Kelly Rowland, Lil Wayne unveil 'Ice' music video - watch

Kelly Rowland has premiered her latest music video online.

The singer has teamed up with Lil Wayne for her new single 'Ice', which is the trailer cut from upcoming album Year of the Woman.

The clip sees Rowland perform a number of dance routines, while other shots see her being rubbed with ice by a muscular male.

The star's forthcoming album Year of the Woman is expected to be released in 2013 and will serve as the follow-up to last year's Here I Am.

"This album is one of my greatest pieces of work and I cannot wait to share it with you guys," Rowland previously said of the collection.

Rihanna finishes work on new album

Rihanna finishes work on new album 'Unapologetic'

Rihanna has confirmed that work on her seventh studio album has finished.

The singer added the final touches to new record Unapologetic last night (November 4) ahead of its worldwide release on November 19.

"Man my album is complete, and I need a f**king drink and a roll up! It was quite the journey, but it's all part of our story! #UNAPOLOGETIC," she tweeted.

The star will embark on a '777 Tour' to promote the album, which includes performing seven gigs in seven countries in the run-up to its release.

The set's lead single 'Diamonds' was released back in September and has peaked at number one in the UK and five on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Listen to Rihanna's latest single 'Diamonds' below:

 

Taylor Swift premieres new music video

Taylor Swift premieres new single 'Begin Again' music video - watch

Taylor Swift has premiered her new music video online.
The singer will put out 'Begin Again' as the second single from her new album Red, which was released worldwide earlier this week.

The accompanying music video features the star fall for a man in a Parisian cafe, while other scenes see her stroll and cycle around the French capital.

Red is Swift's fourth studio collection and features recent hit single 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together'.

The country performer recently told Digital Spy that she gets nervous before releasing new albums.

"I get nervous for everything - literally everything," she said. "I'm so proud of this record and I think I know my fans well enough to know they're going to like it too.

"There's a lot of pressure putting an album out all over the world and hoping people everywhere like it."

UK Music gets global cash boost

British musicians see overseas revenue double

Big hits from the likes of Adele and Calvin Harris helped British artists earn £188m in overseas royalties last year, according to PRS for Music. The organisation collects royalties from 150 countries on behalf of 90,000 UK songwriters, composers and music publishers. During a "particularly strong" 2011, UK songwriters and composers earned £187.7m globally - up 10% on 2010.

 Overseas royalties have been boosted by sell out stadium gigs by bands such as Muse.

Income earned abroad has doubled in the last decade, the PRS added.
Royalties are generated any time a song is played - whether it is on TV, radio, online or at a live event - and distributed between composers and performers.
PRS said that revenues had jumped from £88m in 2002 for two reasons: The popularity of British music abroad and "improved licensing".
Live music incomes saw substantial growth from £2.2m to £21m since 2002, due to sell-out stadium concerts for acts such as The Rolling Stones, Muse and Paul McCartney.
And the industry has reaped the benefits of successful American artists such as Rihanna and Nicki Minaj hiring British songwriters, such as Calvin Harris and Fraser T Smith, to compose their hits.
TV revenues have also risen from £29m in 2002 to £60m last year, partly thanks to British music being used on talent shows like X Factor and American Idol.

"Success story"

Karen Buse, director of International at PRS for Music said: "These are very strong trends which underpin the success of our songwriters and the UK music industry on the global stage.
"While it has been a particularly strong year for music distribution via platforms such as the 2012 London Olympics, this much is clear: Music is a great British success story," she said.

 Rihanna's We Found Love was written by British DJ and songwriter Calvin Harris.

"It contributes significantly to our economy and promotes our endemic creativity and culture."
Brazil is a healthy consumer of British music and will continue to be an important source of income, having delivered a revenue of £1.6m in the last two years, according to PRS.
The country has also become an increasingly attractive location for British artists to perform as a result of "unprecedented investment" in live concert venues, due to the country's successful bids to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games in 2016.
PRS said it hoped to boost revenue in the future by looking to emerging music markets such as China, India and Eastern Europe.
The UK, Sweden and the US are the only three countries in the world that are net exporters of music.
The royalties that UK songwriters, composers and music publishers receive from online sales has grown in recent years and while PRS said it remains "comparatively low" at £2m, it forecasts this figure is set to double by 2022.
PRS said overall global revenues for its members totalled £630.8m last year, up from £611m in 2010.

