all about Madonna

U.S. pop diva Madonna plans to start building a multi-million-dollar girls' school in Malawi for underprivileged children this year, her local lawyer said on Wednesday.

"A task force of four prominent Malawians has already been formed to head the project which will be on the scale of what Oprah Winfrey has in South Africa," Madonna's lawyer Alan Chinula told Reuters.

"It is a multi-million dollar project and we will get the real costs in the next two weeks."

Billionaire U.S. television magnate Winfrey has built a $40 million all-girl leadership academy in South Africa which boasts state-of-the-art facilities including laboratories, a yoga studio and beauty salon.

Malawi's High Court is expected to approve Madonna's bid to adopt two-year-old Malawian David Banda on Thursday. Malawi's government and David's father -- his only surviving parent -- have endorsed the adoption.

Madonna will not attend the final court ruling on her adoption bid because she is busy with other engagements, Chinula said on Tuesday.

The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, which has been ravaged by an AIDS epidemic that has produced more than one million orphans.

source : reuters

U.S. pop star Madonna will not attend the final court ruling on her request to adopt a Malawian child because she is busy with other engagements, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

The High Court is expected to approve Madonna's bid to formally adopt 2-year-old David Banda at a final session on Thursday. Malawi's government and David's father -- his only surviving parent -- have endorsed the adoption.

"We are going to court on Thursday, but Madonna will not be there because she is not coming," Madonna's lawyer, Alan Chinula told Reuters. "The judge has indicated that he cannot object to her being absent when making the ruling."

Chinula said Madonna had "other engagements," which he declined to disclose.

A court clerk said Madonna's lawyer has asked for a later court date -- the singer's third request for a postponement -- because their client "had other business matters to deal with." He confirmed the judge could go ahead without her.

The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, a southern African nation ravaged by an AIDS epidemic that has left more than 1 million orphans.

But one of Malawi's fiercest critics of Madonna's adoption bid, the Human Rights Consultative Committee, said on Monday it was no longer interested in pursuing the case, removing another obstacle.

Madonna began adoption proceedings in 2006, and David has been living with the singer and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, in their London home since then. She took custody of David when he was 13 months old after his father had placed him in an orphanage following the death of his wife.

David's father, Yohane Banda, told Reuters Television this week, "This is what I wanted, that Madonna should keep the child."

source : reuters

he father of a Malawian child that Madonna wants to adopt said on Monday he supported her case but wanted the U.S. popstar to bring his boy home for visits.

Madonna is expected to appear in a Malawian court on Thursday for what is expected to be a final and favourable ruling on whether she can adopt David Banda. She is due to arrive in the impoverished southern African country on Tuesday.

The pop diva began adoption proceedings in 2006 and the two-year-old has been living with her and her film director husband Guy Ritchie in their London home since then.

The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, which has been ravaged by an AIDS epidemic leaving more than one million orphans.

Malawi's government has recommended that its High Court approve Madonna's adoption of the child.

"I have no problem with the government's recommendation to allow Madonna to get the child. This is what I wanted, that Madonna should keep the child," the boy's father, Yohane Banda, told Reuters Television in an interview.

One of Malawi's fiercest critics of Madonna's adoption bid, the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), said on Monday it was no longer interested in pursuing the case, removing another obstacle.

"It will be as a waste of time and resources to continue pursuing the case. Malawi has more pressing issues than Madonna," HRCC chairman Udule Mwakasungura told Reuters.

Madonna took David when he was 13 months old after his father had placed him in an orphanage following the death of his wife.

Standing in a dusty village of huts, Banda said he hoped to see his son during Madonna's trip.

"If she comes with the child ... we expect to be told that the child is here and we are allowed to see him," he said in Lipunga, 160 km (100 miles) from Malawi's capital.

But even if it was not possible this time, he said he hoped to see his son every few years.

"We had agreed initially that when the child is taken, she should bring him at least once in every three to four years so that we should see how he is developing," the father said.

