Music News

50 Cent will release his next album on an indie label.
The 'Candy Shop' hitmaker has severed ties with Eminem's Interscope imprint, Shady Records, after 12 years and will now be working with Caroline, a music distributor owned by Universal, starting with his album 'Animal Ambition', which is due out on June 3.
In a statement, the star said: "I recorded so many album quality songs that I'm going to put the Animal project out as my viral marketing plan and then [Street King] will come out after. [Animal Ambition] is about prosperity ... ambition and prosperity."
The 38-year-old rapper has sold millions of albums for Interscope, including 15-million copies of his debut record, but the star's relationship with the label has been difficult since 2009's 'Before I Self Destruct', which failed to conquer the charts.
Its follow-up was delayed and the rapper complained on Twitter and threatened to leak an unreleased Dr Dre song. But despite the problems, 50 Cent insists he still owes Interscope one album and Eminem has wished his former protégé well, saying: "Shady simply would not be what it is without 50 Cent.
"I've developed a great friendship with 50 over the years, and that's not going to change."
His move to an indie label is similar to the arrangement used by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for 'The Heist', and Pet Shop Boys' scheme for last year's 'Electric' LP.
The rapper added: "I have had great success to date with Shady/Aftermath/Interscope, and I'd like to thank Eminem and Dr Dre for giving me an incredible opportunity.
"I've learned so much from them through the years. I am excited to enter this new era where I can carry out my creative vision."
50 Cent's last UK hit was the 2012 single 'My Life', which peaked at number two at on the UK Single's Chart.

Wilko Johnson admits it's a "dream" to make an album with Roger Daltrey because he's "supposed to be dead".
The 66-year-old singer - who announced he had terminal pancreatic cancer in January 2013 - has teamed up with Roger to create 'Going Back Home', and he insists music has helped him with his illness.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "It's been an amazing year for me. To still be alive after I'm supposed to be dead and making an album with Roger Daltrey is a dream. It has really helped sustain me.
"I've been a manic depressive all through my life, going up and down. There have been dark nights of the soul and all that sort of stuff.
"Now I'm thinking, 'F***ing hell, you're alive, what more do you want?' The basic feeling I have now is better than the basic feeling I've had before in my life. I like being alive so much more."
The former Dr. Feelgood guitarist - who was told he'd unlikely live a year after he refused chemotherapy - believes his determination has encouraged other people suffering with cancer.
He explained: "People with cancer or people who know someone with cancer have told me they've been inspired.
"I've been getting all this mail and people come up and shake my hand. They seem to care about me which is very, very touching."
Roger, while addressing Wilko, adds: "When they realise what's happening to you, they drop their egos and become human beings."
'Going Back Home' will be released on March 24.

Lily Allen thinks she acts like an "idiot" during her gigs.
The 'Hard Out Here singer, who presented the award for Best British Group to Arctic Monkeys at the BRITs on Wednesday night (19.02.14), ends up performing "stand-up comedy" on stage when she acts herself and jokes about.
Asked if she has an alter ego like Beyonce's Sasha Fierce when she goes on stage, she told The Showbiz 411: "I don't [have an alter ego] really, I just do my thing. But it does sometimes turn into a stand-up comedy routine because that's sort of what I'm like. I've gotta work on some more production and narrative into my show, otherwise it's just me being an idiot.
"I only ever write when I'm in the studio. I don't write 24/7 at all and I go back when I'm done with this album and touring and stuff."
Talking about how she juggles her family life with husband Sam Cooper and children Ethel, two, and 14-month-old Marnie, and will soon be faced with the challenge of being on the road.
Lily explained: "I haven't done it yet [toured], so I don't know how I'm going to manage but I just try and spend as much time with them in the day time as possible, and then if I'm working at night, and vice versa."
Asked if her children recognise her songs playing on the radio, she admits: "They do, my eldest Ethel always goes, 'monkey tune, monkey tune mummy', from the new one 'Air Balloon' because it's got the word monkey in it and it's one of the only words she knows."

Bastille's Chris 'Woody' Wood is to make his debut as a football commentator for his favourite club Plymouth Argyle.
The drummer is a lifelong fan of the League Two team and he is now
going to call the action on The Pilgrims' match against Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday (22.02.14) for BBC Radio Devon.
The 28-year-old musician will join veteran commentator Gordon Sparks on the microphone and he can't wait for the game.
Woody said: "Having grown up going to Argyle with my family since I was a young boy, I jumped at the chance to get involved with the team and the broadcasting legend that it Gordon Sparks. This will be a dream come true."
It seems Gordon is just as excited to be working with the 'Pompeii' hitmaker.
Gordon told the BBC: "I have been fortunate enough to have managers and players alongside me, but it will be a first to have someone from the world of entertainment - especially given the popularity of Bastille. Being an Argyle fan is a bonus. I'm sure Woody will fit in well."
Woody joined his bandmates Dan Smith, Kyle Simmons and William Farquarson at the BRIT Awards in London on Wednesday night (19.02.14) where they performed with Rudimental and went home with the Best British Breakthrough Act prize.
Prior to the ceremony he was interviewed by Plymouth Argyle's YouTube channel (Youtube.com/user/argylemedia) and was presented with a difficult choice.
When asked if he'd rather win a BRIT award or have his beloved Argyle make it to the play-offs which could see them promoted to League One, he said: "Don't do that to me ... both!"
For more info on Plymouth Argyle visit Player.pafc.co.uk/home/

