Universal are pleased to announce that ‘Brits Hits 2008′ is to be released on 11 February 2008! Containing the best tracks from the UK and the US, the album is a true reflection of the diversity of music hitting the charts and being downloaded over the last 12 months. Released just over a week before the BRIT Awards 2008 with Mastercard, which is held at Earls Court, London on 20 February, this is a perfect way to gear up for the music event of the year!

2007 was a truly magnificent year for music - with a tremendous mix of all genres battling it out in the UK charts, from R’n'B to indie, pop to rock. From Kate Nash, The Hoosiers, Mark Ronson and Scouting for Girls, who have been firmly flying the indie flag for the UK this year, to Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake, Fergie and Ne-Yo, who have been the heavyweights of US pop and R’n'B, this fantastic compilation has it all! Also featured are top hits from Fall Out Boy, The Fray, Calvin Harris, The View, Gym Class Heroes, Just Jack and Sean Kingston.

BRITs HITS 2008 is released through Universal on 11 February 2008.

The BRIT Awards 2008 with Mastercard will take place on 20 February 2008 at Earls Court and will be hosted by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. The event is televised live on ITV from 8pm.

CD1

1. Take That - Shine
2. Rihanna Feat Jay-Z - Umbrella
3. Mika - Grace Kelly
4. Kylie Minogue - 2 Hearts
5. Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around Comes Around
6. Girls Aloud - Call The Shots
7. Plain White T’s - Hey There Delilah (Abby Road Mix)
8. Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This
9. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
10. Sugababes - About U Now
11. Just Jack - Starz In Their Eyes
12. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
13. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar
14. Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls
15. Gwen Stefani Feat Akon - The Sweet Escape
16. Fergie - Big Girls Don’t Cry
17. 50 Cent/Timberlake/Timberland - Ayo Technology
18. Neyo - Because Of You
19. Cascada - Every Time We Touch
20. Robyn with Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat

CD2:

1. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own
2. Kate Nash - Foundations
3. Adele - Chasing Pavements
4. Mark Ronson Feat D Merriweather - Stop Me
5. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
6. Scouting For Girls - She’s So Lovely
7. The Hoosiers - Worried About Ray
8. Fall Out Boy - This Ain’t A Scene It’s An Arms Race
9. Muse - Knights Of Cydonia
10. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
11. Hard-Fi - Suburban Knights
12. James Blunt - 1973
13. McFly - The Heart Never Lies
14. Gym Class Hereos - Cupids Choke Hold
15. The Fray - How To Save A Life
16. KT Tunstall - Hold On
17. Newton Falkner - Dream Catch On Me
18. The View - Same Jeans
19. Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80’s
20. Mutya - B-Boy Baby

Brits Hits 2008 on amazon.co.uk

Brit Awards Official Website

I was just mindin’ my own business, listening to one of the iTunes radio stations and a very interesting song just came on. I’m not sure where I’ve been (I didn’t think that I was under a rock), but I just heard “Je réalise” by French rap artist Sinik featuring James Blunt!

What?!

I had no idea that James Blunt was featured in a rap song - and actually, I was just looking up in Google to see who the French rapper was. Luckily his name came up on the iTunes ‘titles bar’. I wasn’t familiar with Sinik, but something tells me more people will be hearing from him in the future. He seems pretty damn cool.

Having James Blunt involved with his song will certainly help to reach a wider audience - but the fans for each artist are most likely from each end of the music scale. Reminds me of “Stan” by Eminem featuring Dido. That seemed to work, though.

Anyway, if you haven’t heard it, you can make your own mind up!

Watch video: “Je réalise” by Sinik featuring James Blunt:

Sinik’s latest album, ‘Le Toit Du Monde’ was released in December 2007. He’ll be touring around France from February - April 2008. For tour dates and more information, go to:

Sinik on Myspace
Sinik Official Website (French)

By: Jenny May - BandWeblogs.com

Wowing crowds on a major world tour, James Blunt returns with the new single, “Carry You Home” on March 17th, 2008 in the UK.

This is the third track to be taken from his #1 LP ‘All The Lost Souls’ - which has sold 600,000 UK copies and 3.5 million internationally. It follows a BRIT nomination for Best British Single (“1973″). The video was directed by Jake Nava, whose credits include Rolling Stones, Natalie Imbruglia, Usher and Dido.

James Blunt - All The Lost Souls on amazon.co.uk

All The Lost Souls on amazon.com

For more information, go to:

James Blunt on Myspace
James Blunt Official Website

Last Friday night, Duffy was a guest on Later…with Jools Holland. It was good to finally watch her on TV after only seeing her YouTube videos! She’s got such a soulful voice, and she sounded great. Surprisingly she didn’t perform her debut single “Rockferry” - not sure why. Either way, it was good to hear her other two singles, “Warwick Avenue” and “Mercy”, which I think will be her next release.

I didn’t know that Duffy was scheduled to be on Jools Holland until that day - but I’m not surprised that she was. Jools (and his people) are very good at spotting quality talent for the show.

Other guests included Manu Chao, James Blunt (a last minute replacement for Babyshambles), Orchestra Baobab (awesome), Kano and Damon Albarn and Dion.

Here are videos of Duffy’s performances. Not quite TV, but at least available to watch.

Watch Duffy - “Warwick Avenue” video from Later with Jools Holland:

Watch “Mercy” video

There’s additional footage of Duffy singing “Rockferry” that wasn’t on the show, an interview with her as well as other guests that performed on the Later with Jools Holland Official Website - episode 4.

Duffy tour dates

Duffy Official Website

By: Jenny May - Band Weblogs

We are proud to announce that Teatro will be appearing on the 79th Royal Variety Performance in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

The performance will be held in Liverpool at the Empire Theatre on December 3rd, 2007.

Teatro will be on the same bill as Bon Jovi, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, James Blunt, Joan Rivers, Enrique Iglesias, Katherine Jenkins, Al Murray, David Jordan, Russell Brand, Seal and many more.

The show will be hosted by Philip Schofield and Kate Thornton and will be screened on ITV1 on Sunday, 9th December, 2007.

For more information visit:

Royal Variety Performance Official Website

Teatro Official Website