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Usher is giving away his new track with boxes of cereal.
Customers who purchase a box of Honey Nut Cheerios from Walmart stores in North America will find a download code for his song 'Clueless' at the bottom of the box
The R&B singer made an agreement with the retailer to distribute his track in the unique way ahead of the release of his album 'UR' and the promotion will begin next Tuesday (18.10.14).
Usher recently appeared in a Cheerios advert in which he danced with the cereal company's mascot Buzz The Bee to his song 'She Came To Give It To You'.
'The Voice' coach - who released his last album, 'Looking 4 Myself', in 2012 - took his time with his new collection of songs and refused to be rushed by anyone.
Among the songs on the tracklist will be a duet between Usher and Drake, and it is one of his favourite songs on the LP.
He recently said: "Drake's extremely talented, man.
"He's nice. Money really knows what he's doing. He really understands how to analyse a beat and then recognise a cadence. Because hip hop is that way; it's not just words and a rhythm.
"You gotta understand the cadence of what the song is saying, so that when you're on it, you know how to get it."
A collaboration between Usher and Nicki Minaj, entitled 'She Came To Give It To You', will also feature.
Usher giving away song with cereal
Usher is giving away his new track with boxes of cereal.
Customers who purchase a box of Honey Nut Cheerios from Walmart stores in North America will find a download code for his song 'Clueless' at the bottom of the box
The R&B singer made an agreement with the retailer to distribute his track in the unique way ahead of the release of his album 'UR' and the promotion will begin next Tuesday (18.10.14).
Usher recently appeared in a Cheerios advert in which he danced with the cereal company's mascot Buzz The Bee to his song 'She Came To Give It To You'.
'The Voice' coach - who released his last album, 'Looking 4 Myself', in 2012 - took his time with his new collection of songs and refused to be rushed by anyone.
Among the songs on the tracklist will be a duet between Usher and Drake, and it is one of his favourite songs on the LP.
He recently said: "Drake's extremely talented, man.
"He's nice. Money really knows what he's doing. He really understands how to analyse a beat and then recognise a cadence. Because hip hop is that way; it's not just words and a rhythm.
"You gotta understand the cadence of what the song is saying, so that when you're on it, you know how to get it."
A collaboration between Usher and Nicki Minaj, entitled 'She Came To Give It To You', will also feature.
Music News
Wiz Khalifa is going to collaborate with Skepta.
The 'We Dem Boyz' rapper - who recently split from his wife Amber Rose - is a big fan of the British grime artist and the pair are planning to release a song together.
In an interview on BBC Radio 1, Wiz said: "I like Skepta - something between us is going to happen."
The 'Black and Yellow' singer has collaborations with several other rappers in the pipeline but he is remaining tight-lipped about who he is going to be working with.
Wiz said: "I got a couple songs with a couple people - I ain't even going to say because they're not my songs. When they want to talk about it I'll get straight behind them but, yes, they're rappers.
"I got three different situations going on right now with three different people."
Wiz - who has a 20-month-old-son Sebastian with Amber - also has ambitions to do more than music and hopes to break into the movie business at some point.
He added: "In the next five years I can see myself of course dropping more dope albums and directing my own films - or at least getting my ideas out there for film - just involving myself in ideas that involve the person not just the music."
Wiz Khalifa wants Skepta duet
Wiz Khalifa is going to collaborate with Skepta.
The 'We Dem Boyz' rapper - who recently split from his wife Amber Rose - is a big fan of the British grime artist and the pair are planning to release a song together.
In an interview on BBC Radio 1, Wiz said: "I like Skepta - something between us is going to happen."
The 'Black and Yellow' singer has collaborations with several other rappers in the pipeline but he is remaining tight-lipped about who he is going to be working with.
Wiz said: "I got a couple songs with a couple people - I ain't even going to say because they're not my songs. When they want to talk about it I'll get straight behind them but, yes, they're rappers.
"I got three different situations going on right now with three different people."
Wiz - who has a 20-month-old-son Sebastian with Amber - also has ambitions to do more than music and hopes to break into the movie business at some point.
He added: "In the next five years I can see myself of course dropping more dope albums and directing my own films - or at least getting my ideas out there for film - just involving myself in ideas that involve the person not just the music."
Music News
Mark Ronson will release his new album 'Uptown Special' in January.
