Adele, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey will battle it out for best album at next month's Ivor Novello awards.

It is the first time the album shortlist has been exclusively female.

Two of Adele's tracks, Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You, are also nominated for most performed work, alongside Take That's The Flood.

Rolling in the Deep is also up for best song muscially and lyrically. The annual awards will be presented in London on 17 May.

They celebrate British and Irish songwriting and composing and are voted for by songwriters.

While all the albums shortlisted are performed by women, producer Paul Epworth is nominated alongside Adele for 21 as he co-wrote some of the key songs.

PJ Harvey is listed for her Mercury Prize-winning record Let England Shake, a concept album about Britain at war.

Kate Bush's album 50 Words For Snow is also written around a theme, comprising a suite of seven songs "set against a backdrop of falling snow".

This year's nominees for best contemporary song are Nero's Promises, Lana Del Rey's Video Games and James Blake's The Wilhelm Scream.

Justin Parker, who helped Del Rey write Video Games, agreed the music business "seems very female-orientated" at the moment.

"It's been like that for a few years," he told the BBC.

"But it's great to have really classic songwriting represented, like Adele. Without Adele I think Lana might not have happened. She opened the door for that kind of songwriting."

Plan B

Other nominees in the best song musically and lyrically are Florence and the Machine's Shake It Out and Ed Sheeran's The A Team.

Best original film score contenders are Life in a Day, The First Grader and We Need to Talk About Kevin, which was written by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood.

The Shadow Line, Page Eight and Leonardo are all in competition for best television soundtrack.

Adele's second album 21 has won numerous awards in what has been a stellar year for the north Londoner.

The record recently overtook Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms in the list of best-selling UK albums.

The LP has now sold more than 4,142,000 copies in the singer's home country, making it the sixth biggest-selling album of all-time.

Her awards haul includes two Brit awards and six Grammy awards.

Last year, rapper-turned-singer Plan B won three prizes at the Ivor Novellos, including best songwriter - presented by Sir Elton John - and best album.

Special awards went to Muse, Steve Winwood, Free founder Paul Rodgers and musicals legend Stephen Sondheim.

Previous winners in other years include Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Radiohead.

This year's recipients will be announced at the ceremony.

Diddy is now a disturbing part of the strange-but-true news category. The multi-talented rapper is likely off to buy new bedding after learning an intruder broke into his home and helped himself to the many amenities.

Word of the Diddy intruder broke Friday, with reports stating a man named Quamine Taylor broke into 42-year-old Sean Combs' home, ate out of his kitchen -- and more.

The 30-year-old intruder, seemingly portraying a high-stakes rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, allegedly toured through Diddy's mansion until he found the bedroom suite which was, of course, just right. Taylor then proceeded to take a nap!

Based off of police reports regarding the Diddy intruder incident TMZ reports, "Taylor told cops he snuck into the place through an unlocked basement door and proceeded to eat food, drink Diddy's soda and liquor and then got into a bed for nearly 24 hours."

No official word on if any porridge (hot, cold or otherwise) was consumed during the illegal day of luxury, which occurred April 1. No fooling.

Diddy's Undefeated Oscar dreams come true >>

Quamine Taylor was eventually arrested for trespassing. The 30-year-old later told the NY Post he had been "going to the house from time to time since 2001."

He went on to explain matter of factly, "I stay there a lot, but Sean gets funny sometimes about me staying there." You think?

Son of Sean "Diddy" Combs gets a full ride to UCLA >>

The intruder's mother also spoke to the paper, claiming her son suffers from mental illness and recently went off his meds. He was arraigned on trespassing and petit-larceny charges and is currently still in custody.

Should Diddy press charges against his Goldilocks-style intruder?

http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/957163/p-diddys-home-burglarized

Jim Marshall had suffered several strokes in recent years, and developed cancer at the end of 2011, his son said

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

* Flood of tributes for Marshall

* Marshall on 'dirty' amp sound

* Paul Weller pays tribute

Guitar amp innovator Jim Marshall, dubbed "the Father of Loud" for creating kit used by some of rock's biggest names, has died aged 88.

