The Killers To Be Honoured For 'Shaping The Future Of American Music'

The Killers are to be honoured at the Pop Music Awards later this month for their impact on American music.

The band, who recently finished touring in support of their third album 'Day & Age', will collect the Vanguard Award at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

Patti Smith is also due to be recognised at the event, which is organised by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Other accolades will be awarded to the songwriter of the year and song of the year from the previous 12 months.

Smith will perform at the event on April 21 along with All-American Rejects and Jason Mraz.

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Madonna 'most played' artist of decade

Madonna was the most played artist of the last decade in the UK, according to music licensing body PPL.

The singer, 51, who had her first UK hit with Holiday in 1984, beat The Beatles into second place and Robbie Williams into third.

Queen were fourth and Take That were fifth in the chart compiled for BBC Radio 2.

It was based on plays - between 2000 and 2009 - on TV, radio and in public places including pubs, clubs and shops.

PPL collects royalties for sound recordings.

Madonna was the only female solo singer to make the top 10.

MOST-PLAYED OF THE DECADE 1. Madonna 2. The Beatles 3. Robbie Williams 4. Queen 5. Take That 6. Sugababes 7. Elton John 8. Elvis Presley 9. Abba 10. Coldplay Source: PPL

Girl band Sugababes, meanwhile, who entered the UK charts for the first time in 2000 with Overload, were the only act in the top 10 who emerged within the decade being scrutinised.

The chart was revealed on Radio 2 show People's Artist Chart, presented by comedian Patrick Kielty.

In December, PPL announced that Snow Patrol song Chasing Cars was the most widely-played song of the decade.

Last year, another chart compiled for Radio 2 - also by PPL - found that Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale was the most played song in public places in the previous 75 years.

The song, which features a distinctive organ riff, stayed at number one for six weeks in the UK in the summer of 1967.

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New Young Pony Club underage special

Bringing together the most exciting acts currently causing a stir, the line up for this one of special at East London’s Village Underground will kicks off with New Young Pony Club; forget everything you thought you knew about the band because on their second album it's all changed. If 2007's critically acclaimed, Mercury Music Prize nominated 'Fantastic Playroom' was the zenith of the hybrid indie-disco sound they pioneered, 'The Optimist' heralds the beginning of a brave new future for the band that will be evident for all to see at their Underage Club appearance.

Egyptian Hip Hop, a band young enough to be Underage Festival customers themselves, will be showcasing the stunning music that’s made them one of the year’s most hotly tipped bands. Stretching stylistically from beguilingly expansive instrumentals to visceral punky sounds the band want to make atonal music, leaving you to decide if it’s uplifting or melancholic.

Helpfully describe themselves as 'the triple distilled essence (and sensibility) of an artistic huddle of mischievous musicals' Django Django, mix real and electronic sounds referencing everything from dub to glam rock but sounds mind-blowingly like nothing you’ve ever heard before. Mask-wearing London three-piece Is Tropical are the latest skuzzy, bedroom electro noise-makers to set tongues wagging. Mixing escapist elements with a low-fi sensibility that’s about as D.I.Y as you can get without actually going to B&Q, the band has a live show that sees them totally immersed in music, with their self-edited videos completely covering the stage.

Late Of The Pier Soundsystem is the exciting new side project of one of the undisputed great bands to emerge from the new rave scene. This dance soundsystem features live instrumentation, and is sure to channel more of the magic forces unleashed on debut album Fantasy Black Channel, fine tuned by Erol Alkan in 2008. Which of the numerous psych, punk or krautrock records that influenced The Horrors will be included in the DJ set of frontman Faris Rotter? The band have proved their musical pedigree on various playlists and radio shows, so expect nothing less than track after track of unquestionably good music.

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Madonna's former manager commits suicide

Careese Henry, the former manager of Madonna, has died from what is being called at this stage a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was 44.

In her time representing artists Henry also worked with Ricky Martin, Jessica Simpson, Joss Stone and Paula Abdul.

She died at her home in Irvine, California on Wednesday.

