SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #22

• It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard anything from German DJ/Producer Timo Maas, but that’s all about to change with a brand new Balance compilation to be released through EMI. The release of the double disc set co-incides with Timo’s visit to our shores in October, when he’ll play dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. The album’s out October 08.
• Australia’s own Delta Goodrem will join the Stand Up To Cancer event in the US this Friday, joining a host of celebrities including George Clooney, Will Smith and Denzel Washington. She’ll share the stage with fellow performers Leona Lewis, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum, Neil Diamond (and more) in an effort to raise funds for cancer research.
• It’s short notice, but Sony Music’s schedule this week has revealed that the new album from R.Kelly will be released in Australia on September 17. The new LP is entitled ‘Epic’ and is one of three albums the singer has been working on.
• Universal Music this week dropped the brand new Will.I.Am single ‘Check It Out’ to Australian radio. The track features the vocals of up and coming singer Nicky Minaj and samples Buggles’ classic ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’.
• Melbourne music conference ‘Face The Music’ is back later this year to talk about all things music. Held on November 19 and 20 at the city’s Arts Centre, early bird registrations opened this week. To get all the guff, check out THIS VIDEO.
• Plenty more winners in Telstra’s Road To Tamworth competition to tell you about – the Dowerin heat of the competition was taken out by 15 year old Codee-Lee Down from Bunbury. In Cairns, it was 24 year old Nikki Jensen from Edmonton who emerged victorious and in Toowoomba, local Alan Boyle got the nod. Each of these performers will head to Sydney for Boot Camp in the hope of making it to the final in Tamworth in January.
• Seems like X Factor UK runner-up Olly Murs has done enough to nab the attention of the British record buying public, with his reggae-esque debut single ‘Please Don’t Let Me Go’ expected to hit the top of the British singles chart on Monday.
• As revealed on Thursday’s release schedule, Janet Jackson is one of a number of Universal Music artists to see an ‘Icon’ greatest hits package released in Australia on September 17. Janet’s version features 12 tracks, while other artists in the ‘Icon’ release range include Bryan Adams, Neil Diamond, Nirvana, Kiss and Stevie Wonder.
• US rock outfit McKenna will travel to our shores later this month to perform alongside TV commentator Dennis Cometti at the AFL Grand Final on Saturday September 25. They’ll perform the track ‘Last One Standing’, which was co-written by Cometti and the band in Melbourne last year after the finals series.
• We’re a bit of a fan of Swedish songstress Therese, who brought us tracks like ‘Feelin’ Me’ and her collaboration with Stonebridge called ‘Put ‘Em High’. But news through from Sweden is that the songstress is currently working on a new track called ‘Another Minute’. Fans can here a snippet HERE.
• The Eagles have added another Sydney concert to their forthcoming Australian tour to cope with demand. The new show will take place on Tuesday November 30, preceding the previously announced dates. Tickets for the new show will go on sale on Monday September 13.
• Those dancefloor gods Freemasons have confirmed that they’ll be returning to our shores late this year for a series of new years appearances, one each in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane early in the new year, as well as a gig at the Versace Hotel on the Gold Coast on Friday December 31.
• There’s no slowing down the Katy Perry juggernaut in Australia, with her latest single ‘Teenage Dream’ replacing Adam Lambert’s ‘If I Had You’ at the top of the list of most played songs on Australian radio.
• And in the United States, Eminem is still clinging onto power on the US singles chart this week with his single ‘Love The Way You Lie’. But Katy Perry’s a woman on a mission, with her single ‘Teenage Dream’ moving ever closer to the top spot.
• Speaking of Katy Perry, as mentioned on the site recently, she’s debuted at No.1 on the US album chart with her album ‘Teenage Dream’. It beat out Fantasia’s new album ‘Back To Me’, which debuted at No.2, Usher’s ‘Versus’ EP which popped in at No.4 and further debuts at Nos.8 and 10 from Randy Rogers Band and The Devil Wears Prada respectively.

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