Mr Marshall, who originally owned a music shop in London, founded Marshall Amplification 50 years ago.

He had suffered several strokes in recent years, and developed cancer at the end of 2011, his son said.

A statement posted on the company's website called him a "legendary man" who led a "truly remarkable life".

Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain are among the musicians who used Marshall amps.

Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash tweeted: "The news of Jim Marshall passing is deeply saddening. R & R will never be the same w/out him. But, his amps will live on FOREVER!

Motley Crue bass player Nikki Sixx also paid tribute on Twitter, saying Marshall was "responsible for some of the greatest audio moments in music's history - and 50% responsible of all our hearing loss."

Speaking to Radio Four's Front Row programme on Thursday, musician Paul Weller said he used a Marshall amp that was "at least 40 years old and still sounds fantastic".

"For me it's the exactly right amp for the job," said the former Jam and Style Council frontman. "I don't know if anyone's particularly improved on it, to be honest."

Jim Marshall began building amplifiers in the early 1960s, using the Fender Bassman amp as a model, creating what later became known as "the Marshall sound".

After talking to Pete Townshend and Ritchie Blackmore, who were customers at the shop, he realised there was a gap in the market to make a cheaper alternative to the other models available at the time.

It took him six attempts to create an amp he was happy with.

As the company grew, Mr Marshall expanded his product range, unveiling the Master Volume Marshall amps and the classic JCM800 split channel amps.

"Jim rose to become one of the forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar, as we know and love it today, to be born," the statement said.

"In addition to the creation of the amps, chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes."

Marshall amplifiers were such a fixture of the rock scene that they featured prominently in the spoof documentary This is Spinal Tap.

In a famous scene from the film, guitarist Nigel Tufnel proudly showed off his Marshall stack which went up to 11. He explained it was "one louder" than usual amplifiers.

In 2003, Marshall he was given the OBE for his services to music and charity. He was a regular supporter of Macmillan and the Willen Hospice.

He also donated money to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where he was treated for tuberculosis as a child.

The Marshall Amps company, which is now based in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a tribute concert at Wembley Arena.

Lemmy, from the rock band Motorhead, also owns Marshall equipment

Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Whitesnake and The Cult are among the bands who have been lined up to play at the September event.

Mr Marshall will be remembered alongside guitarmakers Leo Fender and Les Paul for shaping the sound of the modern electric guitar.

He is survived by his children Terry and Victoria and step-children Paul and Dawn.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17625335

Guns N' Roses are to be inducted into America's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next weekend by Green Day.

The presentation, revealed on the organisation's website, will take place in Cleveland, Ohio.

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys are also being inducted into the Hall of Fame on 14 April.

They are being presented on stage by comedian Chris Rock and Chuck D from Public Enemy.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was set up in 1983 and previous inductees have included Madonna, AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Abba.

Rock promoters and other people associated with the growth of rock music are also recognised by the Hall of Fame.

UK tour

Guns N' Roses is made up of singer Axl Rose, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, bassist Tommy Stinson, rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer plus lead guitarists Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba.

Former members include Slash, Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum.

They are due to appear on the same stage next weekend, although it is unclear if the original members will play together or appear with the present line-up.

The band, famous for tracks like Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child o' Mine, are playing a seven-date UK arena tour in May.

Guns N' Roses last performed together in the UK in 2010 and were bottled off stage at a concert in Dublin after they arrived on stage nearly an hour late.

Their set was cut short after they played past their curfew at Reading Festival that year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17608380

 Whitney Houston's death was caused by accidental drowning, but drug abuse and heart disease were also factors, a coroner has ruled.

Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said drug tests indicated the 48-year-old US singer was a chronic cocaine user.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation over the cause of Houston's death.

She was found submerged in the bath of her Los Angeles hotel room on the eve of the Grammy Awards on 11 February.

In a statement, the LA County Coroner's office described Houston's manner of death as an "accident", adding that "no trauma or foul play is suspected".

The cause was cited as drowning and "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use".

Other drugs found in her blood included marijuana, as well as an anti-anxiety drug, a muscle relaxant and an allergy medication.

