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Melanie C dropped by Virgin Records |
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A statement on the website of Melanie C confirms that the former spice
girl has been dropped by Virgin Records, and claims she will now
release music on her own label. The reason seems to be due to the
disappointing sales of her current record 'Reason'.
northernstar.co.uk, clarifies the news; it reads: "We can confirm that
Melanie is no longer with Virgin Records. We were having discussions
over the last few months but all agreed it was best to part ways.
"Melanie began work on new songs before Christmas and will continue
writing when she returns from her holidays. Melanie wants to release her
own records in future and will not be looking to sign a new deal."
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the former Spice Girl spoke to the
Liverpool Echo newspaper. She commented: "It is true Melanie Chisholm is no
longer with Virgin records - but it was a very amicable parting. She is
already working on new material which we are expecting to be released
sometime in the New Year.
"As regards signing for a new record label I can confirm she will not
be grabbing the first deal that comes along - she will take her time.
She is very happy at the moment and is feeling very optimistic about her
future and career."
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REM Live DVD |
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Here are the details of REM's forthcoming live DVD taken from the
band's 'Reveal' tour in 2003. It was filmed at the Wiesbaden Bowling Green
in Germany on July 19 2003.
The full tracklisting is:
· 'Begin The Begin'
· 'What's the Frequency, Kenneth?'
· 'Maps And Legends'
· 'Drive'
· 'Animal'
· 'Daysleeper'
· 'The Great Beyond'
· 'Bad Day'
· 'The One I Love'
· 'All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star)'
· 'Orange Crush'
· 'Losing My Religion'
· 'At My Most Beautiful'
· 'Electrolite'
· 'She Just Wants To Be'
· 'Walk Unafraid'
· 'Man On The Moon'
· 'Everybody Hurts'
· 'So Fast, So Numb'
· 'Country Feedback'
· 'Permanent Vacation'
· 'Imitation Of Life'
· 'It's The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
The DVD will be released on February 23 and REM are expected to release
a new LP, which follows last year's 'Best Of', before the end of 2004.
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Destiny's Child go into the studio |
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It is nearly confirmed that Destiny's Child are to go into the studio
to record a new album. Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will be
reunited in March to record the new album.
Reports says that Beyonce is already working on the follow-up to
'Dangerously In Love'. She has racked-up a massive number of new material
during recordings for 'Dangerously In Love'. It was thought she would take
the opportunity to release a second solo album.
Reports that Beyonce's sister, Solange, will join as the group's fourth
member are still unconfirmed. Last year she released her debut solo
album, 'Solo Star'.
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Robbie's name protected |
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Robbie Williams has registered his name as a trademark in a bid to
prevent unlicensed parties taking advantage of his stardom. The pop
superstar has joined the likes of David Beckham and Madonna in filing legally
binding trademarks to block anyone else exploiting his name on
commercial products. Such a move gives celebrities protection and ammunition to
avoid lengthy and costly battles against unauthorised products, reports the BBC.
Robbie is currently one of the biggest music stars in the UK and
Europe, following a sell-out three-night stand at Knebworth in the summer,
which broke records across the board.
Registering the trademark will have cost no more than £200 and lasts
for ten years, at which point it can be renewed.
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New CD from Norah Jones in February |
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As reported on Norah Jones Official Website, her upcoming second album,
'Feels Like Home', have been announced.
The album is out on 6 February and it features collaborations with
Dolly Parton and The Band's Levon Helm and Garth Hudson. Jones wrote or
co-wrote six of the 13 songs on 'Feels Like Home', which also features
covers of Townes Van Zandt's 'Be Here to Love Me', Tom Waits' 'The Long
Way Home' and a reworking of Duke Ellington's 'Melancholia' with new lyrics.
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Daniel Bedingfield: Car Accident |
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Daniel Bedingfield has sent a message to his fans after his car crash
in New Zealand on New Year's Eve.
He has sustained damage to the vertebrae in his neck, but Daniel is
expected to make a full recovery. The singer has released a statement on
his website thanking fans for their support.
