The hard-working team from EMI needs to relax every now and again, what with their extraordinary workload and all. But huzzah! They have a little secret up their sleeve - this rather splendid new compilation album, which hit the stores just yesterday. Coastal Chill 2010 is the latest in the 'Coastal Chill' series, and brings together a plethora of incredible Australian talent to soothe and relax you to your very cockles. It's Josh Pyke, it's Paul Dempsey, it's Sia, it's even Matt Corby, Washington and Sarah Blasko! It's 21 tracks and... well... it was released into stores just yesterday!
* Guy Sebastian has revealed the cover image for his forthcoming single, the fantastic Motown-esque track 'All To Myself'. A physical single for the track is due for release on February 26.
* It seems we've been a little slow off the mark in Australia with regards the rise and rise of teen star Justin Bieber, but Universal Music has this afternoon serviced Australian radio with the latest single from the singer's album 'My World'. 'Baby' has been serviced in two formats - with and without rapper Ludacris.
Wait a minute!? Who's that!? Is that Julia? Is that Brian? Well by gad, yes it is - and what's more they're on the move. But not completely... The team at Max have this afternoon confirmed that the fabulous RocKwiz with Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis will soon be screening on Max, as well as their long-time home on SBS. Kicking off this Wednesday night from 9:30pm, RocKwiz will become a permanent fixture of Max's Wednesday night line-up. And to celebrate, the team at Max are about to give you the chance to win passes to each and every RocKwiz live show as it tours the country from the middle of March. Simply head to the MAX TV WEBSITE for details on how to win!
He's got to be one of this country's hardest working musicians, 'cause quite seriously, we can't really remember a time within the last 12 months when Paul Dempsey hasn't been touring. But he's heading out on the road again, announcing a series of dates as part of his forthcoming 'Burning Leaves' tour. The schedule, which begins in Adelaide on April 07 will take in three Western Australian dates, along with stops in Byron Bay, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Tickets go on sale on Monday February 08 from his OFFICIAL WEBSITE. Meanwhile, Paul's new single 'Bats' hits digital retail on February 26.
Australian fans will no doubt be going 'Gaga' for this little giveaway, with a delicious prize pack containing the Lady Gaga 'Paparazzi' CD single and the 'Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)' CD single - and both from France! The 'Paparazzi' single contains the radio edit and edits by Moto Blanco, Chew Fu and the Demolition Crew while the 'Eh Eh' single has album version, Pet Shop Boys edit and the Random Soul Synthetic mix.
Let's face it, we all love a little bit of Willy from time to time - and though Master Young can't get a guernsey at Australian radio (and Sony locally hasn't really released anything of Will's for an eternity), we here at auspOp continue in our love of Britain's first Pop Idol winner. 
It was the first in many amazing goodies we brought back from the other side of the world just for you here on auspOp - a copy of the brand new Westlife album 'Where We Are'. And the results are in. Now the competition is closed, we can officially inform you that the winner of the album is... Daniel from Casula in New South Wales! Congratulations to you - a copy of the Westlife album will be winging it's way to you later today!
* Universal Music has finally serviced Australian radio with the official second single from Rihanna's latest album 'Rated R'. 'Rude Boy' is the follow-up to the highly successful 'Russian Roulette'.
* EMI has revealed the new project for former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft. The new outfit is called 'United Nations Of Sound' and have revealed a track from the as-yet-untitled album over on Youtube. Check it out HERE. The album's set for release in Australia on March 22.
Every now and again, the team at boutique label Level Two Entertainment come up with a fantastic compilation album that's just right to accompany those idyllic summer afternoons lazing by the poolside. They've done it on three occasions with the Ku De Ta CDs and now they've turned their hand to 'Escape', a stylish collection of 13 gorgeous tunes including a smattering of exclusive new local tracks from the likes of Mr.Jigga and HiFi Mike. It's available at all good music stores now.
We're already a little bit excited by the prospect of the forthcoming Gabriella Cilmi album 'Ten' after the album's first single 'On A Mission' went live just a week or so ago, but the young Australian poppet (pictured in a rather squish-inducing yellow bikini) has just revealed snippets of another couple of tracks from the new album over on her OFFICIAL WEBSITE. One's a ballad, 'Defender', the other's a disco stomper, 'Hearts Don't Lie' that doesn't sound too far removed from something Roisin Murphy might have released. Likey.
Aussie songstress Natalie Bassing-thwaighte has premiered the video for the fifth and final single from her debut solo album '1000 Stars'. The track has been released to raise awareness of the Aids Council Of New South Wales' current 'Wear It With Pride' t-shirt campaign in the lead-up to this year's Mardi Gras parade. The clip features a number of cameos from a variety of TV presenters including The Morning Show's Kylie Gillies and Today's Richard Reid, along with Dr.Kerryn Phelps and Courtney Act, all of whom are wearing a selection of 'Wear It With Pride' t-shirts (which are available HERE). The track is set for digital release on Friday.
We don't quite know why they've done it, but bless them they have. EMI Australia has officially released the new Goldfrapp single 'Rocket' to iTunes. The track is the first to be lifted from the 'Frapp's new album 'Head First', due for local release on March 19. In announcing it's release, EMI also states that a full digital bundle of the single will hit retail on March 05, with the video to premiere soon.
