Tony Wilson, the founder of Factory Records and moving spirit behind the Haçienda Club, died last week, mourned by the musicians he nurtured, the city he loved and that loved him back, and the people whose lives he changed.

Four weeks ago Tony Wilson somehow summoned the energy to attend a performance at the Manchester International Festival of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear us Apart. He was terribly ill by that stage, but it was the sort of thing Wilson would not miss – a rendition in complete darkness by June Tabor of arguably one of the best songs ever written by a band which he discovered.

Just so we are clear on his tastes he once described Coldplay as “utter middle-class shit” and added: “If I hear any UK garage or Craig David again I will fucking throw up." One of his favourite songs was Sunday Morning by the Velvet Underground.

Read the full article here

Kanye West is bullish while in the UK ahead of his Graduation release…

Kanye West has written a song for his new album Graduation about his mentor Jay-Z where he claims Jigga ripped him off. In the song called Big Brother he raps: “I told Jay I did a song with Coldplay, Next thing I know he did a song with Coldplay.”

Both the Roc-A-Fella rappers have collaborated with the UK group’s singer Chris Martin. Jay-Z on last year’s Beach Chair and Kanye on his Homecoming track. At a recent album playback in Britain the confident hip hop star said: “I loved working with him….It’s a stadium song.”

To assembled journalists he also claimed: “I am one of the greatest rappers of all time!” West is in the country for TV appearances and a few secret gigs to promote his third album which comes out September 10.

Source: MTVuk

I was driving home last night, and my IPod was mercifully set on shuffle, making my life even more unpredictable than it already is. And then Coldplay's "Everything's Not Lost" came on. I sat back, relaxed my grip on the steering wheel, reclined my seat (don't worry, just a little bit), and listened. It's a beautiful, moving song, providing yet more evidence that Coldplay was better circa-Parachutes, before the bloated mess that was X&Y, one of the more dissapointing albums in recent memory.

Anyway, as I was listening, the song made me think about hope and the need for hope in the face the Bush administration's heedless assault on our reputation, our crediblity, and, more importantly, our constitution. It made me think about 2008. And how this is both a depressing time for America, but also one full of promise. After all, everything's not lost, and when one of our three great front-runners (sorry Richardson) becomes president, we will begin the work of rebuilding, and starting anew. The Bush administration has set the bar so low, that even a moderately satisfactory performance from a Democratic president will seem like a godsend. Even better, if the next president is actually good, he or she will have the opportunity to change course in dramatic fashion, and redefine America's role in the world, and our role in America. So, no, everything's not lost.

Oh, and by the way, you remember the first time you heard "Yellow"? Yea, that was when Clinton was still president.

Source: http://www.democracyarsenal.org

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin are planning on extending their family by adopting a child.

The couple have already got two children together but Gwyneth said she doesn’t know if she can cope with another pregnancy but they definitely want a bigger family.

Gwyneth has told W magazine that “I have a dream version where I think, maybe in four years I’ll have two in a row really quickly again - how fabulous to have a whole bunch of them! Then she went on to say “But then at that point, when everyone’s potty-trained and sleeping through the night, are you really going to go back? My husband really wants to adopt. So I don’t know - I’m sort of open for anything.”

More on this here [thanks nevaehdreamz]

Do you think the celebrity adoption craze has gone too far? Vote in our new poll here

Urban music lately has dabbled in electronic sounds, but Kanye West takes it a step further with the synth-heavy first single from his upcoming CD.

"Stronger" samples Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" and slows down the beat. At No. 47, the track is the top debut of the week on the Billboard Hot 100. "That melody just hit me so hard," West says when asked about the song's inspiration. "I mean, it's the music. It wasn't a gimmick thing. That's not atypical of Kanye," Def Jam president and West mentor Jay-Z says. "It's been his pattern since day one. He always has to push the envelope. That's his cross to bear."

On "Graduation," only Coldplay's Chris Martin, T-Pain, Mos Def and DJ Toomp made the cut as guest contributors, because, as West says, "When I hear the records of my favorite bands -- the Killers or Coldplay -- you only hear one voice from start to finish," a departure from the recording trend of duets and guest vocalists.

