Music News

Nicki Minaj says Kanye West is "the king".
The 32-year-old rapper featured on the track 'Monster' alongside Jay Z on Kanye's fifth solo studio album 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy', and has praised him for letting her rap on the song because it helped to give her a platform.
She said: "It's sort of amazing but I keep saying that, Kanye, he gave me an amazing opportunity and because of that I feel like he outshines everyone. He puts people in a position to do better."
The 'Anaconda' hitmaker has since released three studio albums but still has a lot of respect for the 37-year-old musician because he is "selfless" when it comes to helping to promote new artists.
She told Capital FM: "When you are an artist and you can do that for people then you are the king, you are the one, and that's how I look at him.
"He did it in a really selfless way, he didn't have anything to gain from it. And that's what I've always respected and loved him for."
The praise comes just days after the 'Only One' singer spoke about their collaboration during a talk at the University of Oxford in England, joking she "kicked [his] ass" on the track.
He said: "One of the most memorable things about 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' was Nicki Minaj, and the fact that she kicked my ass, on my own song, on one of the best albums...the best album - I'm just saying what the critics said - of the last 25 years. The best album of the past 25 years that I spent a year and a half making, out there. I was exiled from my country, it was a personal exile, but exile. To come back and deliver my magnum opus of a work, and to be outshined...to be beat by a girl, basically."

Lady Antebellum inadvertently helped put The Shires together.
Ben Earle, one half of the UK country duo alongside Crissie Rhodes, had "completely had enough" of trying to make it in the music industry and was "on the brink of giving up", but he was inspired to pen several country tracks after hearing the US group's number one hit 'Need You Now'.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I was writing for years and the songs didn't really fit anywhere and I was on the brink of giving up, I'd completely had enough, I was so frustrated. But then I heard 'Need You Now' by Lady Antebellum and it changed my life as a songwriter and a musician.
"That was about three years ago and when I heard that song I wrote about four or five country songs and I put out a Facebook post saying, 'There must be a country singer out there,' and that's how Chrissie and I met."
Crissie added: "Lady A had got quite a lot of mainstream radio play as well which was pretty good. That went really well over here for sure."
The Shires are yet to come face-to-face with the inspiring act but Ben admits he is "nervous" about meeting the band for the first time.
He added: "We haven't met them yet and I'm quite nervous when we do because they are big idols of mine and they always say never meet your heroes."
Ben and Crissie's debut album 'Brave' - which was released on Monday (02.03.15) - has taken the Official UK Albums chart by storm, shooting to number nine in yesterday's (04.03.15) chart update, alongside mainstream pop acts such as Kelly Clarkson, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.
Official Charts Company Chief Executive Martin Talbot admitted it is "truly remarkable" that the British country act are looking good for a top 10 finish.
He said: "This is a fantastic feat by this young British country act. No country act has ever made this kind of impact on the top 20 before - the fact they are challenging for a top 10 spot is truly remarkable."
The Shires' single 'Friday Night' is also out now and the duo will be playing on the Satellite Stage at country music event C2C Festival - which will also feature a Lady Antebellum performance - at London's The O2, this weekend (07.03.15) and (08.03.15).

Pharrell Williams has told a court 'Blurred Lines' was inspired by Miley Cyrus, not Marvin Gaye.
The 41-year-old musician made the revelation in his hour-long testimony for the chart-topping single's trial, in which Marvin Gaye's children Frankie and Nona claim the writer plagiarised their late father's hit 'Got To Give It Up'.
He explained: "I had Earl Sweatshirt in one room and Miley Cyrus in the other. I was doing a bunch of country-sounding music with Miley."
"It was like blending this country sound with this up-tempo groove."
And while he admitted there were a variety of influences involved in the Robin Thicke hit, which he co-penned in mid-2012, the 'Happy' hitmaker insisted the Marvin Gaye single did not enter his mind during the songwriting process.
He continued: "I must have been channelling that feeling, that late '70s feeling. Sometimes when you look back on your past work, you see echoes of people. But that doesn't mean that's what you were doing."
"[Marvin Gaye] is one of the ones we look up to so much. This is the last place I want to be right now. The last thing you want to do as a creator is take something of someone else's when you love him."
The trial regarding the global hit is expected to last for eight days with further testimonies from rapper T.I. and Robin's ex-wife Paula Patton.

