Madonna aims for new album release in Spring, 2012 (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Madonna's latest cinematic effort, "W.E.," isn't exactly wowing the critics, but maybe the singer will have better luck with her return to music.

The "Material Girl" songbird announced during a recent interview that her next album -- the first since 2008's "Hard Candy" -- will be released in spring 2012.

Madonna made the reveal while promoting "W.E." during an interview with Sweden's Sveriges Television in Venice, Italy. The singer noted that she's done "a little bit of work" on the new collection in the studio, but will pick the project back up in earnest when she returns to New York, recording "until the end of the year."

According to the singer, the first single for the album will be released in February or March 2012, with the full album due in the spring.

As reported by Billboard, this will be Madonna's first album since parting ways with Warner Bros. in favor of a deal with Live Nation.

"Hard Candy" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart; its single "4 Minutes," featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

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Lil Wayne sets "Tha Carter IV" release after VMAs (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – He won't be wearing a meat dress nor engaged in a same-sex kiss, but rapper Lil Wayne still hopes to create big media buzz after MTV's Video Music Awards by releasing his new CD minutes after Sunday's TV show.

Lil Wayne, the four-time Grammy winner and "Lollipop" rapper, on Monday said he will start selling his new album, "Tha Carter IV," online at midnight after the widely-watched awards show on August 28. The CD hits retail stores on Monday.

The album features 15 tracks and includes collaborations with other artists such as Drake, Rick Ross, John Legend, T-Pain and Tech N9ne. A deluxe edition adds three tracks.

"I am extremely excited to be the first artist to utilize such an amazing idea," Lil Wayne said in a statement. "I hope that I can open the door for others."

While releasing a full CD online just minutes after MTV's Video Music Awards (VMAs) may be new, the rapper is hardly the first musician to use the show to generate media hype.

In 2003, Britney Spears and Madonna famously kissed onstage in what became an instant cause celebre, and last year Lady Gaga showed up in a dress made of raw meat, generating headlines around the world.

The VMAs, which honor musicians and performers in categories such as best new artist and top videos, is among MTV's most watched programs. Last year about 11.4 million viewers tuned in, making the program a strong advertising vehicle to reach a highly-targeted, music-oriented audience.

Lil Wayne will perform on this year's telecast, as will Adele, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars, among others. Presenters include Selena Gomez, Jonah Hill and Kim Kardashian.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Coldplay's new "Mylo Xyloto" album gets October release (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – British rock band Coldplay announced on Friday they will release their fifth studio album on October 25 in the United States and a day earlier elsewhere

The group unveiled the new album's graffiti pop art reversible cover and its title "Mylo Xyloto," on its website, but did not explain what the album title meant.

The album's new single, "September," will be released on September 12, following the June release of "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall".

Lead vocalist Chris Martin told Billboard the album, co-produced by Brian Eno, does not fit into "any musical kind of box".

"I think we have a lot to prove to ourselves. There's no point in not going for it," he said in an interview published on Friday.

The band's fifth album, which will be released in digital, CD and vinyl formats, follows their 2008 album "Viva La Vida", which sold 2.8 million units in the United States.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Linda Ronstadt to release memoir (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Grammy Award-winning singer Linda Ronstadt will release a memoir in 2013 called "Heart Like a Wheel," borrowing the title of one of her albums, her publisher said on Thursday.

The book, to be published by New York-based Simon & Schuster, will describe Ronstadt's rise to fame and career.

Her life story includes winning 10 Grammy awards and proving herself in a variety of musical styles from rock to opera. She also dated California Governor Jerry Brown, back when he first led the state in the 1970s.

The 65 year-old Ronstadt has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, Simon & Schuster said.

The Arizona-born singer's 1974 album "Heart Like a Wheel" is one of her most popular releases, and her hit songs include "Desperado" and "Different Drum."

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Christine Kearney)

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Lady Gaga to release book of photographs (AP)

NEW YORK – Lady Gaga will release a book of photographs with fashion photographer Terry Richardson.

Grand Central Publishing announced Thursday that it will release the book, "Lady Gaga," on Nov. 22. The publisher said the book will include more than 350 color and black-and-white photographs of Gaga.

