Music News

Noel Gallagher no longer receives fan mail.
The former Oasis rocker used to spend hours responding to letters from thousands of fans but said he doesn't get any gushing notes in the post anymore because people can just speak to him online instead.
He said: "It has all stopped. I remember getting sacks of the stuff. That doesn't happen any more. Now there's no need to reply as the fans are online talking to each other."
The 48-year-old star - who released his second studio album as Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, 'Chasing Yesterday', earlier this year - continued to say it isn't just how he communicates with people who love his music which has changed, as the entire industry is completely different from when he released his debut album with the defunct band in 1994.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Since 'Definitely Maybe' the industry has changed beyond all recognition. The music business we signed into doesn't exist any more."
And although he may be glad to see the back of fan mail, Noel recently berated the industry's streaming revolution, specifically branding Apple Music "Orwellian".
He ranted: "Apple Music, world radio: is that some sort of George Orwell s**t going on? How can you be so arrogant that you can say, 'We now f***ing own world radio.'
"It's not playing the Kinks. Unless there's a f***ing section that says 'Noel Gallagher's music collection' then I won't be listening to it."

Zayn Malik wants to make "awesome music" with Zendaya.
The 18-year-old singer has caught the attention of the former One Direction star, 22, who apparently wants to work with her musically because he digs her sound and he particularly "really likes" her single 'Replay', according to reports.
A source said: "Recording together is most likely -- he really likes 'Replay,' as well as her sound, and would like to see if they could create some awesome music together."
The British heartthrob apparently thinks they should work in the studio because of their "similar R&B vibe".
A source previously told The Sun newspaper: "He [Zayn] said they should get in the studio together as they both have a similar R&B vibe, and he's been talking about fashion as she's in London working with Vivienne Westwood."
However, it's not just her vocals he is taken with, Zayn who recently dumped his Little Mix fiancé Perrie Edwards by text, also thinks the Disney actress is "stunning" and "loves how intelligent she is for her age.
The source told Hollywood Life: "He thinks that she is stunning. He loves that she is very smart and her maturity for her age is off the charts. She really is a cool girl, and he really respects the person that she is."

Alexa Goddard found choosing just 12 songs "one of the hardest things" when making her upcoming debut album.
The 26-year-old singer - who is signed to Jay Z's record label Roc Nation - said after spending so long working on her record, she would have preferred to put all of the tracks she's made on it rather than trying to narrow down the list.
Speaking about her tracks, she exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "There's so many, cutting songs is one of the hardest things, because obviously you write a load of songs, you record a load of songs, but then realistically on an album you put, maybe, 12 songs, on average? So, it's so difficult. If it was up to me I'd honestly put out like 35 songs on an album, but, that's just not how it works."
However, the star - whose new single 'We Broke The Sky' is out on August 28 - continued to say she's pleased with the collection now she has whittled down the tracks and worked on it some more, having felt ready to release it last year.
Asked if the album is finished, she explained: "If you had asked me about a year ago, I'd have said yes, that it was done. But I'm at a point now where because I have grown quite a lot as an artist and developed quite a lot, I'm really happy with where my album is at, but I feel like there's just a couple of finishing touches that I want to make. Like, there are a couple of things that are missing; that I know that once they're on there it will feel complete."

Tyler, The Creator wants to work with Zayn Malik.
The controversial rapper has reached out to the former One Direction star to work on new music together, insisting they would be making "epic album cuts" and not radio-friendly tracks though.
He tweeted: "HI @zaynmalik I HAVE BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENTALS AND YOU HAVE A VOICE LETS FIGURE THIS OUT MY GUY . EPIC ALBUM CUTS THO NO RADIO SINGLES (sic)."
The 22-year-old heartthrob - who recently dumped his Little Mix fiancée Perrie Edwards - has not yet responded to the 24-year-old de-facto leader of Odd Future, but has recently been working on his debut solo album with Frank Ocean's producer, Malay.
Last month, he signed a solo record deal with RCA Records, making him label mates with Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters and A$AP Rocky, stating at the time that the deal would finally allow him to make "real music".
He said: "I guess I never explained why I left , it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA (sic)."
And Tyler isn't the only artist to have announced their ambition to work with Zayn, with Chris Brown and 50 Cent also having revealed they would like to collaborate with him.

