Madonna changing sound for new album

Signaling a possible move away from the disco house sound that has been the hallmark of her past few albums, Madonna is reportedly working with Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Pharrell Williams for her new album. Timberlake told The Sun this week that he has been writing some new material for Madonna for an album she hopes to release in late 2007. "I have been working on some new music," he said. "But it's not for myself--I'm writing for other people. I'm working on some stuff for Madonna." Timbaland and Pharrell are also in the mix, with the latter set to produce at least four tracks on the record, according to the paper. In addition, house producer Felix Da Housecat has been working with Madonna for the album.

Avril Lavigne and husband buy Bel-Air mansion

Avril Lavigne and her husband, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley, have purchased a $9.5 million Bel-Air mansion, according to the Los Angeles Times. The house reportedly has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, an elevator, sauna, and 10-car garage. The 22-year-old pop star and her husband of nine months will live in the 12,000-square-foot home, located in a ritzy neighborhood that has been home to Sonny and Cher, Hugh Hefner, Clint Eastwood, and Ronald Reagan. Lavigne will release her third album, The Best Damn Thing, next Tuesday.

Johnny Cash's home burns down

One of the best-known homes in music burned to the ground yesterday, as the Nashville, Tennessee, area home of Johnny and June Carter Cash was destroyed by a fire. The blaze occurred during remodeling being done by workers for former Bee Gees member Barry Gibb, who bought the palatial estate in 2006 and had hoped to renovate it and eventually write songs there with his wife. Johnny and June Carter Cash had lived in the 13,880-square-foot lakeside home from the late 1960s until their deaths in 2003. Cash wrote much of his famous music and entertained US presidents, music royalty, and visiting fans at the home. Parts of the landmark video for Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" was shot inside the house.

One firefighter was injured in the blaze, authorities told the Associated Press. The cause is unknown, but Steele said the flames spread quickly because construction workers had recently applied a flammable wood preservative to the exterior of the house. The preservative was also being applied inside the house.

Two warrants issued for DMX's arrest

Judges in two cities issued bench warrants today for the arrest of DMX after the Yonkers rapper failed to show up in court for either of his pending traffic cases in New York. "In truth, I do not know where he is," Murray Richman, lawyer for the 36-year-old rapper, said in court, according to New York Newsday. "Why would he be hiding out from a damn traffic infraction?" Richman said that DMX--real name Earl Simmons--was in Arizona on Tuesday but had promised to appear Wednesday in White Plains and Yonkers. "He said he missed a flight," Richman said. "He's always missing flights."

A judge in White Plains had already given DMX a one-day reprieve after he missed a hearing Tuesday. The cases stem from a June 12 incident in which DMX was pulled over and accused of speeding, changing lanes dangerously, driving without a seat belt, and using a suspended license, as well as a separate incident in Yonkers last October in which he was charged with driving on a suspended license. DMX had missed an earlier hearing on the charges and had to pony up a $25,000 bond to get out of jail.

Beach Boys lawsuit dismissed

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit claiming Beach Boys memorabilia, including handwritten lyrics and rare photos, was stolen from storage. US District Judge Manuel Real ruled last week that the group's company, Brother Records, failed to prove allegations that Roy A. Sciacca, Allen Gaba, and Gem System Inc. "stole, misappropriated or otherwise improperly, wrongfully or illegally acquired any property."

The Beach Boys said they had stored musical instruments, original sheet music, charts, photos, contracts, and other valuable pieces of memorabilia in Gaba's warehouse. When band members decided to clear out the warehouse in 1994, according to the lawsuit filed last year, they discovered that 13 to 25 boxes had been taken without permission. The band said it learned in October 2005 that Sciacca was putting the items up for auction. The group's lawsuit sought more than $20 million.