Music News

Lionel Richie wrote Kenny Rogers' hit song 'Lady' while he was on the toilet.
The former Commodores singer penned the 1980 hit for Kenny, and the country legend has revealed Lionel went to the restroom for inspiration to write the track's second verse when they were in the studio together.
During an appearance on the 'Today Show', Kenny said: "Lionel doesn't write entire songs, he writes ideas. We were in the studio recording the song, and I said, 'Where's the second verse?' and they said, 'Lionel's in the toilet writing them right now.' "
Kenny had no problem with Lionel's unconventional method and can appreciate he got the peace he needed on the toilet to come up with the right lines.
The 75-year-old musician - who is being honoured at the Country Music Hall of Fame with an exhibit entitled 'Kenny Rogers: Through the Years' documenting his incredible career - added: "Lionel can't write unless he has the pressure to write. ... He went in there to kinda get away from everything and to focus."
'Lady' went on to become one of Kenny's biggest hits, reaching number on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart as well as topping the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts.

Taylor Swift is to perform at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The global superstar, 24, will take to the stage at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 24, but is remaining tight-lipped on what track she'll sing.
The 'Red' hitmaker, who already has two VMAs under her belt for Best Female Video in 2009 and 2013, made the announcement last night (13.08.14) on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.'
The blonde beauty - who has performed at the event three times in the past - will join already-announced acts Ariana Grande, Usher, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Maroon 5 and Rita Ora on stage for a performance at this year's ceremony.
Meanwhile, Beyoncé is set for a busy night at the bash as she leads the nominations with eight nods - including Video of the Year and Best Female - while Eminem and Iggy are right behind her with seven.
Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Jay Z, Pharrell Williams, Lorde, Jason Derulo, Pitbull, Sam Smith and Hayley Williams have also received multiple nominations.
The MTV Video Music Awards will air on MTV UK on August 25 at 9pm.

Nile Rodgers says the songs he's working on with Duran Duran are sounding "sick".
The Chic guitarist-and-songwriter is in the studio with the band and producer Mark Ronson recording tracks for the group's next album.
So far, Nile can't believe how good the tunes they are laying down sound and he is thrilled to be working with Duran Duran again after first collaborated in 1984 on a remix of hit single 'The Reflex' and then on their 1986 album 'Notorious'.
He wrote on Twitter: "This is turning out so good it's sick! Nile Rodgers & Duran Duran."
In earlier posts, the 'Get Lucky' hitmaker enthused about the band's professionalism in the studio and immense musical talent of singer Simon Le Bon, keyboard player Nick Rhodes, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Taylor.
He tweeted: "So awesome to be in a real studio recording with a real band! @duranduran @iamMarkRonson @nilerodgers ... In writing with Duran today I said, "Let's change one chord to a
G-7b6" and Nick played it instantly! proud (sic)"
Nile, 61, was a friend of Ronson's family and watched the future producer-and-musician grow up.
The disco legend is delighted he is now getting the chance to record with Ronson, 38.
He previously said: "I gave Mark Ronson his first Walkman and he started bouncing on one foot and then the other and then started becoming a producer. Can you imagine what it's like having me and Mark in the same room as Duran Duran? The love is insane."

Actor Michael Cera has released a surprise album.
The 'Juno' star has uploaded a collection of 18 folk and pop songs under the title 'True That' on his Bandcamp account, priced at $7 to download.
Cera's friend and 'Superbad' co-star Jonah Hill posted a link to the album on his Twitter account urging his 4 million plus followers to check out the songs.
Jonah tweeted: "My great friend Michael Cera not only is a brilliant actor, he also makes great music. Check it out: http://www.michaelceramusic.bandcamp.com/ (sic)"
Song titles include 'Sexy Danger', 'Gershy's Kiss' and 'Ruth' on which he sings "Coming through the filter, sweet upon my lips / the smoke mollifies the lung into which it rips".
The LP also features a cover version of 'Clay Pigeons' by Blaze Foley, an American singer/songwriter.
Cera's profile on the website simply states that "Michael Cera was born in Canada in 1988 at the tender age of zero".
This is not the 26-year-old star has displayed his musical talents.
In 2011, he provided mandolin and backing vocals to Weezer track 'Hang On' - which was included on their album 'Hurley'
The actor is also the touring bass player for indie rock band Mister Heavenly, while on screen he played bass for fictional band Sex Bob-Omb in 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'.

Barbra Streisand is releasing a new duet album.
The 'Woman In Love' hitmaker took to Instagram for the first time to announce the official release date of the upcoming album, entitled 'Partners', which sees the legendary singer duet with the world's greatest male vocalists.
'Partners' is the first duet album to be released by the 72 year old in over a decade and features collaborations on some of her best loved tracks.
Among the songs are renditions of 'New York State Of Mind' with Billy Joel, 'It Had To Be You' with Michael Bublé, 'The Way We Were' with Lionel Richie, 'Evergreen' with Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds and 'Love Me Tender' with Elvis Presley.
It also features her first ever studio-recorded duet with her son Jason Gould on 'How Deep Is The Ocean', as well as perfomances with Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, John Legend, John Mayer, Blake Shelton and Stevie Wonder.
The UK version of the album will include five bonus tracks including her classic 'Guilty' with vocals from Bee Gees star Barry Gibb.
'Partners' was executive produced by Barbra and Jay Landers and was produced by Babyface and Grammy Award-winner Walter Afanasieff.
It is available to pre-order from today (14.08.14), with its official release date set for September 15.