Katy Perry duets with autistic girl in 'Too Many Stars' - video

A clip of Katy Perry's special performance on Night of Too Many Stars has been released. Perry was promoted as appearing at the autism benefit for a special performance of her hit 'Firework' in honour of a lucky fan.

That fan turned out to be Jodi DiPiazza, a young girl who has coped with her autism diagnosis through music. DiPiazza accompanied Perry in the advertised performance of 'Firework', which left many in the audience in tears. Night of Too Many Stars host Jon Stewart even took a few moments to regain his composure before continuing the benefit.

 > Katy Perry performs for Barack Obama: "I believe in equal rights"
Perry tweeted about the memorable collaboration after taping Night of Too Many Stars. "I will never forget last night. It was the most important moment thus far of what I do," Perry wrote. Perry's appearance on Night of Too Many Stars airs on Sunday, October 21 at 8/7c on Comedy Central.
All proceeds from the event go towards autism education programmes.

Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, LMFAO, Drake wow New York in New Year spectacle - video

Lady GaGa led a whole host of stars bringing in 2012 in New York last night, as one million revellers took to the streets to mark the New Year.
The 'Born This Way' singer was joined by artists including Justin Bieber, LMFAO, Drake, Cee Lo Green, Pitbull and Florence + the Machine for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve live in Times Square.

GaGa performed a medley of 'Heavy Metal Lover', 'Marry the Night' and 'Born This Way' - as seen in the video above - in a costume that has been described by critics as "Jabba the Hut-esque".
She later changed into a black sequin bodysuit and Catwoman mask, while sporting a large globe structure around her head. GaGa also helped New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg drop the New Year's Eve ball, before kissing him at the stroke of midnight.

The 25-year-old tweeted after the show: "I cant even quite describe what tonight felt like. Sort of poetic madness. A dream come true. Moments recalling a leather taking the subway.
"My new years resolution: Never be afraid to be kicked in the teeth. Let the blood and the bruises define your legacy."
Justin Bieber took to the piano to cover The Beatles' 'Let It Be' alongside Carlos Santana, and later declared that he was "honoured" to have performed with the legendary guitar player

LMFAO, Drake, Cee Lo Green, Pitbull and Florence + the Machine also played the annual gig across the evening.
Dick Clark has hosted the New Year's Eve spectacle since the 1970s and was again aided by Ryan Seacrest for what was the 40th anniversary of the show.

Slow Moving Millie interview: 'I cried at John Lewis ad'

Her stage name might sound like a schoolyard taunt, but Slow Moving Millie's rise to fame in the last two months has been anything but sluggish.

Following the success of Ellie Goulding's 'Your Song' on last year's John Lewis Christmas advert, the actress and singer-songwriter - real name is Amelia Warner - was selected to sing a cover of The Smiths' 'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want' for this year's festive commercial.

With said song scaling the charts and her new album Renditions - a collection '80s hits turned on their head - out this week, we met up with her to find out how she's handling her newfound fame.

Are you known as Slow Moving Millie because you're really lazy?
"I hope it's not about that! It came about because I was an actress for quite a long time and wasn't particularly happy doing it. I'd write music just for myself, and my friends were always on at me to take it further. I probably am a bit lazy too, though. I also liked the safety of writing and releasing music under a different name."

Your song 'Beasts' previously featured on the Virgin Media advert in 2009 and your latest cover is for the John Lewis Christmas advert. How did they come about?
"I did some composing for some films, which was like a transition from acting to singing. It's something I'd like to keep doing. It was a good way to start without it being all about me. After the Virgin deal I finally got some money behind me to leave acting and leap into the music properly.

"It was my manager who got me involved with the John Lewis ad. It was a situation where they knew what song they wanted and had sent it out to lots of different artists. I was recording my covers album anyway, and my manager asked me to try it out without telling me what it was for. It was about two months later when I found out it was being used for the advert."

Ellie Goulding's 'Your Song' did well last year; are you hoping for similar success with 'Please Please'?
"It's definitely a good break and it can be a great platform. There are so few opportunities in the industry now, and this is a great way to get your music out to as many people as possible. The John Lewis ad is also like the holy grail of ads, and it's a great company to be associated with."

