NEWS WRAP

• Yes it's a little small and yes, it's got the Universal Music Group watermark plastered all over it, but here's your first look at the cover image for the new PNAU album 'Soft Universe'. Due for release on July 22, the album is the first since the band's self-titled set four years ago.
• Ratings for his ABC series may have taken a big hit in recent weeks, but that hasn't prevented Chris Lilley's 'Angry Boys' character S.Mouse from scoring himself a mainstream chart hit. His fictional single 'Slap My Elbow' has debuted at No.37 on this week's ARIA singles chart.
• Warner Music has announced they've inked a distribution deal with Epitaph Records for Australia. Warner will manufacture and distribute the Epitaph catalogue following the conclusion of their current deal with Shock Records on September 01.
• The boys from Syndicate are heading out on a national tour. Though more regional dates will be added in the coming weeks, the band will criss cross the country from early next week, kicking off in Sydney. Check out their FACEBOOK page for the details.
• MTV has announced that hip hop star Lil Jon will be the special guest on their upcoming Snow Jam. He'll be in Melbourne for the official launch at a top secret soiree on Thursday July 14 before the action all kicks off for another year at Mount Buller.
• We made mention last week that Vanessa Amorosi's new single was called 'Gossip', and now the Aussie star is asking for fans' help to help spread the word about the new tune. She's dropped a Gossip Bomb campaign, whereby fans who help spread the word will get first dibs on hearing the single and will also pocket a free remix download at no extra cost. Best get your bomb on HERE.
• General Pants' record label Major Pants has announced the signing of three more bands. Now under their banner is Sydney based electronic/experimental outfit OLYMPIC AYRES, Sydney based indie outfit MYTH AND TROPICS and Melbourne electronic/ambient band CROPS. Each of the band's three highlight songs are now available to buy on iTunes; they're also available for streaming purposes HERE.
• Some of Australia's (and New Zealand's) most respected performers will come together in August for seven very special shows to celebrate the classic Beatles albums 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and 'Abbey Road'. A 17 piece band will be fronted by Aussie and Kiwi rock gods Mark Seymour, Irwin Thomas, Ray Thistlethwayte, Jon Toogood, Dean McGrath and Tim Morrison.
The tour kicks off in Adelaide on August 06 before moving through Perth and Brisbane. Two concerts are each slated for both Sydney and Melbourne. More details HERE.
• Plenty of new tunes at Aussie radio this week, including 'Back Down South' (cover art pictured) - the new single from US outfit Kings Of Leon.
• Other tracks to be serviced this week include the new Bag Raiders track 'Not Over', Faker's new tune 'Dangerous', LMFAO's 'Champagne Showers' and Phrase's 'Apart'. Don't forget that you'll discover a full list of all the new radio tunes we're across each week on our FACEBOOK PAGE! Best you go click 'like' so we can bombard your feed with all the latest pop info!
• On the UK singles chart this week, Example maintains its No.1 heading with the latest single 'Changed The Way You Kiss Me'. Calvin Harris is there in the No.2 position with his new single 'Bounce' featuring Kelis, while 20 year old Yorkshire singer Ed Sherran came in at No.3 with 'The A Team'. Tinchy Stryder was the only other new entry in the top ten - in at No.5 with 'Spaceship'.
• And on the UK album chart, the repackage and renaming of Take That's latest album 'Progress' (it's now called 'Progressed' and has almost an entire new album's worth of material added) has most certainly done the trick - the LP leaps ten places into the No.1 position as their spectacular 'Progress Live' concert makes its way across the UK. Paul Simon's new album 'So Beautiful Or What' debuts at a respectable No.6, Bad Meets Evil's 'Hell : The Sequel' is in at No.7 and an ELO best-of heads into the No.10 position. Nerina Pallot and Sophie Ellis-Bextor can only manage No.31 and 33 respectively with their new albums.