Read the full article here

Earnings have fallen once again at EMI as the music group continued to feel the pinch from falling CD sales.

The UK firm said revenues from CD sales fell 19.8% in the three months to June as digital downloads gained ground. Overall revenues fell 5.1% during the period, amid tough market conditions and a light release schedule, EMI said.

The update came just days after EMI - whose artist roster includes Coldplay, Lily Allen and The Beatles - agreed a £2.4bn takeover bid from Terra Firma. EMI shares have also been taken off some FTSE indexes ahead of the 215p-a-share deal going through.

The British group has been struggling to survive in the face of falling CD sales - particularly in the US market. However, while physical music sales appear to be on a downward spiral the downloading market is healthy and digital revenues surged 26% between April and June.

The iTunes webstore hit the right note on Tuesday when it revealed it had sold more than 3billion songs. The online music store's success came just 18 months after it sold its 1billionth track – Coldplay's Speed Of Sound.

'We'd like to thank all of our customers who have contributed to this incredible milestone,' said iTunes vice-president Eddy Cue.

Apple's online music shop was launched in the US in April 2003, and in Britain in June 2004. It now has 550 television shows and 500 films on offer alongside its catalogue of more than 5million songs.

A dramatic intervention by the Takeover Panel has bolstered Terra Firma's chances of succeeding with its 265p-a-share offer for music major EMI.

Over the weekend, the Panel agreed to extend the deadline for acceptances from noon yesterday to 1pm on Wednesday, giving Terra Firma boss Guy Hands extra time to push acceptances past the 90pc level necessary to finance the deal.

Citigroup has offered to lend Terra Firma £2.5bn to finance the acquisition of EMI, which is home to Robbie Williams and Coldplay, but only if it secured the 90pc of acceptances where the deal becomes unconditional.

Typically, banks waive the formal requirement to reach 90pc when bidders come close to that level. However, demonstrating just how jumpy the credit markets have become, Citigroup declined to give Terra Firma any assurances.

That left Mr Hands's bid, which values EMI's equity at £2.4bn, looking rocky when on Friday afternoon it had just under 85pc acceptances. Terra Firma's adviser, Dresdner Kleinwort, asked the Panel for an extension to the deadline, a move supported by EMI's adviser, Greenhill.

Terra Firma faced a dash to get enough acceptances by the original deadline of yesterday because Warner Music, a potential rival bidder, took until day 50 of the 60-day timetable to withdraw. Terra Firma understands a number of acceptances are still being processed in Crest's three-day settlement system, but is still unclear whether it will have enough. "I think there's a good chance," said one source close to Terra Firma. He did not believe there were any major positions being taken by hedge funds to frustrate the deal.

Citigroup undertook to provide the £2.5bn loan when the credit markets were much more buoyant and now faces potential losses syndicating the debt.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd., a United Kingdom private-equity concern, said it owns more than a quarter of EMI Group PLC, and it again extended its £2.4 billion ($4.9 billion) bid, after potential suitors Warner Music Group Corp. and former EMI executive Jim Fifield said they had no plan to counterbid.

Terra Firma said it had secured 26.2% of shareholder acceptances as of Thursday. The offer has been extended for a fourth and final time, until July 29. In May, EMI, home to artists such as Coldplay, agreed to the offer from Terra Firma.

However, the offer has struggled as investors awaited a counterbid from Warner.

Source: http://online.wsj.com

LONDON - Private equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners said Friday it now owns more than a quarter of EMI Group PLC after Warner Music Group Corp. ruled itself out of the bidding for the British music company.

Terra Firma had been making little headway in its attempt to woo EMI (other-otc: EMIPY.PK - news - people ) shareholders for its 2.4 billion pound ($4.9 billion) takeover offer, extending the deadline several times after winning just a small percentage of the shares. In its last report a week ago, Terra Firma said it had received acceptances from holders of less than 4 percent of EMI shares.

