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LATEST NEWS…SYDNEY'S WES CARR WINS IDOL: A peak of 1.85 million viewers tuned in to witness Bondi's Wes Carr take out the 2008 Australian Idol crown. The former Tambalane frontman fulfilled his ambition in front of an Idol audience that surpassed 2007's figures with Ten's chief programming officer David Mott announcing that the show will return in 2009. He says, "While we are thrilled with the performance of the show this year, we know that simply means we have yet a higher benchmark to exceed in 2009 - when Australian Idol will be back with new production elements, lots of surprises and, of course, a group of unpolished diamonds all hoping to be turned into our Idol." Wes Carr picks up a recording contract with Sony Music. Watch out for his cracking debut single, 'You'….AXL'S DEMOCRACY: Axl Rose has finally released the most expensive and most anticipated album in the history of music - 'Chinese Democracy'. Released under the Guns N' Roses moniker (despite being the only remaining original member), Rose has reportedly spent up to $20 million and taken almost 15 years to finally complete the record. This is the band's first new material since 1991's simultaneous release of 'Use Your Illusion I & II' which took over the top of the charts upon debut. The band's 1987 full-length debut 'Appetite For Destruction' remains one of the biggest-selling albums in history with sales of over 28 million worldwide. Reviews for the new album are mixed but co-managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould remain optimistic. They say, "The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock 'n' roll and we're launching with a monumental campaign that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N' Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning." The beginning indeed with 'Chinese Democracy' parts II and III set to be unleashed over the coming years….TAYLOR SWIFT'S #1: 18 year old sensation Taylor Swift has scored a massive #1 debut in the US with her 2nd album 'Fearless' recently debuting at the top of the Billboard charts. In the process, she also scored the highest first-week total for a female artist this year with over 592,000 copies sold! Swift has struck a deal to have the album released by Universal Music Group internationally. Swift is also planning her first trip to Australia in March playing at Brisbane's Tivoli on 5 March, CMC Rocks The Snowys Festival (7 March), Melbourne's Billboard (10 March), and Sydney's The Factory (12 March). 'Fearless' is out now….U2'S DIARY: Author Matt McGee has just unleashed 'U2: A Diary' - the single most comprehensive resource that details all of the relevant day-to-day events that have shaped U2 into the band it is today. The book provides stories and insights that have never been told before and includes input from fans who have contributed their memories and personal photographs of the band. The book sheds light on several stories including the band's 1978 victory in a St Patrick Day's talent contest which led to their first studio session with CBS, Bono's visit to Central America in 1986 which led directly to several songs on 'The Joshua Tree', and U2's struggle to finish the 'Pop' album and its impact on Universal Music. In other book news, U2 are also featured in Chris Charlesworth's '25 Albums That Rocked Your World'. From Elvis Presley's 'Sun Sessions' right through to Radiohead's 'OK Computer', the book explores the very best of rock and pop music of the 20th Century. Both books are available now….NEW DVD FOR LESS THAN 50 CENT: Rapper 50 Cent is giving fans their money's worth announcing that his 2009 due 'Before I Self Destruct' album will come with a free DVD of a full-length original movie. Written, directed and starring Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent), the gritty 90-minute film is a coming of age story about an inner city youth who is consumed by revenge and takes up a life of crime in order to support his younger brother after his hardworking single mother is tragically gunned down. The album on the other hand sees 50 Cent once again working closely with Dr. Dre and Eminem and is led by the club-friendly first single, 'Get Up'. The album is scheduled for a February release….NSW'S THE LAZY'S WIN JD SET: Central Coast five-piece The Lazy's have become the very first winners of The JD Set. Voted by the Australian public as their favourite live performance, The Lazys were awarded at a special function at the Prince Bandroom in Melbourne on 20 November. The Lazy's burst onto the scene in 2006 combining punk's raw edge and anthemic rock and were highly chuffed after the announcement. The band said, "Winning the Jack Daniels Set Award for 2008 means a lot to us, knowing that more and more people are following our music. The support that Jack Daniels has given us has helped us reach out to more and more people who in turn voted for us to take the Award and to them we are grateful. The support that JD are giving us next year is fantastic as we will be touring our new EP which is due out at the end of February all being well, so with the financial support for touring taken care of, we can just concentrate on what we do best!! So thanks a lot to everyone who has supported us, we can't wait to see you in the future!!"