• Teen Queen of pop makes you happy
• Night in a haunted bungalow!
• Fitting in
• Tune into these Teens!
• Lost
• Circles
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Teen Queen of pop makes you happy

The biggest- ever merger in the history of the music industry was announced last Monday between Warner Records and EMI Records. This marriage of equals will make the company the biggest record label in the world. EMI with artistes such as the Rolling Stones, the Spice Girls, Eric Clapton and Robbie Williams, not forgetting the Beatles together with Warner's Madonna, Cher, Frank Sinatra altogether have over 2000 acts.

The merger comes just a week and a half after the internet server AOL (America On Line) announced its merger with Time Warner. The move will revolutionize the way music is distributed. One of the aims is to enable the down- loading of music. Both EMI and Warner will retain their identities for the moment with operations in the UK and US. The union will see the loss of around 3,000 jobs out of over 20,000 plus workforce.

The merger, however, has yet to be approved by the watchdog bodies. Rival companies were studying the merger plans to find out where they stand. A monopoly may lead to rival bids for EMI from the German music giant Bertelsmann.

Born To Make You Happy! is the title of the new Britney Spears' single which came out on top of the UK singles chart this week. In late February 1999 Britney Spears mania spread in the UK as 'Baby One More Time', hit the chart. The song remained in the chart for 12 weeks before 'Sometimes' checked in at No: 3 in June. The third single from the teenage singer's album 'Baby One More Time' titled '(You Drive Me Crazy)' debuted at No: 5. At the end of 1999 Britney's 'Baby One More Time' was the best selling single in the UK. Britney, who has been nominted for a few Grammys is expected to score at the BRITS too. The man who must take credit for her success is Lou Pearlman.

The mysterious English dance act called Scanty Sandwich struck the singles chart at No:3 with 'Because Of You'. The song appears on the label owned by Fat Boy Slim. Rumour has it that it is Fat Boy himself who is behind the mysterious outfit. Well, a secret of this nature cannot be kept for too long.

The old Fontella Bass hit of yesteryear 'Rescue Me' is back in vogue. This time round the credit goes to Nu Generation which takes the song into the chart at No:8 as 'In Your Arms (Rescue Me)'. Fontella originally peaked at No:11 in 1965. So Nu Generation give the oldie plenty of power to debut at No:8. The song infact did receive a fair deal of promotion ahead of and with release.

Matrine McCutcheon the popular Eastenders TV star who became a pop singer last year has been photographed topless in an intimate manner with her boyfriend. The intrusive pictures were taken while Matrine was in the Caribbean attending her mother's wedding. Matrine McCutcheon had a No:1 song last April called 'Perfect Moment'.

Alan McGhee, the manager of Oasis has quit the ruling Labour Party in the UK. His departure follows criticism of the manner in which the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair is running the country. In the days when Mr. Blair was Opposition Leader, Alan McGhee was a key supporter from the music scene. He was one of the privileged invitees to a few functions at No:10 Downing Street in the early days of Labour's victory after the General Elections in 1997.

Madonna is reportedly fearful of her daugher Lourdes' safety. This follows unconfirmed reports of kidnap threats to the superstar's child late last year.

She may have had a sell- out concert on New Year's Eve, but millionaire singer Barbra Streisand was spotted very recently at a coffee shop with 3 free coupons.

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