If Madonna does get to keep David, the child will grow up in the high-flying world of a leading popstar, worlds away from Lipunga, where Banda's relatives eat staple food like maize meal from simple bowls and meals are cooked on open fires.

source : reuters

Madonna has played her first UK show of the year, closing the opening night of Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Dressed all in black, the Queen of Pop performed a 40 minute set at Mote Park in Maidstone, pleasing fans with number one single 4 Minutes.

She also played a number of songs from her recent studio album Hard Candy, including Candy Shop and Miles Away.

The show came as part of a trio of live performances to launch the album, the other two being in New York and Paris.

Later in the set, Madonna reworked Hung Up for electric guitar, ending the song with a wall of noise. The show ended with another single, Music.

However, the singer didn't play any of her well known hits from the 80s and 90s.

Speaking to Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley before her performance, Madonna explained why she wanted to play the songs she picked.

She said: "Obviously, I want to do new stuff because I'm very excited about it.

"I feel that's what people come to hear but I also want to do a few of my oldies but goodies.

"I chose Hung Up because that was the biggest hit from my last record and I chose Music because it's a crowd pleaser, it's anthemic and it brings people together."

The tent was full to capacity for the show. Extra monitors played the set to fans outside.

As Madonna disappeared behind a stage prop made to look like a tube train at the end of the show, most fans left happy.

31 year old Gerard Sutton told Newsbeat: "It was great for Maidstone, she looked like she loved being here and everyone loved it."

19 year old Georgina Finch from Hastings added: "She was good but she should have sung some older stuff and should have been on for longer. She was awesome though."

Radio 1's Big Weekend is the biggest free ticketed music festival in Europe and has previously been held in Dundee and Preston.

30,000 people are expected over the two days, and more than half a million people applied for tickets.

source : bbc

Thousands of music fans are to flock to see Madonna and a host of other stars perform at Radio 1's Big Weekend.
Around 30,000 revellers are due to attend the free event in Maidstone, Kent, where they can expect to see a range of pop, indie and dance acts including Usher, Duffy, Fatboy Slim and Adele across four main stages.

This year for the first time, Radio 1 has added the BBC Introducing Stage to the bill, where new and upcoming bands can be showcased.

Demand for tickets this year was the greatest in the history of the event, which has been taking place in its present format at venues across the country for the past three years.

More than 500,000 people applied for the 30,000 tickets on offer, with tickets being allocated through a lottery system, although a large proportion were given to residents of Maidstone and the wider area.

Those who were not lucky enough to get a ticket will not miss out completely as they will be able to catch live coverage of the event on TV and radio throughout the weekend.

Preparations for the event have been going on for months.

Extra train services have been laid on by Southeastern trains between Maidstone and London, while a park and ride service has been put in place in the town.

Kent Police have warned that anyone involved in anti-social behaviour or without a ticket will be made to leave the area under a dispersal order they have obtained specially for the event.

source : pa

Madonna has hinted that she may team up with special guests at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

The superstar, who will headline the Main Stage on Saturday, said that Pharrell Williams or Justin Timberlake could appear.

She said: "I don't know if Justin is going to be there or not. So stay tuned. Maybe Pharrell will turn up if I'm lucky."

Both artists feature on her current Number One album Hard Candy.

The singer will play a 40 minute set of old and new hits for her first ever UK festival performance at the two day festival at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent.

"I have never been to the Big Weekend before. I hear it's fun, is it crazy?" she said.

The singer also revealed that she will be bringing her family along for her performance at the Big Weekend.

"I will probably bring Lourdes with me and maybe Roco," she said. "They always come to the rehearsals but they're kind of over the whole stage show thing. They like to skateboard around."

Justin Timberlake recently joined Madonna onstage to perform 4 Minutes during a secret show in New York.

Speaking about her time in the studio with Timberlake, Timbaland and Pharrell, she said: "It was a little awkward at first because you don't really know them and you feel a little intimidated. Justin admitted to me the other day that he felt the same.

"As for Timbaland I experienced both sides of him. I experienced him being very up and jovial and communicative.

"Then other times he would come in put his headphones on, and not speak to anyone. So you'd be thinking 'OK he's in his own world'.

"So we'd go off and work with other musicians and Justin and I would be writing words together and it seemed like Timbaland wasn't paying attention.

