ITUNES 11 INCOMING, BUT NOT IN RUSSIA
Apple gave itself to the end of November to get the new version of iTunes live after missing the original end of October deadline, and November, in case you hadn't noticed, is fast running out. But word has it that this time the IT giant might just get it out in time.

According to MacRumours, a German music distribution company has been chasing its clients to get artist photos submitted for use in the all new look iTunes Music Store framework, saying that acts and labels only have a few days to get their content in before the new platform goes live. It's assumed that the distributor is chasing having been given a tight deadline by the bods at Apple HQ. So, brace yourself people, iTunes 11 may be incoming. As you'll recall, it's a bit more jazzy. Good times.

Though don't get too excited if you're in Russia, because Apple's plans to launch the iTunes Store there have hit a hurdle. The IT firm had been due to start selling downloads in Russia this week, but iTunes hasn't arrived as yet, and local media are talking about the launch having been "delayed indefinitely", because of licensing issues and problems getting iTunes gift cards out to retailers.

Though Russian music fans wanting to gain music from legitimate rather than unlicensed sources (and surely there must be at least a few of those?) can make use of Muz, a new service launched by the Norwegian company behind the Opera web browser. Reportedly an all-you-can-eat download service, Muz subscriptions are available for 150 rubles (just under $5) a month.

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AMY WINEHOUSE STATUE TO BE UNVEILED AT 2014 GALA
A statue of Amy Winehouse will be unveiled in 2014 at a concert commemorating the jazz soloist's death, her father Mitch has confirmed.

Talking to BBC Newsbeat about the show - which is happening at the Roundhouse in Camden on 14 Sep next year - Mitch said: "We want to make it like a Live Aid type concert where we get maybe four, five, six hours' worth. People doing a couple of songs each. Obviously that involves a lot of people [but] so far the response has been incredible".

One of his daughter's last public appearances was at the Roundhouse, when she joined her niece Dionne Bromfield on stage just days prior to her death in July 2011.

As previously reported, it has also just been announced that the Camden flat in which Winehouse died is being auctioned next month.

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MEGAUPLOAD HEARING COULD BE DELAYED AGAIN
It looks like America's bid to get MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom into an American court room to face those charges of money laundering, racketeering and copyright infringement is going to be delayed yet again.

The extradition hearing of Dotcom and three other former MegaUpload execs living in New Zealand was due to take place in August, but got delayed because of various technicalities, mainly relating to screw ups by police and investigators in the country.

A new hearing date was set for March, but a lawyer working for the New Zealand police, Anne Toohey, has reportedly now said there is a "high likelihood" that another postponement will be necessary, back to next July, over eighteen months after Dotcom and his Mega colleagues were first arrested.

Dotcom, of course, is hoping to launch a new version of MegaUpload in January, if he can find the time while concurrently recording terrible pop songs and firing disses at his critics via Twitter.

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BIEBER PAP ATTACK CASE DROPPED
Ah, so Justin Bieber may have been lamenting that the criminal case against a paparazzo who allegedly chased him in his car down a Californian freeway was dismissed this week, but a photographer's case against him has now been dropped as well. Swings and roundabouts.

As previously reported, Bieber was accused of beating up a photographer who stood in front of his van as he tried to leave a shopping mall carpark back in May with Selena Gomez (who may or may not still be his girlfriend). Exactly what happened after the singer got out of his van and asked the man to move isn't clear, though the photographer later complained of pain in his torso and filed a police report (possibly on the advice of a passing lawyer).

But according to TMZ, the LA County District Attorney has now decided not to charge Bieber over the incident, due to conflicting witness accounts and a general lack of evidence.

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SHAKIRA SUED BY EX
Shakira is facing a $100 million lawsuit from her ex-boyfriend Antonio de la Rua, son of former Argentine president Fernando de la Rua, over allegations the singer reneged on business commitments after the couple's romantic relationship ended.

De la Rua was seemingly involved in running Shakira's business affairs while dating the star, and says he played a crucial role in negotiating her $300 million deal with Live Nation. When the couple split in 2010, they said they would remain friends and business partners, but de la Rua was seemingly fired last year, according to the New York Post.

The ex says that when he was pushed out of the Shakira company he was cut out of his share of the business's profits, and that is what he's suing for. Shakira is yet to comment.

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THE CRIBS TALK NEW SINGLES COMPILATION, POTENTIAL HIATUS
The Cribs have been a band for ten years now, and they'd like it if we all appreciated that fact by buying their new compilation, 'Payola'.

Comprising 22 singles, B-sides and one so far unreleased 2010 demo titled 'Leather Jacket Love Song' - the band's last recording to feature ex-guitarist Johnny Marr - it's set for release via Wichita Recordings in February 2013, either in normal format or as a 40 track 'Anthology Edition'.

NME quotes first Crib Ryan Jarman as defining it thus: "A lot of best of albums are just money for old rope, so we've tried to make this as special as possible".

His twin, bassist Gary, adds: "It definitely appealed to my OCD nature, to try and get everything in one place and make something cohesive. We had to be brutal. Like, we didn't put 'Moving Pictures' on there because, although it's a single, we don't feel it's one of our best songs".