Richardson followed the singer for 10 months between Aug. 2010 and Feb. 2011. That time period includes Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour and the recording of her album "Born This Way."

Lady Gaga will write the book's forward.

On Thursday, the pop star surpassed 12 million followers on Twitter.

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Online:

Lady Gaga website: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_en_mu/storytext/us_people_lady_gaga/42412870/SIG=10pih1hkj/*http://www.ladygaga.com

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Indie stores object to Jay-Z, Kanye release plans (AP)

By CHRIS TALBOTT, AP Entertainment Writer Chris Talbott, Ap Entertainment Writer – Fri Jul 29, 6:18 am ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Scores of independent record store owners are calling out Jay-Z and Kanye West over release plans for their much-anticipated "Watch the Throne" collaboration.

Owners signed a letter that calls the exclusive deals with iTunes and Best Buy "bad news" and asks two of music's top stars to reconsider and allow more than 1,700 indie retailers equal access.

"We know that you are busy, and that you put most of your energies into creating great music, but we are writing to you in the hope that you will hear us and take the time to rectify this matter," the letter states. "As representatives of the independent record store music community, we are asking you to allow record stores and music fans equal access to your new album."

Exclusive deals are now common for top acts and it's unclear why the letter's original writers, the organizers of Record Store Day, chose this project to object. Doyle Davis, co-owner of Grimey's New and Preloved Music in Nashville, said some of the letter's signees will pull current and previous releases by the two artists from their shelves, though he will not go that far.

Jay-Z and West have agreed to give iTunes customers access to "Watch the Throne" on Aug. 8, four days ahead of everyone else. And Best Buy will exclusively sell a deluxe album till Aug. 23 when other retailers will have access.

Jay-Z's spokesman had no comment and West's did not immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press.

Record Store Day has become something of a holiday for independent retailers each April. This year, dozens of artists provided exclusive vinyl, performances and other perks.

Fans lined up, sometimes hours early and around the block, to score new music from acts like Radiohead and The White Stripes. Independent stores have suffered a marked decline over the last decade, casualties of the ascendance of box stores, digital music sales and a poor economy.

Now they say they just want a fighting chance.

"We believe this is a short-sighted strategy, and that your decisions will be doing great damage to over 1,700 independent record stores — stores that have supported you and your music for years," the letter states.

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AP Music Editor Nekesa Mumbi Moody contributed to this report.

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Contact Chris Talbott at http://www.twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.

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http://www.kanyewest.com

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Failed drug test delays DMX's Ariz. prison release (AP)

PHOENIX – The rapper known as DMX will have to spend at least an extra week in an Arizona state prison for failing a drug test.

The 40-year-old whose real name is Earl Simmons was given a year in prison in December after his probation was revoked for failing to submit to drug testing and driving on a suspended license. He was credited with 117 days he had already spent behind bars.

Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman Barrett Marson confirmed DMX was due to be released from a prison in Yuma on Wednesday. His new release date is July 19.

Prison records show he's also been caught smoking twice and once with drugs since January. He's been making 20 cents an hour as a porter.

TMZ.com first reported the failed drug test.

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Adkins forges on, to release new album in August (AP)

By CHRIS TALBOTT, AP Entertainment Writer Chris Talbott, Ap Entertainment Writer – Wed Jun 15, 7:45 am ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Life is full of highs and lows for Trace Adkins right now.

The country singer is forging on after losing his house in a fire June 4, announcing during his performance at the CMA Music Festival last weekend that he's going ahead with plans to release a new album in early August.

Adkins hasn't missed a performance and doesn't expect to after briefly returning home from Alaska following the fire to check on his family.

"My wife (Rhonda) and kids, they're the only ones I'm concerned about," Adkins said in a phone interview Tuesday from Burlington, Iowa. "And it's a huge adjustment for them. I think they're still in shock."

A faulty power strip under a workbench in the family's garage was the cause of the fire. Adkins takes a "that stuff was just stuff" attitude. But the loss does enter his mind often and sometimes from strange angles.

"I realized I needed a shave and I had to go buy some razors," Adkins said. "Just little things like that, you just don't even think about it and then all of the sudden you say, `I need ... oh, I don't have that anymore.'"

