Melody Plant

I said, in not so many words, that Madonna was going to win over Mariah Carey in their unofficial diva battle. An industry expert explains why that is so. Mariah always gets to go first, with her song being on radio for more than a month while Madonna’s has only been on for a week. Mariah’s album also comes out before Madonna’s. Mariah’s song dropped on iTunes a day before Madonna’s. All that really means is that Mariah will have a strong first week and go down while Madonna’s will gain airplay and get stronger as Mariah drops. In short, Madonna still wins in the end.

Mariah Carey’s new album ‘E=MC2’ is set to come out on April 15. Madonna’s new album ‘Hard Candy’ will be dropping in on April 29. Mariah’s been on 1, maybe 2, magazine covers and was obviously photoshopped. Madonna’s been in 4 now and she’s fiercer than ever. While Madonna has her own Sunsilk ad, Mariah has to share the spotlight with the likes of Martha Stewart, Carlos Santana and Gabriel Aubry. The 38-year old curvaceous diva will debut in a spot for Macy’s next week. And like I’ve said before, she needs a new stylist. It’s no wonder why she’s losing to Madonna on this one.

REM has been resurrected as the band has a new album coming out. The band members grace the cover of the new issue of Spin magazine wherein front man Michael Stipe talks about his own coming out. He said “It was super complicated for me in the ’80s. I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious.” He also adds that going public was easier on him when he realized that it might inspire people to change their views about homosexuality and even help out some troubled kid somewhere out there.

Madonna recently released her ‘Hard Candy’ album cover with the Queen of Pop wearing a title belt with ‘M’ on it in front of a lollipop backdrop. It’s very reminiscent of the single cover of her and Justin Timberlake for ‘4 Minutes (To Save the World)’. It looks nice but she can still do better. Madonna also recently unleashed a mystery website called tick-tock.tv to help promote her new studio effort. There are a lot of number fours. ‘Hard Candy’ is expected to drop internationally on April 28 but if the website is a clue, maybe we should expect something big to happen on April 4th.

It seems that American Idol reject David Hernandez has no problems in milking the publicity he gained from being a former male stripper. He may have gotten the boot early on in the show but the guy is still a hot commodity. Several Hollywood record execs are still dying to work with David. Apparently, the thinking is to strike while the iron is hot and release a quick single rather than wait and release a full album. Whether that is to happen or not is still up in the air. In any case, big publishing companies have already singled David H and David Archuleta early on and have already told songwriters to create songs that would suit the two.

Scarlett Johansson and Alanis Morissette – on the surface, there’s not much that the two have in common. The most obvious answer would be that they’re both singers – Scarlett is just about to go pro with her singing – and that both have dated Ryan Reynolds. In the case of Scarlett, she’s the current girlfriend. But here’s another thing they have in common: Alanis is set to drop her new album ‘Flavors of Entanglement’ on May 20th – the same day that Scarlett is dropping her debut album of Tom Waits covers. If you’re going to ask me, this looks like the makings of a very juicy battle. I bet Ryan would love to referee.

Forget having a white Christmas – we’re going to have a Whitney Christmas! According to the head of her label Clive Davis, the diva’s first album of original material since 2002 will be out by the holidays this year. He says that 4 songs have already been completed for the as yet untitled album and 4 more will be put to tape later this month. Songs for the album have been produced or written by the likes of will.i.am, Sean Garrett and Akon who says “The voice is there; I don’t think anyone could ever take that from her. As long as we apply that voice to hit records, she’ll be right back where she left off.”

Ashlee Simpson is still out promoting her upcoming album ‘Bittersweet World’. However, I doubt that being drunk on radio is the proper way to do it. She appeared on Hot 99.5’s Kane in the Morning radio show this past week and she was sloshed off her head. She was slurring her words and could barely talk about a tattoo of a flower that she got the night before the radio appearance and she forgot the lyrics to her new single. However, her rep came out with a statement saying that she wasn’t intoxicated during the interview and was just chalking it up to being tired. Whatever you say Mr. PR man.