Looking past the 'Payola' release, the band have said they "haven't made a solid decision on what our future is right now". Ryan looks to be swaying towards his new project, a collaboration with Here We Go Magic bassist Jen Turner.

His brother Gary, meanwhile, muses: "Are we splitting up? I wouldn't say that right now. It's just like, five records, ten years - it makes you contemplate what your position is and what the future holds. It's the end of the first era. We're all still writing [songs] but it could be for anything".

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ROLLING STONES TO RE-INSTATE WYMAN AND TAYLOR, AT O2 ONLY
The Rolling Stones have invited original bassist Bill Wyman and ex-guitarist Mick Taylor to perform at the band's two '50 And Counting' shows at The O2.

The two musicians, neither of whom have played live with the Stones in the past 20 years, will appear as special guests at the London arena on 25 and 29 Nov.

Watts and Taylor's voices can also be heard being interviewed as part of Brett Morgen's 50th anniversary Rolling Stones film, 'Crossfire Hurricane'. The first half of that is available to watch now via the BBC iPlayer.

Speaking of such things, the "somewhat eye-catching" official promo for 'Doom And Gloom', a new track featuring on the Stones' 50th anniversary compilation 'GRRR!', has just premiered. And this is it.

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JACKSON FOUR TO TOUR
The Jacksons, aka The Jackson Four, aka Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine 'Jacksun' Jackson, are touring Britain in the new year - the band's first time doing so since brother Michael's death. In fact, the last Jacksons tour was in 1984.

Says Jackie: "This is a dream coming true. I can't believe this is finally happening. There's nothing like having all the brothers on stage at the same time. This will be exciting for our fans around the world - and I know at each concert, MJ's spirit will be in the house with us".

Tour dates:

26 Feb: Birmingham, NIA
27 Feb: Manchester, O2 Apollo
28 Feb: Glasgow, Clyde Auditorium
2 Mar: Bournemouth, BIC
3 Mar: Hammersmith, Apollo

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EDWYN COLLINS SETS SOLO DATES
It's official. Edwyn Collins is to promote his eighth studio LP, 'Understated', via a new set of regional live dates.

'Understated' is still sans any extra release details, but by the look of the following dates, it might be available in April:

12 Apr: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
13 Apr: Pocklington Arts Centre
14 Apr: Hebden Bridge, The Trades Club
15 Apr: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
17 Apr: Strathpeffer Pavilion
18 Apr: Glasgow ABC
20 Apr: Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall
21 Apr: Birmingham, Glee Club
22 Apr: Cambridge, The Junction
24 Apr: London, Union Chapel
25 Apr: Brighton, St George's Church

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP ADDITIONS

FIELD DAY, Victoria Park, London, 25 May 2013: Animal Collective, Bat For Lashes, Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs, Churches, Daphni, Daughter, Disclosure, Django Django, Do Make Say Think, Emeralds, Everything Everything, Four Tet, Francois And The Atlas Mountains, Fucked Up, Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion, Hessle Audio DJs (Ben UFO, Pangea, Pearson Sound), How To Dress Wel, Jacques Greene, James Yorkston, Julio Bashmore, Karenn, Mulatu Astatke, Thomas Mapfumo, Tim Burgess, TNGHT, Viral, Vondelpark. www.fielddayfestivals.com

LOVE SUPREME JAZZ FESTIVAL, Glynde Place, East Sussex, 5-7 Jul 2013: Jools Holland & His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra, Marcus Miller, Branford Marsalis Quartet, Neil Cowley Trio, Soweto Kinch, Phantom Limb, Zara McFarlane. www.lovesupremefestival.com

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SELENA GOMEZ AND JUSTIN BIEBER TO SHARE ADIDAS 'STYLE ICON' TITLE
Pop starlet Selena Gomez has been awarded the accolade of being Adidas's NEO Label's 'style icon', coincidentally the very title also given to Gomez's on-off lover boy, one Justin Drew Bieber, just last month. So that's nice, or awkward, depending on whether or not 'Jelena' are still in a relationship at present (the tabs now seem to think they are).

A solo Selena, who'll front various promo campaigns and 'design' sporting apparel for the brand over a three year alliance, says this about doing that: "It is a great partnership for me because NEO really cares about style and having fun with fashion and allowing you to be yourself. This is something that's always been important to me and is important to my fans, too: knowing they can express themselves through wearing whatever clothes they want and feel good about themselves".

She adds: "I am really enjoying being involved with the design process and NEO is letting me have fun with this. I get to wear the clothes first and have a voice and an opinion and I can't wait to see the results of our new collection".

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TICKETSCRIPT ADDS FACEBOOK AND PASSBOOK INTEGRATION
Ticketing technology provider Ticketscript has added a new Facebook authentication option to its Ticketshop service, and integrated with Apple's Passbook - that newish feature on the iOS mobile operating system.