But these were not factors in her death, the coroner's statement said.

Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and manager, told the Associated Press news agency: "We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure."

The pop star was laid to rest at a cemetery in her home state of New Jersey after a funeral that was attended by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige.

The singer, who was one of the world's best selling artists from the mid-1980s to late 1990s, had a long battle with drug addiction.

But these were not factors in her death, the coroner's statement said.

Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and manager, told the Associated Press news agency: "We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure."

The pop star was laid to rest at a cemetery in her home state of New Jersey after a funeral that was attended by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige.

The singer, who was one of the world's best selling artists from the mid-1980s to late 1990s, had a long battle with drug addiction.

source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17483997

The group have climbed to number five with their track Glad You Came, which saw a boost in sales after it was featured on TV show Glee.

The track, a former UK number one, beats Take That's Back For Good, from 1995, which made it to number seven.

Another UK boy band, One Direction, are at number 50 in the official US Billboard Hot 100 Chart with What Makes You Beautiful.

The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness said: "We're proud that Glad You Came is doing so well.

"The British are smashing it at the minute in the US, and it's great to feel like we're helping steer that."

Max George added: "It feels like City have just reached the final of the FA Cup. Now we just need to win it."

Glad You Came has a total radio audience in America of more than 50 million, having been played on more than 160 pop stations.

The track was downloaded 188,000 times last week and has now sold more than 300,000 copies.

Unlike the UK charts, the US charts are based on both airplay and sales.

The Wanted are the first boy band to hit the top 10 on the US airplay chart since the Backstreet Boys.

The group, who have just finished their US tour and are now back in the UK, will perform live on the Jay Leno show later this month.

They have already sung live on the Ellen show and Chelsea Lately.

Former X Factor contestants One Direction have become the first British group to go straight to the top of the US music charts with their debut album.

The group shifted 176,000 copies of Up All Night, which only went to number two in the UK charts back in December.

The five-piece act were formed in 2010 by the X Factor judges after they failed to impress as solo artists.

Band member Harry Styles said reaching number one was a "dream come true" for the group.

"We simply cannot believe that we are number one in America. We want to thank each and every one of our fans in the US who bought our album and we would also like to thank the American public for being so supportive of us."

Fellow band member Niall Horan added: "As you can imagine, we are over the moon.

One Direction recently appeared on the US breakfast programme The Today Show

"When we got put together as a group, we couldn't imagine ourselves coming to America, let alone releasing our album here, so for us to be sitting at the top of the US album charts is unbelievable."

X Factor judge and music executive Simon Cowell signed the band to his record label Syco Music last year.

"I couldn't be happier for One Direction, it is an incredible achievement. They deserve it. They have the best fans in the world," Cowell said.

The feat comes in the same week it was announced the band have secured their own US TV show.

On Monday children's channel Nickelodeon confirmed on Twitter that Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson would be starring in their own show.

Chart success

The group have been busy with their US promotional tour, which has included playing a series of gigs with US boyband Big Time Rush and an appearance on breakfast programme The Today Show.

"It's more than unusual, it's unprecedented," said Music Week magazine reporter Paul Williams about their chart achievement.

He added that being managed by Cowell had helped boost the band's profile.

"He [Cowell] has a hell of a lot to do with it. He is one of the most famous people on TV in America and he's been associated with Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle, both of whom have had number one albums in America, so he has a lot of influence.

The Wanted recently became the highest charting UK boy band in the US charts

"When Simon Cowell drives an act, people are going to listen and pay attention. Although you have got to have the goods, as well as having someone like Simon championing you."

One Direction's number one follows their successful debut in the singles chart with What Makes You Beautiful last month, which went to number 28 in the Hot 100.

"Historically it's always been American boybands who have led the way, going back to the end of the 80s and the early 90s with the likes of New Edition, New Kids On The Block, BackStreet Boys and N-Sync," said Mr Williams.

"But there's not much in the way of homegrown boybands in America at the moment."

The sales figure for Up All Night may appear low given the size of the US music market, but album sales have plummeted in recent years.