Forget Elle and Vanity Fair! The winner of the cover wars is British magazine Dazed & Confused as they are the first publication to get the Queen of Pop Madonna on a new cover and the pictures are said to be just as racy as the ones she did for the other two. If the cover is anything to go by, the results are fantastic! For Dazed & Confused, Madonna teamed up with longtime collaborator Steven Klein. Three magazines, three shoots, three photographers, one theme. Madonna has already begun the media onslaught to promote her upcoming album ‘Hard Candy’ which will be out on April 29.

Max Liron Bratman is one lucky baby boy. Christina Aguilera flaunted her svelte post-pregnancy body at the signing of her new DVD ‘Back to Basics – Live and Down Under’ at Best Buy in West Hollywood on Tuesday. This was the singer’s first appearance since the birth of her son in mid-January.

In an interview earlier than day, Christina revealed to Ryan Seacrest that her pregnancy experience will play a role on her next album. She said “I’m very excited! I’m so inspired. This whole incredible thing that’s taken place in my life, between the pregnancy and the birth… I’ve got so much in me to write about. This next record, I want to have a lot of fun with it. I’ve been brainstorming for the last nine months of my pregnancy. This next album will have a whole new me. A different me.”

The Queen of Pop has landed in New York. Madonna was spotted in Manhattan on Monday. The singer has just wrapped a music video in London with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. And yes, Madonna and Justin did a little bit of dancing on the video. That’s going to be hot!

Madonna is taking care of some business meetings in New York. She will be going off to Berlin soon for the premiere of her short film. But back to Madonna music news – the singer’s much anticipated album is expected to drop in April. Finally! It’s coming! I’m so excited, I can’t wait!

Mika has revealed he wants to collaborate with Amy Winehouse on a Jewish album.

Beirut-born Mika’s mother is Lebanese, and having learned that Amy was planning an album of Christmas and Hanukkah songs, he is keen to get involved to “make a statement”.

The flamboyant singer revealed: “I heard Amy will be recording an album of Jewish music once she gets well and I’d like to make a contribution to it. I really like her music. Think about this - me, a part-Lebanese artist working on a Jewish album. I think that’s a nice statement. I’d like to make a statement some day.”

Israel and Lebanon have had years of violent conflict. I’m not sure that Mika singing about Big Girls or Lollipops will make much of an impact on the situation; but I like his sentiment.

Once upon a time, in a not so far away place, no one thought of Michael Jackson as one mangled freak or a potential pedophile. Back in that day, he was also considered one of the best musicians of all time. But that’s way back in the day. Now, the so-called King of Pop is trying to relive his glory days as he has re-recorded ‘Thriller’, the best selling album of all time, for its 25th anniversary with some “contemporary” artists. Some of the songs are hit or miss but should they release a single off of it, Akon’s take on ‘Wannabe Startin’ Something’ is sure to be a killer hit.

Cassie was spotted when she attended the Pepsi Smash re-launch party at Pasha nightclub on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Thursday night. The singer recently did an interview with Billboard about her a-yet-untitled sophomore album which will be dropping on May 20.

The 21-year old said that “I guess I grew up a lot but I’m still in essence the same person. Lots has changed in my life, stuff that has made me think about things differently. I’m more vulnerable and you can hear my vocals better this time around. There’s real emotion and a much realer connection with my fans.” A single is yet to be released but Cassie assures that it will be a club record.

Scarlett Johansson can sing. She’s proven that by singing for the ‘Unexpected Dreams’ charity album back in 2006 and she also made a surprise appearance last April with the Jesus & Mary Chain at Coachella festival. But now, she’s doing her own thing. The actress turned singer’s debut album ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’ will officially drop on May 20, a Tuesday. The record will be released via Rhino Entertainment’s Atco Records and will feature 10 Tom Waits covers and 1 original track.

The 23-year old spent 5 weeks last spring recording the album in Louisiana. She also has song collaborations on the album with Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ guitarist Nick Zimmer, Celebration’s Sean Antanaitis and TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, who produced.

