The Beat: Santana, Will.i.am Collaborating

Black Eyed Peas leader Will.i.am and Carlos Santana have been writing together for Santana's next studio album.

"He was like, 'Wow, I've never seen anyone so focused,' " Will.i.am says of Santana's reaction to his work ethic.

"I got to his studio at 10 a.m., and we finished a song [that day]. It's called 'I Am Somebody.' "

In addition to working on his new studio album, Santana, who will join Eric Clapton June 6 at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, has been working on a benefit record for Milagro Foundation—the charity started by Santana and his wife, Deborah, that aids disadvantaged youth. No word yet on a release date for either album.



ONE DISC AT A TIME: Singer/songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins has won her case against an online vendor whom she alleged sold advance copies of her album five months before its release.

In an April 13 decision in Santa Monica, Calif., small claims court, Hawkins won by default after the defendant failed to appear. The judge, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Roberta H. Kyman, also put a judgment against the vendor for $324—the total amount the CDs were sold for—plus Hawkins' court costs.

In her original filing in December, Hawkins alleged that the vendor illegally obtained a promotional copy of her April 20 release, "Wilderness," and sold one copy online for $300 on Dec. 5 and two subsequent copies for $12 each on Dec. 23.

Hawkins purchased the CDs back from the fans who bought them from the vendor, who could not be reached for comment.

"She's not doing this for the money. That's why she made the small claims suit for $324, not [the small claims limit of] $5,000," says Gigi Gaston, Hawkins' manager. "It's about sending a message."



ALVIN ON THE MOVE: After 13 years of recording for HighTone Records, Dave Alvin has inked a licensing deal with Yep Roc Records.

The Graham, N.C.-based label will release Alvin's next two albums worldwide. Yep Roc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Redeye Distribution.

"I would be flipping burgers if it were not for [HighTone], and I will be forever grateful," Alvin tells Billboard.

However, Alvin says he was attracted to Yep Roc's "energy and vision. They are a very artist-friendly label, open to new ideas, and are embracing with enthusiasm the way the business is headed, and that is what I need for the next step of my career."

Alvin's first release, "Ashgrove," comes out June 15.



TWILIGHT TIME: Mark Lanegan, formerly with Queens of the Stone Age and Screaming Trees, has joined Greg Dulli's Twilight Singers for the current leg of the group's U.S. tour. The outing concludes April 20 in Seattle.