Music News

One Direction want to write a hit song for a new pop act.
The boy band - made up of Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson - have approached a number of acts after getting into songwriting, including girl band Neon Jungle.
The band's Amira McCarthy, 17, told the Daily Star newspaper: "Liam Payne knew who we were and said he was listening to our song in the car. He said that he'd really like to write for us, so we're waiting for the song."
American boy band 5 Seconds Of Summer - who supported One Direction on tour - have also been jamming with Niall and are said to be working on ideas for songs.
Member Calum Hood, 18, said: "We found our common ground was Busted. So there's a few pop rock ideas kicking around already. We'd love to make it happen."
The news come after Liam, 20, and Louis Tomlinson, 22, were named as One Direction's biggest earners after co-writing almost half of the songs on their album 'Midnight Memories', while Harry has also written a song with John Legend for US 'X Factor' duet Alex and Sierra.
Liam said: "We're really enjoying the writing process and we've recorded some of the best material ever for the next album. It's a real step forward."
Niall, 20, has also been learning new chords on his guitar having been taught by friends Ed Sheeran, 23, and Olly Murs, 29.
He said: "I get the guitar out whenever I can. Writing music is really therapeutic."

Queens of the Stone Age think festivals have become "too grand".
The rock band - made up of Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore - have ruled out a summer festival and chosen to play a co-headline tour in Australia with Nine Inch Nails instead.
Frontman Josh told Australia's fasterlouder.com: "Lots of festivals are like 50 or 60 bands. It's too much to encapsulate, the idea is too grand.
"I think the notion of somewhere between six to 10 bands is much stronger ... Everyone's chasing the dough all the time instead of trying to make art.
"I know that Trent [Reznor from Nine Inch Nails] and myself get so obsessed with trying to set [our] own bar that it's nice to put bands together and have that solidarity and have something that's greater than the sum of its parts."
Queens of the Stone Age have played a number of festivals in the past including V Festival, Download, Big Day Out and Splendour in the Grass, and Nine Inch Nails - featuring Trent, Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini and Ilan Rubin - were rumoured to be playing this year's Soundwave tour but said it wasn't the "right vibe" for the band or their fans.
Talking about the decision, frontman Trent said: "That got misconstrued [by Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah] into I'm trying to be - what was it? 'Justin Timberlake'? A better way of saying it is, 'I think your bill sucked and I'd rather not be on that bill.'"
He thinks their latest tour, which kicks off today (06.03.14) at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, raises the stakes.
Trent joked: "We've gotta throw down or someone's gonna get hurt," adding, "But that's good, everyone wins when you know you have to go all out. That's an exciting facet to what this tour is."

Michael Bublé likes people to have sex to his music.
The 'Close Your Eyes' singer has admitted he likes the thought of people making love while listening to his romantic songs and hopes some shout out his name during the act.
He told the new edition of Cosmopolitan magazine: "I think that's amazing. I love that I get to be a small part of their intimacy," adding, "I just hope sometimes they call my name out."
Michael released his eighth studio album 'To Be Loved' last year and is currently touring the UK with gigs in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester in coming days.
The star, who has a six-month-old son, Noah, with his wife, actress Luisana Lopilato, was seen looking happy with his family at Disneyland in California last month.
The 38-year-old hitmaker previously admitted they had "drunk awesome sex" to conceive.
But he admitted wasn't always that sexy, saying: "My wife is so beautiful but it wasn't like that. She was very, 'You know what Mike? It's nine o'clock on Tuesday night and we must do it now', adding, "But you know what's funny, I think when we conceived was actually when we were wasted in Milan and it was the one night we just had drunk awesome sex!"

Alex Turner isn't sure young people know what rock 'n' roll is.
The Arctic Monkeys frontman insists his much-talked about BRIT Awards acceptance speech - in which he declared rock music will "never die" and issued a rallying call for guitar bands - was not meant to be "aggressive" but he genuinely felt some people needed educating.
He said: "It's not aggressive. It was just about presenting an option that people may or may not know exists. It occurred to me that in that room, or certainly watching it on TV, were people who'd never heard the term rock 'n' roll other than to describe a zip on a Topman leather jacket."
Alex is hopeful his "entertaining" speech will encourage more teenagers to form bands of their own.
He told NME magazine: "I don't see it as a personal victory but it seems in some way a victory for bands and the idea you can start a band with your mates and eventually go on to move people or whatever you wanna call it.
"Using rock 'n' roll as the most direct way of illustrating that was kinda what I was trying to do - and also to try and be entertaining at the same time.
"I feel it's better to present it that way, with a bit of colour, rather than like, 'You know, we started in my garage...' F**k that. And I can't go up there and behave like a yob, those days are gone. I can't just go up there and blow a raspberry any more."