Big releases by acts such as Jay-Z or Lil' Wayne can expect to shift somewhere between 600,000 and 900,000 copies in their first week, but the number one album often sells less than 200,000 copies.

Last year, the record for the lowest-selling number one was broken on three separate occasions. Singer-songwriter Amos Lee fared worst, shifting just 40,000 copies of his album Mission Bell in January.

Lady Gaga's Born This Way was one of the only records to break the one million barrier in its first week, and it was sold at heavy discounts by online retailers.

Another British boyband, The Wanted, are also enjoying chart success in the US.

Earlier this month the group became the highest charting UK boy band in the US singles chart after they reached number five with Glad You Came.

"There hasn't been sustained success by a British boyband until this year," said Mr Williams.

"And now we're in this strange situation where there's not one, but two boybands doing extremely well in America."

Ernie D, the creative director of Radio Disney, said such bands were finding success much more quickly than their predecessors in the 1990s.

"The way it's happening now, it's a little more sudden. Back then, you had to build your fan base, get a following. Now with all social media, you have a fan base immediately.

"Bands like One Direction and The Wanted, they're just coming out of nowhere and it's kind of taking everybody by surprise."

source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17448480

With Eclipse hitting theaters in just a little over a month, fans have been anxiously anticipating the soundtrack to accompany the third film in the Twilight saga. We won't get a chance to hear the tunes until June 8, but today the full track listing has been released!

I'm a fan of the New Moon soundtrack, and its follow-up sounds equally promising. Muse is back for another go, but the rest of the list are newbies to Twilight. I'm particularly excited to see Sia's name in the midst of rockers like The Black Keys, Beck, and The Dead Weather and also stoked to see a contribution from Florence and the Machine. The biggest head-scratcher here might be Vampire Weekend; aside from the obvious tongue-in-cheek similarities, the band's music seems a bit too uptempo for the dark subject matter. That said, I'm looking forward to hearing what they came up with. Check out the full playlist and tell me what you think!

To see the full track listing, just read more.

1. Metric — "Eclipse (All Yours)"

2. Muse — "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)"

3. The Bravery — "Ours"

4. Florence + The Machine — "Heavy in Your Arms"

5. Sia — "My Love"

6. Fanfarlo — "Atlas"

7. The Black Keys — "Chop and Change"

8. The Dead Weather — "Rolling In on a Burning Tire"

9. Beck and Bat For Lashes — "Let’s Get Lost"

10. Vampire Weekend — "Jonathan Low"

11. UNKLE — "With You in My Head (featuring The Black Angels)"

12. Eastern Conference Champions — "A Million Miles an Hour"

13. Band Of Horses — "Life on Earth"

14. Cee-Lo Green — "What Part of Forever"

15. Howard Shore — "Jacob’s Theme"

source:http://www.buzzsugar.com/Twilight-Eclipse-Soundtrack-Full-List-Songs-2010-05-12-150455-8400783

Pop star Whitney Houston has been laid to rest at a cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey, a day after a star-studded funeral service.

The late singer was buried at Fairview Cemetery beside her father John Russell Houston, who died in 2003.

The 48-year-old was found dead at a Los Angeles hotel last week. She was discovered submerged in the bath, the cause of death as yet unknown.

Fans watched the hearse travel to the cemetery, but were not allowed in.

Her funeral service was attended by some of the biggest names in music on Saturday, including her cousin Dionne Warwick, her mentor and former label boss Clive Davis, and Stevie Wonder.

One of the biggest voices of the 80s, Houston sold millions of singles and albums worldwide.

Investigators are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Fans of Whitney Houston gathered at the funeral parlour to watch the golden hearse bearing her coffin leaving for the cemetery.

Some ran alongside the hearse, shouting "We love you, Whitney." Others gathered along the route, some applauding respectfully as the convoy passed by.

During Saturday's three-and-a-half hour funeral service, Wonder, Alicia Keys, and R Kelly all performed in her memory. Actor Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in the film The Bodyguard, paid tribute to what he called the "sweet miracle" of her life.

Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, arrived at the service but left again shortly afterwards.

He later said in a statement released to US media that he and his children "were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions".

