Shelley Jones of MusicWeek reports that Scott Weiland has signed a new publishing deal with Bug Music including his share of the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS catalog and songs from future solo projects.

As part of the agreement, Weiland will receive funding to pursue the development of creative projects and writers for Bug Music through his co-founded label, Softdrive Records.

Bug Music senior vice-president of creative services Eddie Gomez says, "I believe that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS catalog has really stood the test of time, and that the band and their songs sound as good today as they ever have."

Weiland, who last month released his second solo album, "Happy In Galoshes", recently spoke to Edna Gundersen of USA Today about the possibility of a new studio album from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, the band with which he completed an extensive and highly touted U.S. reunion tour.

"When you commit to a band that big that sold so many records and touched that many people, you can't easily get out of it," he said. "I'm finally on my own, at a place I've wanted to be for so long."

On being gun-shy about band duty, he said, "There's a beauty in being part of a band, when there's equality and trust. But at this phase of my life, I want to write and not have to think about whether a song is going to be a hit. I want to explore the music that inspires me, and I don't want to ape myself.

"I've been saying for a long time that I couldn't see myself shaking my (butt) in leather pants when I'm 40. My goal in STP was to leave an imprint. That was done. I want to move forward and be in control of what I do musically. I have kids, and I don't want to spend my life on the road."

"Happy In Galoshes" sold 10,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Fan-filmed video footage of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' December 13, 2008 performance at the annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California can be viewed below.