The board of EMI, which has an artist roster including Coldplay, the Rolling Stones, Kylie Minogue and Joss Stone, recommended in May that its shareholders accept the Terra Firma offer, which values the business at 265 pence ($5.44).

However, that support surged after Warner, an on-again, off-again suitor, declared earlier this week it would not make an offer, and Terra Firma said Friday it now has 26.2 percent of the shares. The firm extended the deadline again - until July 29 - but said this extension would be the final one.

Music companies have been looking to consolidate as the market for CDs declines rapidly. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry estimates that overall music sales fell around 3 percent in 2006 as a doubling in digital sales failed to compensate for falls in physical CD sales and digital piracy.

EMI is struggling more than most and has cited disappointing North American CD sales for profit warnings. But analysts say that the overall industry's woes do not entirely explain EMI's poor performance, pointing out that Warner and Universal have weathered the storm better.

They instead highlight EMI's persistent weakness in the United States, lack of promising new tunes and internal control problems.

Warner, home to recording artists including Madonna and Red Hot Chili Peppers, has had on-and-off merger discussions with EMI over the past seven years. But the talks have been stymied on several occasions by regulatory uncertainty and the inability to agree on a price and its last $4.2 billion approach was rejected in March.

EMI shares advanced 0.2 percent to 262.75 pence ($5.39) in midday trading in London.

Source: http://www.forbes.com

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Warner Music Group said it will not launch a counterbid for UK record label EMI Group, leaving the way clear for buyout company Terra Firma's agreed 2.4 bln stg takeover offer.

The US music major, home to acts like Madonna, said in a statement that it has decided against bidding for EMI, after saying in early June that it was weighing a bid for the Beatles and Coldplay publisher.

EMI's board recommended a 265 pence-per-share takeover bid from Terra Firma in late May. Just days later Warner Music indicated that it was considering making a play for EMI, provided that a tie-up of the two groups gained the approval of EU regulators.

Warner Music's withdrawal marks the end of a 7-year courtship saga, during which the both companies have tried and failed to buy each other on numerous occasions.

The most recent episode saw EMI turn down a 260-pence-a-share bid from Warner Music in March this year. The US group swooped after a plunge in the EMI share price following two profit warnings in the space of five weeks.

Earlier this month, Terra Firma's proposed takeover bid was cleared by the European Commission, which is still re-examining the controversial 2004 merger of Sony Corp's and Bertelsmann's music operations.

Source: Various

Universal Music Group has completed its $2.09 billion purchase of Bertelsmann AG's BMG Music Publishing, making Universal Music the world's largest music publisher, as well as the largest seller of music.

Universal now owns the BMG catalog, which includes current artists, such as Coldplay and Justin Timberlake, classic artists, like the Beach Boys and The Scorpions, and artists such as Puccini and Ravel. What remains to be seen is what properties will be sold off by the combined company. In March, Universal offered major sell-offs to gain approval by European regulators .

Universal Music Group, a unit of Paris-based Vivendi, owns record labels or licensees in 77 countries. It operates Los Angeles' Universal Music Publishing Group, a publishing house with more than 1 million copyrights, and Santa Monica-based Universal Music Enterprises, the company's catalog management division.

Source: Various

Some of Glastonbury's longest-standing fans, performers and workers have revealed their festival memories.

Jo Whiley... Best: "Seeing Coldplay headline the main stage for the very first time - unveiling new songs like Fix You for the first time as the lights twinkled like fireflies all around. Then afterwards Chris Martin came and read a bedtime story to my daughter India who was about five at the time - that was a sweet moment.

Melvin Benn... Best: "Musically, there have been so many highlights. As much as it's not fashionable to heap praise on Coldplay, I have to say when they headlined the Pyramid, it was just off the scale, it was so, so good."

Read all the best/worsts here

The gates have opened for this year's Glastonbury Festival, and founder Michael Eavis spoke ahead of the event about its expansion, line-up and future.

"Go on, fire away." Mr Eavis, speaking from his Somerset farm where he founded the festival 37 years ago, is in a hurry. "I haven't got much time, okay? Just start talking."