It's quite an emotional advert - did you cry at it too?
"I've seen it a lot so I'm immune to it now, but the first time I saw it I did cry. That little boy is so cute! He's fantastic."

Your album Renditions transforms '80s pop hits by the likes of Yazoo and Tears for Fears; have you also been a fan of that genre?
"It just kind of came about. I was writing my debut album of original stuff and the covers thing was a side project. I'm randomly drawn to songs from that era because I think they often get a really bad rep. A lot are really beautiful songs but because they were written in the '80s when the production was lairy, shiny and synthetic. A lot of great ballads suffered from overeager producers. I love all of the originals, but they shouldn't have that guilty pleasure label."

We're especially a fan of your Bananarama 'Love in the First Degree' cover. Will it be a future single?
"Thanks! I love that song - I was so pleased with how it turned out. I think there's talk of releasing 'Feels Like Heaven' because it's upbeat, fun and very different from 'Please Please'.

It's a brave concept for an album; did you have any trouble convincing your label?
"I remember some of the label were concerned about me covering Bananarama because they thought no-one would take it seriously. The album isn't necessarily tongue-in-cheek, but it's about having fun. I think they work, and I don't think it should matter who did them originally or whether it's cool or not."

Does your original material have a similar sound to this record?
"There are certain tracks that are similar to my own music. The 'Don't Go' cover is quite similar to my style. My music tends to be layered up, whereas the covers here are a lot more stripped back. The two bonus tracks on the album are my own, which also serves as a bit of an introduction to my music."

Would you have ever considered applying for The X Factor?
"I don't think I could do it. I love the show and I'm full of admiration of the people who go through it, but I don't know how I could audition in front of all those people. I haven't got the backbone for it. I'd fall to pieces! There's just no way.

"I was really pleased for Little Mix, although I loved Marcus too because he's a fellow scouser. The girls just managed to out-do him on the night, whereas Marcus seemed to choke on the final. I actually quite like their version of 'Cannonball' - I almost wanted it to kick off more and become a full-on dance track! Maybe I only loved it because I was caught up in the moment - it's obviously not the ideal song for them, but who cares?"

Slow Moving Millie's new album Renditions is out now.

Rihanna releases teaser for new video 'You Da One' - Picture

Rihanna has released a picture from her upcoming video for new single 'You Da One'.

The photo, unveiled on the singer's Twitter account, shows the bare-shouldered Bajan popstar and a puff of smoke, set against a dark backdrop.

Tweeting the picture, the star added: "you know im already in trouble 4 this but, i like to keep yall in the loop (sic)."

Earlier this month, Rihanna unveiled a behind-the-scenes clip of herself being moulded for a teeth grill, which will apparently feature fangs in the music video.

The 23-year-old filmed the promo in East London, where she hired out the set of the BBC business programme Dragons' Den.

Rihanna sports a short blonde haircut for the new video, which was filmed at the end of last month ahead of the single's official release on January 2.

'You Da One' is the second cut to be lifted from the star's sixth studio album Talk That Talk, released in November.

The LP's first single, 'We Found Love', has spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and achieved six weeks at the summit of the UK singles chart.

Watch Rihanna get her new grill moulded for the 'You Da One video below:

Madonna happy birthday song for Minaj

Madonna, MIA sing happy 29th birthday to Nicki Minaj - listen

Madonna and MIA have celebrated Nicki Minaj's 29th birthday as the three filmed a new music video together.

Minaj and MIA will feature on Madonna's forthcoming single 'Give Me All Your Love', which will receive its official premiere in early 2012.

After singing happy birthday to the rapper, Madonna kissed the Pink Friday star to cheers from the production crew and cast.

Addressing the crowd, Minaj said: "You know what? Thank you so much and I have to thank the queen, Madonna, for giving me this amazing opportunity.

"I love her so much and she is fierce. She didn't have to do this for me and MIA, but we love you and thank you so much for everything."

She then joked: "Did you get my kiss with Madonna on camera? Oh my God!"

Madonna will be the halftime act at next year's Super Bowl and is expected to perform her new single for the first time at the event.

