Madonna takes music stores worldwide by storm in the next few days with a new hip hop-influenced album “Hard Candy”, her last on the Warner label before taking up her astronomical contract with US concert promoter Live Nation.

The record hits shelves in Europe on Friday, the artist’s native United States on April 29, and the rest of the world on April 28.

Announcing “Hard Candy”, Madonna described the title as “a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness.”

The oxymoron sums up her undeniable artistic flair on the sweet side and hard-nosed businesswoman’s acumen on the other.

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The musical superstar will join Sharon Stone and Harvey Weinstein at the annual amFAR Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser May 22, always the highlight of the international film festival’s social scene.

The event will be sponsored by Bold Films, Chopard (the company that made the jewelry Madonna wears on the cover of her new album, “Hard Candy”), the Weinstein Company, Audi, Canal + and Hewlett Packard.

In addition to the star-studded formal dinner and auction at Moulin de Mougins, a special short clip of “I Am Because We Are,” the documentary about Malawi’s AIDS orphans produced and narrated by Madonna, will be screened for guests. Another full-length screening is also skedded for the night before, May 21, in Cannes.

No word on performers at the May 22 event. But I’d say Madonna is a distinct possibility! Past performers have included Sir Elton John, Natalie Cole, Ringo Starr, Macy Gray and Lionel Richie.

Tables for this year’s Cinema Against AIDS will range from $40,000 to $150,000.

Source: The Envelope

Madonna’s latest single 4 Minutes is top of the UK singles charts this weekend (April 20) making it her thirteenth UK chart topper.

Madonna’s first chart topper was ‘Into The Groove’ back in 1985 and was followed by ‘Papa Don’t Preach’, ‘True Blue’, ‘La Isla Bonita’, ‘Who’s That Girl’, ‘Like A Prayer’, ‘Vogue’, ‘Frozen’, ‘American Pie’, ‘Music’, ‘Hung Up’ and ‘Sorry’.

Source: albumvote

Madonna is to headline the main stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend next month.

The singer, who went to Number One yesterday (April 20) with new single ‘4 Minutes’, will play the two-day event in Maidstone, Kent on 10 May.

The event will take place from May 10-11 at Mote Park.

Other acts taking part include The Fratellis, Robyn, Duffy, Scouting for Girls, The Feeling and The Hoosiers.

Listeners can register for tickets for one week from 8am on 21 April until 10am on 28 April.

Tickets will be allocated randomly, but weighted in favour of those living in Maidstone and the surrounding areas.

Other acts appearing on the main stage over the weekend include The Enemy and The Pigeon Detectives, reports the BBC.

Source: nme

Madonna plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during her two-day stay in Moscow within the scope of her Confessions Tour. Putin’s daughters are said to be big Madonna fans. Russian news agencies report that the president’s daughters, Maria and Katya, made their father schedule a private meeting with the world’s biggest pop star after her show in Moscow. Putin reportedly agreed.

Madonna will have an official meeting and dinner with the Russian president in Moscow. Her first-ever show in Russia’s capital is scheduled for September 11. Organizers of the star’s concert in Russia say that the date has nothing to do with 9/11 attacks, but is only a mere coincidence.

A source close to Madonna said that a meeting with President Putin has already been included in her plans. The singer would really like to meet the Russian president although she was not sure if a meeting was possible at all. It is rumoured that Madonna would like to talk to Putin about world problems. Russian news agencies also report that Putin has received a personal invitation from Madonna to attend her show in Moscow.

In the meantime, activists of Orthodox youth movement are going to express their protest against Madonna’s upcoming performance in Moscow. They find the singer’s rendition of her classic hit Live To Tell, which she performs on a giant mirrored cross, outrageously insulting and blasphemous.

Based on Russian media news reports

The Queen of Pop is set to rake in 12.5 million quid for playing 2 gigs…
Madonna is finalising negotiations to play a mega-bucks 2 date tour in Dubai, reports The Sun.

The star will get £7.5 million for one big show, equating to an astonishing £83,333 a minute.

There is also talk of a second performance at a private party which would net a further £5 million for Madge.

A source involved with the negotiations has stated: “Madonna is about to break another record by playing the most lucrative concert of her whole career – or anyone’s career for that matter.”

The big money deal comes soon after the singer signed a huge contract with touring company Live Nation, who have also got deals with U2 and Jay-Z.

Madonna is currently riding high in the singles charts with 4 Minutes, which has hit the number 4 spot on downloads alone.

Source: mtv

IFC Entertainment has picked up the North American rights to Madonna’s directorial debut, Filth and Wisdom.

Variety reports the film was written by Madonna with Dan Cadan. The multi-talented singer also served as a co-producer on the film with Nicola Doring.

The film is a comedic drama and was planned as a short. IFC will release the film in the fall with a theatrical run timed with video-on-demand availability.

The film tracks multiple characters – including a man who spanks for money, a chemist and a pole dancer.

Madonna had considered a straight to iTunes release for the film, but changed her mind in favor of a partnership with IFC – who felt the film deserved a larger release platform.

Source; M&C

It’s been confirmed - there will be a full Madonna world tour this year and it’ll wind up in an extravaganza at our own Wembley Stadium. Yay!

The Queen of Pop, who’s in final negotiations with event organisers to sort out dates, will play the first of the multi-million-pound gigs in September - one month after the she turns 50.

However, there’s still no sign of her slowing down.

We’re told the choreography on the shows - launched on the back of her stomping single 4 Minutes - will be more spectacular, demanding and physical than ever before. No getting off the gym then, Madge…

Source: The Mirror

Madonna will be forced to wait until May before formally adopting Malawian toddler David Banda.

The singer has been looking after the 2-year-old for 18 months and she was originally due to appear in court this month to finalise the process.

But Malawian officials have moved the hearing back to 15 May, reports The Sun.

Madonna, 49, already has daughter Lourdes, 11, from a previous relationship and son Rocco, 7, with husband Guy Ritchie, 39.

Source: now magazine