The collection will be the producer-and-musician's first LP since 2010's 'Record Collection', and will feature acts including Bruno Mars, Hudson Mohwake and Tame Impala's Kevin Parker.
Speaking about his new music, he explained: "The real good stuff on the record came last year when I went out to work with Jeff Bhasker in Venice, out in California, and we started writing some songs and I felt like I had something to say that was not being said."
The 39-year-old star unveiled the first single to be taken from the record, disco-inspired 'Uptown Funk' last week, which features 'Locked Out of Heaven' star Bruno Mars, and revealed that the inspiration for that track, and the other songs on the album, came from a roadtrip around America.
Mark - who made his name working with Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen - explained to BBC Radio 1: "Jeff Bhasker, one night he was like, 'Yeah we're going to drive through the South and find this singer,' and it just sounded so ridiculous, like it was never going to happen, and we actually did.
"We got in the car and drove through Baton Rouge, Louisiana, New Orleans, Mississippi, Memphis, Little Rock, Chicago, went to all these great churches saw a couple of thousand great singers and found the one girl that we were hearing in our heads, this one amazing singer, Keyonce Starr. She's on the record."
'Uptown Special' will be released on January 26 2015.
Mark Ronson to release album in January
Mark Ronson will release his new album 'Uptown Special' in January.
The collection will be the producer-and-musician's first LP since 2010's 'Record Collection', and will feature acts including Bruno Mars, Hudson Mohwake and Tame Impala's Kevin Parker.
Speaking about his new music, he explained: "The real good stuff on the record came last year when I went out to work with Jeff Bhasker in Venice, out in California, and we started writing some songs and I felt like I had something to say that was not being said."
The 39-year-old star unveiled the first single to be taken from the record, disco-inspired 'Uptown Funk' last week, which features 'Locked Out of Heaven' star Bruno Mars, and revealed that the inspiration for that track, and the other songs on the album, came from a roadtrip around America.
Mark - who made his name working with Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen - explained to BBC Radio 1: "Jeff Bhasker, one night he was like, 'Yeah we're going to drive through the South and find this singer,' and it just sounded so ridiculous, like it was never going to happen, and we actually did.
"We got in the car and drove through Baton Rouge, Louisiana, New Orleans, Mississippi, Memphis, Little Rock, Chicago, went to all these great churches saw a couple of thousand great singers and found the one girl that we were hearing in our heads, this one amazing singer, Keyonce Starr. She's on the record."
'Uptown Special' will be released on January 26 2015.
Music News
Christine McVie is to tour Europe with Fleetwood Mac for the first time in 16 years.
The 71-year-old keyboard player will hit the road with her bandmates Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, ex-husband John McVie and Stevie Nicks in 2015 for a run of shows starting at The O2 in London on May 27.
The tour will stop at Amsterdam, Cologne, Antwerp, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin before finishing on June 30 in Leeds.
Christine quite Fleetwood Mac in 1998 after developing a phobia of flying and didn't appear on stage with the group again until September 2013 when she joined them on stage at The O2 for a rendition of 'Don't Stop'.
She rejoined the band on a full-time basis in January 2014 and played her first full gig with the 'Go Your Own Way' hitmakers in September 2014 at the the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Speaking about her return, Christine said: "It was so comfortable being back on stage with them as if no time had passed, and then we all started talking and it feels like the time is right. I'm really happy."
The band added in a statement: "We are overjoyed to have Christine back on stage with us."
Rumours were rife the super-group would headline next year's Glastonbury Festival.
Organiser Michael Eavis stated the group would not be taking to the Pyramid Stage, and drummer Mick insisted during a radio interview that they would not be performing next year.
He said: "A lot of folks think that we are, so loud and clear: we love Glastonbury and all the surrounding history of such a lovely festival but we're not playing it. No bad faith for Glastonbury, because I just don't want people thinking it's us ... But never say never."
However, the band's schedule for the 'On With The Show Tour' has a gap over the weekend of June 26 to June 28 when Glastonbury takes place.
Christine McVie to tour Europe with Fleetwood Mac
Christine McVie is to tour Europe with Fleetwood Mac for the first time in 16 years.
The 71-year-old keyboard player will hit the road with her bandmates Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, ex-husband John McVie and Stevie Nicks in 2015 for a run of shows starting at The O2 in London on May 27.
