Lewis recently won an award in Germany
Leona Lewis has claimed the number one spot with latest song Run, which is the fastest-selling digital-only track.

The singer’s new hit, which was not originally intended to come out as a single, sold 133,591 copies, more than double the previous mark.

Take That sold 432,000 copies of their new album The Circus to top the charts ahead of The Killers and Lewis.

Britney Spears’ Circus, released on the same day as Take That’s record, made its debut at number four.

‘Incredible feeling’

(more…)

I’m proud to announce that my new album ‘Metamorphosis’ is finished! This is my first artist album, and producing it has been a great personal experience. Over the past two years, I have recorded songs with vocal artists such as Dallas Green, Molly Bancroft and Tiff Lacey. It has been great fun to work with such a variety of singers, and it resulted in a number of very catchy tracks.

‘Metamorphosis’ holds 13 tracks in various styles, and I hope that each and every one of you will enjoy the diversity of the album. The first single of the album is called ‘Try Again’, and features the beautiful vocals of UK singer Tiff Lacey. It will be released on Black Hole (more…)

The Silent Film Project, five friends from Sheffield have tonight been crowned the winners of Intel Studio after an eight month search to find the best of unsigned music talent in the UK.

The packed finale of Intel Studio (www.intel.co.uk/studio) took place at the legendary music and photography venue, Proud Camden. The evening attracted a number of high profile guests and celebrities including headliners Danish pop band, Alphabeat. The venue was packed to capacity as crowds came to enjoy the closing Intel Studio event after a thrilling hunt across the country to find the new superstars of live music.

Presented by Russ Tannen (E4 Music) and Gemma Cairney (BBC 1Xtra), the evening was filled with the music from nine hopeful unsigned artists who made it through to the final from seven monthly heats. Each band performed a fifteen minute set competing for the chance to land the ultimate prize of a record deal with the KIDS label.

Winning band, The Silent Film Project include Tom Dakin (22), Phill Vernon (23), Paul Musgrove (24), Lisa O’Hara (21) and Jim Keown (22). Previously the band has played together in local pubs but tonight their performance in (more…)

UNSIGNED Bands are getting the chance to enter AYRPLAY; Scotland’s greatest battle of the bands competition.

Held in conjunction with the Burns Festival, the winning band will open the stage at Burns Rock at the Racecourse concert, Ayr Racecourse over the bank holiday weekend at the end of May 2009. This year’s main stage was headlined by rock legends, Status Quo who performed to a crowd of more than 7000 fans.

Bands have until January 16th to get their entries in before the 13 week competition starts in February, with heats being held at Ayr’s renowned live music venue, The Auld Hoose.

Winners of AYRPLAY 2008, White Ace supported rock legends Status Quo and since their win, the young rock sensations have been catapulted to the forefront of the UK’s music scene playing gigs up and down the country.

(more…)

MOTOWN LEGENDS The Four Tops will be honoured at next year’s Grammys with a Lifetime Achievement award.

The organisers of the annual music awards said the group will be given the honour alongside the late Rat Pack star Dean Martin.

The Four Tops were best known for their 60s hits such as Reach Out I’ll Be There, I Can’t Help Myself and Baby I Need Your Loving.

Abdul “Duke” Fakir is the only surviving member of the band after Levi Stubbs died in October this year.

Dean Martin, one of the members of the Rat Pack in the 50s and 60s alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr and had success with songs such as That’s Amore, Mambo Italiano, died on Christmas Day 1995.

The prizes will be given at a ceremony in Los Angeles on 7 February, one day before the 51st annual Grammy Awards.

Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy which runs the Grammys said the recipients were a “prestigious group of legendary performers, creative architects and technical visionaries”.

He added: “Their outstanding accomplishments, legendary passion and artistry have positively affected our culture and will continue to influence and inspire generations to come.”

Previous honourees include Burt Bacharach and Doris Day .

Scarlett Johansson’s used tissue has raised $5,300 for charity.

US TV network NBC put the soiled tissue on auction website eBay after ‘The Spirit’ star appeared on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ last week, and have now raised the staggering amount for food-gathering charity USA Harvest.

According to eBay, bidding for the sneeze debris started at $0.99 but jumped to $4,050 just hours before the auction ended. The final price was reached after 83 bids were placed.

Bidders had to be pre-approved before they could put in an offer, and the lucky recipient will remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has appeared on Maxim magazine’s Young Hot Hollywood 2009 list, compiled of stars they believe “will be leading Hollywood’s new guard of A-list icons”.

The 24-year-old actress features alongside seven other female celebrities in the January 2009 issue of the men’s publication, including ‘Gossip Girl’ star Blake Lively, ‘High School Musical’ beauty Vanessa Hudgens and singer Katy Perry.

Other stars to appear on the list were ‘House’ star Olivia Wilde, ‘Heroes’ beauty Hayden Panettiere, reality TV starlet Audrina Partridge and ‘Umbrella’ singer Rihanna.