SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #39

• Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down apparently. And Universal Music will this Friday release the original cast recording of Mary Poppins. Recorded live at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, the soundtrack features timeless classics from the show, performed superbly by Verity Hunt Ballard and her co-stars. The show moves to Sydney later this year.
• The new Kings Of Leon single has been confirmed as ‘The Immortals’. It’s the third single to be lifted from the band’s latest album ‘Come Around Sundown’ and will be officially serviced to radio in Australia on Monday February 21.
• Very exciting news with an EMI insider hinting that a third installment in the brilliant ‘futurePOP’ compilation series is in the pipeline.
• Meanwhile, EMI has also confirmed that limited edition deluxe CD/DVD versions of Robbie Williams’ albums ‘Life Thru A Lens’, ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’, ‘Sing When You’re Winning’, ‘Swing When You’re Winning’, ‘Escapology’, ‘Intensive Care’ and ‘Rude Box’ will be released in Australia in mid-March.
• Take That, meanwhile, have confirmed that the second single from their latest album ‘Progress’ will be the mid-tempo stomper ‘Kids’. it’s due for release in the UK later this month, with a physical single set to contain the previously unreleased song ‘Rocket Ship’.
• German electro artist Tai is giving budding remixers the chance to have their work made available on Beatport. He’s giving the public the chance to remix his new single ‘Big Bass Drum’, allowing them to download the parts needed to turn the track into something altogether unique. Check out the original HERE, then grab the remix parts HERE before uploading your entry HERE.
• It didn’t take long for Lady Gaga’s new single ‘Born This Way’ to get the cover treatment. 16 year old Swedish performer Ulrik Munther has given his unique take on it. Check it out HERE.
• Meanwhile, Gaga’s new single has rocketed to the top of the iTunes chart this morning, mere hours after being released to Australian digital retail.
• Andrew McManus has announced a change of venue for Roxy Music’s forthcoming show at Hope Estate Winery in the Hunter Valley. It’s now moved to Newcastle’s Entertainment Centre on the same date.
• Sydney trio Kids At Risk have scored quite the coup – their track ‘Doing The Best That We Can’ has been chosen as the lead single from the soundtrack to new indie movie ‘Griff The Invisible’.
• On the US charts, Wiz Khalifa has finally made it to the number one spot on the singles chart with his track ‘Black And Yellow’, displacing Bruno Mars and his ‘Grenade’. Dr.Dre’s ‘I Need A Doctor’ makes a respectable splash at No.5, while Britney’s ‘Hold It Against Me’ drops two spots to No.10.
* And on the US album chart, she might not be able to get any traction locally, but it’s all happening for Nicki Minaj Stateside, with her album ‘Pink Friday’ making it all the way to the number one position. Red’s ‘Until We Have Faces’ is in at No.2, while Ricky Martin’s new Spanish/English offering ‘Musica + Alma + Sexo’ debuts in the No.3 spot. Rihanna’s ‘Loud’ is back in the top ten – so too Pink’s best of and Eminem’s ‘Recovery’.

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