Music News

Ed Sheeran will debut a new song at the BRIT Awards.
The singer-songwriter - who celebrated his 24th birthday last week - will perform at the annual ceremony at London's O2 Arena on Wednesday (25.02.15) and is set to surprise viewers by singing a brand new track.
BRITs chairman Max Lousada, who is organising the event, told The Sun newspaper: "Ed is going to give an exclusive performance of a new song at the Brits. It's going to be great.
"I want the Brits to be about exclusive performances of new material, not just a reflection of the super smashes of the past year. We're going to balance a bit of both."
The 'Thinking Out Loud' hitmaker will also be hoping to win big at the ceremony having been nominated in the British Video, British Male Solo Artist and British Single categories, as well as being up for the prestigious MasterCard British Album award for his sophomore record, 'X'.
And the red-haired singer isn't the only chart-topper scheduled to perform on the evening, with Taylor Swift, Madonna, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith, Royal Blood, George Ezra and Take That all set to take to the stage at the event, which will be presented by Ant and Dec.

Rihanna has secured a Prince track for her album.
The 'FourFiveSeconds' singer is still putting together her eighth studio album and has snapped up a single penned by the iconic star for the collection, which she may debut at the BRIT Awards on Wednesday (25.02.15).
An industry insider revealed: "Prince is among the most respected songwriters of all time but chooses his collaborators carefully.
"Rihanna is so chuffed he wants to work with her and is considering rushing a performance of the track into the Brits. She really wants the song to be a single."
The annual ceremony - which will take place at London's O2 Arena - will feature performances from Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Madonna, but the Bajan beauty is yet to confirm whether she will sing at the event, or if she will collaborate with rapper Kanye West who will also be in attendance.
The source told The Sun newspaper: "Kanye West is in London to film the Jonathan Ross show, which leaves the option of playing 'FourFiveSeconds' open, or she could do a medley. She's leaving the organisers sweating."
Another source previously said: "Brits bosses have wanted to get Rihanna for a long time, but they've been waiting for an answer.
"She has been finalising her album plans and wanted to get the Grammys out of the way before confirming a second performance."
Meanwhile, the 'Diamonds' hitmaker celebrated her 27th birthday in Los Angeles on Friday (20.02.15) with guests including Beyonce, Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Sam Smith is "trying not to go mental".
The 22-year-old singer has confessed he has worked equally hard trying to keep himself grounded as he has promoting his music since releasing his debut album 'In The Lonely Hour' last year.
The four time Grammy Award-winner said: "I've spent as much energy this past year trying not to go mental as I have plugging my record. You have to. It's like your body's trying to float away from you. And you're hanging on for dear life."
Fortunately, the 'Stay With Me' hitmaker is currently taking some time off to relax following the release of his first record, and feels no pressure to produce a follow-up album any time soon due to his debut offering's immense success.
He told The Observer newspaper: "If my first hadn't done very well I would have to be bringing out another towards the end of this year. My team would be panicking, getting me in sessions. But I'm in this beautiful situation. There is no schedule."

Lady Gaga performed a medley of songs from 'The Sound of Music' at the 2015 Oscars last night (22.02.15).
The 28-year-old star took to the stage at the prestigious annual awards ceremony at Los Angeles' Dolby Theater to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic musical with a recital of songs from the film including 'My Favourite Things', 'Edelweiss' and 'Climb Every Mountain' before receiving a standing ovation.
The 'Born This Hitmaker' was then joined on stage by Dame Julie Andrews, who starred as Fraulein Maria in the 1965 film and thanked her for her wonderful tribute" before presenting the award for Best Original Score to Alexandre Desplat for 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'.
Andrews said: "Dear Lady Gaga, thank you for that wonderful tribute. Oh my God. It really warmed my heart, it really did.
"It's hard to believe that 50 years have gone by since that glorious film was released. I blinked and suddenly here I am.
"I think that I do speak for everyone connected with the movie when I say we all really felt blessed to have been a part of it and as for me, well, how lucky can a girl get?
"Great music does more than enhance a film, it cements our memories in the film-going experience."
Other artists who took to the stage at the 87th Annual Academy Awards included John Legend and Common with a rendition of 'Glory' from the 'Selma' soundtrack and Rita Ora with an impressive vocal performance of her 'Beyond the Lights' track 'Grateful'.

Charli XCX wants a personalised My Little Pony.
The 22-year-old singer requests the toys on her rider at gigs and would love it if one day a venue gave her a unique replica equine of her own.
Discussing the items on her rider, she said: "Candy floss, My Little Ponies, jawbreaker sweets, that kind of thing. Maybe I could get my own custom made My Little Pony, I could tweet it out there."
The 'Doing It' hitmaker admitted the biggest essential item on her list of requests is champagne.
Speaking at the NME Awards on Wednesday (18.02.15) about what she asks for before shows, she told BANG Showbiz: "Champagne - that's it! I like candles and stuff but it's not like make or break for me. My rider is just champagne and vodka and cups to pour said champagne and vodka into."
The raven-haired beauty explained all of her backstage requests help her to provide a good show because she is such an energetic performer.
She said: "I just want to be wild and free, there are very few performers who do it like that anymore. People are conscious about looking good and I don't really care about that, I just want to make sure the audience are having the best time ever. I like aggression in stage shows as well, I like power."

