Women dominating on music world

Rihanna has insisted that Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and she are the women who are currently dominating the pop music scene. The singer, who finished up the US leg of her ‘Loud’ tour on Sunday, said that it is “exciting” so many female stars are topping the charts and selling more records than their male contemporaries.

‘’There’s a pack. It’s me, GaGa, Katy Perry, Beyoncé... who else? Ke$ha for sure,” she told Glamour magazine. “Women are definitely dominating music right now, and that’s because we are competitive beings. I feel like music hasn’t been this exciting in a while.” She added: “All my friends are guys, to be completely honest. But when I met [Katy Perry], it was such a breath of fresh air.

 I just couldn’t believe this chick had no edit button... Katy and Lady GaGa came out of the gate exactly the way they think, the way they wanna dress, the way they wanna speak.’’ The 23-year-old recently revealed that ‘Cheers’ will be the sixth single to be lifted from her multi-million-selling Loud album. 

Beyonce’s wake-up call for astronauts

Singer Beyonce delighted America’s astronauts on the final NASA shuttle mission with a special message and girl-power tribute. Beyonce recorded a touching wake-up call for the crew of shuttle Atlantis and gave a memorable shout-out to the sole female astronaut on the mission, Sandy Magnus.

The singer piped in her hit song Run The World (Girls) over the spacecraft’s sound system and told the group, “Good morning Atlantis. This is Beyonce. Sandy, Chris, Doug, and Rex, you inspire all of us to dare to live our dreams...

“This song is especially for my girl, Sandy, and all the women who? ve taken us to space with them, and the girls who are our future explorers.”

Beyonce follows in the footsteps of Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John, who have also recorded wake-up calls for NASA. –TOI

Beyonce serenades Glastonbury to a close

GLASTONBURY: US soul diva Beyonce on Sunday brought Britain's Glastonbury festival to a flamboyant finale with a greatest hits and covers set before of 100,000 sun-baked revellers.

The Bootylicious singer, whose husband Jay Z played a famous set at the 2008 festival, performed her solo repertoire, hits from her time as a member of Destiny's Child and an eclectic mix of cover versions.

The crowd helped the superstar through "Say my Name", "Survivor" and "Independent Women" along with her interpretations of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams", Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know" and "Sex on Fire" by the Kings of Leon.

Addressing the massed ranks, the singer said: "I want you all to know right now you're witnessing my dream.

"I always wanted to be a rock star and tonight we are all rock stars," she added. "I still can't believe I'm performing at Glastonbury."

Earlier in the day, veteran singer-songwriter Paul Simon took to the main stage to perform hits "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes" and "You can call me Al", with a huge crowd seemingly unperturbed by his illness-affected voice.

British rapper turned soul crooner Plan B cemented his reputation as one of the country's hottest talents with an epic early evening set on the main Pyramid Stage.

"I came here in 2000, broke in, and watched Cypress Hill on the main stage," the singer told BBC. "To perform there and look from the other side was mental."

Despite a wet start to festivities on Thursday and Friday, the weather gods smiled on the 170,000 ticket holders with unbroken sunshine greeting artists performing at the farm in Somerset, south west England, on Saturday and Sunday.

Rockers Coldplay occupied the coveted Saturday night headline slot, while Irish megastars U2 kicked off proceedings at the world's largest performing arts and music festival with a two-hour set on Friday.

Crowd violence marred the band's debut Glastonbury performance as security guards stamped out a protest against the rockers' tax status.

As the band came on stage, campaign group Art Uncut inflated a 20-foot (six-metre) balloon emblazoned with the message "U Pay Your Tax 2."But as they tried to release it over the crowd, a team of security guards swooped into the crowd and tackled them to the ground before confiscating the balloon.

"Bono is well known for his anti-poverty campaigning but Art Uncut is accusing him of hypocrisy," campaigner Charlie Dewar said.

The group highlighted U2's decision to switch their tax affairs from Ireland to the Netherlands to pay less tax following a change in the law in 2006.

On a sombre note, the body of Christopher Shale, chairman of West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, was discovered Sunday morning in a portable toilet in the festival's VIP backstage area.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha said they were "devastated" to hear of the death of their "great friend". (AFP)

Beyonce Knowles to be honoured with Millennium Award

Beyonce Knowles is all set to be honoured with the Millennium Award at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Knowles will attend the prize giving on 22 May (11) at the Mgm Grand Garden Arena, reports Contactmusic.

The Billboard Millennium Award will recognise Beyonce''s career achievements and influence in the music industry. Previously, Billboard named Beyonce its Woman of the Year in October 2009, and Top Female Artist of the Decade in December 2009.

The show will be a star-studded affair - Rihanna, the Black Eyed Peas, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Pitbull and Taio Cruz are among the performers at the awards.

Beyoncé, Jay-Z to perform at royal wedding?

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have reportedly been asked to perform at the royal wedding reception.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are said to be big fans of the married entertainers and the Daily Star Sunday reports that the pair have accepted the offer.

"Both William and Kate are massive fans of Beyoncé and Jay-Z," a source said. "They really wanted to make their big day even more special and what better way than by getting pop royalty to perform at the party?

"Will and Kate will have an official reception for hundreds of dignitaries before throwing a less formal bash for loved-ones. They both wanted to ditch traditions and make it more personal for them.

"Jay-Z and Beyoncé are both in Europe at the moment while she promotes her new single 'Run The World (Girls)'. So it's highly likely they have taken up the Royals' offer. After all, who would turn down a once-in-a-lifetime gig like that?"

It was recently reported that beer had been banned from the big day.

Beyonce doesn't feel complete until she's wearing perfume

Beyonce Knowles says she would never leave the house without wearing her favourite scent.

The singer-and-actress - who recently launched her second fragrance, doesn't feel complete until she's wearing perfume.

"I feel like fragrance is one of the most important accessories a woman can have - it's sexy, it says something, and it's that final touch, like putting on a gorgeous pair of stilettos," Contactmusic quoted Beyonce as telling Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine.

"One of the things I remember from being a little girl is how I loved watching my mother getting ready to go out and she'd spray on her perfume. It was this gorgeous blast that would linger in the room after she'd gone and it would remind me of her. I thought it was so sophisticated and glamorous, so feminine and sexy.

"To me, even if you are dressed to kill and everything is looking fabulous, you are still not done without that touch of fragrance. It's the cherry on top of the cake."

Beyoncé named highest-earning artist

Beyoncé has been named the highest-earning music artist of 2010.

The 'Single Ladies' singer, who claimed to be on a career hiatus this year while she works on her new album, was listed ninth in the Forbes Highest Hollywood Earners Of 2010 list.

The star is estimated to have earned $87 million over the last 12 months from a number of high-profile endorsements and her 'I Am... World Tour', which saw her play over 100 live shows and gross $103 million.

Television host Oprah Winfrey topped the magazine's tally - which also included sportsmen and film directors - having amassed a $315 million fortune in the last year. Avatar creator Jamed Cameron finished second with $210 million.

Further down the list, Britney Spears and Lady GaGa came in at 13 and 14, having earned $64 million and $62 million respectively.

Tina Knowles: 'Beyoncé, Jay-Z great parents'

Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles has admitted that she is impatient for her daughter and husband Jay-Z to have children.

Speaking to People, Knowles insisted that the couple will be "great parents" because they are good people.

"Of course I am [ready for her to have a baby]. What grandmother isn't? I can't wait," she said.

"They're good people and they're really positive and they're talented and they've had a lot of practice with my grandson – their nephew. So I know they're going to make great parents."

Beyoncé recently insisted that she is used to speculation surrounding her possible pregnancy.