Taylor Swift dominates 2011 American Music Awards

Taylor Swift has dominated the 2011 American Music Awards.

Swift won every award for which she was nominated. Early on in the evening, she earned the prize for 'Favourite Country Female Artist' for the fourth year in a row. She later took home the awards for 'Favourite Country Album', as well as 'Artist of the Year'.

Nicki Minaj and David Guetta opened the awards show with a joint performance of 'Turn Me On' and 'Super Bass'. The pair was one of the night's six unique collaborations.
Meanwhile, Minaj won her first ever American Music Award for 'Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist', beating Lil Wayne and Kanye West. She also earned the award for 'Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Album'.

Enrique Iglesias performed alongside a high school choir, singing 'I Like How It Feels' followed by 'Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)'. Iglesias was joined by Ludacris for the second song. 

Jennifer Lopez nearly cried during her first performance on stage, where she sung a medley of 'Until It Beats No More', 'Papi' and 'On The Floor'. She later joined will.i.am for the first live performance of his single 'T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)'.
In addition, Lopez, who earned the award for 'Favourite Artist in Latin Music', acknowledged that it had been a difficult year for her.

American Music Awards 2011: Full list of winners

Lopez's ex-husband Marc Anthony also performed in the course of the evening, joining Pitbull and Lil Jon for a three-way performance of 'Rain Over Me'.

Katy Perry earned a special achievement award for having five number one singles from the same album, Teenage Dream. She became the first female artist ever to win the accolade, which was previously awarded to the late Michael Jackson, among others.

Bruno Mars upset Justin Bieber to claim the title of 'Favourite Male Artist In Pop/Rock'. The singer thanked his fans before offering to share his award with fellow nominees Bieber and Pitbull.

Adele took home the prizes for 'Favourite Album in Pop/Rock', 'Pop/Rock Female Artist' and 'Adult Contemporary Artist'.
The evening concluded with a performance by LMFAO that included guest appearances from the likes of Justin Bieber and David Hasselhoff.

Watch LMFAO's closing performance below:

Jennifer Lopez nearly cries at 2011 American Music Awards

Jennifer Lopez has performed at the 2011 American Music Awards.

The singer started off her act alone on stage, dressed in a golden gown and singing 'Until It Beats No More'. Behind her, a screen read "Love… It's a journey and I still have questions".

As she began her performance, it appeared as though she might cry, as she did during a concert in October.
However, Lopez then paused and looked up, giving the crowd a smile before shedding most of her outfit and transitioning into her hit song 'Papi'.
She was then joined on stage by her backup dancers. Lopez performed alongside them, then headed to the back of the stage to get into a Fiat 500, which the singer sponsors. She then proceeded to "drive" through projections of Hollywood at night.

Watch the live Performance

After being pulled from the Fiat by her dancers, Lopez transitioned into her final song 'On The Floor', shedding more of her outfit until she was only in a sparkly nude body suit.
She was joined by Pitbull for the performance, in addition to men and women on furry black stilts. Lopez will take the stage again later in the evening with will.i.am.
Lopez split from her husband Marc Anthony in July. He is also expected to take the stage at the American Music Awards.
The 2011 American Music Awards continue on ABC.

Basement Jaxx: 'Next album could be our last'

Basement Jaxx have revealed that their next album could be their last major release.

The group, who started in 1994, said that they are "ready" to release another album but suggested it could also be their final record.

Simon Ratcliffe told Digital Spy: "We're ready to do another Basement Jaxx album. It might be the last one, but we'll probably work together still making music for films or an opera or something.

"We'll see. I mean, I'm definitely keen on continuing with film music. I released a solo EP this year, which was me being self-indulgent - that was really nice and rewarding. I'd like to continue with some more left field stuff."

Ratcliffe also admitted that it was "good" the duo went on a break last year, adding: "We were still working but not rushing to make another album. We'd been releasing music and touring for the last decade."

Basement Jaxx recently wrote the score for teen movie Attack the Block.

The group are part of the lineup who will be performing at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project at Alexandra Palace on 12th November 2011. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/SmirnoffGB

Listen to their 2006 hit 'Oh My Gosh' below:

Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

Listen to our ten favourite tracks this week, including Delilah, Lady GaGa, Paramore and Rihanna.

