Music News: Timbaland Massacres Duran Duran, Plus Little House: The Musical, OneRepublic, Spice Girls, Ladytron, Kanye West

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning weekly music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

Mediabase, the firm that monitors 129 major Top 40 radio stations in the country, noted that Timbaland's mix of OneRepublic's "Apologize" received a total of 10,331 plays last week, making it the biggest Top 40 hit, airplay-wise, since the company began its charts in 1987. Those not yet completely sick of the seemingly tireless producer will thrill at the fact that the single previously holding the title of "biggest Top 40 hit" according to Mediabase was Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous," which was also crafted by Timbaland.

Meanwhile, today sees the release of Duran Duran's new studio album, Red Carpet Massacre, on which the band worked with both Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. Simon Le Bon and Co. are currently in New York for what was orignally to be a 10-night residency at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre, but the stagehand strike has caused the group to relocate to the Roseland Ballroom.

In a statement, bassist John Taylor said, ""We know that some people have travelled miles (if not continents) to see us on Broadway... although there is no physical way to replicate some of the production elements in Roseland that we had in the other theatre - the key for us is the music and we are intending to make it as special as every other night."

In case you've missed it, Duran Duran's 7-minute video for "Falling Down" is a send-up of starlets-in-rehab culture.

It was probably only a matter of time... Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, a musical version of Little House On The Prairie will hit the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis next summer. Says director Francesca Zambello, "Our musical focuses on the independent spirit of the teenager Laura Ingalls Wilder and her struggles to become an adult, alongside the story of the land as it becomes the American West." Tony winner Rachel Sheinkin (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) is penning the book, while Oscar Winner Rachel Portman (Emma) is composing the music.

Ladytron have signed a new deal with the Nettwerk label, with a new album due in May.

Kanye West has issued a statement about the death of his mother over the weekend.

Today the Spice Girls Greatest Hits goes on sale exclusively at U.S. Victoria's Secret outlets and on iTunes. Each member will reportedly nab about $2 million a piece (or £1 million) for appearing as the faces of U.K. supermarket chain Tesco this holiday season.

Here's the commercial which began airing this past week:

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

The Killers' B-sides and rarities collection, Sawdust.

Alicia Keys' As I Am, which also features John Mayer and Linda Perry.

Taking Chances, the new studio set from Celine Dion.

The Black And White Album, by Swedish rockers The Hives.

Seal's System, on which the singer worked with Madonna collaborator Stuart Price.

Trisha Yearwood's 12th album, Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love.

Music News: Spice Girls Make Headlines As New Single Leaks, Plus Patti LaBelle, Kylie Minogue, Kurt Cobain, Jay-Z, David Gest

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)," the new single from the Spice Girls, has leaked weeks ahead of its official release. Have a listen and see (or, rather, hear) what you think:

It's pleasant in that "2 Become 1" way, but after all the hype, isn't this new Spice track missing that certain zig-a-zig-ah?

"Headlines" will be included on the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits. Last week it was reported that the British fivesome had signed a deal  with Victoria's Secret for the upcoming CD to be sold exclusively in the lingerie chain's U.S. stores beginning November 13. The compilation will also be available on iTunes. Otherwise, there won't be a wide retail release in American outlets until January.

Meanwhile, tabloids are reporting that the video shoot for "Headlines," which happened on Friday, almost collapsed under the fivesome's "diva demands": "Things were very delayed. The director was tearing his hair out and threatened to walk. The girls were so tired and Emma [Bunton] was crying as the shoot just went on and on."

Additionally, Sony Home Entertainment is reissuing the 1997 film Spice World in a "special edition" DVD on November 27, a week ahead of the Girls' world tour.

   Four tracks from Kylie Minogue's upcoming album are available now for free.

   Illegal download site OiNK busted by international police.

   Liza's ex, David Gest, has found his inner indie rocker: "I could have given it up for a happy marriage, but I'd rather go for a drink, go dancing in Camden, listen to the Kaiser Chiefs."