Miley Cyrus and Elton John are set to feature on the new Chic album.
Founding member of the group, Nile Rodgers, is currently completing work on their upcoming ninth studio album 'It's About Time', and has teased the exciting collaborations which he hopes will feature on the collection.
He explained to Digital Spy: "Last week I played with Elton John and he was killing! I've played with Elton 20 times in my life, but it was the first time I played with him with Chic.
"So then he said, 'I would love to work with you', and I said, 'Hey, I have a song written in a four part harmony, and if you sing the baritone part, I'll sing the falsetto top and the bottom below you'. So Elton is probably now going to be on that song."
As well as the iconic singer-songwriter, the 62-year-old star revealed his blossoming relationship with 'Wrecking Ball' hitmaker Miley means the pair have agreed to record together for the LP, which will be the band's first since 1992's 'Chic-Ism'.
He said: "I've also become really good friends with Miley Cyrus, who sings her ass off! All of this stuff just happened in the last few days, and I'm thinking, 'Wait a minute, these people are amazing. Why am I going to fool around?'
"So I just called up Miley and was like, 'Yo Miley do you want to do this?' [And she's like] 'Yeah!'"
Continuing to speak about the record, Nile - who will tour the UK with the band later this month - explained 29-year-old soul singer Janelle Monae has recorded a track, and he has persuaded 70-year-old singer Diana Ross to revisit a song they originally wrote "years ago".
He said: "I'm still going to do the song 'Queen' that I had written years ago for Diana Ross. I played it for her son Evan, who's awesomely cool, who said, 'Mum, you've got to do that song!'"

Ed Sheeran has led tributes to BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe.
The broadcaster will present his final weekday 7-9pm evening show on the station this evening (05.03.15) after 12 years as a DJ on the station, prompting an outpouring of support from acts who he has supported during his career, including the 'Thinking Out Loud' singer.
He tweeted: "Zane Lowe's last show on radio 1 today. I wouldn't be where I am without him and his support, good luck with everything man, and thank you x (sic)."
Other acts to praise the host include Plan B who called him "a true champion of British music" and BRIT Award nominees alt-J who called him "an early champion of our music and all round good bloke".
The 41-year-old DJ - who has sons Jackson and Lucius with his wife Kara Walters - is leaving the station to move to Los Angeles where he will take up a position within Apple, although acts have admitted they are disappointed he is emigrating because they will miss him.
Posting on his Instagram, rapper Professor Green wrote: "#thankszane Gonna miss @zanelowe mannnnnn one of my earliest supporters at @bbcr1 - even took me on tour back in 2006! Love bro xx (sic)."
Biffy Clyro added: "Big love to you brother.The airwaves will not be the same without you.You'll always be part of the Biffy family.#ThanksZane (sic)."
Zane - who has interviewed stars including Kanye West, Eminem and Jay Z on his show throughout the years - will be replaced by Annie Mac, who said she feels "excited and humbled" about the opportunity.

Danny O'Donoghue is set to work with Ella Henderson on her new music.
The Script frontman has previously penned hits for Britney Spears and David Guetta and is now planning on heading into the studio with the 'Ghost' hitmaker as she begins work on her second album.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he revealed: "We're just recording with other acts at the moment. On the side of The Script we're all songwriters and producers.
"I've got a writing session with Ella Henderson next month as well so I'm really looking forward to that, she's an amazing vocalist."
The 'Hall of Fame' trio - who will release 'Man On A Wire' as their next single from their chart-topping album 'No Sound Without Silence' - are currently touring the UK and have been collaborating with artists as they travel, having brought a studio on the road with them.
And while they have no planned studio time with acts during their two day stint at London's O2 Arena on March 13 and 14, they are hoping some of their famous friends will drop by to write and record with them.
He explained: "One of the beauties of having a studio with us is we can take advantage of different artists. We'll play the O2 and there'll be a lot of famous people coming down to see us so any one of those could come back stage and throw a vocal on something or it could be your next collaboration and we could end up with our next 'Hall of Fame' or something."

