THE CUTTING EDGE: COMPUTING / TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION : House of Blues Joins AOL

Moving aggressively to expand its presence in cyberspace, West Hollywood-based House of Blues next month will launch its own area on America Online, with links to its existing site on the Internet’s World Wide Web.

The fast-growing entertainment combine is also moving into the business of Web site design and has already built sites for CBS Radio, British Telecom and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.

Marc Schiller, head of House of Blues New Media, said the company’s goal is to become an “umbrella brand” for live music in cyberspace, with sites featuring an array of on-line concerts, chat sessions with musicians, pictures, videos and information services. The House of Blues’ Web site is at https://www.hob.com.