Taylor Swift has vowed to collaborate with Madonna again.
The 25-year-old star joined the 'Rebel Heart' hitmaker on stage at the iHeartRadio Music Awards earlier this year for a live rendition of Madonna's track 'Ghost Town' and now she has vowed to work with her again to dispel any myths of tension between the pair.
She said: "Madonna and I will collaborate again and then [the media] will realize there was no weird tension or competitive factor."
Speculation of the musicians' souring relationship came about with the release of their 'Bad Blood' and 'Bitch I'm Madonna' videos, both of which featured a flurry of other famous faces, sparking rumours they were competing against each other with the clips.
However, Taylor insisted they are still close saying: "I felt so much resentment that they would take two women who made ambitious music videos and use that as a qualifying factor to comparing and contrasting them.
"I hated that because Madonna and I have gotten along and been fans of each other and performed together, and I didn't want to see that, and there was nothing I could do, and there's nothing she could do, because that's the way the world works right now."
And the 'Shake It Off' singer - who is dating Calvin Harris - said they are so close, Madonna even sent her a gift following their performance together back in March.
She told Vanity Fair magazine: "When I went into her dressing room, I complimented this candle and this diffuser she had, because her dressing room smelled like a magical woodland forest.
"A week later, I get this box in the mail, and she had sent me the same diffuser, and all these essential oils, and the exact candle I had complimented."

Shane Filan will release his new album next month.
The former Westlife star will release 'Right Here' on September 25 with the record's lead single 'Me and the Moon' being released today (10.08.15).
Speaking about the single, he said: "It's a great example of where I want my music to be at.
"It's very current, it's quite pop but there's a bit of an edge to it, and it's a big song vocally. What I love about it is that it has a universal meaning. It's about losing someone you love, but it could be that you've lost a relationship, or someone has passed away, or you could be miles away from your loved ones on the other side of the world. I can really relate to it in that sense."
The 36-year-old star - who released his debut solo album 'You and Me' in 2013 - recorded the collection in London and Denmark with collaborators including Cutfather (Kylie Minogue, Pussycat Dolls) and Jez Ashurst (Will Young, Gabrielle Aplin).
Meanwhile, Shane's former Westlife bandmate Markus Feehily has also announced his new solo album, 'Fire' - his first since the group disbanded in 2012 - which will be released just three weeks after Shane's, on October 16.
Markus - who premiered his debut single 'Love Is A Drug' earlier this year - has worked with Mojam (Emeli Sande, Sam Smith), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, Olly Murs), Nexus (Lana Del Rey, Hurts) and Jakwob on the collection.

Iggy Azalea is making a documentary.
The 'Fancy' hitmaker is currently working on her second album and has teased fans can expect a special film which will follow her creating the collection.
Asked if there would be a deluxe version of the album in a brief Twitter Q&A, she said: "i dont plan on doing a deluxe, just a standard. also there is a documentary being made about it to watch. (sic)"
Iggy - who got engaged to her long-term boyfriend, basketball player Nick Young earlier this year - also teased fans can expect to begin hearing her new music next year, having already completed six tracks.
She added: "Im in the studio as i type this, things are going great & moving along. 6 songs completed on the album. (sic)"
It was recently revealed the 25-year-old star will feature on the next album from her pal Demi Lovato, months after Iggy ditched her North American 'Great Escape' tour to follow a "creative change of heart".
She said at the time: "I've had a different creative change of heart. I want to start totally anew, and if I stayed on my tour, that would mean I wouldn't even be able to start working on that until after Christmas."

Prince has compared record contracts to "slavery".
The 57-year-old musician has slammed record labels for their tight control of artists, insisting new acts shouldn't sign album deals because they will get turned into "indentured servitude."
He said: "Record contracts are just like -- I'm gonna say the word - slavery.
"I would tell any young artist ... Don't sign."
The iconic musician made the comment after revealing he would be releasing his new album 'HitNRun' exclusively through Jay Z's streaming service Tidal in order to sidestep labels.
Although Prince confirmed he does intend to issue a physical release of the album - due next month - he insisted it's vital both artists and consumers support Tidal as it represents artists taking control of their careers.
Speaking to a group of reporters at his Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis, he said: "Once we have our own resources, we can provide what we need for ourselves.
"Jay Z spent $100 million of his own money to build his own service. We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things for themselves."
It's not the first time the 'Little Red Corvette' singer has compared the industry to slavery though, having appeared in public with "slave" written across his cheek in 1993 during a battle with his record label Warner Bros.

Joss Stone doesn't want to be a celebrity.
The 'Super Duper Love' hitmaker is "trying to fight" being a celebrity and just wants to be able to perform and make music.
She said: "I'm really trying to fight against this celebrity thing. I just want to sing and give concerts. And in order to do that, you don't really have to buy into all this celebrity stuff."
The 28-year-old singer wants people to "talk about my music and lyrics" because she makes that "public", but everything else, she thinks should be allowed to be kept private.
She told the German edition of Glamour magazine: "I would much prefer it if people would only talk about my music and my lyrics That's the part of my life I make public. Other things I want to keep to myself."
Joss also previously admitted she is not in this industry to make money and doesn't care if people download her music for free, despite not being pleased with the "bad quality" the bootleg version of her album has.
She previously told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "To be honest, I don't care about the money. I don't care about people getting music for free as long as they are listening.
"What bothers me is if people are listening to bad quality recordings of music. The bootleg version of my album has the worst sound quality. That kills me.
"You work really hard, you get everything absolutely right and you want people to hear this sound you have created."