Holidays

Folks I’m off on a round the world trip for the next 7 weeks, taking in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, The Cook Islands and America - my next blog will be Tuesday 19th October

Natasha Bedingfield

Natasha Bedingfield has confirmed that she will release her new album ‘Strip Me’ on 9th November.
She revealed that the albums 13 tracks were pulled from over 200 written while touring.
“I've been touring for so many years now that I wrote with my live gigs in mind," she explained... “I wanted to write anthems that people could sing along to - things that were still personal, but definitely trying to find the best way to connect with people.”

The video for the first single ‘Touch’ was released on 27th July.... (But has yet to make any chart impact ~ unless you count going to No.60 in Canada an impact?)

Rihanna

Rihanna has just announced the title of her new album fifth studio album... The labum due for release in November is title: ‘Loud’.
Rihanna announced the news while chatting to fans on her via her website: “I didn’t want to go backward and remake ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. I wanted the next step in the evolution of Rihanna, and it’s perfect for us.”... “I'm gonna miss the ‘Rated R’ era too, but NOTHING compares to the album I just made.”
The first single titled: ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ will make it’s debut on American radio tomorrow along with the artwork, which she revealed was shot in the Hamptons.

I for one can't wait to hear it, i love this woman!

Eminem

Talk about interpreting a word ... ‘record’ may soon have a new meaning if Universal Music have their way ‘cos Eminem’s record label Universal has lost an appeal in a long-running battle with his former publishing company FBT Productions.
The ruling, which found that FBT is entitled to 50% of Universal's revenue from Eminem’s download sales, leaves Universal facing a multi-million dollar royalties bill.
FBT Productions signed Eminem in 1995, prior to his rise to fame. When he joined Universal, the deal included a 12% royalty to FBT for “records sold”. As no rate was stated in the contract for downloads, FBT claimed that it was entitled to half of Universal's digital receipts.
An initial hearing back in 2009 ruled in Universals favour, but an appeal by FBT has seen this overturned.
Universal Music has announced its intention to challenge the ruling... Intresting!

Busted

Yeah it certainly looks like it’s not gonna happen anymore as Charlie Simpson has reportedly turned down a ONE MILLION pound off for a reunion tour with former band Busted.
A source close to Charlie Simpson told a national newspaper: “He hates being associated with Busted. He had an unhappy time. He's in Fightstar now and also recording solo tracks.”

Katy Perry

Even global superstars have sales targets and Katy Perry is no exception and surprisingly she’s failed to meet hers! (I’m sure she’ll still get paid though)
Sales of Katy Perry's new album ‘Teenage Dream’ have reportedly concerned her bosses at EMI despite first-week sales of 192,000 in America, industry bosses have admitted that the album failed to match its projected sales of 400,000 copies.

The shortfall is now said to be forecasting the overall decline in album sales worldwide.
EMI boss Dominic Pandiscia is quoted as saying: “‘Teenage Dream’ fell short in one key area: It didn't meet first-week sales projections in the industry,”... “And that, in turn, has sparked worries that the album's performance may affect retail orders for other superstar releases due later this year.”

‘Teenage Dream’ has so far gone to No.1 in the album charts in 5 countries.

The Wanted

The Wanted have confirmed that the video for their new single will premier this Friday,
The groups new single is titled ‘Heart Vacancy’ as the follow-up to their No.1 debut ‘All time low’
The video was shot in Croatia and part of the video was posted on The Wanted’s YouTube page yesterday.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39vshft6UAI

Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis has confirmed that she has begun work on her third album... Leona posted a note on Twitter saying: “In the studio this week, can't wait to get started!”
A previous message read: “Went to Frankfurt to record with Ryan Tedder! Was so fun really excited!” Ryan is the lead singer of ‘One Republic’

Shayne Ward

Good news folks... Shayne Ward has announced a release date for his comeback single.
After a 3 years break Shayne announced via his Twitter page that his new single would be released on 28th November..
“Swear I can't hold my excitement any longer,The suspense is killing me!!" he wrote. "When u want time to go fast it doesn't. Bring on nov 28th NOW!!! (sic)” and went on to tell one fan that the single “goes to radio very soon”.
CANT WAIT!!!!!!

JLS

JLS have revealed the title of their second album as ‘Outta This World’ and will be released on 22nd November 22
The album will feature their No.1 single ‘The Club Is Alive’ as well as songs titled: ‘Love You More’ and ‘Ay Mama’ (featuring Shontelle) which was recently confirmed as their new single.

