Music News

Nick Minaj's concerts were the most talked about gigs in the UK this month.
The 'Anaconda' hitmaker, who kicked off her 'The Pinkprint' tour in London's O2 Arena last weekend, has topped a new FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] FTSE poll with more people eager to watch her take to the stage than Sting.
The 32-year-old singer came out on top after online ticket marketplace StubHub used Twitter hashtags to rank the hype surrounding upcoming gigs and concerts in the UK throughout April.
Sting, who released his new album, 'Taking Pictures,' earlier this week and is due to kick of his comeback tour next week, came in second place, while 'All About That Base' hitmaker Meghan Trainor came in third ahead of the start of her new tour in Glasgow next Wednesday (08.04.15).
Other artists in the top 10 include former 'X Factor' star Olly Murs, BRITs Critics' Choice winner James Bay, and Welsh rockers Catfish and The Bottlemen.
Commenting on the results, Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Stubhub's General Manager International said: "As we launch the Stubhub FOMO FTSE, it's interesting to see upcoming artists such as Meghan Trainor and British singer-songwriter James Bay already high up the list of the most talked about artists on Twitter.
"From FOMO to JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out), StubHub's fan-focussed service offers people the chance to buy or resell tickets via a safe and secure online marketplace. Plus, the price fans see upfront is the price they pay - no hidden charges."

Complete list of most talked about UK gigs in April:
1. Nicki Minaj
2. Sting
3. Meghan Trainor
4. Olly Murs
5. James Bay
6. Catfish and The Bottlemen
7. The Vaccines
8. Ghostpoet
9. Wolf Alice
10. The Wombats

Sir Paul McCartney's wife was "shocked" by 'All Day'.
The 72-year-old musician has revealed Nancy Shevell - who he wed in 2011 - isn't a fan of his latest track with Kanye West because of his excessive use of offensive language, which the entrepreneur was unaware was still used.
He explained: "I think he mentions the N-word about 40 times. It's controversial, I know, especially with the climate in modern-day America.
"It really shocked Nancy because she'd been to school with a lot of black kids and been immersed in that experience."
However, the former The Beatles star defended the 'Gold Digger' hitmaker by saying he is artistically expressing himself in the controversial track, and doesn't use the word in an offensive way.
He continued: "Whether you like what Kanye does or you don't, he's an artist and it's his prerogative.
"His school of thought is that he's reclaimed the n-word, he's reappropriated it. If you're gonna work with Kanye, you have to accept who he is."
Sir Paul - who has also worked on several other tracks for the 37-year-old rapper's upcoming seventh studio album 'So Help Me God' - added he doesn't believe anyone was surprised by the foul-mouthed track, because the rapper is always stirring controversy, unlike other musicians like 1970s folk singer Gordon Lightfoot.
He told Q Magazine: "It's Kanye, come on - not Gordon Lightfoot."

Noah and the Whale have split up.
The five-piece group - who formed in London in 2006 - have announced they are parting ways.
In a statement to their fans, the band wrote: "Noah and the Whale have decided to call it a day. We have had an incredible eight years together and are immensely grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way."
The band - featuring Charlie Fink, Tom Hobden, Matt Owens, Fred Abbott and Michael Petulla - rose to prominence in 2008 with their folk-pop hit '5 Years Time' from their debut album, 'Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down'.
In subsequent years the group released summer hit 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.' before trialling a heavier sound on their fourth and final album, 'Heart of Nowhere', released in 2013.
In the message, the members thanked their supporters who they said had made "everything possible" during their time together.
The statement continued: "There are too many people to mention in this short message but we would like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to all of our amazing fans, who have supported us so magnificently over the years and made everything possible."
While no details about the members' future projects have been revealed, all of the musicians have set up websites suggesting they will continue to make music as solo artists.

David Duchovny is releasing an album.
The 'X Files' actor is "shocked" he has created 12-track LP 'Hell or Highwater' - which comes on May 12 - but can't wait to share his music with his fans.
He said in a statement: "Making this record is a dream come true, but I never had this dream - it's still a shock when I think about how all this music happened.
"What I do know is that I feel these songs represent the truest expression that I've ever been able to achieve and I look forward to sharing it with everyone."
The 54-year-old star previously compared his music to 'Nightswimming' hitmakers R.E.M..
He said: "I can only compare my music to artists that you know, so it's going to sound like I'm bragging.
"But in my wildest dreams, I would sound like Wilco or R.E.M. I'd put it somewhere in there - if I'm lucky."
And David also insisted he doesn't mind whether anyone buys his record or not.
He said: "Once I started playing music, I started thinking, 'Gee, I should be able to write lyrics.' And I just fell backwards into the whole thing.
"It's just been a real pleasure in my life, regardless of who buys it and what people think of it when it comes out. It's been a lifesaver just to be able to play music, write songs and think about singing songs to friends."

Paris Hilton is set to take up a Las Vegas DJ residency.
The 34-year-old socialite recently ended a residency at Amnesia nightclub in Ibiza and has now revealed her next regular slots will be in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
She admitted: "I've got a residency in Atlantic City, and I'm about to do one in Las Vegas. I can't say where yet."
After five years of DJing, the TV personality said she hopes further residencies will quash speculation about her having a lack of talent on the decks, as she insists she has refined her skill since she first started out with the hobby.
She explained: "There are so many rumors out there. People who think that I don't play live. There are so many haters that make up so many stories. But anybody who comes and sees a show and watches behind the booth will see I know exactly what I'm doing. I've been training so hard for the past five years."
However, Paris said being a DJ is the perfect profession for her because she has so much experience in going to parties.
She told Billboard: "Because I'm Paris Hilton, people assume, 'Oh, she's just this rich girl.' They don't understand that I've actually been going to raves since I was 15 years old. I love music. I love entertaining people. I love partying. I love having a good time and having people around me have a great time. So I feel like DJing is kind of perfect for what I do."

