Report: Coldplay eyes EMI departure

The financial fortunes of UK label giant EMI have long been tied to Coldplay, one of its biggest cash cows. If a Daily Star report is to be believed, that cow may be headed for greener--or at least freer--pastures. The UK paper reported today that Chris Martin and company are unsure if they will resign with EMI following the completion of its current five-album EMI deal, which the band could fulfill with its expected new album this year and a hits collection in 2009.

"There's so much uncertainty in the record industry right now," a source close to the band told the paper. "The boys don't necessarily need a label anymore. They aren't even considering putting pen to paper on any type of new contract until they see what happens."

Such a move would follow similar departures from EMI by the likes of Radiohead and Paul McCartney in 2007. Coldplay's new album, whose working title is Prospekt, is due out in May or June.

Dr. Dre unveils designer headphones

His long-delayed Detox album remains without a release date, but that doesn't mean that Dr. Dre can't spare a little time for some ancillary revenue. The acclaimed hip-hop producer appeared at CES in Las Vegas today to unveil Beats By Dr. Dre, a new line of headphones made by Monster. The $400 headphones will feature "rich deep bass--a Dr. Dre trademark," the company said in a statement.

"When I'm making a track, I'm trying to capture the sound that makes me go 'now THAT's the sh**!" Dre said the statement. "And I want that reaction from everybody who hears it. I spend a lot of time in the studio listening to my music through headphones...with Beats, people are finally going to hear it the way they should: the way I do."

The headphone release comes through a partnership between Dre, Monster, and Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine. "Dre and I have been developing these headphones for a while, and in Monster, we found a partner that could work with us to crystallize his vision and develop them to the quality level he expects," Iovine said.

Label drops Idol alums Studdard, Hicks

While Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood have turned their American Idol exposure into multiplatinum success, other Idol alums have been less successful. Both R&B singer Ruben Studdard and soul man Taylor Hicks have reportedly both been dropped by J Records, the label with which most Idol alums have signed after appearing on the show.

Both Studdard and Hicks have enjoyed decent sales, but apparently not enough to sustain ties to a major label. "Taylor is going to record his next album on his own," a label rep told Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider blog. "He is no longer on the J Records roster." Studdard continues his management contract with 19 Entertainment.

Chris Brown sued by set designer

Teenage R&B star Chris Brown is on the receiving end of a $1 million lawsuit from a concert set designer who claims he didn't get paid for his work. Brown, in the midst of North American tour, is accused of breach of contract and unjust enrichment by set designer John Troxtel.

In the complaint filed on Christmas Eve, Troxtel says he was paid for some of his design work, but "extra work was required and requested." Troxtel alleges that an oral agreement was reached but when it came to time to collect, the touring company refused. Troxtel has designed stage sets for the likes of Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, , 50 Cent, Diddy, and Michael Jackson.

"Audiences rave about the animation and effects--Chris Brown's touring company CBE Touring has decided to stiff [Troxtel] for hundreds of thousands of dollars of work and expenses," the lawsuit stated.

Mom apologizes for Hannah Montana fraud

The Miley Cyrus-Hannah Montana tour remains one of the hottest tickets around, and one woman who won tickets to the tour is now apologizing for how she got them. Priscilla Ceballos, whose 6-year-old daughter won tickets to Cyrus' show in Albany, New York through an essay contest, apologized during an appearance on the Today show for submitting a fraudulent essay for her daughter.

In the essay, Ceballos claimed that her soldier father had died in Iraq this past year. Ceballos said that she knew her daughter had made up the subject matter and that, when asked by the concert organizer if the story was true, she, having nothing to hide, said no.

"Please accept my heartfelt apology and please do not punish my child for my mistake," Ceballos urged on the show.

Meanwhile, another Montana-related lawsuit has been referred to mediation. Buddy Sheffield sued Disney's parent company ABC Cable Networks Group on August 23, claiming that he pitched the original idea for Hannah Montana and was never compensated for his efforts. Sheffield has alleged breach of implied contract, breach of confidence, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment. He is seeking unspecified damages.

Shins keyboardist arrested in domestic case

One doesn't often associate sensitive indie rockers with beating up women, particularly models, but that's what Marty Crandall is facing. The Shins keyboardist was released from jail today following a violent incident involving his now ex-girlfriend, former America's Next Top Model contestant Elyse Sewell.

Crandall and Sewell were taken into custody over the weekend following a scuffle in a Sacramento hotel room. Sewell posted on her LiveJournal site after the incident that "On the drive home from Albuquerque to Portland, my ex-boyfriend got sh**-faced and roughed me up in a Sacramento hotel. I escaped from the room through a blitzkrieg of violence and talked to hotel security, who called the fuzz."

Sewell has since taken down the post upon the advice of her lawyers. Crandall is due to appear in court Tuesday.