The tour will stop at Amsterdam, Cologne, Antwerp, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin before finishing on June 30 in Leeds.
Christine quite Fleetwood Mac in 1998 after developing a phobia of flying and didn't appear on stage with the group again until September 2013 when she joined them on stage at The O2 for a rendition of 'Don't Stop'.
She rejoined the band on a full-time basis in January 2014 and played her first full gig with the 'Go Your Own Way' hitmakers in September 2014 at the the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Speaking about her return, Christine said: "It was so comfortable being back on stage with them as if no time had passed, and then we all started talking and it feels like the time is right. I'm really happy."
The band added in a statement: "We are overjoyed to have Christine back on stage with us."
Rumours were rife the super-group would headline next year's Glastonbury Festival.
Organiser Michael Eavis stated the group would not be taking to the Pyramid Stage, and drummer Mick insisted during a radio interview that they would not be performing next year.
He said: "A lot of folks think that we are, so loud and clear: we love Glastonbury and all the surrounding history of such a lovely festival but we're not playing it. No bad faith for Glastonbury, because I just don't want people thinking it's us ... But never say never."
However, the band's schedule for the 'On With The Show Tour' has a gap over the weekend of June 26 to June 28 when Glastonbury takes place.
Music News
Taylor Hawkins has compared U2's new album to "a fart".
The Foo Fighters drummer has slammed the 'With or Without You' rockers for having their 13th album 'Songs of Innocence' automatically downloaded onto people's phones, even compared the album to a totalitarian regime.
He explained: "I don't know that any of that new album has anything great on it. I listened to it once, but it's so marred by that whole sort of, like I said, Orwellian, '1984' extreme that it just kinds sounds like a fart any way you listen to it."
Talking to Australia's The Music, Taylor then added: "I mean, I think they probably thought it was gonna be a great idea, 'Here's the deal: everybody who has an iPhone, gets your record. And they get it for free!'
"And they thought, probably, 'Well that's pretty awesome!' but hey didn't really take into consideration the Big Brother feeling that kinda goes along with like, 'You have the new U2 record' ... You couldn't get rid of it and they actually had to come up with an app to get rid of it, that's horrible."
Taylor Hawkins: U2’s album is like ‘a fart’
Taylor Hawkins has compared U2's new album to "a fart".
The Foo Fighters drummer has slammed the 'With or Without You' rockers for having their 13th album 'Songs of Innocence' automatically downloaded onto people's phones, even compared the album to a totalitarian regime.
He explained: "I don't know that any of that new album has anything great on it. I listened to it once, but it's so marred by that whole sort of, like I said, Orwellian, '1984' extreme that it just kinds sounds like a fart any way you listen to it."
Talking to Australia's The Music, Taylor then added: "I mean, I think they probably thought it was gonna be a great idea, 'Here's the deal: everybody who has an iPhone, gets your record. And they get it for free!'
"And they thought, probably, 'Well that's pretty awesome!' but hey didn't really take into consideration the Big Brother feeling that kinda goes along with like, 'You have the new U2 record' ... You couldn't get rid of it and they actually had to come up with an app to get rid of it, that's horrible."
Music News
Usher is resisting "pressure" to "rush" his next album.
The 'OMG' hitmaker is determined to take his time working on his eighth record - the follow-up to 2012's 'Looking 4 Myself' - and wants to use his current 'UR Experience' tour to "reconnect" with his audience before returning to the recording studio.
Ask if he'll record while on the road, he said: "I found myself feeling pressure to rush it and put out an album, and all of a sudden, I just realised; I've been doing this long enough to really get it right.
"So on my eighth studio album, I thought it would be better for me to go out [on tour], feel my audience, reconnect, take some of that, and then go back and finish it up."
And the 36-year-old star also admitted he thinks there is a "pressure" on artists to do something unusual with their new music, such as releasing albums without warning or relying heavily on social media.
He told Vulture.com: "There's a pressure to cross-market and make sure that all the avenues through which you can reach a consumer make a connection. Musically, emotionally, branding, all of those things together, that's what makes you significant in this time."
Usher resisting album pressure
Usher is resisting "pressure" to "rush" his next album.
The 'OMG' hitmaker is determined to take his time working on his eighth record - the follow-up to 2012's 'Looking 4 Myself' - and wants to use his current 'UR Experience' tour to "reconnect" with his audience before returning to the recording studio.
