Music News

Snoop Dogg has claimed he only managed to get big names like Gwen Stefani and Stevie Wonder on his album because Pharrell produced it.
The 43-year-old rapper says having the 'Happy' singer produce his upcoming album 'Bush' meant it was easy to get an all-star list of collaborators.
Snoop said: "When we ask for favours, we're so loved and appreciated that it's hard to say no to Snoop and Pharrell. You can say no to Snoop, you know what I'm saying, then when we got Pharrell, you can't say no to both of them."
Snoop and Pharrell had previously worked together on 2004 hit 'Drop It Like It's Hot', which became Snoop's first US number one, and once the 42-year-old former N*E*R*D frontman started recording on 'Bush', Snoop said it "only made sense" that he produced the entire album as he loved the way the two challenged each other.
Speaking to The Observer Magazine, Snoop said: "When I work with Pharrell he allows me to be me, but he also gives me great direction on which is the best me. He loves to critique me, and he loves to take criticism. It makes it challenging in the studio - and I like to be challenged.
"When we worked on 'Drop It Like It's Hot', when I did my second verse, he was like: 'That ain't dope enough - you need to go back in.' And I came back with another verse that helped it become one of my biggest records."

Jay Z has slammed a "smear campaign" against his Tidal music streaming service.
The '99 Problems' hitmaker has spoken out against the backlash against his company - which had a star-studded launch two weeks ago - to insist it is the victim of a multi-million dollar campaign from rivals and is entirely "pro artist and fan".
He tweeted: "There are many big companies that are spending millions on a smear campaign. We are not anti-anyone, we are pro-artist & fan. We made Tidal for fans. We have more than just music. We have video, exclusive concerts, tickets for events early, live sports! (sic)"
The 45-year-old music mogul - who was joined at the launch of the app by artists including his wife Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Kanye West, Madonna and Nicki Minaj - appealed for Tidal not to be dismissed and stressed it will pay artists more for their music than any rival streaming service.
In a lengthy twitter post punctuated by the hashtag #TidalFacts, he continued: "Tidal pays 75 per cent royalty rate to ALL artists, writers and producers - not just the founding members on stage.
"Indie artists who want to work directly w/us keep 100 per cent of their music."
"The iTunes Store wasn't built in a day It took Spotify nine years to be successful.
"Tidal is doing just fine. We have over 770,000 subs . We have been in business less than one month.
"We are here for the long haul. Please give us a chance to grow and get better."
"We are human (even Daft Punk ha). We aren't perfect - but we are determined.(sic)"
Jay spoke out following criticism that fans didn't want to hear wealthy artists complain they weren't being paid enough by streaming services, while it has been claimed Apple executives have pledged that acts who put exclusive content on Tidal will no longer be promoted or featured on iTunes.

Lil Kim wants a cameo role on 'Empire'.
The 40-year-old rapper is a big fan of the hip-hop music industry drama and its star Taraji P. Henson - who plays reformed drug pusher and show matriarch Cookie Lyon - thinks a guest appearance from the singer would "break the Internet".
Taraji explained how Kim had direct messaged her on Twitter to ask about a guest role after learning she was Cookie's hero.
She added: "I was like, 'Trust me girl, I'm working on it.' That would break the internet."
If Kim does get a guest role, she will follow in the footsteps of Courtney Love and Naomi Campbell and Taraji was particularly impressed by the supermodel.
She said: "She was pretty down-to-earth. I complimented her on her shoes and, two days later, a pair arrived for me. But she didn't tell me where she got that hair from! That's all right Miss Naomi, I understand girl!"
Taraji admits she is stunned by some of the topics covered in the daring drama, which was created by Lee Daniels.
She told Grazia magazine: "When I read the script I couldn't believe a prime-time network was going to put it on TV.
"When we began filming, Lee would say, 'Oh my God, what are we doing?' And I'd reply, 'I don't know, but I'm glad to be part of it.' "

Markus Feehily is not in contact with his old Westlife bandmates.
The singer insists he doesn't "hate" Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, or Kian Egan but they are all leading separate lives now they are no longer a part of the group.
He explained to BANG Showbiz: "We don't keep in touch as much as we used to. People just assume that means we must hate each other. One day people will believe it.
"It would be much more exciting if I said I hated them but it's not the case. The boring fact is we all like each other.
"I don't have a bad word to say about any of the Westlife lads. We all live in different cities if not different countries."
The 'Love is a Drug' singer thinks it is normal for them not to be in constant contact any more as they are able to focus on themselves and their own careers for the first time.
He said: "The difference is we all gave each other 100% for so long, now we are giving ourselves as individuals a 100%. That means we are not giving ourselves up to be quarter of a team anymore.
"We are focusing on our lives. Of course that means we don't see each other as much. But there is no badness."
And Markus doesn't think he will be working with any of his former bandmates again any time soon.
He added: Someone asked me if I'd like to do a duet with Shane and I was like, I've pretty much duetted with Shane for 14 years. I don't think any is going to be working with each other.
"We are all on our first album or this that and the other.
"But, I've always loved singing with the lads and that's something that wouldn't change if I sang with them again."
Markus' new single 'Love Is A Drug' is out now and his solo LP is due for release later this year.