Here is the offical annoucment form www.danielbedingfield.com
"First of all I'd like to thank all of the people who've taken the time
to send messages of goodwill to me and my family. Right now, I feel
okay and very grateful to be alive - I don't remember much about what
happened, but I've seen pictures of the car and feel blessed to have got
out of there at all. I'm also very glad that nobody else was hurt,
especially my friend who was in the passenger seat.
"The doctors have looked after me amazingly well and I owe the fact
that I hope to make a full recovery to them and the fire brigade who
removed me from the car. All of my family are here and keeping me occupied.
I'm sure I will be getting bored soon but I'm in the middle of writing
the new album so when I feel up to it I'll start writing some more and
my label are even going to get some studio equipment to make it a bit easier.
"I'll be in hospital for the next week and New Zealand for the
foreseeable future - two to three months probably. But having an accident like
this really puts things into perspective so I'm not going to rush the
process of getting better but will just take my time."
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Celine in the Walk of Fame |
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Celine Dion has received the first Hollywood Walk of Fame star of 2004.
It's the 2,244th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. The
Ceremony took place on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004.
The 35-year-old French Canadian singer, who lives in Las Vegas,
dedicated the star to her father, who died a month ago, calling him her
"number one fan."
Celine has signed last year, a contract of 600-show engagement at
Caesars Palace and she also has just had her first release in China ('The
French Love' album).
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Ashanti staring in the movie Coach Carter |
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The R&B singer Ashanti will make her big screen debut this year in the
film, Coach Carter. It's a true story about an undefeated California
High School basketball team that is benched for poor grades. Ashanti will
play Kyra, the pregnant girlfriend of one of star the basketball
players. The film is scheduled to start this month. Ashanti has been
nominated in three categories at this year's Grammy Awards, due to take place
next month.
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Universal music channel |
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Universal is planning to start a music new video channel at US. MTV no
longer has the crib all to itself, it is facing a new rival looking to
challenge its long-running hold on music fans.
Universal Music Group, the world's largest music empire, is in talks to
launch 1 AM, a music channel that would air uncut videos from its own
roster of artists which include 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule. Also, the
partner is one of the leaders of the adult entertainment business -
Vivid Entertainment.
The name 1 AM means "for First Amendment" and the new network is
looking to distinguish itself from MTV by showing videos and live
performances.
MTV's already feeling the heat from another up and coming rival - Fuse,
a music channel owned by Cablevision's Rainbow Media. Fuse has 34
million subscribers, compared with MTV's 86 million, the network is finding
an audience, especially with rock music.
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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck: The Split Confirmed ! |
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Those who want to see Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez as man and wife will have to settle for the on-screen version.
Lopez ended the engagement, a spokesman at Dan Klores Communications confirmed Thursday. Affleck's publicist, Ken Sunshine, said only, "We never comment on the private lives of our clients."
People and Us Weekly magazines first reported the breakup on their Web sites Thursday afternoon.
Those who still need a dose of "Bennifer" can see Lopez, 34, and Affleck, 31, together in "Jersey Girl," due out March 19. Lopez plays Affleck's wife — though she dies 12 minutes into the movie.
Lopez and Affleck have been the subject of near-constant media scrutiny for the past year and a half. In the video for Lopez's 2002 hit "Jenny From the Block," in which she makes fun of the paparazzi,
Affleck rubs her legendary posterior while basking in the sunshine on a boat. In another song from her album "This Is Me ... Then," titled "Dear Ben," she professes her affection for Affleck. Their
romantic comedy, "Gigli," was considered the cinematic disaster of the year before it even debuted in August. They were supposed to have married a month later, but abruptly postponed their lavish plans
"due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding." Since then, the media has followed their every move, keeping track of who Lopez was with and whether she wore her 6.1-carat pink diamond
Harry Winston engagement ring. Even a routine trip to a Georgia courthouse to get a gun license for Affleck drew a horde of photographers and celebrity reporters.
This would have been the first wedding for Affleck. Lopez has been married twice before — to waiter Ojani Noa in 1997 and to dancer Cris Judd in 2001. Noa lasted a little more than a year; Judd for
nine months. She also famously dated Sean "P. Diddy" Combs — back when he was still "Puffy" — for two years before the couple broke up in February 2001.
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