Music News

Taylor Swift has dropped a new single and announced her fifth album will be released in October.
The 24-year-old star's new song 'Shake It Off' hit number one on the iTunes chart just a few hours after it was released following the blonde beauty's announcement during a 30-minute Yahoo! live stream from the top of New York's Empire State Building.
Taylor also revealed that her fifth studio release will be called '1989', named after the year of her birth, and will be released on October 27.
But that wasn't the only shock in store for a hand-picked selection of supporters on top of the building as the former singer admitted her upcoming record will be her "first documented, official pop album" as she drifts further and further away from her country roots.
Taylor's new single - which is produced by Max Martin and Shellback - has a distinctive 1980s pop vibe to it and she admits being inspired by the fact that "people can say whatever they want about us, at any time".
She added: "The only thing we can control is our reaction to that."
Her new video for the single sees the star make several outfit changes throughout as she blasts the lyrics out while dressed as a ballerina, cheerleader and break dancer as well as flashing some flesh in a pair of cut-off denim shorts and leopard-print top.
Taylor is known for penning songs about her ex-lovers and her upcoming album is thought to be no different with a number of tracks expected about her former flame Harry Styles, who she split from in January 2013.
The 'I Knew You Were Trouble' hitmaker's decision to call her album '1989' after the year of her birth will come as no surprise to her die-hard fans as she is known for her love of numbers and previously released single '22', which she wrote about being 22 years old, from her last album 'Red'.
What's more, the star is obsessed with the number 13, the date she was born on in December 1989, and always writes it on her hand before every gig she plays.

David Guetta wishes he had got the chance to work with Michael Jackson.
The super-DJ has worked with many of the biggest names in pop, including Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Rowland, Snoop Dogg and Usher, but he admits his dream collaboration would have been with the late King of Pop, who died in June 2009.
Guetta said: "It would have been awesome to work with Michael Jackson, but therefore it's too late now."
The 46-year-old producer is one of the most successful DJs in the world and is wanted by the globe's top pop stars to create hits for them.
Guetta insists the reason he is so successful is because he works hard in the studio and tours constantly.
When asked what the secret of his success is, the 'Titanium' hitmaker said: "To be honest I think the whole work ethic is the secret of my success. If you ask me what is the secret behind my hits (songs), I have to say I have no idea. At the moment I work on my new album and tear my hair out, because I can't reckon, If a song is going to be a hit or not. It's crazy that people think I would have a recipe, but I haven't. Live would be so much easier with a recipe like that."

Annie Lennox has announced her new album will be released this year.
The 59-year-old singer will unveil her seventh solo LP entitled 'Nostalgia' in October this year.
The record will feature a collection of Annie's takes on songs from the 1930s and 1940s, including songs originally made popular by the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Jo Stafford and Louis Armstrong.
Speaking about the album, Annie said: "I was just curious. I thought, 'I wonder what my voice would be like. Would these songs suit my voice?' It was like a little challenge.
"I just sort of got to know them, became friends with them really and had a great deal of joy in the process."
Annie got her inspiration for the new album from watching vintage audio recordings and video performances of music from the 'Great American Songbook'.
She also featured as a musician on many of the tracks alongside her long-time collaborator and co-producer Mike Stevens.
'Nostalgia' will be released on October 27, 2014.

'Nostalgia' tracklisting:

'Memphis in June'
'Georgia on my Mind'
'I Put a Spell on You'
'Summertime'
'I Cover the Waterfront'
'Strange Fruit'
'God Bless the Child'
'You Belong to Me'
'September in the Rain'
'I Can Dream, Can't I?'
'The Nearness of You'
'Mood Indigo'

Sam Smith would love to work with Chris Brown.
The 22-year-old singer really enjoyed the 'Yeah 3X' hitmaker's version of his track 'Stay With Me', which Chris posted on his Instagram account last week.
Talking about Chris' video to radio show In:Demand at the Virgin Media V Festival, Sam said: "It was amazing I love it. It's really weird because I'm a massive fan of his music.
"I love Chris Brown's music so much yeah. I'd love to meet him so possibly who knows it would be cool to collaborate."
Sam's debut album, 'In The Lonely Hour', earned him a top five album in over 11 countries worldwide.
The singer even broke sale records in the United States but debuted at number two on the Billboard charts, after failing to top Lana Del Rey's 'Ultraviolence'.
The 'Money on My Mind' hitmaker' sold 166,000 copies of his album in the US in its initial week - the most copies sold in the first week of a debut album by a UK male artist.
Speaking about his Stateside success, Sam said: "I can't put America into words. It's something that I thought would come later on.
"Even when I talk about it now I just can't quite believe what's going on. I'm overwhelmed for my first record to do that."

Spandau Ballet are to perform in the UK for the first time in four years. The 'Gold' hitmakers will reunite at London's Royal Albert Hall for the European premiere of their new documentary film 'Soul Boys of the Western World' on 30 September, and the...