Glastonbury has become a British summer institution, its legend stretching far beyond the music scene, and is returning after a year off. And there are just days to go. We start talking, quickly, about whether there is a danger that the festival could become too big. The event is famed for its friendly, communal atmosphere, and there will be 177,500 people in Mr Eavis' back garden this year - 27,500 more than in 2005.

Read the full article here. News from Glastonbury over this coming weekend can be found in Coldplaying's festival forum

The iTunes Store in the UK has introduced a sale across some of its most popular album releases.

The sale was introduced last week with a non-functioning link on the front page of the website, this link has now been enabled allowing music fans to choose from among 95 albums at just £6.99 each.

Titles include offerings from The Streets, Coldplay, The White Stripes, Oasis, Nirvana, The Chemical Brothers, Amy Winehouse and the Arctic Monkeys. The collection features those albums that have proved most popular in terms of sales since the launch of the service.

Apple this week revealed that it is distributing one million copies of iTunes each day and confirmed an active user base of 500 million music fans.

Source: http://www.macworld.co.uk

Warner Music Group said Monday that it may take another run at struggling music company EMI, which last month agreed to be acquired by private equity group Terra Firma in a $4.7 billion deal.

Manhattan-based Warner and London-based EMI have flirted with a transatlantic partnership for seven years. Earlier this year, EMI rejected a $4.1 billion offer from Warner. That bid came after both companies each offered about $4.6 billion to acquire the other.

A fresh offer from Warner could come within the next couple of weeks, said a source close to the situation. However, Warner has other options aside from making an outright bid. The company could wait until the deal with Terra Firma closes and then make a deal with Terra for EMI’s recorded music business. Warner could also just walk away.

“This announcement does not amount to a firm intention to make an offer or pre-conditional offer and according there can be no certainty that any offer or pre-conditional offer will be made,” said Warner in a statement. Company officials declined to comment beyond the statement.

EMI's roster of recording talent includes British rock band Coldplay, Janet Jackson, The Rolling Stones and hip hop producer and rapper Pharrell Williams. Warner Music's roster includes Phil Collins, Madonna, reggae star Sean Paul, as well as the Bad Boy music label founded by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

Source: Various

Universal Music has denied that it plans to make its music available DRM-free on Apple 's iTunes store . Last week rumours were rife that the major record label was going to follow in EMI 's footsteps by joining the iTunes Plus scheme. But Universal has been in touch with Tech.co.uk to completely deny the story.

"The rumour is completely untrue," said Peter LoFrumento, senior vice president at Universal Music, in an email over the weekend.

Of course, a denial of this kind does not mean that it's definitely not true. But what with the lack of convincing evidence, it makes sense to take Universal's word on this for the time being.

DRM (digital rights management) is a way of copy-protecting music files so that they cannot be shared on P2P networks over the internet.

Major British label EMI, which owns the catalogues of bands such as The Beatles and Coldplay , has already joined the iTunes Plus scheme. It means that EMI's music is available in higher quality (256Kbps) and without DRM protection. Consequently, the files can be played on any computer, and with any media software or digital audio player that supports the AAC codec used by the iTunes Store.

These DRM-free tracks are sold for 20p more than normal - 99p instead of 79p each.

The first time you buy an iTunes Plus song, you specify whether to make all future purchases iTunes Plus versions (where available). You can change this setting by accessing your account information on the iTunes Store. The tracks bought through iTunes Plus replace the lower-quality versions of the track.

The iTunes Plus store has attracted controversy over the last two weeks after it emerged that DRM-free music tracks would be sold with personal data encoded inside them. This is designed so that if the tracks make their way onto P2P sharing networks, they can be tracked back to the source.

But the presence of this personal data in your purchased music tracks is nothing to worry about, say some analysts. The only people it will affect are those who illegally share their music libraries over the web.

Apple launched the iTunes Plus service at the end of May with its iTunes version 7.2 update.

Source: http://www.tech.co.uk

Fans expecting to hear Swizz Beatz' new album this July will have to be a little more patient, as the super producer's solo set has been pushed back to a later summer release.

