Label squashes talk of Coldplay hiatus

For the second time this year, Capitol Records has had to publicly squash reports of a Coldplay hiatus, a move that indicates how heavily parent company EMI's financial fortunes rely on the Chris Martin-fronted rock group. Martin himself prompted the latest round of hiatus reports when he said earlier this week, "It's going to be a long, long time before you hear a new album from us. We've done a few things, but we're all enjoying having families at the moment. If it takes five years for us to feel ready to record something new, then so be it. We need plenty of time to let it come together organically."

Capitol spokesperson Ambrosia Healy told NME.com that talk of a five-year hiatus was misinterpreted. "The band are enjoying a much deserved break, which I think everybody knows," she explained. "No, there isn't a self-imposed 'five-year hiatus.' There isn't a timetable for them recording the follow-up to [the 2005 album] X&Y. They're enjoying not having a plan at the moment. Isn't that what a break is all about?" Martin produced a track on the forthcoming Jay-Z album, Kingdom Come, which hits stores November 14.

Court: Beyonce didn't steal lyrics

A federal judge has ruled that the lyrics to Beyonce's song "Baby Boy" are "substantially dissimilar" to those of a Minneapolis singer-songwriter who sued the Destiny's Child diva for copyright infringement. Jennifer Armour sued Beyonce last year, claiming that 2003's "Baby Boy" took lyrics from her own song "Got a Little Bit of Love for You." Armour said her former manager submitted demo recordings of her song to various studios, including Columbia Records and Atlantic Recording Corporations, record labels for Knowles and Sean Paul, who is featured in the song. But in a side-by-side comparison, the judge ruled that the songs were too different to meet the legal threshold for copyright infringement.

"It's unfortunate that lawsuits such as this one occur, but I am grateful and relieved to have this behind me, and I am eager to move on," Beyonce said in a statement after the ruling.

U2 set to release new songs

With yet another greatest-hits compilation set to hit stores next month, U2 is throwing its fans a bone. The "definitive" greatest-hits package will include two Rick Rubin-produced new songs, including the band's collaborative cover with Green Day of the Slits' 1978 punk anthem "The Saints Are Coming." Both songs were recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London last month, according to the band's Web site. The untitled set, due November 21, will contain "16 of the band's best songs" and is the sequel to their 2002 The Best of 1990-2000 album, which followed a collection that covered the years 1980-1990.

Promoter explains TI no-show

The aftermath from the delay-ridden hip-hop concert last weekend that saw DMX come to blows with a sound man appears far from over. In fact, Mike Green, president of Big League Entertainment, which promoted Saturday's Hot 97 cosponsored Back to School Jam at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, told MTV that would-be headliner TI is about to get hit with a lawsuit.

Green told the network that TI's no-show at the event was his decision, as the Atlanta rapper had violated a clause in his contract to not perform in that area within 30 days prior to the event. TI performed last month at New York's Radio City Music Hall for Boost Mobile Rock Corps volunteers. "People think TI didn't show up that night, but I didn't allow him to make it," Green said. "He did a show in the area just a week before and breached what he had with us, because he wasn't supposed to perform in the area for 30 days before our show. So I didn't allow him to perform. I'm going to sue the hell out of him."

Mars Volta blame drummer for dismissal

If you want to be in Mars Volta, it's best you shy away from stereotypical rock star behavior. Band cofounder Cedric Zavala told Gigwise that the band dismissed drummer Jon Theodore because he was too interested in women, booze, and surfing to keep up with the band's work schedule.

Theodore played on the band's new album Amputecture but was dismissed just prior to its release. "We come to a city, and we play one album live, but we're making another album during the day and then after we play," Zavala said. "And Jon just wasn't having that. Jon likes his women, Jon likes his surfing, Jon likes his drinking."

"You can ask any fan that was in Hamburg when we played for Frances the Mute. We were set to play the last 30 minutes of the set and Jon took off, because the night before he partied too much," he continued. "We had five years of a tyranny of laziness. He just didn't like to throw down as much as we did. When he did care about the band it's when it was a money issue; that's when he would show up to a meeting. God bless him, he's a great drummer, but the guy was late for his own funeral as well: We were telling him he wasn't in the band, he didn't even show up to that meeting--an analogy for the whole time we were in the band with him."

Aaron Carter wants his earrings back

When pop singer Aaron Carter proposed to former Miss Teen USA and Playboy Playmate Kari Ann Peniche last month, he gave her $10,000 earrings. Since he ended their nine-day engagement, calling it a "mistake," Carter now says he wants the earrings back. The 18-year-old singer told the New York Post, "It was just a big mess. She was pretty upset, but I just realized I made a mistake. I bought her earrings for $10,000. And I need to get 'em back. I need to get 'em back!"