Music News

Rihanna is reportedly releasing 'Anti' via Tidal on Friday (27.11.15). The R&B superstar is going to be exclusively dropping her long-awaited eighth studio LP via the subscription streaming service - launched by her mentor Jay Z - this week ahead ...

The BRIT Awards 2016 trophies will be designed by fashion legend and musician Pam Hogg.
The annual British music extravaganza returns to The O2 arena in London on Wednesday February 24 and will once again be hosted by Ant and Dec and Hogg has been chosen to take on the responsibility of creating the statuettes handed out to the winners.
The trophy for each different category will be a unique creation by Pam - who has previously designed clothes for several A-listers including Rihanna, Debbie Harry, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga - making it the first time winners have walked away with different statuettes.
Revealing her delight at being selected by BRITs bosses to bring her unique style to the night's prizes, Pam said: "An artist's true reward is that her/his work resonates and connects. Given a chance, the unseen unheard and unsung may also one day touch and unlock a waiting heart."
Pam follows in the footsteps of previous trophy designers Dame Vivienne Westwood, who had the honour in 2011, Sir Peter Blake in 2012, Damien Hirst in 2013, Philip Treacy in 2014 and Tracey Emin, who designed this year's BRITs.
Pam - who has a master's degree from the Royal College of Art in London - launched her debut collection in 1981 in the following years has won multiple awards for her work.
Discussing Pam's involvement, BRITs Chairman Max Lousada said: "Having designed for some of the world's greatest music artists, it's absolutely fitting that Pam is bringing her unique vision to the BRITs trophy. The fact that each statue will be a unique, bespoke piece mirrors her status as a truly singular talent and we are delighted to be working with her."

American President Barack Obama is to feature on Coldplay's new album 'A Head Full of Dreams'.
A recording of the US leader singing 'Amazing Grace' at the funeral of a victim of the Charleston shooting earlier this year has been sampled by the band due to its "historical significance".
Obama touched hearts when he sang a solo of the Christian hymn at during his eulogy at the remembrance service of Clementa Pinckney - the South Carolina state senator and pastor who was gunned down in the tragedy when 21-year-old Dylann Roof entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church during a Bible study and killed nine people on June 17.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said: "We have a tiny clip of the president singing 'Amazing Grace' at that church. Because of the historical significance of what he did and also that that song being about, 'I'm lost but now I'm found.' "
According to The Sun newspaper, Obama only agreed to let the British rockers use his voice on their LP because he "loves" the group.
A source close to the band revealed: "Barack Obama wouldn't let just anyone feature his vocals on the record, especially considering what a deeply emotional moment it was for him.
"But he clearly loves Coldplay and is happy to be a part of their music history. The band were obviously thrilled."
Coldplay's seventh studio album 'A Head Full of Dreams' will be released on December 4.

Emily Eavis says all three headliners for Glastonbury 2016 have been confirmed.
Emily - who is the daughter of Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and co-organiser of the annual music event - has revealed she's already secured the three top acts for next year's festival.
She said: "Two out of three are confirmed in writing and one is verbally confirmed. One of the headliners I shook hands on at this year's festival, so that was the first confirmation of 2016. We are incredibly lucky to have such great headliners for next year, it couldn't be any bigger."
Emily has nearly completed the entire line-up for next year and has already begun working on bookings for 2017.
In an interview with BBC News, she said: "We are about 80 per cent of the way there already. We are so lucky at the moment to have so many huge bands touring and wanting to play. That's one of the reasons we are doing a festival in 2017 - we already have the headliners pencilled in for that too, which is unusual."
Eavis also defended her decision to have Kanye West play the Saturday headline slot this year.
She explained: "I think it was one of the bravest, most individual sets we have ever had on the Pyramid Stage. No guests, completely out there on his own and then rapping whilst climbing on to a cherry picker to be lifted into the pitch black sky - that was incredible.
"Most of the young people in that field were completely blown away by his performance. Some people didn't get it, but that's not a bad thing. You've got to keep surprising people."
Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters and Miley Cyrus are among the artists rumoured to have signed up for Glastonbury 2016.