Originally set to hit shelves on July 17, Swizz' One Man Band Man will now make its way to record stores on August 23, according to label reps. While no official word has been given as to the reason behind the delay, some are speculating that Swizzy needed more time to put the finishing touches on the album after a bout with meningitis that briefly sent him to the hospital last month.

Swizz is currently enjoying the success of his single "It's Me Snitches" while his latest record, "Money In The Bank" is also beginning to generate a good amount of radio play.

He also further heightened fans' anticipation for the album with a memorable set at this year's Hot 97 Summer Jam, in which he was involved in a lighthearted beat battle with Windy City rapper/producer Kanye West.

The album is said to feature a long list of guest spots from artists including Cassidy, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DMX, Coldplay, Kanye West, Nas, Ciara, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and wife, R&B singer Mashonda. While Swizz crafted a healthy dose of the beats on the disc, he also enlisted producers Buckwild and Just Blaze to lend a hand with the tracks.

One Man Band Man will hit stores on August 23 on Full Surface/Universal.

In the past we had the likes of The Beatles, Elvis, Run DMC, U2, Guns N Roses, Nirvana, NWA, and Metallica. What music icons do we have today? In this edition of The Savage Animal, Mikey MiGo takes a look at the past, present, and future ironic musicians.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ROCKSTARS GONE?

Over the past two weeks, I've been covering the topic of "glam" in music. It got me to think about the most over the top performers and just the musicians who owned the music scene. You know, like true rockstars. I'm talking about the musicians who are on the cover of every magazine, every time you turn on the radio, and basically just iconic.

You hear every music fan talk up their specific era. My grandparents talked up Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and other legends. My parents talked up The Beatles, The Doors, Hendrix, and Motown. I have younger aunts and uncles who still go crazy for bands like Van Halen, U2, Motley Crue, Run DMC, and the bands who owned the 80s. I have older cousins who were old enough to enjoy Nirvana, Metallica, Public Enemy, and the rest of the early to mid 90's mega bands.

Obviously in this day and age you don't have to be an "icon" to be a successful musician. You can easily make a nice income, build a great fan base, and make an impact in some people's lives. A career like that is nothing to belittle and should be respected. In this column we're going to look a little deeper and into the musicians with just that little bit more.

I'm going to get a little Charles Dickens on your asses and present you all with some of the ghosts of iconic "rockstardom."

GHOSTS OF ICONIC ROCKSTAR PAST

You know their music. It's timeless and probably on most of your ipod devices. Of course we must talk about Elvis, Frank Sinatra, The Jackson 5, The Doors, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Queen, and so many more. You know they're legends, so we can skip over these.

From the 1980's, we have Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Guns and Roses all still holding on trying to recreate the magic they had in their prime. I won't talk smack about them trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice because they each in their own way helped shape the history of music.

In the late 80's and early 90's we got a slew of hip hop acts that made their way to the forefront. If Run DMC pushed their way through the barrier, then NWA plowed it down. Then in the 90's we had Tupac and Biggie dominating the scene. We'd still be marveled by their music if it weren't for the deaths involved with each act.

Probably the most notable musician death of the 90's had to be Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Call it "grunge music" or "alternative", Nirvana was probably the biggest band to break in the 90's. Their music is known by everyone and still relevant today. There's always that horrible argument that if he'd of lived Nirvana wouldn't have been so "iconic". For those people I say listen to the music, take it all in, and realize the errors of your ways.

GHOSTS OF ICONIC ROCKSTAR PRESENT

We have some icons among us right now. There are well established current and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, legends, and future legends putting out great albums and putting on great live shows.

The Rolling Stones won't stop touring, The Police are back, and Genesis pseudo-reunions keep popping up. There is a demand for their music and it's awesome they continue to give the fans what they want. As they do this, they expose their talents to new generations and this process continues.

Hip Hop pioneers Public Enemy continue to release new albums but sadly more times than not they've been going unnoticed. I've heard a few of the more recent albums and it's a shame they fall under the radar so much. Regardless, their legacy is cemented.

