Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons 
could ditch the banjos for some synthesizers on their next album, according to front man Marcus Mumford.Download

The London-based band have enjoyed huge success in 2012 thanks to their Number One second album 'Babel', which saw the band hone their now trademark folk-rock sound.

However, lead singer Marcus Mumford has told Style Magazine that the band plan on changing things up on their third album, and revealed that they are considering going in a new electronic direction.

He said: "We've always done what feels good, rather than what we've thought long and hard about, and we'll do whatever feels soulful next, whether that's with an electric guitar or a synthesizer."NME

"It's dangerous for us to talk about what we've been discussing for the third album, but we do have greater ambitions not to just stay within certain sonic confines," added band member Ben Lovett. "We're not going to be the band that stands for folk music or organic music."

Lawson

 Lawson
 Download lead singer Andy Brown has confessed that it was an "absolute honour" to work with the likes of Robbie Williams and Paul McCartney on The Justice Collective's charity song 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', and thinks the track deserves to be Christmas number one.
The 'Taking Over Me' star told Capital FM that the song, a cover of The Hollies' track of the same name, is "incredible" and was thrilled to be singing with some if his idols.
"I'm just delighted to be involved. I mean I'm singing alongside some of my idols like Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams," he said. "The song's incredible itself, 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', it's got a great meaning behind the song and I really think it deserves to be Christmas number one this year."
The star also opens the entire track, singing the first line and called it a "dream come true" to receive such an honour considering his background.
He added: "I mean the fact that I'm opening it is just an absolute honour and a dream come true for me being a Liverpool fan and also born and raised in Liverpool."

Coldplay's

 Coldplay's
performance at Capital FM's Summertime Ball in London has been crowned Wembley Stadium's best moment of 2012.Download

The band topped a Facebook poll conducted by the stadium, which also saw Justin Bieber's Summertime Ball performance come third. Capfm

Coldplay also beat an Olympic Team GB goal and an FA Cup Final wonder save to top the survey with 71% of the vote.
The group delighted the 80,000-strong sold-out crowd with a performance of hits spanning their career, as well as songs from their recent album 'Mylo Xyloto'.

To celebrate Coldplay’s achievement, Wembley Stadium is gifting them a personalised commemorative stone immortalising their Summertime Ball performance, which will appear on Wembley Way alongside other legends such as Sir Geoff Hurst.
Coldplay were among a host of stars who played the Summertime Ball in London this summer:

Gangnam Style

Gangnam Style 
has racked up an incredible one billion YouTube views, becoming the first clip ever to reach the milestone.Downnload
The K-Pop phenomenon by PSY has been the unlikeliest hit of 2012, and has already broken several records.
In October, Gangnam Style became the first South Korean track to top the Official UK Singles Chart, and within six months of its July release, the track has hit No 1 in over 34 countries.
Back in November, the video overtook Justin Bieber's Baby to become the most-viewed clip in YouTube history, and following an online campaign to push that number into ten figures, the pop track surpassed one billion views earlier today.MTV
The success of the now infamous Gangnam Style dance has seen the likes of The Hoff, Heidi Klum and even Madonna joining in.
PSY is estimated to have made £5 million from sales and downloads of the single, as well as live gigs, and, according to The Sun, the Korean rapper is estimated to have made more than £150,000 from the YouTube views alone.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber
 has been accused of "animal cruelty" after giving his hamster to a fan reports Hollywood Life.Download

The pop singer has set his hamster, PAC, on a "short path to its doom" according to the by the California Hamster Association, due to the distress the sudden change of environment will have caused.

The 18-year-old brought the hamster home in October this year. PAC has his own Twitter account, @PacBieber, where he tweeted: "Please don't hate on my new owner. She's taking really good care of me! :)"

The girl in question is fan Victoria Blair, who says she "has some haters now," but believes Justin chose her "for a reason." Bieber has yet to comment, and it is not yet known why he gave the pet away.NME

Bieber was also in the news this month following the arrest of two men who attempted to murder and castrate him after a concert. The men, Mark Staake and his nephew Tanner Ruane from New Mexico, were hired by prison inmate Dana Martin, who is currently serving two life sentences for the rape and murder of a 15 year old girl. Martin subsequently turned the assassins in for reasons unknown

jack White

 Jack White
  is reflecting on the unwitting chain of events that led him to make SFTW’s album of the year.Download