* Universal Music will release Mariah Carey's forthcoming remix album 'Angels Advocate' in Australia on March 26. The first single from the album, the Ne-Yo duet 'Angels Cry' was sent to Australian radio this morning.
* New tracks at radio today include 'Superman Tonight', the second single to be lifted from Bon Jovi's album 'The Circle', Tegan & Sara's 'On Directing' and Shinedown's 'If You Only Knew'. 
No change at the top of either the singles or albums charts for another week, but a big No.2 debut for an Aussie country act on the albums chart. But how close were they to knocking SuBo off her perch? Let's find out in our weekly chart watch.
Craig David must've got a taste of the dance bug with his recent single 'Hot Stuff', which was mashed up with Bob Sinclar's 'World Hold On' to create an altogether listenable piece of dance pop. Now comes 'One More Lie' - the first single to be lifted from his forthcoming album reportedly titled 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'. The track borrows a sample from a Four Tops' track from the '60s called 'Standing In The Shadows Of Love' and is a surefire club hit. But what of his fans? What will they make of the dancefloor overhaul?
Don't you just love a Sunday night giveaway? Something to get your chops around waaay late at night? Well here's one for the r&b-minded auspOp reader, with two copies of Chris Brown's latest album 'Graffiti' to give away, with thanks to Sony Music. But a heads-up, it's not here for long - in fact just over 48 hours, so get crackin' and enter now.
Okay pop fans, this is the moment you've been waiting for - the moment we begin giving away our little bounty of goodies we brought back from Europe for you...
* We first got news about this spanking new Evermore single back in October (read the story HERE), but Warner Music has used the first official 2010 Friday in the office to send the new track 'Underground' out to local radio. A singles collection titled 'Evermore' is due for release in the first quarter of the year.
* Shannon Noll has been out of the public eye for quite some time, but he's back thanks to a new duet with Australian recording legend John Williamson, 'Island Of Oceans' (pictured). Lifted from John's retrospective, the track was "aimed to inspire pride in our place on earth." 
Brisbane outfit Operator Please stole hearts with their infectious debut single 'Just A Song About Ping Pong' three years ago - and now they're hoping to do it all over again with the upcoming release of a new single called 'Logic'. They've also got an album in the pipeline for release later in the year. 
What we like about Ellie Goulding's stuff is that it's pop, but it's the pop of now, not the pop of past - and the fact she'd blend in just perfectly to radio stations around the world (clearly not in Australia, however, as most of them seem completely oblivious to the fact that pop's back). The clip's a bit of alright, with Ellie spending a little of her time in it with stars plastered all over the palms of her hands. Let's hope she doesn't bake any scones while she has them on or there's bound to be some kind of astrological high-tea choking incident. She also does a little bit of levitation, so you know she's evil and is not to be meddled with.
In announcing a brand new (long awaited) album for planet earth's most adored cartoon band, EMI has now officially serviced the brand new Gorillaz track 'Stylo' to Australian radio. The track, which runs at a little under four minutes, is the first to to be lifted from the band's forthcoming album 'Plastic Beach', set for a release in Australia on March 05.
Young Lemar first found fame through Britain's Fame Academy TV show almost eight years ago and went on to have a series of hits in his homeland, as well as one top 50 appearance here in Australia. And with his Sony Music record contract ready to expire, a greatest hits is in the offing and 'The Way Love Goes' is the first new single to be lifted from it. And it's set to make an impact over in the UK. A little bit French house, a little bit R&B and a little bit pop, the track bounces along from start to finish and is accompanied by a relatively simple, 'clean lines and surfaces' clip that appears slick and polished. Not sure we'll get it here in Australia, but Lemar's 'Hits' package is set for a March release in Britain.
The boys from Massive Attack have announced an Australian tour. And the duo's local fans will need to mark February 05 in their diary 'cause it's the day when both tickets for the tour and the band's new album "Heligoland' both go on sale.
The team from Michael Coppel most certainly doesn't seem to do things by halves these days, announcing two tours this morning and another couple of shows for one of their upcoming touring artists. But more about the others shortly. Harry Connick Jr. was on Australian soil just last year for a publicity tour (including his now famous appearance on the reborn Hey Hey). But he'll return to us in March for a series of live performances, one each in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Tickets for all dates are on sale on January 29.
Lovely local lass Leena, who released her debut EP 'This Mean Old Clock' through EMI last year, is currently putting the finishing touches to a brand new EP, due for release later this year. But she's decided to take some time out from the demands of the studio to play a series of live shows with fellow singer songwriter Carus Thompson throughout February, at which (no doubt) she'll be showcasing some of her new tunes. Tickets for each of the dates are on sale now.
Can you believe it? Some of the biggest names in Australian electro-pop - and one big one from the United Kingdom are packing their bags and getting on board the 2010 Bacardi Express! Yes, it's a train! And yes, it'll be making stops on it's journey from Brisbane to Sydney, with four concert events locked in - on each in Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Sydney.
This must have been an extraordinarily difficult video for the four remaining members of Boyzone to film. The first since the death last year of band member Stephen Gately, the track is the first to be lifted from the band's forthcoming new album, reportedly titled 'Brothers' and features Gately sharing lead vocals with Ronan Keating. 