Nicki Minaj will perfom at this year's MTV Video Music Awards.
The 'Starships' hitmaker will take to the stage at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 24, to sing her new track 'Anaconda' from her latest album 'The PinkPrint' which is due out later this year, reports MTV News.
It will be the third time the 31-year-old singer and rapper has performed at the annual ceremony.
In 2012 she joined Alicia Keys on stage for a rendition of her hit 'Girl On Fire' after making her debut performance at the event with her track 'Your Love' in 2011.
Nicki said: "The VMAs is a pretty big deal so people go all out for it.
"I am very, very excited and looking forward to the performance."
Nicki joins a star-studded line-up which already includes boyband 5 Seconds Of Summer, Usher, pop princess Ariana Grande and Beyoncé
However, the 'Super Bass' singer isn't just known for her performances at the awards, having scooped the prize for Best Hip-Hop Video for 'Super Bass' in 2011 and again for Best Female Video for 'Starships' in 2012.

Ella Henderson says James Arthur is like a brother.
The 'Ghost' hitmaker - who met James, 26, when they appeared on 'The X Factor' together in 2012 - says the 'Impossible' singer was incredibly supportive of her during her time on the show and the subsequent UK tour and treated her like a younger sibling.
She told The Daily Star newspaper: "I haven't seen [James] probably since we came off The X Factor tour.
"What I do know is that the James I know from the show was like a big brother to me at the time and he was lovely."
However, the 18-year-old singer hasn't kept in contact with James - who was dropped from his SyCo record label this year after being reprimanded for his use of homophobic lyrics - and believes she doesn't know him well enough anymore to comment on his controversial behaviour.
She explained: "You know you hear of things that have happened since. I don't really have an opinion on it because I don't know the person he is now."
Meanwhile, Ella - whose debut single 'Ghost' shot to the top of the charts in June - is looking forward to releasing her second single 'Glow' and her long-anticipated debut album 'Chapter One', which the pretty brunette describes as her "baby".
She said: "It feels like I'm going to give birth to my baby when the album comes out. I've taken two years to write the album.
"Seeing the positive reaction my music has got so far is incredible. I've put my all into it.
"It's mental what's happened in the last 10 weeks. I couldn't be any happier."

Nas worried that the untimely deaths of Notorious B.I.G and 2 Pac would spark the end of rap music.
The 'Hate Me Now' hitmaker - who has been involved in a long-running feud with fellow rapper Jay Z - thought the fatal shootings of Notorious B.I.G (Biggie) in 1997 and Tupuc Shakur in 1996 by rival gang members would mark the demise of the music genre.
He said in an interview with Zane Lowe for MTV Music: "We saw what happened with Biggie and the tragedies of Biggy and 2 Pac.
"Those two things hit me real hard. I knew them both of them - Biggy more but what they mean to the art form can never be replaced and when those two guys passed away I thought it was the end of rap."
However, the 40-year-old rapper believes the industry has now changed, with stars becoming more interested in making money to better one another.
He explained: "Today's music industry is a lot. You talk about it being a lot more about money. It's really about money now, and back then, during that period when you talk about me battling with J, it was about something else.
"It wasn't just about being the top guy in rap, it felt like we were leaders of nations, not that we were egos, egotistical as in I'm the leader, no not in that sense.
"What you felt surrounding us was there was an importance in what we were doing that mattered more than just success."
Meanwhile, NAS recently announced the dates for his 'Time is Illmatic' North American tour, which will coincide with the screening of his Tribeca film documentary 'Nas: Time is Illmatic'.
The tour will begin in Rochester, in New York on October 2 and close in Oakland, Ohio on October 19.
Nas' full interview with Zane will air this Sunday at 9.30pm on Relentless Ultra Presents Soundchain on MTV Music.

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer is suffering from heart complications.
The veteran rockers postponed a show in Concord, California last night (13.08.14) "due to illness" and it has now been claimed by gossip website TMZ that the 64-year-old musician - who has had heart problems in the past - is to undergo surgery for the unspecified complaint.
The Concord Pavilion announced the group were cancelling the show just hours before doors at the venue were due to open.
They wrote on their Facebook page: "Due to illness, Aerosmith has been forced to cancel tonight's performance at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA.
"The band regrets not being able to perform for their fans. Refunds will be available at point of purchase."
A spokesperson for the band didn't go into specific details about the late cancellation, saying only that they "apologise for the inconvenience".
It is as yet unclear whether the 'Crazy' hitmakers will complete their current US tour, but according to TMZ, members of the crew have already been told the next gig, in Washington on Saturday (16.08.14), won't be going ahead.