Music News

CLEVELAND - The year-old New York City annex to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will shut down Jan. 3. Full Story »

LONDON - Richard Todd, who re-enacted his wartime exploits in the 1962 film "The Longest Day" and was Ian Fleming's choice to play James Bond, has died of cancer at age 90, his family said Friday. Full Story »

TRENTON, N.J. - The newest members of New Jersey's Hall of Fame include actors Jack Nicholson and Danny DeVito, musicians Les Paul and Count Basie, and authors Philip Roth and Judy Blume. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Cuban musician barred from the United States by the Bush administration performed in Washington on Thursday and had lunch with a White House official in a new sign of a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Welcome to an orchestra of the 21st century. iPhones are being used as musical instruments in a new course at an American university. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Conductor James Levine has returned to the podium following a two-month absence caused by surgery for a herniated disk in his back. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" held at No. 1 for a third week on the Billboard Hot 100, increasing its lead over Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," which remained in the No. 2 spot. Full Story »

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. - The songwriter behind the Elvis Presley hit "It's Now or Never" has died. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - MySpace expanded its presence in the entertainment market on Thursday with the British launch of its music service, as the social networking site seeks to reinvent itself after being eclipsed by rival Facebook. Full Story »

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - The Country Music Association's chief executive, Tammy Genovese, has resigned, the CMA Board of Directors said on Thursday. Full Story »

LONDON - Aging rocker Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones was released on bail Thursday after being arrested for possible domestic assault. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - Bill Bailey is a comedian familiar to millions of British television viewers from his appearances on TV pop quiz trivia show Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Full Story »

Courtesy of NME.com - 'Wavin' Flag: The Celebration Mix' will be used globally during the tournament Full Story »

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Beyonce led the field of Grammy contenders with 10 nominations on Wednesday, closely followed by teen country sensation Taylor Swift with eight, and both will compete for coveted album of the year. Full Story »

Courtesy of NME.com -- Headliners for for 2010 Isle Of Wight Festival announced Full Story »

LOS ANGELES – On the eve of a hearing in the Michael Jackson estate, a lawyer for the singer's father filed a 60-page motion Monday that intensifies a bid to get money from his son's estate by making accusations of fraud against the administrators of his will. Full Story »

Courtesy of NME.com - Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has said that singer Steven Tyler has quit the band "as far as I can tell." Full Story »

NEW YORK (Billboard) - After a decade-plus hiatus, Julian Lennon is making music again, and on his own terms. Full Story »