David Bowie has offered to write a song for gospel singer Merry Clayton.
The 65-year-old star of Oscar-winning documentary '20 Feet From Stardom' - which tells the story of famous musician's backup singers - claims she received a phone call from the 'Fame' hitmaker just days before her film won the Academy Award.
Speaking to PageSix.com, she said: "I got a call from David Bowie out of the blue two days ago. He told me he wanted to write my next project. I couldn't believe it when I first heard his voice. We haven't seen each other in 20 years."
Merry has provided back-up vocals on songs by pop stars such as Tom Jones, Joe Cocker and Carole King but is best known for her duet with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones' hit 'Gimme Shelter'.
Opening up about her excitement over the success of '20 Feet From Stardom' Merry admitted she won't let David, 67, go back on his word.
She said: "This is bringing so many gifts back from my past. I am not sure what my next project will be... but I will definitely hold David to his promise."
Bowie won the Best Male Solo Artist prize at the BRIT Awards in London last month.

Gary Barlow has teamed up with Gary Lineker for the official England 2014 FIFA World Cup song.
The Take That singer will record the track at Sarm Studios in West London alongside former England soccer stars and other musicians.
Lineker wrote on Twitter: "I'm getting together one hell of a group for England's official FIFA World Cup song for @sportrelief . Teaching @GaryBarlow a thing or 2. (sic)"
Before he added: "The boy @GaryBarlow done good for @sportrelief (sic)".
The 'Match of the Day' presenter then attached an image of the pair of them sitting side-by-side in the studio holding a model of the World Cup trophy.
Mel C and Emma Bunton - who found fame with the Spice Girls - and former Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh will be among the stars contributing to the track with the help of sportsmen Michael Owen, Martin Keown and David Seaman.
The official Sport Relief Twitter account wrote: "Ultimate Phoenix from the Flames - Sir Geoff, @MelanieCmusic @EmmaBunton @KimberleyJWalsh & a pineapple #srworldcup (sic)", and attached an image of the females with former England international footballer Sir Geoff Hurst.
The video will make its debut on Sport Relief night on BBC One on March 21, months before the games kick off in Brazil in June.

R. Kelly is working on a sequel to his album 'Black Panties'.
The 'Ignition' hitmaker will name the record 'White Panties', following the success of his 2013 album, and has told fans to "expect a whole other level" when the new music is released.
Talking about the album name, he told V magazine: "I always follow what my spirit tells me to do. When I get into the studio I write from my heart. I try to write life and not songs.
"People live life, and when you write life, you're going to mess around touch somebody's heart, and they'll relate to you and what you're singing about."
The 47-year-old star is also collaborating with Mary J Blige on a song for the album and the singer will join him on tour to promote the record in coming months.
He gushed: "It's a very exciting thing when two people like Mary and me come together. It's never been done, but it kind of makes sense and you're like 'Wow!', and this is very exciting for me because I'm a fan of hers."
R. Kelly has already been in the studio working on their track and plans to approach the 'No More Drama' singer about recoding more material together.
He said: "I'm even looking forward to proposing that we do a whole album together. But this is the first I've mentioned it. The 'King and Queen' album."

Professor Green's Puma clothing line has been axed.
The 'Remedy' rapper, who has launched two seasons of clothing and accessories with the sportswear brand, has been left disappointed after they pulled the plug on his Honey Badger range for 2014 last month.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Pro had been chatting about a new range for a while, but after a few months of delays, it was finally taken off the table.
"It's frustrating for everybody, because there had been a lot of time invested in it, but now just isn't the right time."
The 30-year-old star was dealt the blow during a difficult time after being arrested on suspicion of drink driving in November last year, before being re-arrested and bailed for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
A Puma spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that Puma and Professor Green haven't extended the agreement to produce a new collection for 2014.
"While there will be no specific collection this year, despite former plans, but that isn't to say the relationship is truly over.
"Both sides would like to work together in the future."
Last year the star said he was proud of the collaboration after the small capsule grew into a full range and included satin bomber jackets and leopard print t-shirts for both men and women.
He said: "What's cool about the honey badger is a lot of people don't know quite what it is. It's not got 'Professor Green and Puma' across the chest. That's why honey badger came into things. It had to have an identity."

Pharrell Williams thinks Miley Cyrus and Daft Punk were "gracious" for agreeing to collaborate with him.
The 'Happy' hitmaker worked with the 'Wrecking Ball' singer and French duo, along with Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys, on his new album 'G I R L', and feels blessed he managed to get so many stars to feature on the record.
He told Entertainment Tonight: "Yeah, you call them and say, 'Hey, I need you', and they were all very nice and gracious enough to do it.
"I wanted people who emoted when they do what they do, it needed to be more than just their great voice and how it sounds."
The 40-year-old star, who was nominated for an Oscar for his track 'Happy' from the film 'Despicable Me 2', knew he wanted the new record to be "visceral and urgent".
He explained: "I knew I wanted it to be celebratory and festive. It's the album I've always dreamt of making. It's a love story, and that's why the album is made for human beings, it's made for everyone. It's just that my muse were women."
The singer is pleased his fans have reacted well to the solo record and feels lucky to have had so much support.
He added: "It's pretty awesome and I have the people to thank, because they lifted me this high."