SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #04

* It may still be a case of not quite knowing who the new singer for the new Rogue Traders line-up is (though we believe they’ll be of the female persuasion), but one thing is for certain is that the band’s new single will be taken to radio in just over a week’s time. The track is called ‘Love Is A War’ and according to our sources, a physical single will be among the first new releases of the new decade.
* We’ve finally found out the difference between Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame Monster’ standard and deluxe editions. The standard edition will be just the eight new tracks on one new ‘Monster’ disc. The deluxe edition will be the new ‘Monster’ eight track album packaged along with ‘The Fame’ original album. A super deluxe edition, containing hair, paper dolls etc. will be at retail midway through December, though expect it to be rather pricey.
* We’ve heard whisper that Sony Music may be looking at releasing the latest Westlife single ‘What About Now’ in Australia before the end of the year, possibly as early as the end of this month.
* Over in the United States, country songstress Carrie Underwood has debuted on the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart this week with her new album ‘Play On’. She edged out the Michael Jackson ‘This Is It’ compilation and three other debuts within the top five – Andrea Bocelli’s Christmas set at No.3, the Glee Soundtrack (Volume 1) at No.4 and the latest ‘Now’ compilation at No.5.
* On the US singles chart meanwhile, Jason DeRulo’s reign atop the Hot 100 lasted just one week, with Owl City’s pop single ‘Fireflies’ regaining the No.1 position. Rihanna’s new single ‘Russian Roulette’ bullets up an incredible 66 places within the week to hit the top ten for the first time at No.9.
* Speaking of all things from the Stateside, Animal Collective will release their brand new EP via EMI in Australia on December 04. The new five tracker (available physically and digitally) will hit retail just six days before the beginning of their Australian tour.
* And we neglected to mention earlier in the week the winners of the Artisan and Fine Arts categories as part of this year’s ARIA Awards. Members of the Empire Of The Sun team will be grinning like Cheshire cats, picking up Best Cover Art, Best Video (for ‘Walking On A Dream’), and Producer Of The Year. DJ Debris and Greg Wales were equal winners of the Engineer Of The Year Award, snaring the prize for their work with Hilltop Hoods and You Am I respectively.
* In the Fine Arts section, Katie Noonan picked up Best Jazz album for her Beatles covers LP ‘Blackbird’, the Best Soundtrack went to the creators of ‘Balibo’, best World Music Album went to Seaman Dan for ‘Sailing Home’ and the Best Classical Album went to Australian Brandenburg Orchestra with Paul Dyer.

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