"But he'd take off his headphones and go, 'No' or he'd turn around and put his thumb up. He's quite unique, you think he's not paying attention but he is."

More than 500,000 people registered for tickets for the two-day event this year which also feature performances from Usher, The Kooks, Editors and Duffy.

Across the two days and four stages, fans will enjoy more than 50 UK and international artists alongside DJs.

source : bbc

Authorities in Malawi are set to grant full adoption rights of an African boy to US pop star Madonna, a high court official indicated Friday, citing a leaked document.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the court in Lilongwe would hear a full review on May 15 of an 18-month interim custody order granted in 2006 for Madonna to adopt David Banda.

The court had also received recommendations from the ministry of women and child development to make the adoption permanent.

The document, referring to Madonna's filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie and herself, said: "Mr and Mrs Ritchie have shown a strong commitment in providing the infant with all essential needs like love, safe home environment, care, protection, material as well as emotional support."

The document, filed by an official of the ministry identified as Simon Chisale, said David, the son of peasant farmer Yohane Banda, had "bonded well with the couple and other key members of the household."

The report said David, plucked from an orphanage in poor health, "continues to develop into a happy thriving toddler. His survival, growth and development is excellent."

The celebrity couple were being monitored at their London home whether they were suitable parents for David by Malawian social workers.

The official said Madonna, who is expected to return to Malawi next week to continue her charity work, will not be required during the hearing, which will be held in camera.

"She will have to come to court to sign the full adoption documents later," the official said.

A coalition of rights groups, the Human Rights Consultative Committee, as "friends of the court" have challenged the adoption and are seeking a full review of the interim order granted to Madonna.

The interim order elapsed in April after it was controversially granted in 2006 allowing Madonna to take David out of Malawi.

The ruling sparked a heated debate about adoption laws in the poor southern African nation where AIDS has left one million orphans.

The rights groups claim that existing legislation does not allow for intra-country adoptions and accuse Madonna of using her vast wealth to fast-track the adoption process.

source : afp

Madonna has said that she isn't sure whether Justin Timberlake will make an appearance during her show at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

The 49-year-old popstar is the headline act at the event, but wouldn't confirm whether her '4 Minutes' collaborator would be performing a cameo.

She told the BBC: "I don't know if [Justin Timberlake] is going to be there or not. We will see!

"But if he isn't we will have a video projection and will change around the choreography and everything."

Radio 1's Big Weekend takes place at Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent on May 10 and 11. Other artists playing the bash include The Kooks, Nelly, Usher and Duffy.

source : digitalspy

Los Angeles May 8, 2008 - Madonna, the world's tastiest sweetheart, has announced more non-stop treats for her legions of legendary and devoted fans. Following the latest news that "HARD CANDY" has debuted at Number 1 around the globe, it has been confirmed that Madonna's "STICKY & SWEET TOUR" will begin (hip) hopping around the world on August 23rd in Cardiff, Wales with stops in major European markets through September including London (11-September) and Paris (20-September).

The North American leg of the "STICKY & SWEET TOUR" begins October 3rd at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with stops at New York's Madison Square Garden on October 6th and 7th, followed by performances in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and more before stopping at Miami's Dolphin Stadium on November 26th. Madonna's "STICKY & SWEET" tour will also visit Mexico and South America later this year. (Show dates, and on sale information in these markets will follow at a later date.)

Confirmed today by Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager and Arthur Fogel, Live Nation's CEO Global Touring and Chairman Global Music, who is producing the tour, "STICKY & SWEET" will play arenas and stadiums throughout Europe and North America including a number of cities where Madonna has not performed in the past fifteen years. "STICKY & SWEET" will be directed by Madonna's long time creative collaborator Jamie King. The musical director will be Kevin Antunes. The complete tour itinerary is listed below with additional cities and dates to be announced. For complete tour and ticket information, fans can visit: www.livenation.com and www.madonna.com. "HARD CANDY," Madonna's 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records debuted at number one in 27 countries around the world thus far, including the USA, JAPAN, FRANCE, UK, GERMANY, CANADA, ITALY, AUSTRALIA, THE NETHERLANDS, SOUTH AFRICA, SWEDEN, DENMARK, IRELAND, FINLAND, AUSTRIA, CHILE, SPAIN, MEXICO, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, SLOVENIA, PORTUGAL, BELGIUM, BRAZIL, SWITZERLAND, ISRAEL and U.A.E. The album has received Four Stars in Rolling Stone, Blender and People Magazine with The NY Daily News hailing "HARD CANDY" as Madonna's greatest album ever. Madonna's current smash single "4 Minutes" was co-written and co-produced by Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. "HARD CANDY" is the Number One most downloaded digital album in the U.S. and many other countries. Madonna's previous studio album "CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR" sold over 8.5 million copies