New Look Wireless has announced a one-off show headlined by Drake.
The 'Started from the Bottom' rapper had already been announced as a headline act for the three-day festival, and will now also headline the 10th birthday celebration show on Sunday June 28.
The party in London's Finsbury Park will take place a week before the beginning of the festival, and will also feature a UK festival exclusive performance from 'I Will Never Let You Down' hitmaker and 'The Voice UK' judge, Rita Ora.
Elsewhere at the single-day event, Chance the Rapper and Public Enemy will perform, as well as Black Star (Yasiin Bey AKA Mos Def and Talib Kweli), Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Big Sean, Kid Ink, Jhene Aiko, iLoveMakkonen and G-Eazy.
Confirmed performers for Wireless Festival, which runs from July 3 - 5, include Nicki Minaj, David Guetta and Avicii, as well as Major Lazer, Kendrick Lamar, Clean Bandit and Jessie J.
Tickets for the New Look Wireless 10th birthday celebration on June 28 will go on general sale on April 2 at 9am costing £69.50, while tickets for Wireless Festival are available online now.

The Libertines will release details of their new album "soon".
The band - made up of Carl Barat, John Hassall, Gary Powell and Pete Doherty - have recently been working on the follow-up to their self-titled 2004 album in Thailand and took to their Facebook page yesterday (31.03.15) to reveal fans should expect news of their latest offering imminently.
A caption alongside a black and white photograph of Pete and Carl reads: "Peter and Carl are back in Thailand to continue the writing for the new album. Expect album announcement soon."
The band have been working on tracks in the Southeast Asian country as it is where Pete, 35, is in rehab for heroin addiction, although the final recordings for their third LP won't all be made in the country.
Carl recently said: "I've been in Thailand and we were all together before that. It's just good to be back in the studio making music.
"We've got a few more demos we've got to do but we'll record some of it in Thailand and some in a different mystery location.
"It's not definitely going to be recorded in Thailand, but I think Thailand's a great place, a very relaxed place. The thing was Pete was at a centre there, and we all went out to visit him and then we were a bit jealous, so we thought, 'We need to get out here and make a record.'"
And John is keen to make a more upbeat album on the Mediterranean party island Ibiza, at some point in the future.
He added: "I think we should do it in Ibiza. Maybe we'll make our next break-up record in Ibiza."

Alex James says Florence Welch is the best singer he's "ever heard".
The Blur bassist revealed the 'Shake It Out' hitmaker - who is known for being the lead singer of Florence + the Machine - is the "best" musician he has ever been able to work with, and believes the public haven't yet heard what she is capable of.
Speaking about the star, he said: "[She's the] best singer I've worked with and possibly the best I've ever heard. She hasn't got anywhere near fulfilling her potential yet."
The 46-year-old singer/songwriter praised the fiery-haired musician while talking about some of his favourite albums with iTunes, alongside his bandmates Damon Albarn, Dave Rowntree and Graham Coxon.
As well as praising legendary acts including 'Le Freak' hitmakers Chic and vocal duo The Carpenters, Alex admitted he's a fan of other contemporary female musicians including Paloma Faith who he described as "totally hot," and Ellie Goulding who he said is "the real deal".
He gushed: "[I] love her songs. She's the real deal in a world of bogus pop pretenders."
The group's frontman Damon picked fewer modern acts however, and instead revealed late singer/songwriter Bobby Womack and drummer Tony Allen are two of the most inspiring individuals for his music.
Speaking about Bobby's 1981 album 'The Poet', he said: "I could have chosen three or four of Bobby's. Records that kill me every time. Along with Tony Allen, he's one of the biggest inspirations of my musical life."
See more of the group's favourites by visiting: www.itunes.com/blurfavourites

Duran Duran have signed an album deal with Warner Bros. Records.
The world-renowned band - featuring Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor - have announced their 14th album is scheduled to be released in September, and will feature guest appearances from Canadian singer Kiesza, former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, and singer/songwriter Janelle Monae, who will sing on the LP's first single, 'Pressure Off'.
Speaking about the deal, John said: "We could not be happier to be making this deal with Warner Bros., and are looking forward to working on our forthcoming album release with not only their US team but also everyone else within the Warner family around the world.
"We are also excited that this deal means we will be reunited with our catalogue after years apart - and in that sense it really feels a little like coming home."
The record will be the band's first since 2010's Mark Ronson-produced 'All You Need Is Now', and will see them team up with the musician once again, as well as acclaimed producers Nile Rodgers and Mr Hudson.
In December it was believed the band - who have sold more than 100 million records during their career spanning three decades - could be working with 'Mean Girls' actress Lindsay Lohan on their new music, although they have yet to reveal if anything came of their short stint in the studio together.
Alongside a picture of herself with sister Ali, and Simon and Nick from the band, Lindsay wrote on Instagram at the time: "#DuranDuran @alianalohan recording with some greats!!! (sic)"