Henry leaves behind two daughters, Honour Kristen Norman and Ava Careese Hinojosa. The family has issued a statement asking for the media to respect their privacy at this time.

A funeral has been arranged for April 9th at 11am at St Paul’s Church in Westwood, California.

Caresse Henry worked with Madonna for 10 years up until 2004. She was credited as Executive Producer of the Madonna Drowned World Tour of 2001.

When she left Madonna’s employ stories abounded that she was fired due to a conflict in Madonna’s choice of Kabbalah.

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Peter Hook to play Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' live in its entirety

Peter Hook has announced plans to perform Joy Division's debut album live in its entirety to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of late singer Ian Curtis.

The ex-New Order bassist will be joined by a host of guests at the newly refurbished former Factory Records site FAC51 in Manchester on May 18, the same day Curtis hung himself in the kitchen of his home in Macclesfield.

Before that, Hook will showcase previously-unseen Joy Division and New Order footage as part of a new show set to tour the UK in April.

Billed 'An Evening Of Unknown Pleasures', the nights will see Hook give talks on his past bands and Factory Records along with the footage, plus live music. Fans will be able to quiz the bassist as part of the evening.

Peter Hook's 'An Evening Of Unknown Pleasures' will call at:

Birmingham Glee Club (April 11)
Bolton Albert Hall (12)
Worcester Huntingdon Hall (13)
Milton Keynes Stables (15)
Middlesbrough Town Hall (18)
Gateshead Sage (20)
Durham Gala (21)
Burnley Mechanics (22)
Cardiff Glee Club (25)
Oxford Academy (26)
Wakefield Theatre Royal (27)
Gloucester Guildhall (28)
Derby Assembly Rooms (29)
Norwich UEA (30)
Salford Lowry (May 1)
Hull Truck Theatre (2)

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The Maccabees, Crystal Castles and Blondie join Rockness Festival line-up

The Maccabees, Crystal Castles and Blondie have been added to this year's Rockness Festival line-up.

Tinie Tempha, Fergie and Dananananaykroyd have also joined the bill for the three day bash, which takes place over the weekend of June 11-13.

They join previously announced headliners The Strokes, Pendulum, Leftfield and Fatboy Slim.

The line-up for the festival so far is:

2 Many DJs
Aeroplane
Alabama 3
Annie Mac
A Skillz
Barry Ashworth
Benki Boko
Bookashade
Boom Monk Ben
Boys Noize
Blondie
B-Tone
Chase & Status
Club 75
Crystal Castles
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
Dave Clarke
David E Sugar
Dananananaykroyd
Doves
Derrick May
Edit Select
Enter Shikari
Fatboy Slim
Fergie
Fenech Soler
Freestylers
Fridge Magnets
Friendly Fires
Gary Beck
General Jimmy
Goldielocks
Hadouken!
High Contrast
Ian Brown
Kids On Bridges
Japanese Popstars
Leftfield
Luca
Mark Knight
Norman Jay
Optimo
Pendulum
Plan B
Petebox
Pmcq
Rob Da Bank
Soulwax
Sensu
Subculture
Tango In The Attic
The Bloody Beetroots
The Cuban Brothers
The Coronas
The Dub Pistols
The Macabees
Tinie Tempah
The Strokes
Starsmith
Vampire Weekend
Vector Lovers
Vendor Defendor
Vitalic

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Oasis to Release Singles Collection Album in June

Oasis are to release a singles collection named 'Time Flies' on June 14.

All of the band's singles released in the UK during their 15-year career – aside from 2000's 'Sunday Morning Call' – are featured on the 26-track compilation.

A deluxe version of the compilation, featuring the band's music videos plus footage of their gig at the London Roundhouse on July 21 last year, will also be released.