… YUNUPINGU DOMINATES AIR AWARDS: Independent music was celebrated at the recent AIR Awards which were held at Melbourne's Corner Hotel in front of 500 members of the music industry. Guests were treated to incredible live performances by Lior, Felicity Urquhart, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Grafton Primary, The Herd, The Getaway Plan, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Drones and special guest Martha Wainwright. But the night belonged to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu who walked away with three AIR Awards including Best New Independent Artist, Best Independent Album, Best Australian Independent Blues/Roots Album for his critically acclaimed 'Gurrumul' release. Other winners on the night included The Herd (Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Urban/Hip Hop Album for 'Summerland'), The Getaway Plan (Best Independent Single/EP for 'Where the City Meets The Sea'), Eddy Current Suppression Ring (Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album for 'Primary Colours'), Bec Willis (Best Independent Country Album), Peret Mako (Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album for 'The Devil is in the Detail') and Tina Harrod (Best Australian Independent Jazz Album for 'Worksongs'). Congratulations to all of the winners….BACARDI EXPRESS 2009: The Bacardi Express train is returning in 2009 and will take five bands on a rock and roll adventure of a lifetime from 26-28 March 2009 stopping off to play exclusive concerts in Melbourne, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong and Sydney. UK DJ sensations Groove Armada will headline in Melbourne and Sydney while more acts will be announced in January. The DJs say, "We can't wait to climb aboard the Bacardi Express - DJ decks and plenty of time between stations can mean only one thing - FUN! It will be great meeting some of our fans and other artists on the train journey before stopping off to play in Melbourne and Sydney. All aboard…next stop Party Central!" Concert tickets will be limited and can only be won through registering at www.bacardi.com (registration opens early 2009), selected bars and via Channel V who will air all the action from 15 May next year….V FESTIVAL RETURNS: The Killers, Snow Patrol and the Kaiser Chiefs have been announced as some of the headline acts for the 2009 V Festival which makes its return to our shores in March. Back for its third year, the 2009 event promises to be another corker with Elbow, Duffy, Louis XIV, The DØ, Tame Impala, The Temper Trap and Canyons all also confirmed to play. Tickets will go on sale from 28 November but those who can't wait can pick up some pre-sale tickets at any Virgin Mobile store from 19 November….BDO SIDE SHOWS: If you missed out on tickets to next year's Big Day Out, then fear not! A whole host of side-shows have just been announced for some of the festival's headline acts. The Prodigy will be playing special one-off shows at the Hordern Pavilion (Sydney) on 24 January and The Palace (Melbourne) on 29 January while fellow UK act Simian Mobile Disco will be playing the Metro on 21 January (Sydney) and The Prince Bandroom (Melbourne) on 25 January. Sheffield quartet Arctic Monkeys will play the Enmore Theatre (Sydney) on 22 January and the Palais Theatre (Melbourne) on 24 January while Perth's Pendulum will hit the Enmore on 25 January and Melbourne's Forum on 28 January. Chicago hip hop trailblazer Lupe Fiasco will also be playing the Enmore on 20 January and The Palace on 27 January while London's Hot Chip will be hitting the Enmore on 21 January and Billboard (Melbourne) on 25 January. System Of A Down's Serj Tankian has teamed up with Mike Patton's Fantomas for some shows at the Tivoli (Brisbane) on 21 January, Enmore Theatre (Sydney) on 24 January, and The Palace (Melbourne) on 25 January. If that wasn't enough, you can also catch The Ting Tings (Metro - 20 January, Prince Bandroom - 28 January), TV On The Radio (Metro - 24 January, Hi Fi Bar - 29 January), The Black Kids (Gaelic Club - 20 January, Corner Hotel - 24 January), and the Dropkick Murphys (Metro - 25 January, Billboard - 28 January). All tickets are on sale now....