Veteran dance/electronica maven BT hasn't released an artist album since 2003's expansive "Emotional Technology," but a new project is in the offing. The classically trained artist tells Billboard he is going to Australia next month to finish his next original album, the bulk of which he says is "for dancefloors."

BT is also working on a secret "side project" that he expects to release and tour behind next year. Without going into detail, he says it is new musical territory for him, and will lend itself to sit-down, non-club shows with "a visual component. People from the electronic music community are going to be extremely excited about this."

BT recently stepped into new territory as the executive producer of the NBC reality series "Tommy Lee Goes to College." One day, while hanging out in the studio with former Journey lead singer Steve Perry, BT had what every network executive wants: a great idea.

He envisioned sending an aging rocker back to school, to capture him in various anti-cool moments like "failing the theory final on their own hit song," and "joining the track team and running with an assistant lighting their cigarettes." Perry passed, but fellow BT buddy Lee jumped right in.

BT has not decided on a label yet for his upcoming albums, but is intrigued by Lee's deal for his latest effort, "Tommyland: The Ride." That album was released by distributor Handleman without the assistance of a label.

"I'm much more into the idea of doing a joint-venture deal, because that's the way artists are able to make some money," BT says. "I've never made any money from my music, and I have records that have sold [300,000], 400,000 copies. The people who support what I do for the dance music community, they'll get it even if they have to go to whatever, Starbucks, to pick it up. Downloading has changed the record industry. And I actually think for artists who are doing smart deals, it's changed it for the good."