   Patti LaBelle (pictured right) shocks Sugababes fans at Fashion Rocks in London this past weekend.

   Despite all her drama, Britney Spears' Blackout (out next week) is getting great reviews.

   Jay-Z is on the road again.

   Universal Pictures is adapting Chris Cross' Kurt Cobain biography, Heavier Than Heaven, into a film, with Courtney Love and her lawyer exec producing.

   TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan's Hourglass.

Idol Carrie Underwood's sophomore album, Carnival Ride.

La Vida Es Un Ratico, from Latin superstars Juanes.

Raising Sand, a collaboration between a subdued Robert Plant and Nashville singer Alison Krauss.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Music From The Motion Picture The Assasination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

Music News: Will.i.am Got It From Daft Punk, Plus Radiohead, Britney Spears, Morrissey, Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

Some of hip-hop's more luminary figures have been sampling French house duo Daft Punk in recent years -- Busta Rhyme's "Touch It" contains a sample of the outfit's "Technologic", while more recently Kanye West wrapped "Stronger" around the melody of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger", and took it to #1 in several countries. But the buck apparently stops with will.i.am.

The Black Eyed Peas singer's solo album dropped last week, and a new video for a remix of his latest single, "I Got It From My Mama" (below) -- which is basically a mash-up with Daft Punk's 1997 hit "Around The World", and contains a humorous solo by blonde singer Aria -- has began circulating online. Will.i.am apparently didn't get permission before using the hook, and it seems Daft Punk's lawyers are now involved.

Today, Pitchfork Media posted an interview with the duo's Thomas Bangalter, done over email, and noted that questions regarding the will.i.am remix were left unanswered by the robotic Frenchman.

Despite all this, and whatever the outcome, it's still a damn catchy mix.

As mentioned here yesterday, Radiohead are offering up their new album In Rainbows, available next week, at whatever price buyers wish to pay. British rock journal NME are asking readers to write in and explain how much they plan to plunk down for the record, and they've already begun posting the wide-ranging answers on their website.

While country trio Rascal Flatts look set to have the best-selling album on the charts this week, Britney Spears has maintained the top download on iTunes for the past five days with her single, "Gimme More." Depending on the amount of radio airplay it's receiving, "Gimme More" could be a contender for the #1 position on Billboard's Hot 100. The song is currently at #68 on the chart tallied before the single became commercially available.

Morrissey (pictured right) says he'll release his ninth studio album next year: "The plan is to make a new album after this tour. It's absolutely written and completely ready."

An "insider" claims Bono has written a new track to be included on the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits, due out in November: "There's been a bit of unease as to how the album will perform, and if there's still a solid Spice Girls fanbase out there. However, Bono's involvement has lifted the whole camp, and he's delighted to have been asked to add this experience."

Kylie Minogue has axed a few scenes from White Diamond, the upcoming documentary on her recovery from breast cancer: "In one scene you can see a glimpse of Kylie’s boobs. She wanted to show other cancer survivors there is nothing to be ashamed of. No scarring is visible because she had clever reconstructive surgery after the partial mastectomy to remove her cancer. But she felt it was too much and was extremely unhappy so it got chopped."

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES: New singles from Seal ("Amazing," produced by Madonna's Confessions On A Dancefloor collaborator Stuart Price), Natasha Bedingfield ("Love Like This," also featuring Sean Kingston) and David Gray ("The World To Me").

Bruce Springsteen's Magic, Annie Lennox's Songs Of Mass Destruction, PJ Harvey's White Chalk and Siouxsie Sioux's solo album, Mantaray.

Young R&B singer J. Holiday's Back Of My Lac'.

A ton of hits: Matchbox Twenty's Exile On Mainstream, Amy Grant's Greatest Hits, The Very Best Of Mick Jagger, Faith Hill's The Hits, Elton John's Elton 60 - Live At Madison Square Garden and Frankie Valli's Romancing The 60s.