Delilah: 'Love You So'
After cracking the charts with her first major release 'Go' back in September, Delilah returns with 'Love You So', a haunting number complete with twinkly xylophone, tribal drums and an ethereal vocal that Ellie Goulding wouldn't cock a snook at. The song is available to download on December 19. RC

Drake feat. Rihanna: 'Take Care'
The title track from Drake's upcoming album Take Care sees the rapper team up once more with Rihanna. The song is a mix of hacienda piano riffs, restrained beats and classy vocals that effuses sexiness as effortlessly as Ri's strut. Take Care will be released on November 14. LC

Lady GaGa: 'Marry The Night (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)'
We at Digital Spy were big fans of last year's The Remix, and as you can imagine, we are just as pumped for her forthcoming collection of Born This Way re-workings. One of the highlights is this swiz of her latest track courtesy of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. RC

Marry The Night (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)

Mary J Blige: '25/8'
Mary J Blige heads up her tenth studio album by doing what she does best; carefully crafted R&B with lashings of powerhouse soul. The album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), follows on November 21. Watch the official '25/8' music video below: RC

 
Sway: 'Still Speedin''
Underground rapper Derek Andrew Safo aka Sway returns with 'Still Speedin'', a hi-NRG club pumper than takes no less than three seconds to go from zero to 60. While it's already popular with F1 racers Lewis Hamilton and Nigel Mansell for its nods to car racing, club classics fans can enjoy the welcome return of Loleatta Holloway's 'Love Sensation'. The track is available to download on December 4. RC

Paramore: 'Hello Cold World'
The second instalment of the band's Singles Club scheme, 'Hello Cold World' is a trademark Paramore composition of bouncy emo-rock riffs and bittersweet lyrics. The song is only available to download through the group's offiicial website ahead of their new album, which is slated for a 2012 release. LC

Little Boots - 'Shake Until Your Heart Breaks' (Mixtape)
We'll be honest, after the mediocre success of her debut LP Hands in 2009, our minds had tossed Little Boots on to the heap of criminally underrated electro-pop. After making a name for herself on the New York club scene, she's dipped her toes back in our brisker waters and put out a mixtape which features Oh Land, Joe Goddard and Madonna.

Archeo: 'Mr General'
London-based artiste Archeo has described 'Mr. General' as a "quick blast of what's to come" from his debut album. The cut is a '90s-inspired electro-hop anti-authority anthem co-produced by New Order collaborator Steve Osbourne. It's available to download from November 28. LC

Modestep: 'To The Stars'
With the dubstep revolution in full swing, Modestep continue to push their take on the genre with new single 'To The Stars'. The track begins with frontman Josh Friend's haunting vocal before it explodes into a mosh pit-worthy combo of hazy reverb and stadium-sized guitar solos. 'To The Stars' is available to download now. LC

Spector: 'Grey Shirt & Tie'
Pushing on with their third single, Brit-popsters Spector will release 'Grey Shirt & Tie' as the follow-up to their autumnal cut 'What You Wanted'. The song showcases frontman Frederick Macpherson's smooth vocal over a backdrop of electronic keyboards and top-tapping beats. 'Grey Shirt & Tie' is out on December 5. LC

Rihanna reveals new album 'Talk That Talk' tracklist

Rihanna has revealed the tracklist for her upcoming album Talk That Talk.

The Bajan star confirmed the 14 songs that will appear on her sixth studio LP by uploading a photo of the "final hours" of recording to her official Facebook profile.

In the image, Rihanna is seen posing next to a sheet of paper which has all the Talk That Talk titles clearly written upon it.

However, she clarified that one song in the photo entitled 'Answer' would not be appearing on the album, and said that the tracks were not written in the order of play.

According to a version of a Talk That Talk tracklist leaked this week, three confirmed songs 'Fool In Love', 'Red Lipstick' and 'Do Ya Thing' will only appear on a deluxe version of the album.

The LP's lead single 'We Found Love', which features Calvin Harris, has already topped the charts in both the UK and the US.