Ask if he'll record while on the road, he said: "I found myself feeling pressure to rush it and put out an album, and all of a sudden, I just realised; I've been doing this long enough to really get it right.
"So on my eighth studio album, I thought it would be better for me to go out [on tour], feel my audience, reconnect, take some of that, and then go back and finish it up."
And the 36-year-old star also admitted he thinks there is a "pressure" on artists to do something unusual with their new music, such as releasing albums without warning or relying heavily on social media.
He told Vulture.com: "There's a pressure to cross-market and make sure that all the avenues through which you can reach a consumer make a connection. Musically, emotionally, branding, all of those things together, that's what makes you significant in this time."
Music News
Freddie Mercury stormed out of recording sessions with Michael Jackson because he insisted on bringing his pet chimp to the studio.
The two late music icons came together nearly 30 years ago to duet on 'There Must Be More To Life Than This', an uncompleted track that had been left in a vault to gather dust.
The song - released this week - was eventually discovered by Freddie's Queen bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor who decided to complete it with the help of producer William Orbit and include it on new compilation LP 'Queen Forever'.
In an upcoming new book by showbiz writer David Wigg - who knew Freddie Mercury well - he reveals: "Freddie got very angry because Michael made Bubbles sit between them and would turn to the chimp between takes and ask, 'Don't you think that was lovely?' Or, 'Do you think we should do that again?' After a few days of this, Freddie just exploded ... 'I'm not performing with a f***ing chimp sitting next to me each night.'
"He phoned his manager and told him to 'get me out of this zoo.' Freddie then flew back to London, leaving the track musically unfinished."
'There Must Be More to Life Than This' was first penned by Freddie in 1981 and he worked on it with Michael in 1984 in Los Angeles.
A version of the song did appear on Freddie's 1985 solo album 'Mr. Bad Guy' in 1985.
Talking about the finished duet, Orbit recently said: "Hearing Michael Jackson's vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool, and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie's vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level."
Two other previously unheard tracks which appear on 'Queen Forever', Giorgio Moroder collaboration 'Love Kills' and 'Let Me In Your Heart Again' which was written by Brian May.
Freddie Mercury angered by Jacko’s chimp
Freddie Mercury stormed out of recording sessions with Michael Jackson because he insisted on bringing his pet chimp to the studio.
The two late music icons came together nearly 30 years ago to duet on 'There Must Be More To Life Than This', an uncompleted track that had been left in a vault to gather dust.
The song - released this week - was eventually discovered by Freddie's Queen bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor who decided to complete it with the help of producer William Orbit and include it on new compilation LP 'Queen Forever'.
In an upcoming new book by showbiz writer David Wigg - who knew Freddie Mercury well - he reveals: "Freddie got very angry because Michael made Bubbles sit between them and would turn to the chimp between takes and ask, 'Don't you think that was lovely?' Or, 'Do you think we should do that again?' After a few days of this, Freddie just exploded ... 'I'm not performing with a f***ing chimp sitting next to me each night.'
"He phoned his manager and told him to 'get me out of this zoo.' Freddie then flew back to London, leaving the track musically unfinished."
'There Must Be More to Life Than This' was first penned by Freddie in 1981 and he worked on it with Michael in 1984 in Los Angeles.
A version of the song did appear on Freddie's 1985 solo album 'Mr. Bad Guy' in 1985.
Talking about the finished duet, Orbit recently said: "Hearing Michael Jackson's vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool, and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie's vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level."
Two other previously unheard tracks which appear on 'Queen Forever', Giorgio Moroder collaboration 'Love Kills' and 'Let Me In Your Heart Again' which was written by Brian May.
Music News
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been described by his son as "a good guy" who "wouldn't harm anyone" following his recent arrest.
The 60-year-old musician was arrested and charged with attempting to procure murder, making threats to kill and possession of illegal substances (methamphetamine and cannabis) last week following a raid on his New Zealand home, but the murder-related charge was dropped due to lack of evidence.
His son Thomas Rudd has now publicly spoken out in support of father, telling the Daily Mail newspaper: "All I will say is that my dad is a good guy. He's not perfect but wouldn't harm anyone."
A neighbour of the sticksman described him as a "good neighbour ... he's a pretty nice guy. He's very chatty and friendly. But he's pretty private. We don't see or hear anything (from him)."