While he may be making more movies than albums lately, to not mention David Bowie would be punishable upon death in some countries. David Bowie put out album after album in the 70's and 80's. So many that you'd think his fame (pun sorta intended) would of burnt out, but that's not the case. I cross my fingers for a new release soon.

Long time legends like U2, Ozzy Osbourne, Prince, and Aerosmith are still putting out quality and impactful albums. Ozzy's new album and especially the new single is the best work he's done in years. Prince is Prince. There's nothing more to say. Aerosmith is due a new album and I'm sure when it comes out it'll have something special about it. U2 never lets us down. "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" was a great album and it's been said there's plenty more to come. I'd be lying if I said I'm not excited about that.

You might not realize it, but the 90's produced a great class of icons. Some are right under your nose and you'd never really think about it. Bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, and even Metallica made huge waves in the 90's, but are still kicking today and putting out Number One albums and hit radio singles. Now with Rage Against the Machine reuniting it's inevitable that they'll realize their best work comes when working as a unit.

Then there's the "wildcards" so to speak with Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Tool. To say these four acts haven't impacted music would be obscene. Outside of Manson, it's safe to say that these bands will put out great albums every few years and reclaim their thrones whenever they please. Manson's album lineage seems to be a bit spottier, but even his "not so good" albums get people talking and rebuilds the Goth kid army with each release.

Out there in the hip hop world are the likes of Jay Z, Eminem, and Ludacris. Each of these three rappers has broken into the mainstream via other means of entertainment. Be it movies, TV appearances, or even owning part of a NBA franchise; they've gotten through the barrier. They not only broke through it, but have taken their music with them.

GHOSTS OF ICONIC ROCKSTAR FUTURE

The music media is trying to push Fall Out Boy down our throats, but they are far from being "iconic". Same can be said for any of the emo-related bands. Other than that, we have very few valid prospects.

The first one that comes to mind is The White Stripes. Jack and Meg White keep getting progressively bigger with each new album. I live in the Chicagoland area so I got to hear the entire new album recently. It is a great album and gets them that much closer.

Another would be Justin Timberlake. He's loved by everyone and only seems to be building in stature. His R&B/Pop style generally is a genre that people turn their noses up towards, but he breaks through that barrier and is accepted on talent and likeability.

There are also the likes of John Mayer, Coldplay, Maroon 5, and Incubus that are close to being on the level. There are quite a few acts out there with three or four albums that could very well be on "the verge".

Then of course, there's whatever you're into at the moment. If the next few albums of that band progressively builds their stature and makes an impact in the music world then they too could be the next iconic band.

I look around and I try to figure out who is the future "icon" or "icons" of music that we all get the pleasure of sharing our air with. This depresses me because in general the new music scene is mundane, everything blends together, and there is not much that stands out. Sadly, that spreads across all genres right now.

Source: http://www.411mania.com

One of the hot documentary topics rolling around right now is Young@Heart, which shows old folks touring around and performing popular pop/rock music. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the doc has been picked up by Working Title Films to be adapted into a feature.

Now, the original documentary is about senior citizens from New England who defy age by going on tour and covering rock and pop songs (the most recent showcase included The Clash, Coldplay, Talking Heads and Jimi Hendrix). With an average age of 80, nothing seems to stop these people. You can even check some of them out over on YouTube -- there's a man performing Fix You by Coldplay with a little tank of air by his side, and a flipping great performance by the old peeps of Schizophrenia by Sonic Youth.

As for the adaptation, it's only in its beginning stages -- Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce along with the doc's filmmaker Stephen Walker and producer Sally George. There is no director or screenwriter secured yet. This could be a pretty fun movie, and I can only hope that this will start a trend that will continue on to see young girl rockers on the mainstream screen.

In the interim, if you want to see some white-haired, wild singing, Young@Heart will be screened at the LA Film Festival which runs from June 21-July 1.

Source: http://www.cinematical.com/

The Fray have the biggest-selling download album ever. But they tell David Sinclair they're still feeling a bit, well, yellow...