Madonna and Live Nation entered into a revolutionary partnership last fall and her last three worldwide tours were produced by Live Nation.

A multi-Grammy award winner and recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Madonna has long been known for groundbreaking multi-dimensional tours that consist of visual and audio extravaganzas with non-stop singing and breathtaking dancing. Madonna's last outing, 2006's acclaimed Confessions Tour played in 25 countries including Russia, reached a collective audience of over 1.3 million fans, and was the highest grossing concert tour of all time by a female artist.

"I'll be your one stop Candy Shop Everything that I've got"
Madonna "CANDY SHOP" from "HARD CANDY"

TICKETS: Tickets for "Sticky & Sweet" will go on sale beginning Friday, May 16th in London, Paris, Cardiff and Nice followed by on sales Saturday, May 17th in Amsterdam, Boston and Chicago with E. Rutherford and New York City on sale Monday, May 19th. Tickets will range from .00 through 0 (5.00 in Las Vegas) offering a variety of excellent seats at all price levels. Additional on-sales vary and are listed below or available at www.livenation.com and www.madonna.com . There will be a 4 ticket limit per person at the arena performances and a 6 ticket per person limit for stadium events.

MADONNA.COM: Icon is Madonna's official fan club. Legacy members of Icon get first access to tickets starting May 12th, 2008. Fan club members who join May 1st and later will not have access to presale tickets. However, all ticket buyers for the tour get a free trial one year Virtual Icon membership which provides access to the largest digital archive of Madonna photos online, a social networking community of dedicated Madonna fans, contests, news and much more. Sign up for Icon at Madonna.com today.

Citi: "We are proud to provide Citi® cardmembers with access to one of the most anticipated tours of 2008," said Vik Atal, Chairman and CEO, Citi Cards. "The Madonna tour is a great example of the benefits of our alliance with Live Nation which enables us to offer our cardmembers exceptional experiences through our innovative Private Pass Program." Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday May 13th at 10am ET through Citi's Private Pass Program®. For complete presale details visit: privatepass.citi.com. *Applicable for Sticky & Sweet shows in the U.S.

www.stubhub.com: StubHub is the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace for Madonna's North American Tour 2008.* StubHub is the world's largest ticket marketplace enabling fans to buy and sell tickets to a vast selection of nearly 30,000 sports, concert theatres and other live entertainment events. StubHub reinvented the ticket resale market in 2000 and continues to lead through innovation. The company's unique online marketplace, dedicated solely to tickets, provides all fans the choice to buy or sell their tickets in a safe, convenient and highly reliable environment. All transactions are processed and delivered via StubHub's patent-pending Fan Network (SM ticket delivery service, supported by seven-day toll free customer service at 1-866-STUBHUB and backed by an industry-first Fan Protect Guarantee. *Applicable for Sticky & Sweet shows in Canada & the U.S. (excluding Mexico)

www.viagogo.co.uk: viagogo is the Official Premium Ticketing Partner for Madonna's European Tour 2008*. Premium tickets and VIP packages will be available from Friday 16th May on www.viagogo.co.uk. In addition, viagogo will be the Official Secondary Ticketing Exchange where fans can buy and sell their tickets. viagogo facilitates the exchange between someone who wants to sell and someone who wants to buy a ticket for a live event. It guarantees that buyers receive their tickets in time for the show and sellers receive payment. viagogo is Europe's leading ticket exchange. *Not applicable for Sticky & Sweet shows in Germany & Italy.