Katy Perry wants to record an acoustic album.
The 'Roar' hitmaker, who recently rekindled her relationship with singer-songwriter John Mayer, says she wants to go in a "complete opposite way" with her next album.
She said: "There have always been two records I want to make; the acoustic record and the dance record. ['One of the Boys'] was very pop-rock, more alternative influences, very No Doubt. But the last two ['Teenage Dream' and 'Prism'] were so pop heavy. 'Prism' has a more electronic influence. The next record does have to be different. I think that I'm gonna really have to reroute.
"I can't wait to create more and evolve more and be a contributor. I would never ever want to be just a celebrity. It's so gross. But if you're contributing, you're adding something to the world; you're changing someone's perspective. I'm disgusted by the fame stuff. I try to keep a distance from it."
The brunette beauty says she will never do an in-depth interview with Barbara Walters or Howard Stern again.
She explained: "Every word that comes out of my mouth has some kind of context or price tag or something that it's too much of a risk for me."
Katy believes her fans would know if she wasn't staying true to herself and that's why she enjoys communicating with them via Twitter.
She told Britain's ELLE magazine: "My Twitter is very obviously run by me. So when you follow my Twitter, there is an authenticity that you sign up for. It's not my management, it's not the record label, it's not me selling a product to you all the time, every single tweet. I think that what people like is that they get tidbits of my life. I always keep them updated on what is going on."

Sia has confirmed she mocked Lorde on 'South Park'.
The 'Chandelier' hitmaker was widely speculated to have provided the vocals on 'Push', a parody track featured on a 2014 episode of the animated comedy which claimed the 18-year-old singer was really a drag alter ego of Stan's father Randy and she has now admitted it was her and she thinks the 'Royals' vocalist would find it funny.
She said: "Yeah, it was me. Trey [Parker, 'South Park' co-creator) wrote it though.
"I was like, 'Dude, you need to do this for a living.' That 'push, push' chorus is so catchy, it's crazy.
"When I realised it might be mean to Lorde I felt bad but went ahead and did it anyway. I figured she'd find it funny. I love her."
Earlier this year, Sia caused controversy with the video to her track 'Electric Heart', which featured 11-year-old Maddie Ziegler dancing provocatively with Shia LaBeouf in a nude leotard.
Though she apologised for the clip, she insisted her words were meant just for one person.
She told NME magazine: "I read one tweet from a woman who had found it triggering.
"She had been sexually abused as a child by an older gentleman. That made me feel sad but I don't really care about those other people.
"I essentially issued an apology to that one woman. I'm certainly not apologising for my work."

Ella Henderson is planning to collaborate with Pharrell Williams.
The 'Ghost' hitmaker is preparing to start work on her second album and is hoping her list of writing partners will include the 'Happy' singer because he is a fan of hers.
She said: "I've got some exciting collaborations coming up. I'm constantly writing.
"We are definitely looking at getting back with Ryan [Tedder] and producer Al Shux. Fingers crossed Pharrell Williams too.
"That would be really cool as he liked my single 'Glow'."
Ella is nominated for two prizes at the upcoming Brit Awards with Mastercard - Best British Female and Best Single - and already feels like she has won because she feels so honoured to be included.
She told Britain's OK! magazine: "I went to the BRITs last year as a spectator on my record company's table. I was lucky even to have a seat - I never expected to have released my first record and have two nominations.
"However the night swings, I feel like I've won an award.
"I'm going to be like Cinderella on that red carpet and just enjoy it. It's massive for me."

Kesha is working on "weird country" music.
The 'Timber' singer has been busy making the follow-up to her 2012 album 'Warrior' and has teased fans they can expect to hear love songs when the collection is finally released, as well as some wacky country tracks.
She said: "I've been working on music for like, months now, obsessing in the studio all night, so I've got a lot of new music but it's been so all over the place. Some of it's like weird country, then I have love songs, so it's all over the place so I'm still kind of compiling my record."
The 27-year-old musician - who is dating Brad Ashenfelter - recently dropped the dollar sign from her name and has checked into rehab and attempted to sue producer Dr. Luke since the release of her last record, hailing a change in her personal style for her next LP.
When asked if she'd be exploring a new look, she said: "Totally ... I think I'm still testing the waters."
And as well as her music, the hitmaker revealed she is hoping to expand into fashion after spending time at New York Fashion Week, and will embark on an acting career.
She told Yahoo Style: "I'm dipping my toe in fashion and acting so I'm like, doing it all."