MTV News Round-Up 24/08/2004

*** Kylie Minogue is planning to release a jazz album after putting out a greatest hits, according to reports. The Sun says that the pop sensation intends to perform her new laid back material in tiny jazz clubs as opposed to her usual arena gigs. "She wants a more grown-up sound to reflect how she has matured," a source told the paper. "Her fans are in for a very pleasant surprise."

*** Embrace have added a third London date to their UK tour. As well as the previously announced gigs at Shepherds Bush Empire on September 3 and Hammersmith Palais on November 22, the northern comeback lads will also play Hammersmith Palais on November 23. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (August 25) at 9am.

*** Girls Aloud will apparently release a cover of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood classic 'The Power Of Love' later this year. Speaking about new material, a source told The Sun: "Girls Aloud are putting a lot of hard work into their new album as they want to shake off their 'Popstars:The Rivals' tag and be taken seriously as a force in music."

*** Queen have become the first rock band to be given permission to release an album in Iran. Strict censorship laws in the country have prevented most Western music from being released there, but a Queen Greatest Hits album has been given the go ahead. Laws on homosexuality, however, have forced certain songs to be left of the hits retrospective.

*** Tara Palmer Tompkinson has denied sleeping with Blue's Duncan James on holiday in Crete. "I can assure you nothing happened between us," said TPT. "We spent most of the time pampering ourselves with spa treatment and lazing around the pool. Duncan's not my lover - he's my spa partner! I'll always love him, but just as a mate - and that's it."

DL