About Live Nation: Live Nation is the future of the music business. With the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world and the most comprehensive concert search engine on the web, Live Nation is revolutionizing the music industry; onstage and online. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV." Additional information about the company can be found at www.livenation.com under the "About Us" section

MADONNA STICKY & SWEET TOUR ITINERARY 2008

Showdate - City - Venue - On sale Date:

23-Aug Cardiff Millennium Stadium Fri. May 16
26-Aug Nice Stade Charles Ehrmann Fri. May 16
28-Aug Berlin Olympic Stadium Wed. May 21
02-Sept Amsterdam Arena Sat. May 17
04-Sept Dusseldorf LTU Arena Wed. May 21
06-Sept Rome Olympic Stadium Fri. May 23
09-Sept Frankfurt Commerzbank Arena Wed. May 21
11-Sept London Wembley Stadium Fri. May 16
20-Sept Paris Stade de France Fri. May 16
03-Oct E. Rutherford Izod Center Mon. May 19
06-Oct New York City Madison Square Garden Mon. May 19
07-Oct New York City Madison Square Garden Mon. May 19
15-Oct Boston TD BankNorth Garden Sat. May 17
18-Oct Toronto Air Canada Centre Sat. May 24
22-Oct Montreal Bell Centre Sat. May 24
26-Oct Chicago United Center Sat. May 17
30-Oct Vancouver BC Place Stadium Sat. May 24
01-Nov Oakland Oracle Arena Sun. June 1
04-Nov San Diego Petco Park Sun. June 1
06-Nov Los Angeles Dodger Stadium Sun. June 1
08-Nov Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena Sat. May 31
11-Nov Denver Pepsi Center Sat. May 31
16-Nov Houston Minute Maid Park Sat. May 31
19-Nov Philadelphia Wachovia Center Mon. June 2
22-Nov Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Mon. June 2
24-Nov Atlanta Philips Arena Sat. M
26-Nov Miami Dolphin Stadium Sat. May 31

Thanks to Mike from madonnadownload.com

Madonna's upcoming tour will begin Aug. 23 in Cardiff, Wales, and will include between 50-60 shows total, Billboard.com has learned. Details of the tour, produced globally by Live Nation, will be announced later today (May 8).

Billed as the Sticky and Sweet tour, Madonna's trek in support of her current chart-topping Warner Bros. release "Hard Candy" -- which debuted atop the Billboard 200 yesterday -- will play stadiums in the U.K. and Europe until the end of September, arenas and a "handful" of stadiums in 16 markets in North America in October and November, and then stadiums in Mexico and South America late November-December.

"I'm thrilled to be involved in another worldwide Madonna extravaganza," Arthur Fogel, chairman of global music for Live Nation, tells Billboard.com. Fogel has helmed Madonna's last three world tours, which grossed almost $400 million combined. Her 2006 Confessions tour is, at $194 million, the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist.

The upcoming tour is the first major manifestation of the multi-faceted
10-year deal between Madonna and Live Nation, valued in published reports at $120 million.

The reality is she's delivered her last album to Warner Bros., and it's a smash, which is great for everybody," Fogel says. "We now have a tremendous opportunity with a tremendous artist to do all kinds of new and innovative things on many different levels, and this tour will be the start of that rollout."

The tour follows a familiar Madonna touring blueprint in that it visits a limited number of markets in a four-month time frame, with multi-night stands in major cities. Ticket on-sale details will be announced today, along with a presale through Live Nation's corporate sponsorship partner Citi. Fogel says ticket prices will be "basically the same as they've been the past two tours," which means primarily in the $55-$350 range.

source : billboard

Foreign sales company Fortissimo Films has picked up int'l rights to Madonna's Malawi docu "I am Because we are."
Pic will receive its preem in Cannes where it will be presented as part of amFAR's annual Cinema Without Aids fund-raising event.
"Because" examines the plight of the African country which has been struck down with the AIDS epidemic. It is predominantly told through the stories of orphaned children, but also includes interviews with Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, professor Jeffery Sachs, and Dr. Paul Farmer.
Directed by first-time helmer Nathan Rissman, pic is produced, written and narrated by Madonna.
Hong Kong- and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo handles all rights outside North America, where the pic is repped by CAA.

