German hard rockers SCORPIONS are among the artists whose BMG Music Publishing catalog is being purchased by Vivendi’s Universal Music unit for $2.09 billion.Paris-based Vivendi said the deal will make Universal the world’s leading music publisher.Vivendi said BMG‘s catalog includes over a million copyrights, including COLDPLAY, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, MAROON 5, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, R KELLY and […]

Damon Albarn is writing the music for a Chinese circus production.The work is due to get its debut at the inaugural Manchester International Festival next June.The Blur/Gorillaz singer recently returned from several weeks spent travelling across China, where he recorded with a variety of local musicians. He is now back in London working on the […]

For the first time in 30 years, Bob Dylan tops The Billboard 200 with “Modern Times.” Not only is it the legendary songwriter’s first album to reach the throne since “Desire” in 1976, it’s also his highest debuting album and his best sales week since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. The Columbia set […]

The Cooper Temple Clause are back with a single and a UK tour.After a long absence, the Reading band release ‘Homo Sapiens‘ on October 23, their first release for new label Sequel, an imprint of Sanctuary.The single is taken from the band’s third album ‘Make This Your Own‘, due for release in January 2007.

Launch Radio Networks reports: STONE SOUR will play its first-ever show in Russia on October 18, at the RAMP Awards in Moscow. STONE SOUR vocalist Corey Taylor, whose other band SLIPKNOT has never appeared in Russia either, told Launch the gig is part of STONE SOUR‘s plan to play as many places as possible. “I […]

Dutch death metallers DARK REMAINS will release their sophomore album, “Planet Earth Scourged“, on September 16 via Burning Misery Records. The CD, which contains nine brand new tracks and two live videos, is the follow-up to 2002’s “Death Manifestation” (Cleansweep Productions) and was recorded, mixed and mastered at A.M. Studios.For more information, visit www.burningmisery.com.

WEDNESDAY 13‘s (ex-MURDERDOLLS) video for the song “Home Sweet Homicide” has been posted online at this location. The track comes off the singer’s sophomore solo effort, “Fang Bang“, which is scheduled for release in the U.S. on September 12 via Restless Records/Rykodisc.

CELTIC FROST‘s new video, “A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh“, is now available to download from www.celticfrost.com in both high- and lower-quality formats. Go the “Multimedia” section on the website to download either version. This video is also available to view at the following sites:* CELTIC FROST‘s official MySpace page* CELTIC FROST‘s official YouTube […]

Norwegian metallers LOWDOWN will release their sophomore album, “Antidote“, in contental Europe on October 16 via Black Balloon Records/Soulfood (the CD was issued in Norway on August 28).Described as “heavy, aggressive metal in the vein of PANTERA, CHIMAIRA and MACHINE HEAD, but still with a superb melodic sense,” “Antidote” was recorded by Zet from RAM-ZET, […]

RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe has introduced the first songs of his new project, EMIGRATE. The album is nearing completion but Kruspe has made some of the music available to the fans for download. Registration is required in order to have access to the music but an audio sample ofthe song ‘Wake Up‘ can be […]