Talk That Talk is set for release on November 21. The tracks revealed are as follows:

1. 'We Found Love'
2. 'You The One'
3. 'Watch And Learn'
4. 'Ride Me Out'
5. 'Cockiness'
6. 'Talk That Talk'
7. 'Drunk On Love'
8. 'Farewell'
9. 'We All Want Love'
10. 'Red Lipstick'
11. 'Fool In Love'
12. 'Where Have You Been'
13. 'Do Ya Thang'
14. 'Birthday Cake'

Watch Rihanna in the video for 'We Found Love' below:

Backstreet Boys working on new album

The Backstreet Boys have revealed that they are working on a new album.

The band said that they have started their ninth studio LP, but have yet to decide on the sound of the record.

Howie Dorough told Digital Spy: "BSB are absolutely still together. We're giving each other some time for solo projects, but we're also in the process of putting together the next Backstreet Boys album.

"It's too early to say what the direction of the record will be - right now we're just writing and gathering songs. Our last album was a bit more Euro-dance but we're considering moving back to our pop-rock sound."

He added: "We always try to stay ahead of the curve and top ourselves with each album."

The group, who are currently on a joint world tour with New Kids on the Block, released their last full album This Is Us in 2009 and put out an album with NKOTB earlier this year.

BSB member AJ McLean checked into rehab in January for "personal reasons".

Howie Dorough releases his debut solo album Back To Me on November 9.


Watch the Backstreet Boys video for 'All I Have To Give' below:

Justin Bieber's next album expected summer 2012

Justin Bieber is reportedly hoping to release his second studio album in summer 2012.

The Canadian popstar's manager Scooter Braun told Billboard that the follow-up to Bieber's 2010 album My World 2.0 will be out next year "in a perfect world".

"He's pretty adamant about writing a lot of the album," Braun revealed. "I'm really excited for him. This kid can sing his ass off. He's coming into his own."

Braun added that Bieber won't release the new record, expected to be titled 'Believe', until it's perfect.

The singer's Christmas album Under the Mistletoe will be released on November 1.

> Justin Bieber's new album inspired by Justin Timberlake

Watch the video for Justin Bieber's single 'Mistletoe' below:

Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

Listen to ten of our favourite upcoming releases below, including Willow Smith, Kelly Clarkson, Taio Cruz and Emeli Sandé.

Willow Smith ft. Nicki Minaj: 'Fireball'
It may have been a while since we've heard anything from Willow Smith, but given she's 10 years old, we'll leave the tardiness lecture to Will and Jada Pinkett for now. Following the mighty '21st Century Girl', she's returned with 'Fireball', a ballsy, bubblegum hip-hop number with a melody more vicious than a schoolyard jump rope final. Thankfully, Nicki Minaj manages to avoid cursing during her guest skit. RC

Taio Cruz: 'Hangover'
With his international profile at its peak, Taio Cruz is heading up his third studio album TY.O with new single 'Hangover'. Taking an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach, the song is Cruz's trademark mix of pumping club beats and skyscraper synths - with a rap courtesy of Flo Rida thrown in for good measure. LC

Guillemots: 'I Don't Feel Amazing Now'
Lead by the fantastically named Fyfe Dangerfield, Brummie four-piece Guillemots will release 'I Don't Feel Amazing Now' as the third single from their latest album Walk the River. The track - out October 24 - is a breezy ballad of mellow guitars and raw vocals. LC

Emeli Sandé: 'Daddy'
She may have been busy writing songs for Syco acts Susan Boyle and Leona Lewis, but Emeli Sandé has also managed to prep her second single 'Daddy'. Scheduled for November 20, the soul-dripping cut is a collaboration with producer Naughty Boy and will feature on her debut album due to follow in the new year. LC

The Woo Woo's: 'Fizzy Lettuce'
They might be named after one of the fruitiest cocktails known to man, but new all-female trio The Woo Woo's are far from bubblegum pop. In fact, judging by the Massive Attack-meets-early-Sugababes sound of buzz track 'Fizzy Lettuce', 'Dark & Stormy' might have been a more appropriate alco-pop spinoff. Listen to the song in full below, which is available to download next month. RC

B.o.B ft. Lil Wayne: 'Strange Clouds'
Having topped the charts Stateside with his debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray and picking up a pair of number one singles in the UK last year, B.o.B ramps up the bass for the trailer from his new LP 'Strange Clouds' - a squelchy, menacing offering with a speaker-splitting guest rap from Lil Wayne. RC