source : variety

If you didn't win your tickets for the exclusive show Madonna will perform at the Olympia Hall in Paris on May 6, then here is your chance to attend this so special event!
The first 500 fans who will lineup in front of the Olympia Hall, 28 Boulevard des Capucines, 75009 Paris, tomorrow morning, will get a wristband allowing them to attend the show tomorrow night! Wristbands will be given away tomorrow, May 6, at 10am, Paris time. Good luck and see you at the show!

source : madonna.com

Fans getting hysterical after Madonna is something expected, but what one may not imagine is fans actually walking away with life-size cut-outs of the pop diva.

That's what happened in Hong Kong where Madge's cardboard cut-outs in provocative poses used to advertise her new album have been stolen from music shops all around the city, according to reports.

The cut-outs for the promotion of the album 'Hard Candy' show the 'Material Girl' wearing thigh-length boots.

According to reports from the Sunday Morning Post, almost 10 of the 30 1.6-metre-high cut-outs have been taken from shops ever since they went on display last week.

Record company Warner Music said that it was unheard of for people to walk away with nearly life-size cut-outs from shops, but they were not planning to go to police for looking into the matter.

"We have had people ripping off posters before, but stealing cut- outs certainly takes some guts," The Daily Telegraph quoted Kelvin Wong, vice-president of Warner Music Asia, as telling the newspaper.

Hard Candy is Madge's 11th studio album and the last to be released under her current contract with Warner.

source : ani

Madonna had music shoppers heading back to the store last week, with more than 14,000 fans shopping for a copy of her 'Hard Candy' album.

Madonna beat Andre Rieu and Damien Leith to the top of the Australian chart, just one week out from the all-important Mother's Day chart.

'Hard Candy' did 14,585 units compared to Rieu's 'Waltzing Matilda' with 10,426 and Leith's 'Catch The Wind: Songs of a Generation" with 9,688.

source : undercoverhd.com

MTV will broadcast a brand new Madonna interview as part of their 'MTV News' program during the next few days.
Below are the airtimes to the different segments of the interview.

MADONNA ON MILEY
Fri 5/2- 9:50am, EST, 1:50pm, EST

MADONNA CONCERT WRAP
Fri 5/2- 10:50pm, EST
Sat 5/3- 1:50am, EST, 7:50am, EST

MADONNA ALBUM NEWS
Sat 5/3- 11:50pm, EST
Sun 5/4- 4:50am, EST, 6:50am, EST
Mon 5/5- 1:50am, EST, 4:50am, EST, 9:50am, EST, 10:55am, EST

source : madonna.com

Madonna introduces her new video, "4 Minutes" feat. Justin Timberlake!

from MTV News Room :

Last night Madonna played an intimate set and followed it up by chatting with our very own John Norris. MTV's Deanna Caligiuri reports on what went into setting up an interview worthy of the inimitable Ms. Ciccone.

Often when you work here, you will find yourself saying one of two things:

1) This is why I love my job.
2) What is this crazy circus that I have elected to be a part of to pay the bills?

Last night, I was saying both. We entered the Roseland Ballroom through the backdoors at around 9:30 p.m. to get set up for the Madonna promo concert - and our exclusive interview with Madonna and Justin Timberlake together.

Lines of fans - some there since Monday - huddled in anticipation around the block. As we beelined for our interview space, the typical frenzy that occurs backstage was in full effect: eccentric dancers stretching and running around half-naked, wardrobe people steaming clothes, makeup artists adding their final layers to talent, groups of socialites and socialite-wannabes gathering in the hallways. The room where we were to hold our interview was a makeshift office for Madonna's production manager. There were holes in the windows, overflowing garbage cans, an inch of dust on the fake plants and horribly mismatched tapestry on the walls.

Was MTV News able to pull the room together before Madonna's grand entrance? (Plus, pictures from the concert!)