He explains that he had no specific intention to make the magnificent Blunderbuss, an eclectic work of sustained power that positively bursts with fresh ideas.
It’s the first album to bear his name and represents a massive moment in the stellar career of its creator.
“I found myself in a process where I didn’t really know what these songs were,” he says.
“They could have been anything. ‘Is this a Raconteurs song? Or maybe I’ll bring this to The Dead Weather. Or maybe I’ll just put out a 45 (vinyl single) on Third Man (his record label)’.”
The mercurial Jack, it’s pretty safe to say, is the hardest working man in rock.
He’s a singer, guitarist, songwriter, pianist, drummer, member of two bands, chief creative force behind the sadly defunct White Stripes and producer of around 150 records at his Nashville studio.
“I’d been producing 45s for other people the last few years till finally I had a few songs going of my own,” he says.thesun
“Suddenly it seemed like, ‘Oh, I guess this is turning into something’.”
In typical Jack White style, he pushed himself to turn half-formed ideas into something genuinely worthwhile.
“I had to figure out ways to stop it becoming the easy way out,” he tells me.
“I have an obsession with being hard on myself because I really need to feel proud of what I do.
“If I look back and see that I got the best engineers, that someone mixed the record for me, that it was just a bunch of people playing the parts, I couldn’t live with throwing my name on top of it.
“But now if someone says, ‘I really love that song, Jack’, I can enjoy the compliment because I know the conditions under which it was made.”
As the Blunderbuss songs took shape, Jack assembled some of Nashville’s finest musicians. Crucially for the dynamics of the record, many of them were women. “It only takes one girl in the room to change the entire scope of all the testosterone,” he laughs.
“A couple of years ago, I would have imagined playing most of the instruments myself but it was never the case working on these songs.
“I’d try to shake things up by saying, ‘What if we only have female musicians today?’
“This is by far the most people I’ve had play on one album, probably 20 altogether.”

Madonna

Madonna 

to play nice with her fans.Download

As rain beat down on the stage of the open-air Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday, the pop queen berated a small crowd granted access to her sound check for smoking cigarettes in her vicinity.

It began when her white umbrella inverted -- drawing big laughs from the crowd -- whereupon the singer, wrapped in a hooded black coat, abruptly stopped a performance of "Human Nature."

"There are people smoking right now," she said. "No smoking. If you're going to smoke cigarettes, I'm not doing a show. You don't care about me, I don't care about you. All right? Are we going to play that game? I'm not kidding. I can't sing if you smoke."Billboard

"Entiendes?" she asked the Spanish-speaking crowd.

"You're looking right at me and smoking cigarettes, like I'm a stupid f---ing idiot," Madonna said, then stormed off the stage. Video of her rant was uploaded to YouTube but subsequently removed.

It's not the first time she's antagonized her fans on the MDNA Tour. At her Miami date, she kept the audience waiting for more than three hours before taking the stage.

Jessie J

Jessie J 
has given fans a glimpse at the new series of BBC One talent show The Voice in some behind-the-scenes snaps.Download
The Laserlight singer uploaded the pics to her official Instagram page @isthatjessiej - where she can be seen sporting a new, sleek bob hairstyle as she sits in the shows famous red spinning chairs.
Accompanied with the images was the caption: "On set #thevoiceukseries2.Jessie will be joined by fellow coaches Will.I.Am, Sir Tom Jones and Danny O'Donoghue for the new series - with The Sun reporting that the show is getting a major revamp.
BBC boss Danny Cohen recently confirmed that the show's second series would have "less live shows" and "more blind auditions and battle rounds".
The newspaper claims that the decision was made after ratings dropped from 12million to less than half when the chairs stopped spinning.MTV
Mark Linsey, BBC entertainment chief, said: "It’s not rocket science to say the spinning chairs were the best bit.”

James Arthur

James Arthur
has released his autobiography - and fans queued round the block at his very first book signings.By Book

The 24-year-old, who beat Jahmene Douglas in the 2012 final, was on hand to sign copies of his book James Arthur, My Story, at Leicester and Birmingham on Wednesday, and was obviously pleased with the warm welcome he received.Tweeting after the signings, James wrote: "Love to all who came to the Birmingham And Leicester book signings you were all amazing #LOVE."
Arthur's debut single, Impossible, went straight to the top of last week's Official UK Singles Chart.
But the Middlesbrough singer might just get pipped to the Christmas No 1 post, as midweek sales figures revealed The Justice Collective's Hillsborough charity single, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, is on course for the festive top spot.
It's not over yet though.MTV
According to the Daily Mail, Martin Talbot, Managing Director of the Official Chart Company, said: "This really is the closest No 1 battle we can remember - even closer than the legendary 2009 battle between Rage Against The Machine and Joe McElderry.
"The poll concludes at midnight on Saturday night (22 December), so there is a long way to go yet - but this one looks like going down to the wire."
Impossible became the fastest-selling X Factor winner's single ever after shifting more than 187,000 downloads on its first day on sale.