The Grammys got under way on Sunday, with the Recording Academy trying to focus on music's biggest night after of the death of one of music's biggest names – Whitney Houston.

Houston died on the eve of the Grammys at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she was preparing to attend a pre-Grammy party. Her death cast a huge shadow over the event. As the pre-telecast awards ceremony began, co-host Dave Koz acknowledged the tragedy, noting the "great legacy of Miss Whitney Houston. She's in our hearts and our minds."

Presenter Jimmy Jam, a friend and producer of Houston's, said it "a bittersweet occasion tonight with the passing of Whitney."

"Anytime someone passes away, the thing you do is you gather your family together, tell stories," he said. "A little bit of mourning, little bit of celebrating – this is our family tonight and we're going to do it the best that we can do it."

Melanie Fiona, who won best traditional R&B vocal performance and best R&B song with Cee-Lo for the song "Fool for You," also gave tribute to the fallen star: "Whitney Houston I would not be standing up here if it were not for you, thank you so much."

A moving moment came when Tony Bennett won his second Grammy of the evening, best pop performance by a duo/group, for his collaboration with Amy Winehouse, "Body and Soul." Winehouse, another supremely talented singer who had a long struggle with drugs and alcohol, died last year.

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Bennett, who also won for the album "Duets II," brought both her parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, onstage to accept the award.

"We shouldn't be here, our darling daughter should be here. These are the cards that we're dealt," Mitch Winehouse said. "We miss our daughter so much."

Winehouse also referenced the deaths of Houston and Etta James, saying: "There's a beautiful girl band up there in heaven."

When it came to the business of awarding trophies, the Foo Fighters were the top winners in the pre-telecast ceremony, taking four out of their possible six trophies, including best rock album for "Wasting Light" (the album is also up for album of the year).

"This is a very great honour because this album was the most fun we've ever had making a record," said frontman Dave Grohl. "I asked my wife if it was OK to use my garage ... This represents the human element of music."

Kanye West and dance/electronica DJ Skrillex won three each. Adele captured two of her six possible Grammys, including best pop vocal album for "21," while Taylor Swift also won two trophies for her rebuke to her critics, "Mean." The folk-country duo The Civil Wars also won two.

Before the death of one of pop music's most important figures, the pre-Grammy buzz focused on whether Adele – 2011's top-selling artist and set to make her first public performance on the show since having vocal cord surgery – would be the queen of the Grammys. Although Kanye West led all nominees with seven and Bruno Mars and the Foo Fighters tied Adele with six nominations, the British singer was favoured to sweep all of her categories. Adele's "21" won for best pop vocal album.

But as show time neared, the focus remained on Houston's death. A tribute to Houston featuring Jennifer Hudson was to take place during the main ceremony.

Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich said Houston's death was "too fresh in everyone's memory to do more at this time, but we would be remiss if we didn't recognise Whitney's remarkable contribution to music fans in general, and in particular her close ties with the Grammy telecast and her Grammy wins and nominations over the years."

More Houston tributes from nominees and presenters are expected during the three-and-a-half hour Staples Center show, which was to feature the Foo Fighters, Mars, Nicki Minaj, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Swift, Chris Brown and Rihanna.

The show will mark the first time Rihanna and Brown have appeared at the same awards show since his attack on her three years ago – also on the eve of the Grammys – forced both to drop out of the show and led to an assault conviction for Brown. It almost derailed his career, but 2011 marked a huge comeback, and he was rewarded with a Grammy performance slot on Sunday night's CBS broadcast.

Rihanna is also a nominee, up for album of the year. She is competing with Adele's "21," Mars' "Doo-Woops & Hooligans," the Foo Fighters "Wasting Light" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" is nominated for record and song of the year. Both categories also include Bon Iver's "Holocene," Mumford & Sons "The Cave," and Mars' "Grenade." Katy Perry's "Firework" is up for record of the year but instead of that song, West's "All of the Lights" takes the remaining position in the song of the year category.

Bon Iver won best alternative music album for its self-titled album.

The ceremony marks the first since a major overhaul of the categories last year: They were trimmed from 109 to 78. The move upset some musicians, and a protest was planned outside of the Staples Center on Sunday.