Conor Maynard wants to duet with Zayn Malik.
The 22-year-old singer recently met the former One Direction hunk in the recording studio while he was working on solo material and thinks he has an "amazing" voice.
Conor said: "I met Zayn today - he was at the studio with Naughty Boy working on new music. He seemed very quiet but really nice.
"Would I like to work with him? He's got an amazing voice, so that'd be really cool. It's funny - One Direction fans once made up a fake track list and one of them was a duet between Zayn and me so maybe it's meant to be."
However, Conor isn't sure if Zayn would share his excitement.
He added: "It might be pretty awkward though - before today, the only communication I'd had with him was when someone Tweeted him to ask who he preferred out of me and Justin Bieber - and he said Bieber!"
The 'Talking About' singer thinks Zayn's departure from the 'Little Things' group was inevitable.
He told Now magazine: "I think him leaving One Direction had to happen at some point. When he left they were absolutely killing it - it's not like they're on a downward spiral, so it shows he wasn't in it for the money.
"It must have felt like the time was up on that era of his life. It must have been really stressful for him."

Keith Richards was "40 per cent drugs" while making 'Sticky Fingers'.
The Rolling Stones guitarist caused concern with his habit while recording their 1971 LP, with those close to the band admitting he was using narcotics "just to exist".
The group's financial manager, Ronnie Schneider, said: "Keith at the time was maybe 60 per cent music and 40 per cent drugs. You start off taking them for your own enjoyment, but eventually you're taking them just to exist. Keith did it all."
And Ronnie knew the easiest way to contact his client in those days was to seek out his drug dealers.
He added to NME magazine: "There were times when if I wanted to contact him, I'd have to go through his dealers to find him."
However, while Keith showing up for recording sessions "wasted" caused some problems, his bandmates Sir Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman didn't share his issues.
The record's assistant engineer, Chris Kimsey, said: "Keith was occasionally wasted. But Mick wasn't nor Charlie and Bill."
And Chris learned a lot while working on the LP.
He added: "The big thing I learnt about working with the Stones was the magic of recording as a band, not doing things separately."

Iggy Azalea refused to dance in her new music video because she thought it would be "obnoxious".
The 'Fancy' hitmaker was encouraged by her 'Pretty Girls' collaborator Britney Spears to join her and perform a little number during their music video but she politely declined.
She said: "I didn't dance! She wanted me to. Since I was co-directing the video, the way I explained it was, it would be kind of obnoxious for me to direct a video and give myself a dance break as well.
"Like, 'Here's the video! And I gave myself a dance scene!' I don't know if it necessarily fits my identity, but I think Britney's identity is really embedded in being a dancer, and that's something she really wanted to do as well. So there's a lot of dancing in the video, but I wouldn't say it's centred around that."
And the 24-year-old singer also let slip a few details about the highly anticipated video, revealing it is inspired by the 1980s.
She told USA Today: "You know me, I like having a narrative. So if it was just like, '80s!' that would be kind of boring for me. But what Britney made clear to me is that she really wanted to do a video where she got to dress up and play a character.
"I think Geena Davis just like the ultimate '80s pin-up hot, cool type of girl, so I told Britney to check her out, and she was like, 'Yes, I love Geena Davis!' So we based our characters on a lot of stuff like that. But there's definitely a narrative. I don't want to give it away, but it's quirky and funny."

Charli XCX says champagne helps her keep up her stamina.
The 'Boom Clap' hitmaker has admitted a glass off bubbly will keep her going whilst touring all over the world.
When asked how she keeps up the pace on her international tours, she said: "I'm not really sure. I'm running on empty right now. But champagne helps."
The 22-year-old singer may have found worldwide success following the release of her latest album 'Sucker' but the star is far from complacent.
When questioned if she ever had any worries about not being able to carve out a career in music, she added: "Totally. Constantly. It's a rollercoaster. You never know what's coming next."
And Charli particularly enjoys seeing her fans whilst out on tour and recalled a special moment when she spent the day with one of her loyal supporters who was very ill.
Speaking to VH1, she said: "I did a hospital visit once whilst I was on tour. I went to see this little girl who was a fan of mine but who was so sick that she was going to pass away. It was really moving.
"I went to see her to hang out with her for a bit and obviously there was nothing I could do but it was nice for us to be happy together for a moment or two."

The Chemical Brothers have announced the release of their new album.
The duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons are set to release their eighth LP - their first in five years - entitled 'Born In The Echoes', on July 17.
To coincide with their summer appearances at Glastonbury, Sonar and Bestival, the band have unveiled details about the 11-track album, which promises machine driven music from one of the world's most famous electronic music duos.
Packed with collaborations with some top names including Grammy Award winner Beck and 'Digital Witness' hitmaker St. Vincent, the album promises music which is sure to excite and impress fans of the group.
The band also dropped the audio for their first single from the album, 'Sometimes I Feel So Deserted', a rhythm track which leads the way with its Escher-esque style.
During the band's hiatus, they were honoured with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection in recognition of their "innovative and popular songwriting".
The duo also recorded a track with Lorde and Miguel for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' soundtrack as well as creating music specifically for the Velodrome at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Full track listing for Born In The Echoes:
1. Sometimes I Feel So Deserted
2. Go (featuring Q-Tip)
3. Under Neon Lights (featuring St. Vincent)
4. EML Ritual (featuring Ali Love)
5. I'll See You There
6. Just Bang
7. Reflexion
8. Taste of Honey
9. Born In The Echoes (featuring Cate Le Bon)
10. Radiate
11. Wide Open (featuring Beck)