Ariana Grande dedicated her American Music Award to her "nonna".
The 'Break Free' hitmaker was honoured with the gong for Best Female Pop/Rock Artist of the Year last night (22.11.15), beating the likes of Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift to the crown, and thanked her grandmother in an emotional tribute.
Through tears, she said: "I just want to thank my fans - I have the most incredible fans. Ew I'm crying! But I love you guys. Thank you so, so much.
"I also want to say thank you to my family who are here tonight. I owe a lot of this to my Nonna!"
The 22-year-old singer also revealed her grandmother had predicted her win ahead of the ceremony.
Recalling what Marjorie said to her, she added: "'Ariana I went on the computer. I voted, so I think you'll win.'"
Meanwhile, during the star-studded ceremony, Ariana made her first televised performance of her track 'Focus'.
She ditched her famous ponytail, leaving her brunette locks flowing, whilst she opted for a sophisticated Hollywood glamour look.
Half way through the song, she went over to a lucky audience member, who pulled one of her gloves off with his teeth before she disappeared behind a red curtain to change into something more skimpy.

Lauren Mayberry says all the members of Chvrches will eventually go solo.
While she and bandmates, Martin Doherty and Iain Cook, are currently busy with the electronic band - which was formed in 2011 - Lauren admitted that solo offerings are inevitable in the future.
She said: "At this point, the band is the focus. but eventually, everyone will go and do their own things."
Lauren also defended stars including Taylor Swift and Beyonce Knowles amid accusations they are not "feminist enough".
She said: "People say Taylor Swift's not feminist enough or Beyonce's not feminist enough but there are 12-year-old girls going to their shows and taking an awesome message. You don't have to be the Gloria Steinem of pop. There are so many problems with feminism, as women spend a lot of time telling other women what to do and that distracts from the actual problem.
"It's shocking the women who are like, 'She should just shut up.'"
Chvrches released their second album, 'Every Open Eye' in September.

Janis Winehouse thinks her daughter Amy Winehouse would have hated another posthumous album release.
The late star's mother has opened up about the possibility of another album created from the singer's demos, insisting she is not keen on the idea as she believes Amy would have hated it.
She told BANG Showbiz: "Amy was very fussy about what she did. Oh so precious. If she did something, she'd say 'No, that is not right.' You would say 'That is OK.' And she would say 'No, it's not.' And that was Amy."
Janis was speaking at a gala dinner held by the Amy Winehouse Foundation - which works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse in young people as well as supported the vulnerable and disadvantaged - where she was joined by partner Richard Collins, who also slammed the idea of another album following the release of 'Lioness: Hidden Treasures' released four months after Amy's death in 2011.
Asked about whether there's one in the works, he explained: "We don't know. As far as we know there is nothing. But the record company may know more than we do."
Questioned on whether he'd support such a release, he added: "If it was good enough. There are bits and pieces but they are rubbish and it is an insult to her and an insult to the fans. I know they would want it but it would still be an insult to them to buy a bit of tat."

Katy B's new album is going to be "clubbier" than her last record.
The 26-year-old singer is excited to release the follow-up to 'Little Red', even though she finds it frustrating when people don't think she writes her own songs.
She said: "It's going to be clubbier than my last one.
"Some tracks are more melancholy, but there are some party ones as well.
"It's funny, most people assume I don't write my own songs because I haven't got a guitar in my hand or I'm not sitting at a piano - but I write all my own lyrics.
"The album is nearly finished, so it'll be out early next year."
Katy had a great time filming the 60s-inspired music video for her latest single 'Turn the Music Louder (Rumble)', a collaboration with Tinie Tempah and KDA.
She said: "It was so fun. I was like, 'I want to wear 10 wigs!'
"And I love patterned pieces, so the dresses were perfect.
"The fashion still had a slight sporty element though. I'm a bit of a tomboy at heart."
And Katy is stunned the track reached number one in the UK.
She told LOOK magazine: "Me and Tinie have both been in the studio for the past year and had a chance to put something out there.
"It's the perfect mash-up of vocals.
"It's been amazing - my first number one. I beat One Direction!"

Newton Faulkner made his new LP 'Human Love' for festivals.
The 'Dream Catch Me' hitmaker is excited about going on tour with a full band for the first time after years of playing on his own and promises his live shows are going to "step up a notch".
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz about his new album, he said: "I wrote it for festivals, so live wise, it is going to step up a notch. Obviously I played on my own for six or seven years, so now I've got a band. I've got a drummer, I've got my brother playing loads of stuff, I think he is playing nine instruments."
But speaking prior to the release of 'Human Love' - which was out on Friday (20.11.15) - the flame-haired singer said he was trying to "put a lid" on his "excited" feelings towards the record because he can never gauge how it's going to be received.
He added: "I am trying to kind of put a lid on my own happiness. I don't want to get too excited before it comes out - just in case. I am really pleased. The first handful of reviews that I have seen. People seem to like it. It is weird because you make something over a period of time and you have no idea when you finish if anyone is going to get it."