MTV News Round-Up 12/07/2004

*** Party In The Park took place over the weekend, with performances from the likes of Jamelia, Will Young, Busted, Lenny Kravitz, McFly and Avril Lavigne. Blue also played, offering the afternoon's dirtiest performance thanks to dancers in tiny hot-pants with the boys' names on the arses.

*** In other Party In The Park, news, Avril Lavigne opted out of hanging with Prince Charles at the event, according to The Sun. Apparently, Avril was keen to take off straight after her set, instead of sitting next to Charles to watch the rest of the show, as previously organised, because she's so shy. Will Young took her place instead.

*** T In The Park also took place over the weekend, with headline sets from the likes of The Strokes, Massive Attack, The Darkness, N.E.R.D. and the last ever UK performance from Orbital. At the end of the festival, organisers announced that a limited number of tickets for next year's T would go on sale this week.

*** Eminem has enlisted Lennox Lewis's former trainer to help him get his boxing skills up to scratch for a movie role. The trainer, Emanuel Steward, has been impressed by Marshall's manner in the ring. "I put him through his paces and I was amazed that he was as good as he was, " said Steward. "He's improved enormously. He's aggressive - a real slugger... He moves a lot like Muhammad Ali."

*** Will Smith has given his opinion on the subject of people illegally downloading music, and he's not too bothered. "There were pirates 1,000 years ago," said Will, "there is no reason for us to think that we'll live without them in the year 2004. it would be foolish of me to upset myself with something that always has been and always will be."

*** Lindsey Lohan has signed a solo record deal. The 18-year-old movie star, who hosted this year's MTV Movie Awards, has inked a deal with Casablanca Records, run by Mariah Carey's ex-husband Tommy Mottola. "I'm thrilled we have her," said Mottola. "I think she's the next big star on the horizon."

DL