yorke, Nine Inch Nails, The White Stripes, The Shins, Plain White T's, Tom Waits, Tim McGraw, Carla Bruni, Franz Ferdinand, Rascal Flatts, Slipknot, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Editors, M.I.A., Sufjan Stevens, Fler, LeAnn Rimes, Tiësto, Taylor Swift, The Rasmus, Jose Gonzalez, The Strokes, Basement Jaxx, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Raconteurs, Super Furry Animals, Pixies, Antony & The Johnsons, Jarvis Cocker, Nitin Sawhney, Enter Shikari, Pigeon Detectives, The Go! Team, Royksopp, Roots Manuva, Coldcut, Dave Clarke, Matthew Herbert, Soulwax/2 Many DJs, Tiga, Laurent Garnier, Vitalic, The Prodigy and Underworld.

The event is alleged to be heavily promoted on MTV, Amazon and other online music sources in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes and ears tuned for that!