The tracklisting of 'Time Flies' is:

'Supersonic'
'Roll With It'
'Live Forever'
'Wonderwall'
'Stop Crying Your Heart Out'
'Cigarettes & Alcohol'
'Songbird'
'Don’t Look Back In Anger'
'The Hindu Times'
'Stand By Me'
'Lord Don’t Slow Me Down'
'Shakermaker'
'All Around The World'
'Some Might Say'
'The Importance of Being Idle'
'D’You Know What I Mean?'
'Lyla'
'Let There Be Love'
'Go Let It Out'
'Who Feels Love?'
'Little By Little'
'The Shock Of The Lightning'
'She Is Love'
'Whatever'
'I’m Outta Time'
'Falling Down'

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Kris Kristofferson headlines Cambridge Folk Festival

Country singer Kris Kristofferson will headline this summer's Cambridge Folk Festival supported by 10,000 Maniacs vocalist Natalie Merchant.

The event from 29 July to 1 August has an American feel with bluesman Seasick Steve, Oregon's Pink Martini and bluegrass singer Kathy Mattea starring.

But a wide range of international acts are also on the bill.

Malian singer Rokia Traore, Irish accordionist Sharon Shannon stars with rockabilly singer Imelda May.

There will be a variety of traditional and modern British acts.

English folk singer Seth Lakeman, acoustic duo Show Of Hands and folk big-band The Unusual Suspects are also to perform.

The Imagined Village bring English traditional compositions while The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain re-work rock 'n' roll, punk, jazz and classical music.

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M.I.A. and Massive Attack have been confirmed as headliners for this year's Big Chill Festival.

They are joined on the bill by Kelis, Roots Manuva, Andrew Weatherall. Plan B, Mr Scruff and Tinie Tempah, with more acts to be announced in the coming months.

The 16th year of the festival tales place at Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Herefordshire from August 5 to 8, 2010.

The event will also feature renowned artist Spencer Tunick using the festival and its attendees as material for a new contemporary work. Tunick is famed for his photographs of massed naked volunteers.

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Wild Beasts, Calvin Harris, The Futureheads confirmed for Kendal Calling festival

Wild Beasts, Calvin Harris, The Futureheads and Ok Go are among the first acts to be announced for this year's Kendal Calling festival.

Erol Alkan, Scratch Perverts and Dub Pistols are also on the bill for the event, which takes place on July 30 – August 1 at Lowther Deer Park in Hackthorpe.

The full line-up so far for this year's Kendal Calling is:

Calvin Harris
Wild Beasts
The Futureheads
Ok Go
Dub Pistols
Erol Alkan
DJ Yoda
Plump DJ's
High Contrast
Scratch Perverts
Elite Force
Justin Robertson
Danny Byrd
Doorly
Eskimo Twins
Emalkay
People Get Real
Rich Reason
Ken Evil
Ash Howell
Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show
Lancashire Hotpots

http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/

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Lady Gaga sued by music producer

Lady Gaga has been accused by a songwriter and music producer of squeezing him out of her lucrative career after he co-wrote some of her songs, came up with her stage name and helped her get a record deal.

Rob Fusari has filed a 35 million US dollar (£23 million) lawsuit in New York City against the Grammy Award-winning singer, saying his protege and former girlfriend ditched him as her career soared.

Although he initially dismissed her, Fusari realised she had star potential after hearing her play in his New Jersey studio in 2006, the lawsuit said, and he spent the next few months working with her every day and "radically reshaping her approach", persuading her to drop rock riffs for dance beats.

As they co-wrote songs such as Paparazzi, he transformed Germanotta into Lady Gaga, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, Lady Gaga and Fusari's relationship turned romantic and became a business partnership in May 2006, when they created a joint venture called Team Love Child LLC to promote her career. Fusari's share was 20 per cent, it said.

Fusari says he introduced Lady Gaga to a record executive who ultimately shepherded her to Interscope Records, which released The Fame in 2008. The album has sold more than three million copies in the United States; Fusari has a producing credit.

But the lawsuit says their personal and business relationship had soured by then and he has been denied a 20 per cent share of song royalties, 15 per cent of merchandising revenue and other money he is owed. He acknowledges getting cheques for about 611,000 US dollars (£400,855) but says that is not his full share.

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