David Gilmour is set to tour for the first time in nine years.
The iconic Pink Floyd singer and guitarist will tour the UK and Europe in September to celebrate his as-yet untitled fourth studio album, which is due to be released in the same month.
As well as dates in Croatia, Italy, France and Germany, the legendary musician will perform three nights at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall to culminate the tour.
The 68-year-old rocker last played live shows in 2006 in conjunction with his third solo album 'On An Island', appearing in Europe, US and Canada, although his forthcoming tour is considerably smaller with only eight dates.
However, speculation around the tour suggests further shows may be announced as he said in October he is keen to perform at New York music venue Radio City Music Hall.
He said: "There haven't been many discussions about the tour. But places like Radio City Music Hall sound like the right sort of vibe for me."
The announcement comes just months after Pink Floyd's final album - and their first in 20 years - 'The Endless River', which was released in November, achieving platinum status around the world and becoming the fastest selling vinyl album of the year.
After releasing the record, the star revealed Pink Floyd will never tour again following the deaths of his bandmates Syd Barrett in 2006 and Richard Wright in 2008.
He confessed: "There will be no more Pink Floyd shows. Without Rick, that's obviously impossible."
Tickets for the shows will go on sale at 10am GMT on March 6.

David Gilmour's September 2015 tour dates:
September 12 - Arena Pula, Pula, Croatia
September 14 - Verona Arena, Verona, Italy
September 15 - Teatro Le Mulina, Florence, Italy
September 17 - Theatre Antique, Orange, France
September 19 - Konig-Pilsener-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
September 23 - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
September 24 - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
September 25 - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

Travis Barker has urged Tom DeLonge to "man up" and quit Blink-182.
The drummer and his bandmate Mark Hoppus are preparing for a gig without the guitarist in two weeks time and the rocker thinks his estranged bandmate - who will be replaced at the show in California by Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba - should make his indefinite hiatus permanent and walk away.
Speaking after Tom repeatedly denied Travis and Mark's claims he had left the band, the drummer said: "I think the right thing for him to do would [be to] just man up and quit the band instead of telling people he didn't quit and just be real with the fans. I think that would give him some closure too and really do what he's passionate about."
Travis believes Tom's heart is no longer in the band because he doesn't even like their type of music anymore.
He told Alternative Nation: "Even amongst all the other projects I do, I can always find a way to prioritise and still be passionate about Blink-182 when it comes around.
"I love playing, listening and everything about punk rock. It changed my life. I think for Tom, he doesn't like punk music and it was a phase for him."
And Travis claims it is the third time Mark has walked away from the band.
He added: "I think this is the third time he's quit without anyone knowing about it because we didn't announce the other times. But this is just the last straw.
"It's just not cool for the fans. He'd always agree to go on huge tours and record albums, but when it came down to going into the studio, he'd find some excuse not to. And we wouldn't even hear from him; it would be his management. It comes to a point where you decide you're not going to force anyone to do anything they don't want to do and it's time to move on."

Kelly Clarkson "had to cry" to get her music released.
The 32-year-old singer struggled to forge the career she wanted even after winning the first season of 'American Idol' in 2002 because her label wanted her to release soul music instead of pop when she started out.
She explained: "I wanted to do pop, because that means "popular", and anything that was soulful. But it was hard to get that across at first. With 'Miss Independent', I had to cry in my label's office to get it out [as a single]."
Despite having six successful solo albums, she found opposition towards her eagerness to be a pop singer difficult, although she soon managed to persuade her label to let her create the music she wanted to make.
She said: "They wanted me to sing like the Aretha songs I'd done on the show, and I was, like: 'I'm 20 years old, I can do big ballads, but I also love guitars.' They didn't want to do a lot of production with me. It was the same thing that would happen with Adele - she does ballads with a piano. I said: 'That's beautiful, but can I do other stuff?'"
However, the star - who has eight-month-old daughter River Rose with husband Brandon Blackstock - believes it was her drive and vision which has led to her having such a long and illustrious career.
She told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't know why I've lasted - you focus on the music, and sometimes the stars align and sometimes they don't. I think it helped that I knew what I wanted to do from the start."