NEWS WRAP

* Lady Gaga put in a mesmerizing turn at Tuesday’s Royal Variety Performance in London. The star belted out ‘Speechless’ from her ‘Fame Monster’ album while suspended high above the stage (pictured). Gaga met the Queen post-performance.
* Channel [V] has announced Melbournian Billy Russell as the winner of their ‘Search For A Presenter’ competition. He won the competition over fellow contestants Jordan Loukas and Ryan Stuart, seducing the judges with his “obvious charisma, insatiable love and knowledge of music and cheeky personality”.
* Michael Coppel has announced a second show in Brisbane for Marianne Faithfull. The singer’s first Queensland date (on Saturday January 30) has now officially sold out, with the second show, the night after and also at The Tivoli, on sale at 9am today.
* Iconic DJs Joey Negro and Dimitri from Paris are heading to Melbourne for Boxing Day. The pair will be added to a plethora of local DJs for a summer day party at Shed 14 in the Docklands. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
* Shock Records will release the latest Delirium album ‘Remixed : The Definitive Collection’ in Australia on March 05. The album will contain hits like the Sarah McLachlan collaboration ‘Silence’ and will also feature a brand new single called ‘Dust In Gravity’.
* Aussie dance label Neon has announced the debut single for Melbourne duo Chardy & Christian Luke. ‘Because We Want To’ has already spent time in the ARIA Club Chart, but is now ready to make an impact at radio, with plenty of remixes to boot – from the likes of Axwell, Kaskade and Alex Gaudino.
* And here in the UK, the countdown to the X Factor final on Saturday continues, with most money seemingly riding on a victory for 18 year old Joe McElderry. But he’ll have to battle stiff competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon in what promises to be a tight finale.

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