His excitement over "Proud to be Here" leavens some of the emotional upheaval in his life. He calls it his favorite album "in a long time," and thinks it shows the kind of range he finds satisfying, from straight-up country to R&B-flavored songs and deep blues.

"I think I've gotten a little closer to the reason I moved to Nashville and got in this business in the first place, which was to make Ronnie Milsap records," Adkins said. "I've never made any secret about that. All I'm doing is copying Ronnie Milsap. What I mean by that is I always loved the way Ronnie was able to do what he wanted to do, the kind of music that he wanted to do. And he did everything well."

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Online:

http://www.traceadkins.com

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Contact Chris Talbott at http://www.twitter.com/Chris(underscore)Talbott or http://www.twitter.com/AP_Country .

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Chili Peppers to release first album in 5 years (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Red Hot Chili Peppers are gearing up to release their first album in five years on August 30, the rock band said on Monday.

"I'm With You" also marks their first album since guitarist John Frusciante quit for a second time in 2009 and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer.

As usual, "I'm With You" was produced by Rick Rubin. Their previous collaboration, the 2006 double album "Stadium Arcadium," debuted at No. 1 in 28 countries, including the United States where it went on to sell 2.3 million copies. It also won the Grammy for best rock album.

The only concerts currently scheduled are the band's Hong Kong debut on August 9, a pair of festivals in Japan on August 13 and 14, and the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro on September 24.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman)

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Boxer Muhammad Ali seeks Iran's release of US hikers (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Legendary boxing champion Muhammad Ali came to Washington Tuesday supporting a call for Iran's supreme leader to free two American hikers imprisoned in the Islamic republic since 2009.

"The people of Iran are good people... and I can assure you they love this man," Lonnie Ali said of her boxing husband sitting at her side at a press conference with several US Muslim organizations.

"It's based on their compassion, the love of Allah and the love of Mohamed that we ask them to be released."

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 28, were arrested along with Sarah Shourd, 32, on the unmarked border between Iran and Iraq on July 31, 2009. They have pleaded not guilty to spying charges.

The three-time heavyweight champion of the world, now 69 and suffering from Parkinson's disease, joined a dozen Muslim leaders in signing a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei seeking the hikers' release.

"After listening to the families, we believe that these Americans did not seek to cause any problems between the United States and Muslim world or the United States and Iran, but were in the region for the opposite purpose, to promote dialogue and understanding," they said in their letter.

"Please show them Islamic compassion, mercy, and forgiveness and allow them to continue on this mission," they said, adding that showing such mercy could "help create a more positive image of Islam."

Ali, widely considered the greatest boxer of all time, changed his name from Cassius Clay when he embraced Islam in the 1960s.

In retirement he has undertaken several key humanitarian missions, including traveling to Iraq to meet Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War in 1991 in a bid to free American hostages. He also went to Afghanistan in 2002 as a UN messenger of peace.

"Standing here today beside Muhammad Ali (and Muslim leaders) is one of the greatest honors I've experienced in my life," said Shourd, who was released by Tehran last September for health reasons.

"These men have spent their lives spreading the truth of the Koran and the values of justice."

The hikers' arrest and continued detention has strained already tense ties with Tehran. The espionage trial has been hit by a number of delays since November, and their second hearing session scheduled for May 11 was canceled after the two men were not brought to court, according to their lawyer.

Bauer and Fattal were allowed to call home Sunday for just the third time since their arrest, telling their families they had staged a 17-day hunger strike earlier this year after being prevented from receiving letters.

Shourd said their detention "has everything to do with the animosity between the US and Iran and nothing to do with two innocent men who have always stood on the side of what's right."

Mother Laura Fattal said: "Josh and Shane have committed no crime. We believe they are being punished simply because of their nationality. Their isolation is extreme."

Both mothers, along with other relatives, are observing a rotating hunger strike in solidarity with the detained men.

A bejeweled Ali, smartly dressed and wearing sunglasses, listed attentively.

"It was important for him to be here," his wife told AFP.

"He has become a citizen of the world and these young people too," she said, describing the hikers as "three idealistic young Americans who remind him of himself."