Facebook authentication is part of a recent update to Ticketscript's software available to event organisers, making it quicker to process customers directed to events via the social network - something the company says has grown by 185% this year. Ticketscript Marketing Director Joep Lecluse told CMU: "Buying a ticket should be as easy as possible, irrespective of the device you use. Adding this one-click user authentication, makes it even easier for consumers to buy tickets and therefore increases the conversion rates for event organisers".

Meanwhile, Passbook integration allows ticketbuyers to store paperless tickets in the app made available in Apple's iOS6 software.

Says Ticketscript CEO Frans Jonker: "The integration of Apple's Passbook offers a wide range of benefits for the ticket buyers of our partners. In addition to the overall benefits of mobile tickets, all tickets are automatically stored in one place on your phone. Organising and presenting the ticket is much easier. In the near future the ticket will be automatically displayed by GPS positioning as soon as the visitor is near the certain location. This way, again, we provide our partners access to the most leading technology available in the event sector".

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MOG CEO STEPS DOWN
The founder and CEO of American music streaming service MOG, David Hyman, has left the company, reports C-Net. No precise reason has yet been given for the sudden departure, though it is probably related to the recent acquisition of the company by Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine's Beats Electronics. Hyman will apparently stay on as a "strategic advisor", according to an official statement, though his own remarks suggest that he'll not be taking up that role in the immediate future.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Beats said: "Effective immediately, David Hyman will be stepping down from his role as CEO of MOG, but will continue working closely with the company as a strategic advisor".

Hyman himself said via a post on Facebook: "MOG... my child, it's been a long great journey. But like Sting said, 'If you love something, set it free'. You're in good hands at Beats. I'm looking forward to my first real break since 1994. Nepal? Kauai? Taking a year off. Do not disturb".

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DAVE MUSTAINE JUMPS THE GUN ON SECESSION
Hey, you remember when Megadeath man Dave Mustaine said he'd "learned a valuable lesson" from the press coverage of his various on stage comments regarding Barack Obama and his government? Well he's already back for more.

Performing in Atlantic City, New Jersey last week he told the audience: "When you go home tonight, I want you to do me a favour, I want you to look up online the word 'secede', because right now there are 47 states in the United States of America that wanna secede from the United States of America. And what 'secede' actually means is that they don't wanna have any part of this bullshit any more. Whether you are a Democract or a Republican or a Libertarian or an Independent, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we're Americans and we are not being treated right".

Now, while it's true that there are plenty of petitions underway in America's States (actually, in all 50 of them) proposing secession from the union, that doesn't mean there is any serious movement anywhere to actually break up the USA.

Mustaine is mainly referring to the secession petitions posted on the White House's We The People website, on which any petition reaching 25,000 signatures will receive an official response, but there's nothing to suggest any of those petitions represent major interest groups in any individual states. And many of those signing up are likely Republicans still angry at losing the recent Presidential elections who will soon calm down once they've got a good Thanksgiving dinner inside them, and start planning for the next big election instead.

Meanwhile, a recent Huffington Post/YouGov poll showed that the majority of Americans rejected the idea of their states seceding from the union, and in Austin, Texas people have started a petition asking for the city to be allowed to remain part of the union if Texas were to secede (which it won't).

Anyway, Mustaine continued: "Did you hear that the people that make Twinkies today are going out of business after 82 years. Hostess. No more Twinkies. Although that kind of sounds a little funny, it's really sad. It's an institution, 82 year old institution - they are going out of business because of this bullshit that is going on right now in the government. And that means 18,000 more people are going on unemployment and it's gonna be your responsibility to pay for them. It's just not fair, it's just not fair. One thing that would happen if I was president is I would treat you like you were my own".

There's a chance, of course, that the company that makes Twinkies is going out of business because Twinkies are fucking disgusting. Though it's more likely related to the global recession, you know, the one that began before Obama came into power, and which no Western government, left or right wing, has really found a foolproof way to counter. Though that's presumably because none of them appointed Mustaine as Commander In Chief.

Oh well, have a look at Dave talking here.

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RIHANNA APOLOGISES FOR BEING ALOOF ON 777 TRIP
Rihanna has apologised to the journalists and fans who joined her on her 777 tour as the trip came to an end. As previously reported, many of the 150 journos on the flight had complained that, despite being on a plane with the singer for a week, she'd not been particularly forthcoming with reportable activity, beyond the gigs she played each night and very occasional appearances.

The problem, said Rihanna, was that she'd been asleep. Perez Hilton reports that, when coming in to land for the final time, the singer said over the plane's intercom: "Guess what, we made it! This has been an experience that I will never ever forget. I barely slept. My sleeping was all done on this plane. I want to thank everyone for making this trip the shit. I want to see the naked Australian!"

She continued: "I know you guys got barely any dirt. But I had to be good. I still sound like shit. It's impossible to spend time with everybody, and I'm sorry I didn't. I was glad I did this. I would do this next time with more people, more cities and sit back with the fans more. I had to preserve my health. Normally, I'd be back here popping bottles with y'all. I had to preserve my voice. I was worried about my body more than partying on the plane, so I had to just sleep whenever I could. I hope you guys had as much fun as I did".

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