• Sony Music will release limited edition CD singles of the ‘X Factor’ finalists singles this Friday. They are, of course, Third D3gree’s ‘Different Kind Of Love’, Jai Waetford’s ‘Your Eyes’ and Taylor Henderson’s ‘Borrow My Heart’, along with the winner’s single from Dami Im, ‘Alive’.
• In the meantime, Taylor’s single ‘Borrow My Heart’ continues to fire on iTunes. After almost a week on sale, the single is still hovering close to the top, eclipsed only by Eminem and Rihanna’s ‘The Monster’ at the moment. Dami’s ‘Alive’ is still holding in the top ten, with Jai’s single ‘Your Eyes’ at No.15 and Third D3gree’s ‘Different Kind Of Love’ at No.21.
• Aussie pop royalty Marcia Hines has been revealed as the face of the new Foxtel TV channel ‘Smooth’. The TV extension of “Australia’s fastest growing radio brand” will premiere on Foxtel subscribers’ boxes on Tuesday December 03, giving locals a new visual place to relax.
• ’80s outfit Sunnyboys will release a new best-of compilation early next month. ‘Our Best Of’ will contain the hits including ‘Happy Man’ and ‘Alone With You’, along with fan favourites and unreleased material. Its release co-incides with the announcement of a national tour from the middle of March, which will see the band make stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Byron Bay. Pre-sale tickets hit from 9am tomorrow.
• Also confirming a raft of new tour dates is country star Lee Kernaghan. He’ll also hit the road from the middle of March for another run of shows as part of his ‘Beautiful Noise’ tour. Kicking off in Mittagong on March 12, the shows weave through country areas in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. Tickets are on sale now.
• It doesn’t have a name to speak of at this stage, but Bombay Bicycle Club will release their new album in February. The lead single from it, however, does. It’s called ‘Carry Me’ and it’ll drop this Friday. The album’s out in Australia on Friday February 07.
• Sony Music has followed on from the release of US outfit Broken Bells’ new single ‘Holding On For Life’ yesterday by confirming their new album ‘After The Disco’ (cover image pictured) will be given an Australian release on Friday January 17. The single is available immediately with an album pre-order.
• Some of Ministry Of Sound’s brightest will rip up the dancefloor on January 01 with ‘New Years Day Classics’ at Sydney’s Ivy. Among the big names taking to the decks include Tonite Only, Bass Kleph, Beni, John Course, Trix & Goodfella and more. Tickets are on sale now.
• Eminem and Rihanna’s new single ain’t just acting like ‘The Monster’ here in Australia… it’s doing so across the globe, debuting at No.1 on this week’s UK singles chart. The power couple knock Lorde off the top spot, with Fatboy Slim’s ‘Eat Sleep Rave Repeat’ debuting at No.3 and One Direction’s ‘Story Of My Life’ having to settle for No.4. Tinie Tempah’s ‘Children Of The Sun’ premieres at No.6 and The Wanted get another little slice of the top ten pie by debuting at No.8 with ‘Show Me Love (America)’.
• Katy Perry’s ‘Prism’ has a big debut at No.1 in the UK last week, but she’s been displaced after just one week by the boys from Arcade Fire and their newbie ‘Reflektor’. Katy’s only down to No.2, however, and could make a comeback to the top spot in the weeks ahead. Lorde’s ‘Pure Heroine’ is in at No.4, Union J’s self-titled set premieres at a respectable No.6 and former ‘X Factor’ UK star Matt Cardle’s independent album ‘Porcelain’ debuts at a relatively healthy No.11.