Music News

Courtney Love is bored of rock 'n' roll.
The hellraising singer realised she had to walk away from the genre that made her a star while on stage in Australia last year when she felt dismayed having to perform her old songs.
Recalling the gig, she said: "I got to that part where I'm looking down at the set list going, 'Really, 'Malibu' next? Are we halfway done yet?' And when that happens in rock 'n' roll, it's like, 'OK, I've got to look at something else. Because I'm not loving this. I'm not in the moment. Forget persona, forget who is new and who is old, your mojo is your mojo."
After deciding to turn her back on rock, Courtney was inspired to try something completely new which led her to landing a role in Todd Almond's pop opera 'Kansas City Choir Boy'.
The 50-year-old musician insists the show - which opens at the Prototype Festival in New York on Thursday (08.01.14) - has given her a new lease of life because it's a totally new challenge for her.
Courtney hopes she and Todd can take the production to other cities if it is well received.
The former Hole rocker - the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain - said: "It's baptism by fire, but I'm going to hang in and give it my best ... I've never done musical theatre - I really wanted to do theatre, but probably I'm not ready to do a play quite yet. Fortuitously, Todd wrote this thing eight years ago, and I met him and I fell in love with it ... It's like putting out a single. If it gets catchy, then we do it in London or something. If it doesn't, it doesn't. We think it's really catchy and fabulous."

Mariah Carey has landed a multimillion dollar deal to perform in Las Vegas.
The ''#Beautiful' singer is in negotiations with Caesars Palace for a performing stint that will reportedly earn her more than the $30 million Britney Spears is receiving for her two-year residency in the gambling capital of the US, the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column reports.
Once the deal if confirmed, Mariah is expected to take to the stage in Las Vegas before the end of this year.
If the deal goes ahead, it seems Mariah - who has three-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with estranged husband Nick Cannon - has had a change of heart as it was claimed in November she was looking for a "mini residency" outside of the city.
A source said: "Mariah doesn't want to go to Vegas. She put out feelers to the Borgata in Atlantic City and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut about a mini residency.
"She wants a stable, high-paying gig that will keep her close to her New York home. Mariah is crossing her fingers that she can figure out a way to make money on her own turf."

Eminem is being sued for $8 million.
The 42-year-old rapper and his record label are the subject of legal action from Raymond Jones, an MC from the group Hotstylz, who has alleged the star has sampled one of his songs without permission.
According to TMZ, the case claims Eminem's song 'Rap God', from his 'Marshall Mathers LP 2', features a 25-second clip from Raymond's track 'Lookin Boy' and he wants to be compensated financially for the unauthorised use.
A spokesperson for Eminem has not yet commented on the allegations.
In September, 'Rap God' made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most words in a hit single, with the six minute, four seconds-long track totting up 1,560 words.
Eminem recently admitted he loves performing live with musicians because he thinks they add a new element to his sound.
He said: "It's definitely better, it definitely brings a whole new element to it. There are more things to do with your hands. It's a whole different energy, it's louder, it's more in your face, it's more explosive. For me, music is about feeling and energy and all that.
"We always try to mess around with the order of things. There are certain songs that just, for some reason or another, they don't work as good live. You have to go with the ones that work best to perform live. Sometimes we'll [also] add ones in we haven't done in a while."

Rita Ora plans to release her next single in March.
The 24-year-old singer, who is currently appearing as a judge on the BBC reality TV show 'The Voice', has insisted she doesn't want to rush her much-anticipated second studio album and hopes to time the release of her new music with her appearance on the show.
The 'How We Do' hitmaker told The Version: "The single comes out in March and the album comes just before summertime.
"I wanted to take my time with this album and have new music out there at the same time as The Voice."
Meanwhile, will.i.am - who will appear alongside Rita on 'The Voice' - claimed recently that the blonde beauty will one day emulate the success of Stella McCartney.
The hip-hop producer said Rita - who has already designed clothes for Adidas - is destined for huge things in the coming years.
The Black Eyed Peas star explained: "She's up there with people like Pharrell Williams in terms of products. And the thing is she's only 24. In another ten years, where will she be? I see her as being a Stella McCartney."

Mark Ronson thinks he has excelled himself on his new album because people mistake it for someone else's music.
The producer played 'Uptown Funk' - the lead single from upcoming LP 'Uptown Special' - to his stepfather Mick Jones and the Foreigner rocker praised the track, but mistakenly believed it was by Chic's Nile Rodgers.
Mark said: "He said: 'Oh, that's good, is that Nile Rodgers?'
"That's what I've done. I've made something so good that people don't actually think it's me."
The 39-year-old producer recently previewed some tracks from the album during a DJ gig and was relieved they went down well with the young audience because he felt it was proof the record is strong.
He told The Guardian newspaper: "2,500 kids were totally going for it, which I thought was kind of amazing.
"It's so different to what everyone's ears are attuned to right now, but it completely works. That just kind of makes me psyched for music. You know, 'Oh, it's not just that I like it because I'm an old man,' or whatever."
As well as well-known vocalists including Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars, Mark has teamed up with singer Keyone Starr on the record.
He found the unknown musician while looking for a soul voice in Mississippi and was impressed not only by the talented singers but their dedication to church over fame.
He recalled: ""It was kind of amazing. You'd meet these people that could out-sing anyone in the top 10, but they'd explain that they didn't really enjoy singing secular music or Beyoncé or whatever, because unless they're really singing for God, they just don't feel it.
"In the era of music reality shows, where people basically start singing in order to become famous, it's so anti that, it's incredible. You'd start talking to them, like, 'We're making this record, would you be interested in coming up to LA to record a song?' and they're like, 'Well, I can never miss my choir rehearsal on Wednesdays and Thursdays,' which is really touching."