The Civil Wars: 'Barton Hollow'
After cracking the Top 20 with their debut album in the US earlier this year, Nashville duo Joy Williams and John Paul White aka The Civil Wars are early favourites to take the UK shores by storm in 2012. Their debut offering 'Barton Hollow' is a pacey slice of bluegrass soul with some seriously impressive harmonies. RC

will.i.am ft. Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger: 'Hard'
This solo track from the Black Eyed Peas frontman will do little to quash rumours of the band's imminent split, but its curious lineup could be an even bigger talking point - roping in Ms. Lopez and Mick Jagger himself for guest spots. Like most of his efforts, we're guessing this one takes a while to sink in. RC

Kelly Clarkson: 'What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)'
Tackling those pesky hackers head on, Kelly Clarkson officially debuted 'What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)' online last week after she discovered many different demos of the track floating around the web. The song is lifted from her upcoming album Stronger, which is out on October 24. LC

Tyga ft. Chris Richardson: 'Far Away'
Finally getting its official UK release, Young Money's Tyga has teamed up with US crooner Chris Richardson for hip-hop power ballad 'Far Away', in which the rapper spits lyrics of regrettable heartbreak and lost love over a bop-inducing military beat and soaring strings. LC

Lady GaGa working on 'Born This Way' follow-up album

Lady GaGa has confirmed that she is already working on her next album.The 'You and I' star insisted that she will continue to put out new music as soon as possible in order to "keep things exciting".
Speaking of the new record on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, she said: "I've been working on that. I've been planning the next tour, which keeps me very excited and busy because I have lots of new ideas, and I know exactly how I want it to look.
"I'm also planning my next music video. I have lots of thing to do, but in truth, I feel like I'm the most alive when I'm on stage."
The singer released Born This Way earlier this year and received mostly positive reviews for her latest effort, which has spawned four singles including 'Judas' and 'The Edge of Glory'.
She is expected to release a fifth single from Born This Way before the end of the year.
GaGa's manager Troy Carter recently admitted that he would give her next album away for free if it was up to him.
Watch Lady GaGa's video for 'Born This Way' below:

Britney Spears wanted to be a teacher!

Over the years Britney Spears has provided us with the kind of material that can get you through a break-up, make-up, or even epic shower-singing session. Just us?
Well whack on that Greatest Hits CD in celebration, 29-year-old Britney has revealed that if things had gone a bit pear-shaped and she hadn't made it in the big bad world of showbiz, she would’ve loved to have been a teacher. From some of those music videos it seems as though her life lessons were best kept out of the classroom and playground chit-chat. Just look at her on stage there, writhing about looking all...studious. Britney says,
"I love kids, and even in what I do now one of my favourite parts of my day is getting to meet my fans before the show, especially the little ones. They are always so cute...My mum was a teacher. I'd specialise in reading and history," We know a few people in the Heat office that would’ve loved to have had Britney as a teacher..
When asked her opinion on the possibility that her sons Sean Preston and Jayden might want to follow in her footsteps, Britney says,
"I'd definitely keep an eye on them, but if that's what they wanted to do then I'd let them go after it,"
Well, we think if Britney hadn’t gone down the road of fame and fortune, she definitely would’ve been our favourite teacher. As you Heatworld Citizens are probably well aware, Brit expressed an interest in the profession in her first music video for hit single Hit Me Baby One More Time. Okay so she was a scantily clad student, looked incredibly bored and spent most of the time getting her groove on in the school gym, but boy could she rock the old half-up half-down hair do’!

Charlie Simpson: 'Young Pilgrim'

Moving on from a tween pop-rock boyband to a hard-hitting rock group is something that is rarely achieved with success in an industry of pigeon-holing and stigma - especially when said-boyband were Smash Hits darlings Busted and the rockers were Kerrang! faves Fightstar.The artist who managed to pull it off? One Charlie Simpson, who is now embarking on phase three of his decade-long career by going solo. Chronicling his 26 years so far, the tongue-in-cheek bubblegum melodies of Busted and the darker rumblings of Fightstar are swiftly replaced by a cleaner, guitar-driven sound; the results of which can be heard on Young Pilgrim.Watch Charlie Simpson perform 'Sundown' below: