MTV News Round-Up 23/07/2004

*** Justin Timberlake is suing the News of the World for libel, stating that its report that he cheated on girlfriend Cameron Diaz was false. Simon Smith, partner in media law firm Schillings, said they would pursue the claim with "some vigor", while a spokesperson for News Of The World said they were ready to "vigorously defend these proceedings in court."

*** U2s Bono has stated that if their recently stolen forthcoming album is leaked on the internet, he would immediately offer the album as a legal download on iTunes and push forward the official release to the end of the month. "It would be a real pity. It would screw up years of work and months of planning, not to mention f**king up our holidays. But once it's out, it's out," the singer reasoned. A copy of the album was stolen last week.

*** Michael Jackson has asked Nicole Kidman to be his date at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards. According to reports, Nicole said: "There was a call from his people to mine asking if he could take me to the Awards. I had never even met him; it was a little strange. I did decline but, hey, the way my love life is I took it as a great compliment."

*** Supergrass have announced a charity gig in their hometown of Oxford. The homecoming concert will take place at the tiny Oxford Zodiac club on August 22, ahead of the bands performances at the Carling Weekend Reading and Leeds Festivals. Proceeds from the gig will go to two charities - Christian Outreach - Relief and Development, and The Fortune Centre Of Riding Therapy.

*** Katie Meluas security is being stepped up after papers detailing her every move for the rest of the year were put up for sale on the internet. The papers, currently on sale on eBay, list each hotel Katie will stay at and each flight she will take. The seller claims to have found the schedule in the VIP area of Guilfest 2004 in Guildford last week.

*** Simon Cowell is set to star in a new TV show about the music industry, but this one will concentrate on the staff behind the scenes, rather than the stars. The show, called Mogul, will be a twist on Donald Trumps successful series The Apprentice, where one aspiring employee is sacked each week.

DL