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Greyson Chance's debut album set for August release (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Greyson Chance -- the teen singer/songwriter who just over a year ago became a YouTube sensation with a cover of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" -- has announced that his debut album, "Hold On 'Til the Night," will be released on August 2 through Ellen DeGeneres' eleveneleven imprint, in tandem with Maverick/Geffen.

Chance stopped by "Ellen" on Monday to announce the release date and perform his new single, "Unfriend You," and he tells Billboard.com that he counts Snow Patrol and Coldplay as his main influences on the album, which will feature soul, rock and pop stylings. He also says that a handful of songs, including "Unfriend You," will focus on heartbreak and overcoming personal struggles -- a pair of subjects he's all too familiar with, even at 13.

"When all this first started ... they started putting me in the studio and I was cutting records, and it was a mixture of being excited and being very nervous," says Chance. "I didn't really know who I was at this moment, so I took this record to evolve into myself and put myself in my music. And also, I was going through a heartbreak at the time, and that's where most of the lyrics come from. This record really helped me gain courage and strength, and for the fans, I hope they gain courage and strength from it as well."

Chance recently wrapped a co-headlining tour with fellow teen star Cody Simpson, and recently shot a music video for "Unfriend You" that he says will include "an artistic piano scene" as well as a lot of silly string. Chance says that he has a few things left to tweak on the full-length, and will return to Los Angeles next month to finish it up with producers The Matrix (Jason Mraz, Avril Lavigne) and Ron Fair (Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas).

"I'm gonna' be yelling at the producers going, 'Noo, turn that drum up, turn that drum down!' and they're gonna be going, 'No, you're 13, shut up!'" he says with a laugh. "It's all in good fun ... we have so much fun in the studio and they really respect what I'm trying to do with my music, and I respect them as well."

(Editing by Chris Michaud)

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Jeff Bridges to release self-titled album in August (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Oscar winning actor Jeff Bridges will release his self-titled major-label debut album on August 16, record company Blue Note said on Monday.

The album is being produced by Bridges "Crazy Heart" collaborator, T Bone Burnett, and features material by several songwriters as well as Bridges' own compositions.

Bridges, 61, told Reuters last fall that "Crazy Heart", which won him a best actor Oscar playing a washed-up musician, led him to the creation of the album.

"I've gotten into my music a lot and I think that's a direct result of 'Crazy Heart'," he said.

"Jeff Bridges" features such songwriters as Burnett, Stephen Bruton, John Goodwin, Greg Brown and Thomas Cobb.

Bridges himself wrote or co-wrote four out of the 11 songs on the album. Roseanne Cash, Ryan Bingham, Sam Phillips and Benji Hughes appear as guest vocalists.

Bridges and Burnett first met in 1980 and worked together on the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski." Burnett co-wrote several of songs for "Crazy Heart" included "The Weary Kind," which won the Oscar last year for best original song.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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New Lady Gaga album leaks ahead of May 23 release (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Lady Gaga's heavily-hyped new album "Born This Way" made its way to the Internet on Wednesday, five days ahead of its official release on May 23.

All fourteen tracks from the album were initially streamed in Europe on a special website to readers of the London-based free newspaper Metro, which Gaga guest-edited on Monday as part of a promotional blitz for the new album.

They were also released on Wednesday to premium subscribers in Sweden, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands and Finland of the music streaming service Spotify.

But all the tracks soon made their way to the Internet, giving U.S. fans and reviewers an early chance to weigh in on the third album from the New York pop-dance performance artist.

Four of the singles have already been released by Gaga, including the title track which sold one million copies in five days in February and became the fastest-selling single in iTunes history.

But Rolling Stone magazine said in a track by track review on Wednesday that Gaga had "still managed to pack in some surprises".

Entertainment Weekly called it "an inconsistent blend of icy techno-pop and greeting-card empowerment that's more a triumph of production than songwriting."

Dan Martin with British music website NME.com described the album as "a relentless torrent of heavy metal rave pop." Martin added that "Born This Way" is "an exercise in the pushing of everything to its ultimate degree. And for all the black, white and silver, it passes that test with flying colors."

U.S. fans on Wednesday were split between downloading the album illicitly or waiting until its official release next week.

"Pretty stupid to preview it and not think such a highly anticipated album would leak. She should have just waited to release her album when it was meant to be released," commented a writer called Carrie on the Entertainment Weekly website.