In one of the controversial new categories, best regional roots music, Rebirth Brass Band won for "Rebirth of New Orleans."

Tuareg desert rockers Tinariwen won the newly-combined best world music album award, which had been previously been divided into traditional and contemporary categories.

Cachao, the Cuban mambo pioneer who died in 2008, won best tropical Latin album for "The Last Mambo," while Mexican rock band Mana won for best Latin pop, rock or urban album.

Los Tigres Del Norte won the Banda or Norteno award, while Pepe Aguilar won in the regional Mexican or Tejano category.

Tedeschi Trucks Band won for best blues album, while Alison Krauss and Union Station won for best bluegrass album. Levon Helm won for best Americana album, while duo The Civil Wars won both a folk and country award for its album "Barton Hollow."

source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9078304/Grammy-Awards-2012-Foo-Fighters-win-four-awards-in-pre-event-as-music-industry-pays-tribute-to-Whitney-Houston.html

Unhappy ... Madonna peforms and, right, M.I.A flicks the middle finger during show

MADONNA is livid after British rapper M.I.A upstaged her at the Super Bowl by flicking a middle finger and swearing.

Madonna, 53, had no idea M.I.A, 36, was going to make the obscene gesture while singing the line: "I don't give a s***".

The Queen of Pop had invited her on stage as a guest vocalist at the family American football event — the most watched programme in US history with 111.3 million American viewers.

A source said: "Madonna wasn't impressed. She prides herself on professionalism.

"M.I.A did nothing similar in rehearsals. Nobody knew she was going to pull this stunt.

"Madonna wanted to put on a world-beating performance. But everyone ended up talking about this girl's middle finger."

M.I.A, of Mitcham, South London — famous for her hit Paper Planes — was singing on the track Give Me All Your Luvin', off Madge's new album MDNA at the Indianapolis show.

A source close to M.I.A — real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, blamed the finger gesture — on "adrenaline". The source said: "She wasn't thinking. She was caught in the moment and she's incredibly sorry."

M.I.A could be hit with a huge fine, because artists are said to sign a liability clause with TV network NBC.

Regulators imposed a £350,000 penalty after Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" when she flashed a breast at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Powerful watchdog The Parents Television Council called Sunday's gesture the "selfish act of a desperate performer".

Chief Tim Winter said: "M.I.A used a finger shamelessly to bring attention to herself, effectively telling an audience filled with children, '**** you.' "

British pop star Jessie J was left red-faced after prematurely celebrating reaching number one in the U.K. singles chart - she jumped into her hotel pool in excitement only to learn rapper Flo Rida had actually topped the countdown.

The Price Tag hitmaker was on tour in Thailand when fans on Twitter.com advised her that her latest track Domino had claimed first place on the iTunes chart - prompting the thrilled star to jump into a pool in glee after indulging in a glass of wine.

However, the tipsy singer was soon left dripping wet and downhearted when a pal discovered she had only topped the iTunes pop countdown - and not the official U.K. chart.

She tells U.K. chatshow host Jonathan Ross, "I was in Thailand (when 

I heard it was number one). Sitting in our pyjamas, sitting by the pool, having a glass of wine. I went on Twitter and just read 'you're number one on iTunes' and so I freaked out and thought 'I'm gonna jump in the pool.' (I) jumped in the pool, realised I was a bit tipsy, couldn't swim and panicked and everything just got really heavy. So I got out of the pool... put Domino on and was dancing by the pool and then one of my best friends said, 'Babe, Flo Rida's number one.'

"I was number one on the pop chart, not the official chart. So I was just standing there freezing cold, naked and I just said, 'Shall we just go to bed?'."

But Jessie J eventually got the chance to celebrate her song's success for real - the track finally topped the official chart last month (Jan12).

The UK's "slow progress" in tackling piracy been has called "disappointing" in a music industry report.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) says delays to the Digital Economy Act mean levels of piracy are still high.

It says the UK lags behind France, where anti-piracy laws have apparently led to a 26% drop in illegal downloads.