Liam Payne loved visiting Ghana and claims it has been his most memorable trip.
The One Direction hunk and his band mates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - paid a visit to the country at the beginning of 2013 for Comic Relief and despite jetting all over the world, Liam insists it was the best.
He said: "We haven't really performed there per se, we didn't get to perform in front of loads of people, but Ghana was one of the best places, it was ace."
The band, who won the Global Success Award at the BRITs last night (19.02.14), along with Best Video for their track 'Best Song Ever', were amazed to win two gongs.
When asked how they felt, Liam replied: "I feel drunk", before swigging more wine.
He added: "This has been one of the first times we've seen each other in quite a long time, it's been nice today, to fill each other in on what we've been doing in the past few weeks, it's been ace."
Harry, 20, also thanked the band's fans and said they were "incredible" for voting for them.
Niall, 21, said: "This is our second year to win the Global Success Award, which means so much to us. Australia was my favourite country, it was great."
Louis, 22, added: "It's half to please Niall, but true, I'd say my favourite city to play in was Dublin."
After the BRITs, Liam, his girlfriend Sophia Smith, and band mates Harry and Niall went to Sony Music's after party with Belvedere Vodka at the Arts Club in London.
They were joined by Pharrell Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and couples, Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Rita Ora and Calvin Harris.
Later on, loved-up Jason and Rosie had a dance-off with Rita and boyfriend Calvin as guests watched on.

Rudimental risked their careers to release 'Waiting All Night'.
The dance group have revealed they put their "careers on the line" to push for the song to be released after opposition from record bosses, but are happy the risk paid off after the track was named Best British Single at the BRITs last night (19.02.13).
Speaking at the ceremony, band member DJ Locksmith said: "Everyone was kind of against us putting it out there and all four of us came together and we put our careers on the line with 'Waiting All Night'. It got us through to where we are now, that's why it's such a special track for us."
Meanwhile, the electronic quartet - which also consists of producers Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor - praised singer Ella Eyre, whose vocals featured on the song, and revealed the track was completed in a hotel room in Scotland whilst supporting Plan B on tour two years ago.
Piers explained: "This song, we actually finished it in a Glasgow hotel room on the Plan B tour. It's got elements of our live shows, it's a big special track for us, it came just before our album came out, it fuelled the hype, Ella did a great vocal performance on it. It came at a time when we really worked hard on tour."

Arctic Monkeys don't feel their BRIT awards prove how talented they are.
The 'R U Mine?' hitmakers picked up the coveted Best Album and Best Group awards for the third time at the ceremony at London's O2 Arena last night (19.02.14), but think their trophies don't show how good they are as musicians.
Frontman Alex Turner said: "We're really delighted to be here tonight and it was wonderful to perform and have our name on fire, it's something I've been really looking forward to.
"But as wonderful as it is to be acknowledged for something you've created, I don't necessarily think the talent or how good a group of musicians is, is directly shown by the size of their trophy cabinet, but that's not meant to be like a downer on it.
"It's a pleasure to be mentioned alongside great people, but for us, any victory comes closer to the conception of the song or the record in the first place."
The band - also made up of Jamie Cook, Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders - won Best Album for their record 'AM', which conquered the charts last year, and were up against One Direction in the Best Group category.
Alex, 28, said it has been a "big year" for the group and they are now looking forward to the summer, as they prepare to headline Reading and Leeds Festivals and play two special outdoor shows at Finsbury Park in London.
He added: "We can't wait for the summer, it's going to be great."

Nile Rodgers is working on a new Chic album.
The legendary music producer attended the BRIT awards in London last night (19.02.14) and revealed that he's recently found a collection of lost material that the disco group recorded nearly 30 years ago.
He told Digital Spy: "I'm doing a new Chic album now. When I was working on my solo album and David Bowie's solo album back in 1883, I was cutting demos with my old band.
"I like to affectionately call it the 'Lost Chic Tapes' because they just disappeared until recently. I've already written hooks to five of the songs. They're so amazing."
The 61-year-old 'Le Freak' hitmaker was sat with his fellow music producer Pharrell Williams at the ceremony at the O2 Arena and they both took to the stage to perform a surprise medley of Pharrell's hit singles 'Happy' and 'Get Lucky'.
Rodgers - who also accepted the International Group Award on behalf of Pharrell's 'Get Lucky' collaborators Daft Punk - will soon be celebrating his own success when he reaches the landmark of 20 years without drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
He told the Metro newspaper: "As of Madonna's next birthday if I'm lucky, it will be 20 years since I've had a drink or drug in my body, which is the most remarkable, incredible thing.
"I remember reading an article by Keith Richards saying he could live without drugs but he couldn't live without music and I feel exactly the same way."

Sam Smith broke his BRIT Award.
The 21-year-old singer was honoured with the Critics' Choice Award in December but, he was so happy to receive the gong, he kept shaking it and the light on the trophy stopped working.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the BRIT Awards last night (19.02.14) at London's O2 Arena, he said: "It's incredible to win. I'm just happy because I've had it for a few weeks and I kept shaking it and the light went out but it's working tonight.
"But just to be here today is amazing. Last year I was in my living room with a Chinese watching it."
Sam was chosen for the award by votes from leading experts; including newspaper music editors, journalists from music websites, music and lifestyle magazines, and radio and TV bosses.
Sam got his big break in 2012, as the featured vocalist on 'Latch', by Mercury-nominated dance act Disclosure.
The single spent 15 weeks in the UK top 40, peaking at number 11 and he later featured on the track 'La La La', a collaboration with British producer Naughty Boy.
The single went to number one and became the fifth biggest-selling song of 2013.
Sam's debut album 'In The Lonely Hour' will be released on May 26.