Gaga's Interscope Records, part of Universal Music Group did not return calls for comment.

Gaga, 25, was named by Forbes on Wednesday as the world's most powerful celebrity, partly due to her dominance of social media, where she has 32 million Facebook fans.

"She can use Twitter and Facebook to work the 'little monsters' into a frenzy that leads to record sales and media attention. She's the best example of how celebrities will need to manage their careers in the coming years," Forbes editor Dorothy Pomerantz said.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Zorianna Kit)

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Angelina Jolie Bosnia movie gets December release (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Angelina Jolie's directorial debut -- a controversial movie set in wartime Bosnia -- has a name and a release date.

"In the Land of Blood and Honey" will be released in the United States on December 23, producers said in a statement on Monday, just in time for Oscar consideration.

"The film is specific to the Bosnian War, but it's also universal," Jolie said in a statement. "I wanted to tell a story of how human relationships and behavior are deeply affected by living inside a war."

Jolie, who also wrote the screenplay, last year described the then untitled movie as a love story between a Serbian man and a Bosnian woman on the eve of the 1992-95 Balkans conflict, in which 100,000 people died.

But it caused controversy in Bosnia with some female victims of sexual violence objecting to details in the plot and Bosnian authorities canceling a filming permit. As a result, some scenes scheduled to be shot in Sarajevo were moved to Budapest, Hungary.

Jolie, who won a supporting actress Oscar for "Girl, Interrupted", and who is a United Nations goodwill ambassador, has asked the people of Bosnia to withhold judgment until they see the completed film.

"In the Land of Blood and Honey" features a local cast, and was shot in both the English and Serbo-Croat languages.

Producers Graham King and Tim Headington on Monday called it a "bold new film (which) illustrates the consequences of the lack of political will to intervene in a society stricken with conflict."

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, editing by Christine Kearney)

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EMI to release unheard music by Pink Floyd (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters Life!) – EMI will release unheard songs by Pink Floyd starting from September, the English rockers' record label said on Tuesday.

The tracks will be unearthed from archives as part of a multi-month schedule of releases, which will include collectors' box sets and remastered studio recordings.

"We have worked together for more than a year on this program which incorporates all the elements that have made Pink Floyd one of the most inspiring forces in modern music," Roger Faxon, EMI chief executive, said in a statement.

The announcement comes four months after the long-time partners said they had signed a new five-year deal and ended their legal dispute.

Pink Floyd, who signed to EMI more than 40 years ago, are most famous for influential and acclaimed albums "The Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here" and "The Wall."

According to EMI, they have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, and in the United States alone, 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon has sold 45 million copies and is the country's third best-selling album ever.

Last year Pink Floyd and EMI were embroiled in a legal battle over the label's right to "unbundle" their albums and sell individual tracks online.

(Reporting by Olesya Dmitracova, editing by Paul Casciato)

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'Idol' May Not Even Allow Pia Toscano to Release CD

Just days after getting voted off 'American Idol' in shocking fashion, songstress Pia Toscano reportedly snapped up a record deal with Interscope Records, but sources tell me nothing has been signed as management looks into whether 19 Entertainment will allow her to release anything at all.

"When you compete on 'Idol,' you must sign one of the strictest contracts in the business," a former 'AI' contestant tells me. "Not only does 'Idol' own you for the entire show and live tour that follows, it also controls everything you can do professionally for a long period after that."

Pia's rep told E! News over the weekend that all the talk about a done deal is "all rumor," but it's completely true that Interscope has big plans for the Queens native, if only they can get their hands on her.

As previously reported, Interscope is already calling every top songwriter and producer to get an album together and rush-release it before the end of the season, but none of this matters unless 'Idol' allows her to do it.

"No way do the producers want a contestant who was kicked off having a hit record when the winner hasn't even been announced yet," another 'Idol' insider tells me. "The first hit song has always been from the winner and this year will be no different."

If you start having singers who were voted off charting before the show has wrapped, then the entire process loses credibility, my source contends.

"This is about protecting the brand, not about protecting Pia," the insider says. "She can record as many songs as she wants, but 'Idol' will refuse to allow them to be released for now until the show is over."

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