Britney Spears' former manager and friend Osama "Sam" Lutfi filed a libel and defamation lawsuit Tuesday against the singer and her parents. Lutfi's lawsuit came just three days after a judge granted Spears and her parents a restraining order against Lutfi, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib and a lawyer who the Spears family claim tried to regain control of the singer's life. [sorry couldn't resist that headline] Read more of the sorry if you give half a damn.

They may not have been able to make sweet�or at least lasting�pop with the Jonas Brothers, but Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift are giving it a go with each other. The fresh-faced poptarts are teaming up to perform a duet of the Swift-penned tune "Fifteen" at this weekend's Grammy Awards. more

Nickelback led the musical pack Tuesday, picking up five nominations for the 38th annual Juno Awards, Canada's top music honors. The Alberta rockers received nominations for best single, best group, best producer and best album of the year. more The news gets a little better over seas: International Album Of The Year nominees include: Black Ice - AC/DC * Chinese Democracy - Guns N' Roses * Death Magnetic - Metallica more

When "Grand Theft Auto IV" debuts another downloadable episode later this month, there'll be not only new story lines and characters, but also new music for the ride. Busta Rhymes, Funkmaster Flex and others have been added to music stations on the radio dial in "The Lost and the Damned," an episode that features hours of new content for the popular video game more

Spinal Tap are recording their first new material in nearly twenty years. The spoof English heavy metal band is the brainchild of American actors Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest. Shearer told BBC 5 Live: "It'll be for download as well as on conventional media later this year." more

In a blockbuster deal that will realign the music industry's balance of power, concert-promotion giant Live Nation and Ticketmaster Entertainment, the nation's largest ticketing operation, are planning to merge, The New York Post has learned.more.

Aerosmith will apparently induct Run DMC into the Crock and Roll Hall of Lame later this year more

Adler's Appetite, the band led by former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, will embark on a full U.S. tour first time ever this winter/spring. More dates have been announced.

In somewhat related news: Jesper Str�mblad, guitarist and founding member of In Flames has been forced to stay home and not participate on the upcoming South American/Australian/Japan tour. Jesper has checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic to get control of his alcohol addiction. more

Epic Records, the home of stars like Michael Jackson and George Michael, names British singer and songwriter Amanda Ghost as its new president. more

Mike Stone has decided he will not be touring with Queensr�che this spring. The band says, "We will miss him. He is a wonderful player and has contributed to our lives musically and spiritually. We wish him the best and hope to see him succeed in everything he chooses to participate in." more

Rancid have Posted the first update in some time on the status of their long-awaited full length. While a formal release date has yet to be confirmed, the band is aiming for a Spring release more

MxPx played to a packed house on January 31st, a benefit show for their late comrade John Spalding, guitarist for 90 Pound Wuss and Raft of Dead Monkeys. The show, which was one of a half dozen put on as a generous outpouring of support for Spalding's widow, was held at El Corazon in Seattle, WA and brought in over $7,000 to benefit the John D. Spalding Medical Fund. The benefit included performances by Amber Pacific and On The Last Day. video

Jennifer Hudson's lipsynched rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," is now available on iTunes. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Hudson-King Foundation, whose specific purpose is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime.

Elton John is playing his final notes on the red piano in Las Vegas. Promoters say the pop singer will close his Las Vegas Strip show, "The Red Piano," on April 22. more

Paul Stanley told Page Six that he, Gene Simmons and [their hired guns] are headed into the studio to grind out their 42nd record for release this fall. "It's a Kiss album in the most true and classic sense - we're recording it in analog, not digital, and writing it ourselves," says Stanley more

My Chemical Romance are currently working on their next album, although the group have yet to decide on what direction they'll be taking. "We haven't chosen a path yet. It's all over the map in terms of what's there," frontman Gerard Way told BBC Newsbeat. "It's going to be less layered than 'The Black Parade' - I do expect it to be a little more raw."

In today's edition of music industry slowing committing suicide with shortsighted greed and stupidity, here is some sad news: The Performance Rights Act - which would require radio stations to pay royalties to artists and labels for songs they broadcast over the air - will be reintroduced into the new 111th Congress this week, according to a letter signed by members of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. They have probably purchased better luck this time given how much money the entertainment world gave to politicians in the last election. The best congress money can buy! But will they live to regret killing one of their best promotional tools? This is good news for talk radio but Congress is already pondering an unconstitutional way to destroy that as well. Yay for creeping fascism! Read more about the We Bought You, We're Now Here To Collect Act - here

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