JLS's self-titled debut has so far gone onto sell 1.6 million copies since its release last year

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue has announced tour dates for Ireland and the UK
The tour will be titled: ‘Aphrodite - Les Folies Tour 2011’
In a press release Kylie said: “The reaction to ‘Aphrodite’ been absolutely incredible and has inspired me and my creative team to develop a new show that will take all of us on a euphoric journey of joy, excitement and glamour. I can't wait to get on the road and see all my fans in 2011”

Tickets for the initial six dates will go on sale on Monday 13th September.

The ‘Aphrodite - Les Folies Tour 2011’ dates in full:

March 22 – Dublin, The O2
March 23 – Dublin, The O2
March 28 - Glasgow SECC
March 29 - Glasgow SECC
April 1 - Manchester, Evening News Arena
April 2 - Manchester, Evening News Arena
April 7 - London, The O2
April 8 - London, The O2

Westlife

Calling all Westlife fans ... The boys have just announced that they will tour the UK in the spring of 2011.
Tickets for next year's concerts go on sale this Friday at 9am.

The 2011 tour dates are as below:
March 7 - Cardiff, CIA
March 11 - London, O2 Arena
March 14 - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
March 16 - Nottingham, Trent FM Arena
March 18 - Liverpool, Echo Arena
March 19 - Glasgow, SECC
March 22 - Manchester, Evening News Arena
March 25 - Birmingham, LG Arena
March 27 - London, Wembley Arena
March 28 - Sheffield, Motorpoint Arena

UK Charts

Katy Perry shoots failed to keep X-Factor runner-up Olly Murs off the No.1 spot, no Olly has to do a nude photo shoot (‘cos he promised if his debut single went to No.1 he’d pose nude)
However Katy did manage to score a No.1 album with her second album which went straight in at No.1.

Top 5 UK Albums:
5: Arcade Fire – ‘The Suburbs’
4: Mumford & Sons – ‘Sign no more’
3: Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions’
2: Eminem – ‘Recovery’
1: Katy Perry – ‘Teenage dream’

Top 5 UK Singles:
5: Flo Rida Feat... David Guetta – ‘Club can’t handle me’
4: Eminem & Rihanna – ‘Love the way you lie’
3: Taio Cruz – ‘Dynamite’
2: Katy Perry – ‘Teenage Dream’
1: Olly Murs – ‘Please don’t let me go’

Same Difference

OMG – Just when you thought it was safe to go back into a record store ... Same Difference are back and have recorded a track with Alcazar for their new album (yeah that’s right... a NEW album!)
The fantastic Alcazar are from Sweden and are best known in the UK for their hits ‘Crying At The Discoteque’ and ‘This Is The World We Live In’.
The new single is called ‘Karma Karma’ and is being described as ‘one of the most fun tracks...fans will hear all year’ ... Really... you know what that means... Crap!

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill has confirmed that she is moving forward with the recording of her new album.
Speaking to a music channel Lauryn said that she is excited at the prospect of releasing new material and that the album will not include many collaborations with other artists. “"We're getting closer. We're getting closer. That's all I can say,”... “It's been such a long time since I've gotten my voice and my ideas [out]. In terms of collaborations, that's not even something I've been thinking about per se. I'm happy that people are still making music. That we still have a platform with which to make music. It's gonna be interesting to see what the future holds.”
I certainly look forward to hearing her music, however whacky she seems to come across in the public eye, there’s no denying that she’s a fantastic voice!

US Charts

Katy Perry shoots straight to No.1 in the American album charts with her second album “Teenage Dream” after selling a massive 192,000 copies in its first week, marking her best sales week and a new chart high. Katy’s also the first solo woman to reign at No. 1 since January, when Ke$ha spent one week at No.1 with ‘Animal'.
Eminem and Rihanna also remain at No.1 in the US singles chart for a 7th week!

Top 5 U.S Albums:
5: Little Big Town – ‘The reason why’
4: Usher – ‘Verses’
3: Eminem – ‘Recovery’
2: Fantasia – ‘Back to me’
1: Katy Perry – ‘Teenage dream’

Top 5 U.S Singles:
5: Usher & Pitbull – ‘DJ got us fallin’ in love’
4: Enrique Iglesias Feat... Pitbull – ‘I like it’
3: Taio Cruz – ‘Dynamite’
2: Katy Perry – ‘Teenage Dream’
1: Eminem & Rihanna – ‘Love the way you lie’

Overall album sales in this past chart week totalled 5.12 million up 1% compared to the sum last week (5.07 million) and down 12% compared to the comparable sales week of 2009 (5.82 million). Year to date album sales stand at 195.3 million, down 12% compared to the same total at this point last year (222.6 million).