Mariah Carey, who has never toured, may...

Mariah Carey, who has never toured, may finally take to the concert trail, but not before she releases her third album in the spring. . . . Neo-rap duo PM Dawn is mixing its second album and making plans for some live dates to coincide with the album’s February or March release. The act also has a song on the soundtrack of “CB4,” the upcoming comedy starring “Saturday Night Live’s” Chris Rock. . . .

L7 has apparently been banned from live British TV shows after singer-guitarist Donita Sparks disrobed during a performance on the live Channel 4 show “The Word” last week. . . .

That old ghetto holiday greeting, “Merry (Expletive) Xmas,” is the seasonal centerpiece of Eazy-E’s “5150 Home 4 Tha Sick,” a four-song EP to be released Dec. 8. The term “5150” is the police code for the criminally insane (Van Halen used it for an album title), which ties into Eazy’s second solo album, “Temporary Insanity,” due in February. . . .

After two videos way too graphic for MTV, Nine Inch Nails’ new video for “Wish” has passed first inspection by the video channel, though some bleeping of words and editing of violent passages may be needed. Meanwhile, leader Trent Reznor is working on a new NIN album in a studio he’s set up in the notorious “Sharon Tate house” in the Hollywood Hills. . . .

L.A. rap-rock act Proper Grounds, the first signing to Madonna’s Maverick label, has its debut album set for February. A sampler cassette was just sent to radio programmers. . . . Mica Paris is recording with producer Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston) in San Francisco, with a new album due for March. . . .

Also due in March is a third album mixing traditional Irish and gospel-rock sounds by Hothouse Flowers, produced by Stewart Levine (Simply Red, Culture Club). . . . Van Morrison is currently selecting tracks for his second best-of collection in less than two years. No word on possible inclusion of rare or unreleased songs, or how this might affect plans for a much-discussed future boxed-set anthology. . . .

Skid Row will do a benefit concert for the family of loyal fan Mike Napastek, who was killed in a car accident recently, at Hammerjack’s club in Baltimore on Dec. 12. Napastek, who followed the band on tour and became a friend of the musicians, was from nearby Chesapeake, Va. . . .

Linda Ronstadt is planning a return to her country roots for her next album, following a series of Spanish-language and pop releases. Her last country effort was 1987’s “Trio” with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris . . . Cedella Marley Booker--the late Bob Marley’s mother--has a new album of reggae songs for children, “Island of Smiles,” on the Music for Little People label. Along with her son’s “Three Little Birds” are the likes of “The Banana Boat Song.” . . .

John Prine plans to start recording his next album in February, with the Heartbreakers’ Howie Epstein again producing. . . . Pop-soul singer Louie Louie’s second album, due in February, features songs produced by Prince.