She had the biggest selling album of 2005 and everyone has been wondering when she would be back. After several delays to her album, we now know when Mariah Carey would officially be back.

There has already been a listening session in London for her new album which pretty much confirmed that her album would be out soon. Billboard now has a few more details and even mentions the release of Mariah’s new record on April 1st, and that’s no joke. They also have more info about specific songs and if that’s anything to go by, it looks like her album is a very promising one.

Has anyone seen Ashlee Simpson’s bra? The former preacher’s daughter turned wannabe singer turns up the sleaze in a new promo picture for her forthcoming album which will be out in March. Apparently, their sticking to the old adage that sex sells. Or so she hopes. I wouldn’t want to touch her with a ten foot pole. I don’t know where she’s been.

The rosary is a nice touch. I wonder whose idea that was. I bet it was her manipulative dad’s. I bet he was even that one who took this picture! Ha! Or maybe it was Pete Wentz. I’m not entirely sure.

Leona Lewis is on the cover of the February issue of Harper’s UK and she is looking mighty fine! She deserves the front cover of a big magazine because the X-Factor champ’s debut album ‘Spirit’ was one of the top three selling albums of the year in the UK for 2007. The other two favorites were Mika and Amy Winehouse.

Leona is also set to take over the other side of the pond as her album is finally coming out within the next couple of months in the US. Harper’s was bold enough to say that “She’ll break the States without breaking a sweat.” I say, good luck to you Leona!

After so many fashion mishaps in the past year, I almost didn’t believe my eyes when I caught site of Jennifer Hudson. Can you talk about diva? But apart from all her fashion mistakes, you can’t deny that it has been her year. The American Idol alum won several awards for her role in ‘Dreamgirls’ and she also got to ring in 2008 at the Setai Hotel in Miami Beach.

2008 promised to be just as good for the diva that is Miss Hudson. The entertainer is reportedly returning to her roots of singing by releasing her debut album. Wow! She’s already so accomplished yet she’s just now releasing an album. 2007 was definitely great for her!

I have to say she is a Little Miss Sunshine…

Natasha Bedinfield releases the second single from her new album next month. It’s called Pocketfull of Sunshine, and it’s awesome! Check around online to find an early release of it.

The song is already slated to be a radio hit, and it’s one everyone can appreciate and enjoy - upbeat, sing-songey, fun.

Santa, you can put this one in my stocking!

KT Tunstall has given up her love of rock climbing due to fears she will lose her fingers to frostbite. What a sentence! The huge singer claims that a climbing holiday in the Isle of Skye a few years ago was the best time she ever had; but she worries that the dangerous hobby will damage her fingers so much it will prevent her from playing the guitar.

She says, “What worries me most is damaging my fingers. At the moment, I can’t afford to risk losing them to frostbite but I’d love to do more in the future.”

We feel for you KT but totally agree. Fans of your music urge you not to ruin your fingers – we wait with baited breath for your next album.

Britney Spears’ latest album ‘Blackout’ is already on the fourth week of its release and it has literally blacked out. Her album has already dropped to a very disappointing 41st place this week in the US according to the new Soundscan charts.

What’s far more disappointing is that Brit’s album has only sold a total of 466,834 copies. That means that her latest effort will not be selling more than a million copies unless some sort of miracle happens. ‘Blackout’ will be the only Britney CD to date that will not go to platinum.

Well that has to suck for her. But I doubt that she really cares.

Leona Lewis’ debut record ‘Spirit’ officially took the #1 spot in the UK albums’ chart this week and it broke records on the way there. Her album because the UK’s fastest-selling debut of all time selling an amazing 375,872 copies!

Leona was up against the Spice Girls, Led Zeppelin and Celine Dion. She actually beat the #2 Spice Girls by over 300,000 copies. Wow! Leona’s current single ‘Bleeding Love’ is #1 on the singles’ chart for the fourth consecutive week, seeling a total of 563,702 copies.

Leona’s album ‘Spirit’ is now scheduled for release in the US on March 18th.