Naughty Boy and Emeli Sandé have written a song with One Direction for their next album.
The producer has been working with the boys on music for their hotly-anticipated new LP and he drafted in pal Emeli - who he worked with on her acclaimed debut record 'Our Version of Events' - to help out on the track 'One Chance To Dance', which could be the next 1D single.
He told The Sun newspaper: "We wrote it with Emeli Sandé and it's a real progression for them. I've been told there's a big chance it's going to be the first single from their next album. I literally finished it this morning so I'm allowed to talk about it now."
Naughty Boy was invited to work with the boy band after striking up a close friendship with Zayn Malik.
The 29-year-old studio guru - real name Shahid Khan - says Zayn has become one of his closest friends in the pop world because of their shared cultures.
He explained: "I had to think about doing it because a One Direction song was a big leap into the pop world ... I met Zayn at the BRITs but have become really close. It was a case of being mates before music. We live close to each other and both come from Pakistani backgrounds and working class families. We're Muslim and that's helped us bond. We love curries, too, so it's the little things as well.
"In this industry it's hard to make real friends but we'd be mates even if we didn't work in music."
At the weekend Naughty Boy performed at the Virgin Media V Festival playing a storming set on the Our House Stage.

Morrissey insists he has been dropped by his record label, despite the company denying his claims.
The former Smiths frontman is adamant he has proof in an email that he was ditched by Capitol-Harvest Records, but label boss Steve Barnett has dismissed claims the organisation and the 55-year-old singer have parted company following the release of his solo album 'World Peace Is None Of Your Business'.
In a statement on fansite True To You, Morrissey wrote: "Both Morrissey and Morrissey's lawyer are in possession of email correspondence from Steve Barnett (head of Capitol-Harvest Records), and also from Steve Barnett's personal assistant, both of whom confirm that Capitol-Harvest have ended their relationship with Morrissey. No recording Agreement with Capitol-Harvest was ever signed by Morrissey, and Morrissey retains full ownership of (new album) World Peace is None Of Your Business.
"Contrary to the assured Billboard report, Capitol-Harvest have very clearly stated that they would have no interest in licensing a second album by Morrissey. (Law firm) Russells (London), who represent Morrissey, are presently concluding Morrissey's relationship with Harvest Records. Once again, Morrissey is in search of a new label."
But last week, a source told Billboard that Morrissey hadn't been dropped from his label and was halfway through his two-album deal with the company.

The Killers brought V Festival to a close in sublime style last night (17.08.14) by bringing Jimmy Carr on stage to introduce their encore.
The 'Somebody Told Me' hitmakers - who were playing the event for the fourth time - invited the comedian on stage at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, to introduce their 2006 hit single 'When You Were Young'.
He told the crowd: "You have two options: You can call it a night, you might be fresher for work in the morning, or you could demand more?"
His first suggestion prompted boos from the audience but they were left cheering when he walked off stage with the returning band heading in the opposite direction following a short break at the end of their energetic greatest hits set.
That wasn't the Las Vegas band's only surprise of the night though as they also performed a superb cover of Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX's 'Fancy' resulting in drummer Ronnie Vannucci stepping out from behind his drum kit to pull off some suggestive dance moves while frontman Brandon Flowers sang.
But The Killers were not the only impressive act of the weekend as several other stars excelled at the festival.
Lily Allen got plenty of plaudits for her set on the main Virgin Media Stage but it was a wardrobe malfunction which stole the show as her plunging silver jumpsuit plunged a little too far leaving the bra-less star's assets on display for all to see.
Sam Smith continued his fantastic year by entertaining fans on the star-studded MTV Stage on Sunday, which also featured Rizzle Kicks, Tinie Tempah and Jason Derulo among other big names.
M People had got V Festival's Sunday off to the perfect start by rolling back the years with a greatest hits set and Train, Chic and Rudimental followed suit later in the day.
On Saturday (17.08.14), Ed Sheeran wowed the crowd with a selection of hits from his two albums and he later received a somewhat unexpected shoutout from Saturday night's headline act Justin Timberlake.
Following his performance of 'Cry Me A River', Justin told the crowd: "Brother from another red-headed mother Ed Sheeran - he's a bad motherf**ker!"
Other Saturday performers at the festival included Example, Kaiser Chiefs and Bastille.
A number of stars also made it into Virgin Media's Louder Lounge area including 'Skins' beauty Kaya Scodelario, Katherine Jenkins and The Saturdays' Vanessa White.
And when people weren't living it up in the Louder Lounge or taking in the fine selection of acts performing at the music extravaganza, some were having a fantastic time at the Lucozade Energy YES Arena.

Sam Smith got a "lovely response" from the man he dedicated his album to.
The 'Stay With Me' hitmaker released his debut record 'In the Lonely Hour' in May, but the inspiration behind the songs - which came from waiting to experience reciprocal long - didn't know the full-length was about him until the singer made the revelation.
Asked if his muse was aware of his feeling, Sam said: "Not until about three months ago. I told him a week before the album came out. He'd heard the record, but didn't have a clue it was about him ... He just said, 'Are you OK?'
"It was a lovely response. The reason I told him was because it was like closure to me. When I fell in love with this guy last year, it was the third person my life I had had really strong feelings for and they'd never loved me back.
"And this album was almost a way for me to break the cycle. I will never let myself fall in love with someone again in that way ... I have to believe it because I want to fall in love with someone who loves me back."
Meanwhile, Sam blasted the idea he 'came out' as gay earlier this year, insisting he has been open about his sexuality ever since he told his mother.
He told the Guardian newspaper: "I didn't come out. I came out when I came out to my mum! No, that side of things to me is just normality.
"I find it weird when people used the expression 'coming out' like it's a massive party of relief."