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne 
 Download is embarking on his first-ever European tour in March, 2013. The 15-date trek, will pass through 10 countries in Europe, kicking off in Ireland on March 8.

2 Chainz and Mac Miller, who both headlined solo tours this year, will be joining Weezy on the Live Nation tour. Billboard

Lil Wayne's tenth studio album, "I Am Not Human Being 2," is scheduled to debut in early 2013. The album's first single, " No Worries," currently charts at No. 9 on R&B/HIp-Hop Songs and No. 39 on the Hot 100Check out the dates for Lil Wayne's 2013 European Spring tour: 

Fri. March 08 Ireland, Dublin 02 Arena
Sun. March 10 France, Toulouse Zenith
Mon.March 11 France, Marseille Le Dome
Wed. March 13 Denmark, Copenhagen Tap 1
Thu. March 14 Norway, Oslo Spektrum
Fri. March 15 Sweden, Stockholm Globe
Sun. March 17 France, Amneville Le Galaxy
Mon. March 18 Germany, Hamburg Sporthalle
Tue. March 19 Germany, Berlin Velodrom
Thu. March 21 France, Paris Bercy
Fri. March 22 Germany, Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Halle
Sat. March 23 Switzerland, Davos
Mon. March 25 Belgium, Brussels Forest Club
Tue. March 26 Germany, Frankfurt Festhalle
Wed. March 27 Netherlands, Amsterdam Ziggo

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift
Download is reportedly on the look out for some expensive memorabilia from The Beatles for boyfriend Harry Styles' Christmas present.
According to The Daily Star, Taylor - who is thought to have been dating Harry for the past few weeks - wants to make it a Xmas to remember for the One Direction star by treating him to merchandise from his idols.MTV
A source told the newspaper: "Harry spent £900 on Taylor for her recent birthday, and now she wants to repay the favour – and then some.“She’s been phoning Beatles stores in Liverpool hoping to find pieces of rare autographed memorabilia she knows Harry will love.
“A staff member at one store let slip she wanted to spend somewhere between £40,000 and £50,000.”
Swift spent her 23rd birthday with Hazza last week, where he is thought to have brought her 23 cupcakes and a new handbag to celebrate.
Reports have since claimed that Swift has asked the 18-year old to spend Christmas with her in Tennessee, with a source telling Now magazine: "Taylor and the family all go shooting with their dogs before Christmas dinner.
“If Harry is there, he’s expected to go with them. Taylor really wants him to come.”

Emeli Sandé

Emeli Sandé. 
 Download The track written by herself with the collaboration of Naughty Boy and Grant Mitchell is the fifth official single taken from her debut studio album “Our Version of Events” that was released on digital retailers on February 10, 2012 via Virgin Records. The single is scheduled for release on iTunes on December 23.
The singer described the track: ”It’s about how I felt when I was trying to get signed, I was going for all these meetings and people were looking at me like ‘What do we do with you’? It’s about not allowing yourself to be judged by others or to be taken for an idiot. I feel the video reflects that“. The official music video directed by Wiz is about making a stand, believing in yourself and not allowing yourself to be judged.

One Direction

One Direction
Download new video is finally here! Sort of. The pop world has been waiting with bated breath for One Direction’s newest music vid, “Kiss You,” and we’re here to say that the wait is … not over! While most 1D fans must somehow bide their time until December 17 to see the highly anticipated offering in its entirety, some very lucky fans won tickets to the clip’s premiere. And while you might not get to watch the whole video today, you can get an eyeful from the fun-filled “Kiss You” premiere event!

The fan-tastic video shows 1D fans screaming, crying, dancing and singing along to the new sure-fire hit song. After seeing the premiere, a breathless fan gushed, “Everyone says nobody is perfect but they’re perfect.”
We get a glimpse at the band surfing, singing in “Jail House Rock”-style prison, riding on motorcycles and even dancing around without their shirts off! Yes, that’s right: One Direction are shirtless.

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse
London say the inquest into the death of soul singer Amy Winehouse was overseen by a coroner who lacked the proper qualifications and will be re-heard next month.oRDER DVD

Camden Council says a new hearing will take place on Jan. 8.

Winehouse was found dead in her London home in July 2011 at age 27. An inquest in October 2011 found the "Back to Black" singer had died of accidental alcohol poisoning.