Rudd still faces charges pertaining to drug possession and threatening to kill and a court ruling yesterday forbidding him from leaving the city of Tauranga or having any contact with any individuals related to the charge.
The 'Rock 'n' Roll Train' hitmaker is due to appear in court again on November 27. If found guilty he could receive a prison sentence up to seven years.
AC/DC - fronted by Brian Johnson - are releasing new album 'Rock or Bust' on December 2 and then intend to go on a world tour.
Phil Rudd ‘wouldn’t harm anyone’
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been described by his son as "a good guy" who "wouldn't harm anyone" following his recent arrest.
The 60-year-old musician was arrested and charged with attempting to procure murder, making threats to kill and possession of illegal substances (methamphetamine and cannabis) last week following a raid on his New Zealand home, but the murder-related charge was dropped due to lack of evidence.
His son Thomas Rudd has now publicly spoken out in support of father, telling the Daily Mail newspaper: "All I will say is that my dad is a good guy. He's not perfect but wouldn't harm anyone."
A neighbour of the sticksman described him as a "good neighbour ... he's a pretty nice guy. He's very chatty and friendly. But he's pretty private. We don't see or hear anything (from him)."
Rudd still faces charges pertaining to drug possession and threatening to kill and a court ruling yesterday forbidding him from leaving the city of Tauranga or having any contact with any individuals related to the charge.
The 'Rock 'n' Roll Train' hitmaker is due to appear in court again on November 27. If found guilty he could receive a prison sentence up to seven years.
AC/DC - fronted by Brian Johnson - are releasing new album 'Rock or Bust' on December 2 and then intend to go on a world tour.
Music News
Ozzy Osbourne hailed his MTV EMA Global Icon win as "incredible."
The 65-year-old Black Sabbath frontman was honoured at the ceremony in Glasgow last night (09.11.14) for his contribution to music throughout his 40-year career.
Speaking on the red carpet, the rocker said: "I can't believe it, it's just incredible."
Presenting the award on stage, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash honoured the star and joked about the notorious incident in 1982 when the rocker bit the head off a bat during a show in Iowa.
He said: "For four decades the Prince of Darkness has rocked anyone who dared to listen.
"This is a guy who does not know how to do ordinary. He scares the hell out of most people and all bats. But to me is a gentle man and a gentleman."
When given the award, the 'Paranoid' singer joked: "I don't know where they got this icon s**t from but it's good to be here tonight. God bless you all, thank you for coming."
His wife Sharon Osbourne - who announced on Friday (07.11.14) that the family will shoot eight new episodes of their reality television show 'The Osbournes' next year - also praised her husband of 32 years.
The 62-year-old TV host gushed: "I'm so proud. It's his night. I just want him to have the best time."
The ceremony - presented by 'Anaconda' rapper Nicki Minaj - was held in Glasgow, with One Direction picking up three gongs for Biggest Fans, Best Live and Best Pop act, with other wins for Ariana Grade, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.
Ozzy describes Global Icon win as ‘incredible’
Ozzy Osbourne hailed his MTV EMA Global Icon win as "incredible."
The 65-year-old Black Sabbath frontman was honoured at the ceremony in Glasgow last night (09.11.14) for his contribution to music throughout his 40-year career.
Speaking on the red carpet, the rocker said: "I can't believe it, it's just incredible."
Presenting the award on stage, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash honoured the star and joked about the notorious incident in 1982 when the rocker bit the head off a bat during a show in Iowa.
He said: "For four decades the Prince of Darkness has rocked anyone who dared to listen.
"This is a guy who does not know how to do ordinary. He scares the hell out of most people and all bats. But to me is a gentle man and a gentleman."
When given the award, the 'Paranoid' singer joked: "I don't know where they got this icon s**t from but it's good to be here tonight. God bless you all, thank you for coming."
His wife Sharon Osbourne - who announced on Friday (07.11.14) that the family will shoot eight new episodes of their reality television show 'The Osbournes' next year - also praised her husband of 32 years.
The 62-year-old TV host gushed: "I'm so proud. It's his night. I just want him to have the best time."
The ceremony - presented by 'Anaconda' rapper Nicki Minaj - was held in Glasgow, with One Direction picking up three gongs for Biggest Fans, Best Live and Best Pop act, with other wins for Ariana Grade, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.
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