Kelly Clarkson will release a new pop album this year.
The 'Breakaway' hitmaker took a break from music to get married to Brandon Blackstock and have their daughter River Rose, now six months, but she has returned to the recording studio and will bring out the first single from her new LP later this month.
She tweeted: "People keep asking. My next album is pop. But I am always influenced by music I love, which is pop-rock/country/r&b/dance #whoknowswhatsnext.
"2 clues for the first single...Proof of life & Dr. Dre #TheNextEpisode.(sic)"
When a fan asked if the new single will be released this month, she replied: "Yes :)"
And quizzed if the Dre reference meant she was planning a surprising new musical direction into rap, she replied: "totally. I'm gonna be the most amazing rapper you've ever heard.(sic)"
The 32-year-old singer also confirmed the record will feature a duet - but has kept fans guessing as to the identity of her vocal partner.
She wrote: "Oh and people also keep asking about the duet on the record. Here's a hint ....this wasn't our first time to sing together 🙂 (sic)"
Kelly released a Christmas album in 2013 and a greatest hits collection in 2012 but this year's record will be her first full-length studio LP since 2011's 'Stronger'.

Akon will release five albums this year.
The 'Lonely' hitmaker has announced plans for a multi-genre project, entitled 'Stadium', which will be comprised of a number of LPs, each in a different style, released over the course of the next 12 months.
He tweeted: "Thru out this long wait, there has been fans who stuck with me. This Album is for you! 5 Albums 5 genres equaling STADIUM. (sic)".
Akon - who hasn't released an album since 2008's 'Freedom' - has shared a track from each record on his official website.
'To Each His Own' will feature on a pop album, while Euro fans can enjoy a song called 'Bounce', which also features Niko the Kid.
On his island album, Akon has teamed up with Damian Marley for a song named 'Just a Man', while the world album's first track is called 'Feeling a Nikka' and features D'Banje.
Finally, the urban album is lead by a song titled 'Whole Lot'.
The artwork featured on his website shows the five records all have the same artwork - an image of the topless singer performing for a crowd - but in different colours.

The Black Eyed Peas are reuniting for their 20th anniversary this year.
The 'I Gotta Feeling' group - comprising Fergie, will.i.am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo - have been on hiatus since 2011 but are working together in the recording studio on follow-up to 2010 album 'The Beginning' and also plan to celebrate their milestone with a new tour.
will told Metro newspaper: "We're all geared up and excited for the next year. We are recording now."
The news comes a few months after will pledged the 'My Humps' hitmakers would only get back together for something "amazing" and unique.
He said: "We're doing some configuration as far as what do we do as the Peas next .
"In 2008, I was like 'Guys, electro music is sick!' And most of them were like, 'What are you talking about, electro?'
"[I said], 'There's this guy called David Guetta and there's like this underworld, we should do songs like that.'
"Now we have to do something that no one's thought of, so you're thinking like 'The Black Eyed Peas are what?' If it doesn't spark that conversation, then there's no point.
"I know we have to either emerge with something from the underground or do something no-one has thought of. Either it's amazing or I don't get it."

Kanye West fans have taken to social media to predict "newcomer" Sir Paul McCartney is going to have a huge career after collaborating with the rapper.
The 37-year-old star's supporters took to Twitter to heap praise on the Beatles legend with some admitting they didn't know who he was but envisaged the singer - who has sold more than 100 million albums and 100 million singles - would make it big in music after teaming up with Kanye on new song 'Only One'.
OVOJosh wrote: "I don't know who Paul McCartney is, but Kanye is going to give this man a career w/ this new song!! (sic)"
DuesNice tweeted: "Kanye has a great ear for talent. This Paul McCartney guy gonna be huge. (sic)"
percyBlacksom posted: "Who is Paul McCartney? He boutta blow up thanks to Kanyer!!! (sic)"
While many thought the comments about one of the most successful performers of all time were comical, some reacted with genuine concern about the youth of today.
Dukeofhoops wrote: "The downfall of America's youth has officially concluded with people not knowing who Paul McCartney is (sic)"
@miss_raej tweeted: "People tweeting "unknown artist's career is gonna blow up" thanks to working with Kanye West. It's Paul McCartney. *screams internally* (sic)"
Sky_Razball wrote: "Only thing makes me mad about the stupid McCartney/Kanye tweets is these damn kids have google. Ain't no reason for your stupidity today (sic)"
Paul and Kanye teamed up last year to record the song, which is dedicated to the rapper and his wife Kim Kardashian West's 18-month-old daughter North and his late mother Donda West, who died in 2007.
The Beatles star plays keyboard on the song, which was released last Thursday (01.01.15), and Kanye sings from the perspective of his mother.
Kim is a huge fan of the tune and ranks it as her favourite song of the rapper's, admitting she breaks down in tears every time she listens to it.
She tweeted: "People always ask me what my favorite Kanye song is and it's Only One. Kanye feels like his mom sang thru him to our daughter.
"I cry every time I hear this song (sic)"