However, 28% of all internet users still access unlicensed sites that contain copyrighted music every month.

The Digital Economy Act 2010 was rushed through parliament at the end of the Labour administration.

It has since been subject to a number of changes, but its main provision remains a letter-writing campaign targeting people identified as illegal downloaders.

The letters would offer advice on how to prevent such illegal activity, but would not make demands for money or threaten disconnection.

The act has been challenged in the courts by Internet Service Providers including TalkTalk and BT, who argue it unfairly compels them to police their users' behaviour

Their case went to appeal last week. The judge has reserved his decision, but a ruling is expected in the next month.

Additionally, Ofcom's guidelines on how the DEA would work in practice has yet to be published and approved.

The international president of Sony Music, Edgar Berger, told the BBC the delays were "definitely disappointing", noting that "the first notices are now planned to be sent out by 2013".

Frances Moore, chief executive of the IFPI, added: "The ISPs, instead of getting on and helping us to implement the law, have challenged us in every court.

"With their help we could be turning the piracy problem around now, instead of waiting until 2013."

The government told the BBC it would "continue to work with the industry" on tackling online piracy.

"Unlawful downloading demands a strong response," said a spokesperson from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

"If you create a song, a film, a book, you have the right to charge people for that content. We will help people enforce that right.

"The Government continues to implement measures in the Digital Economy Act aimed at tackling filesharing. All elements of the internet industry - payment companies, advertisers, search engines, ISPs and not least rights holders themselves - need to play their part in tackling unlawful activity online."

The DCMS added that, although the government had chosen - on the advice of Ofcom - not to implement sections of the DEA that would require ISPs to block websites linking to copyrighted material, a recent court case showed that rights holders could obtain similar results using the exisiting Copyright act.

'Good news'

Anti-piracy legislation in the US could also be heading for limbo, after Congress halted debate on two contested bills last week.

The decision to delay votes on the Protect IP Act (Pipa) and Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) followed protests by online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and thousands of other websites which went "dark" for 24 hours last week.

The IFPI said it hoped a "compromise" would be put forward "within the next few weeks".

However, Ms Moore said she thought the debate over the act "could only be good news" for the industry.

"The issue of internet piracy is now centre stage in the US Congress and being reported all over the world," she said.

"The question people are asking now is how to fight it, rather than should we be fighting it at all."

With countries including Spain, Italy and New Zealand implementing similar laws, the industry has a sense of cautious optimism.

In France, research suggests that sales on iTunes rose by as much as 23% after the government established an anti-piracy unit to monitor peer-to-peer networks.

Globally, digital music was worth $5.2bn in 2011, the IFPI said.

This represented an 8% rise in revenue, the first year-on-year growth since measurement began in 2004.

Ms Moore said there was now a "momentum" for consumers moving towards legal services, helped by the expanding presence of iTunes, Spotify and Vevo.

"The music business is going to be in great shape," added Mr Berger. "We don't have any problem with our product - consumption is as high as it has ever been. We have a problem with billing and payment."

If piracy continued to be addressed, he said, the music industry was "well-positioned to become a sustainable and profitable growth business in the very near future."

The music industry would also like to see greater co-operation from search engines, advertisers and credit card companies in blacklisting pirate websites, the IFPI said.

US rock band The Velvet Underground have launched legal action over the use of its iconic, Andy Warhol-designed album cover.

The group have accused the Andy Warhol Foundation of trademark infringement, saying it illegally licensed the famous banana logo for use on other products.

The Velvet Underground say the banana, which was used on their 1967 debut album, is synonymous with their image.

The BBC has so far been unable to reach the Warhol foundation for comment.

Warhol served as the manager and producer of the band, which was formed by Lou Reed and John Cale.

He designed their first album cover - which incorporated the banana symbol and the phrase "peel slowly and see". On early editions of the album, the banana skin was a sticker which could be removed to display the flesh underneath.

Legal papers filed in Manhattan state that the artwork, which was never officially copyrighted, "became a symbol, truly an icon, of the Velvet Underground" for some 25 years.

"The symbol has become so identified with the Velvet Underground that members of the public, particularly those who listen to rock music, immediately recognise the banana design as the symbol of the Velvet Underground," court papers said.