Assistant deputy coroner Suzanne Greenaway, who oversaw the inquest, resigned the next month after her qualifications were questioned. She had been appointed by her husband, Andrew Reid, the coroner for inner north London.Billboard

Reid was suspended, and resigned earlier this month.

Winehouse family spokesman Chris Goodman said Monday that family had not requested a new hearing.

 by Taboola

From The Web

James Arthur

James Arthur

 has scored has gone straight in at the top of the Official UK Singles Chart - one week after triumphing on the ITV talent show.Download

His cover of Shontelle's Impossible became the fastest-selling track of 2012 - clocking up sales of 490,000 copies - with profits going to charity.

He commented: "To everyone from home and around Britain who bought the single, thank you very, very much.MTV

"You've made my dreams come true. The fact that it was in aid of Together For Short Lives, which is a great cause and a great charity, I think that really helped.

"My number one award is going to go on my mantelpiece, and I'll probably kiss it for two weeks solid every time I pass it!"

Will.I.Am went straight in at No 2 with Scream & Shout (ft. Britney Spears), with Bruno Mars' Locked Out Of Heaven slipping one spot to No 3.

Last week's No 1, Gabrielle Aplin's The Power Of Love, dropped three places to No 4, whileOlly Murs' Troublemaker (ft. Flo Rida) fell two places to No 5.

Meanwhile over in the Official UK Albums Chart there was a new No 1 in the form of Bruno Mars' latest LP Unorthodox Jukebox.

Olly Murs dropped one place to No 2 with Right Place Right Time, and Michael Bublé'sChristmas also slipped a place to No 3.

Emeli Sandé's Our Version Of Events rose three places to No 4 and Rod Stewart's Merry Christmas Baby rounded out the top five

Talyor Swift

Taylor Swift

 Download video for "I Knew You Were Trouble" finds the singer taking on some risky business -- and sharing a lot in common with Rihanna's "We Found Love" video. "Trouble," the third video from Swift's chart-topping "Red," extends its bad romance with a two-minute prologue featuring a spoken-word segment, akin to the addition that opens "We Found Love." "And when it's over, you almost wish you could have that bad stuff back, so you could have the good," model Agyness Deyn narrates in Rihanna's video, though Swift's monologue turns toward different regrets: "The worst part of it wasn't losing him, it was losing me."

The video is an edgier, grown-up turn for the 23-year-old singer, whose "Red," now atop the charts for a fourth week, shows no signs of slowing down on the Billboard 200. While "We Found Love" concludes with Rihanna storming out, in "Trouble," it's Swift who wakes up alone in a rave's aftermath, remembering her time alongside a man living life on the edge. Here are five "I Knew You Were Trouble" scenes that had us having flashbacks Billboard

Rihanna

Rihanna 
in the Caribbean in order to offer her a job on The X Factor.Download

The reality TV mogul is claimed by The Sun to be offering the pop megastar a choice of judging jobs on either the US or UK version of the talent show.
A source said: "Simon is a huge admirer of Rihanna and knows she's star quality. As well as bringing an aura to the panel thanks to her current standing in music, she is also feisty and will make great TV. Simon loves these sort of characters."MTV
SiCo spends every Christmas at his home on Barbados, where Rihanna was born and is also planning to spend the holiday season visiting family.
And the 53-year-old is also claimed to be ready to offer RiRi's on-off BF Chris Brown a job on the panel of The X Factor USA - taking over from departing judge LA Reid.
"The US X Factor has improved on the first season's ratings but it's got some way to go to reach Simon's expectations," the source explained.
"Adding Chris to the panel will certainly create a talking point."

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney

Download and the surviving members of Nirvana at the 12-12-12: Concert For Sandy Relief earlier this week - is set to feature on the soundtrack to Dave Grohl's forthcoming documentary, Sound City.

Full details of the starstudded soundtrack have now been released, and 'Sound City – Real to Reel' will also feature collaborations between Grohl and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac - on 'You Can't Fix This' - and between Grohl, Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Joshua Homme and Nine Inch Nails man Trent Reznor, who team up on a song called 'Mantra'.NME

The soundtrack also features appearances from Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters and Queens Of The Stone Age associate Alain Johannes.

Sound City will get its world premiere at the Sundance Film festival next year. Scroll down to watch a trailer for the film.

The film marks Grohl's directorial debut and tells the story of the legendary California recording studio where classics such as Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' and Nirvana's 'Nevermind' were recorded. It will be shown at the US film festival which runs from January 17-27, 2013.