It has been impossible to avoid "How to Save a Life" by The Fray. With its twinkling piano part and cleverly undulating melody line, the single has been all over the radio and hasn't budged from the Top 20 for the last four months. Meanwhile, the debut album of the same name has sold 2.5 million copies worldwide (becoming the biggest-selling digital album ever in the process), propelling the four-man group from Denver, Colorado into the spotlight.

Success came comparatively quickly for the group in America, where their brand of high-quality, arena-grade, indie-rock struck a chord with an audience steeped in the traditions of bands like Counting Crows and Maroon 5. And success has now followed on smoothly in Britain, although not, by and large with the critics, who have dubbed them an American copy of Coldplay (or "Coldfray").

"I don't take offence," King says, "because Coldplay are a great band, and they're the architects of bringing the piano back into the forefront of rock. I don't want to be told we're just trying to be like Coldplay, because we're not. But I guess we're more like Coldplay than like the Scissor Sisters. It's not bad company to be among."

Read the full article here

Google Inc.'s YouTube, the most- popular video sharing Web site, struck an agreement with EMI Group Plc to show videos from artists including Coldplay and Fat Boy Slim.

The decision means consumers will be able to watch professionally produced videos as well as user-generated clips featuring EMI music, San Bruno, California-based YouTube said today in an e-mailed statement. YouTube now has partnerships with all four of the biggest music companies. Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group Corp. all agreed to work with YouTube before the company was bought by Google for $1.65 billion last year.

EMI, the world's third-largest music label, will work with Google to develop a business model for music videos in user- created content, the companies said. EMI will use YouTube's software for identifying material it owns on the site and asking for clips that breach its copyrights to be removed. Shares of Google rose $9.05, or 1.8 percent, to $507.65 at 11:10 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. They had risen 8.3 percent this year through yesterday.

More on this here

Footage, Interviews from 'Iron Man' Set

With an Oscar-winning actress and three Oscar-nominated actors, Iron Man won't be just another comic book movie; it has the opportunity to be one of the best.

Entertainment Tonight has scored one of the first looks at the movie, including some behind-the-scenes footage of Downey goofing around on the set with a motor bike and Howard firing a M2. 50 caliber machine gun from atop an army Hummer. There's no new Paltrow material for you to feast your eyes on, but while being interviewed by ET, Downey does discuss a kissing scene he filmed with the actress.. When asked if he should have serenaded Paltrow to get her in the mood, Downey states that there's no way he could compete with Paltrow's husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

Read the full article here

Apple has launched its iTunes Plus service which makes selected tracks compatible with virtually any MP3 player.

Songs from record label EMI's digital catalogue can now be downloaded without digital rights management (DRM) anti-piracy technology. The dual system means standard Apple tracks will cost 79p, rising to 99p for EMI's non-DRM versions. Customers can upgrade previously purchased EMI tracks to the new format for 20p per song or £2 for most albums.

EMI is the first record company to make its music catalogue available without DRM. The label - which boasts artists such as Coldplay, Kylie Minogue and Lily Allen - has signed a similar deal to provide non-DRM tracks via Amazon's US website later this year.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said more than half the five million songs offered via iTunes should be available in the new format by the end of this year. "Our customers are very excited about the freedom and amazing sound quality of iTunes Plus," he said.

Other record labels are expected to follow EMI's lead by removing the anti-piracy software from their music downloads.

Source: Various

Gwyneth Paltrow is renting her childhood home from its new owner.

The Oscar-winning actress was devastated when her mother, Blythe Danner, sold the Santa Monica house where she had lived until she was 11 for over $8.6-million (about R60-million). A source told Us Weekly magazine: "Gwyneth couldn't talk about it. She was very upset."

The 34-year-old is currently living in the four-bedroom house while she films her new movie Iron Man in the US. The source added: "They just had her daughter Apple's third birthday party there."

Gwyneth mainly resides in the UK with her Coldplay star husband Chris Martin and their two children, daughter Apple and 13-month-old son Moses. Apple spent the day with grandmother Blythe while Gwyneth worked on Tuesday. The pair enjoyed a trip to the beach and a round of crazy golf.

More on this here

Source: http://www.tonight.co.za