The band have accused the Warhol foundation of trying to "deceive the public" into thinking they had given their "sponsorship or approval" to a number of products that now carry the image - including iPad covers and accessories.

The acclaimed album - which featured German femme fatale Nico as a co-vocalist - contained tracks like I'm Waiting for the Man, Run, Run, Run, Venus in Furs and Heroin. It was added to the US National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2006.

Although they sold poorly at the time, The Velvet Underground have come to be considered one of the most influential groups of the 1960s with various artists, including David Bowie and REM, admitting they were inspired by them.

KISS Army Argentina Exclusive Interview with Tommy Thayer

Kiss Army Argentina: First of all, Tommy, thanks a lot for your time; it is an honor and a pleasure for us.

Tommy Thayer: It's my pleasure and honor.

Kiss Army Argentina: We, the fans, are anxious about the release of the new album. What can you tell us about it?

Tommy Thayer: We've been recording the new album on and off now for several months. It's going to bean incredible album. It's very, very good.

Kiss Army Argentina: The time and in a way, the approach, taken to record the album is different than in “Sonic Boom”; there has been a recent short summer tour and now you have resumed the recording sessions for this new album. Does touring somehow help to shape the new album, in terms of, probably, getting and thinking over new ideas?

Tommy Thayer: Not really; although being on the road together gives us the opportunity to easily get together on off days to work on ideas.

Kiss Army Argentina: Have you been involved in songwriting for the new album as much as you had been involved for “Sonic Boom”?

Tommy Thayer: Probably more on this one.

 Jon Huntsman's Daughters Talk Music With Sway

Mary Anne, Abby and Liddy love everything from Rachmaninoff to the Roots, they tell MTV News in New Hampshire.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Just one day before the big primary here on Tuesday, I touched down in New Hampshire and had an interesting talk with Republican candidate Jon Huntsman's daughters.

Unlike some other political kids out there stumping for their candidate moms and dads, the former Utah governor has let his daughters — Mary Anne, 26; Abby, 25; and Liddy, 24 — be themselves on the campaign trail. That means they've been able to tweet (even a shout-out to me!) and post videos — including ones in which they made fun of a Herman Cain campaign clip and another in which they spoofed Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" — and talk about the kinds of things you don't normally hear from on-message political kids.

One of the most fascinating things I've found is that while their father is having the race of his life as a first-time presidential candidate and he needs to win this state or have a great showing, his daughters and I spent half our time talking about music they love. Liddy is a big fan of the Roots, which was one of the first groups she mentioned when I asked who she listens to.

I thought it was fascinating that she loves hip-hop. She also likes John Legend. Mary Anne is a classical pianist. Abby said they grew up listening to rock and roll. In fact, she said their dad was in a rock band when he was younger (and had long hair) and that if he'd made it as a musician, he might never have turned to politics.

Liddy also described the time when she was in seventh grade and hid some CDs under her bed that her dad might not have approved of. That is, until he found them and broke them in half. So even in the heart of politics, you can find music lovers.

MTV is on the scene in New Hampshire! Check back here around the clock for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary caucuses, and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the presidential election season.

SOURCE:http://mtv.mtvnimages.com/shared/promoimages/news/n/new_hampshire_2012/jon_huntsman_daughters_010912/promo/281x211.jpg?quality=0.85

Yeah, I’m throwed off / Aint about the money I’ma blow it all / I made my own lane, let’s roll, lets roll / Yeah, I’m going off

Aint got a whole lot but I’mma show it off / Better recognize game, lets roooo-oooll, lets roo-oooo-ooooll

I’ve been waiting for this video for a minute now… This was my unofficial jam of the last three months.

I LOVE this song. So much, that I wish I was from Alabama sometimes so I can rep it fully and blast it in my ride. But then, after a couple of seconds, I come back to reality and I’m a-ok with being from SoCal.

Anyways… love the track, love the visuals. On a side note, I lived in Atlanta for a few years, and every once in a while, I get a reminder that the south is verrrry different from LA – see image below! Either way, this song bangs!