After the show -- and two hours of managing to turn the office into a suitable interview space -- the crew scrambled to get the last-minute details in place. The pressure was rising. Publicists ran in and out. We hunted down a Diet Coke for John Norris. Madonna's manager and production staff were surveying the room when the countdown began: Publicist Liz Rosenberg said, "Eight minutes!"

After, um, exactly eight minutes, in came the staff of people needed to make our 20-minute interview happen: managers, publicists, makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, label reps and venue reps.

Madonna walked in -- an overwhelming presence despite her soft-spoken voice -- and gave John a kiss. She sat down, and people began fussing all around her -- primping her hair, wiring her audio, adjusting the lighting, etc. The makeup artist kept asking our cameraman to pull the shot out, because we were in too close on Madonna's face. The singer joked about her undergarments, spread her legs a few times and was having a coy exchange with John when Justin walked in. The two seemed to have known each other for years, having established an incredible rapport in very little time.

Throughout the interview, Madonna suggested that John had not been paying attention to the lyrics of her songs, both old and new. (Liz later told him that Madonna only gives people she likes a hard time.) The interview was relaxed and personal and as natural as could be given the circumstances. After 25 minutes, the plug was pulled, and Madonna let it be known that she and Justin had a party to attend. In less than a minute, the circus of people was gone, leaving a half-empty room and some extensive equipment to break down.

Be sure to check out mtvnews.com in the coming days to hear more about our chat with Madonna.

Click on the image bellow to watch it again :

* Windows Media Player required

from Madonna.com :

viagogo, Europe's leading secondary ticketing company (www.viagogo.co.uk) has teamed up with Madonna to offer fans the chance to see her up close and personal at an intimate club show in Paris and at her first UK show since last year.

The club show, in celebration of Madonna's new album, Hard Candy, will take place at L'Olympia Hall in Paris on Tuesday May 6th. This follows a similar event in New York at the Roseland Ballroom on Wednesday 30th April. Five pairs are up for grabs for the Paris show and fans can enter the competition by registering at www.viagogo.co.uk/hardcandy.

Madonna's UK fans will be able to see her a bit closer to home when the songstress headlines Radio 1's Big Weekend at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent. Registration for the event has now closed so fans who missed out on one of the 30,000 free tickets have one last chance to join the privileged crowd by registering at www.viagogo.co.uk/hardcandy.

It will be Madonna's first live appearance in Britain since Live Earth in 2007. With the lead single from the album, 4 Minutes, topping the UK charts and anticipation building for her new album, the show is set to be one of the live events of the year.

Eric Baker, CEO of viagogo, added: "We are delighted to team up with Madonna on these new shows. It's an honour for us to be able to offer fans the chance to win tickets to see the most famous female recording artist of all time. At viagogo we always put the fans first and make sure that, whatever the event, they have a 100% guaranteed ticket."

For the first time in BET history, legendary music phenom Madonna will visit the network's hit countdown show, 106 & PARK, on Friday, May 2 at 6:00 PM. Hosted by fan favorites Terrence and Rocsi, 106 is prepared to give Madonna a welcome celebration like never before. To predict her next evolution, Terrence and Rocsi will get Madonna to foresee the future. Rocsi will also do yoga positions that Madonna will comment on, and Terrence will do some dance moves for her to judge. Madonna will also introduce her new video 4 Minutes, featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

source : bet.com

Thanks to Smile Wu Madonna.idw.tw

As digital sales of Madonna's new single, "4 Minutes," pass the one million mark, Madonna will be giving away free tickets to hundreds of lucky fans in celebration of this week's release of her new CD "Hard Candy" (April 29) when she gives a historic up-close and personal performance at NY's Roseland Ballroom (April 30), it was announced today by Warner Bros. Records.

"It's my way of saying thank you to my fans," said Madonna. As a result, Roseland will be filled up with the most devoted and die-hard Madonna fans who have been asked to wait in line beginning 6:00 am on the morning of April 30th at Roseland Ballroom (239 W 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Ave.). The tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

This historic event will include the debut performance of Madonna's No. 1 single "4 Minutes" as well as several other songs from "Hard Candy" along with previous hits. The show, presented by Verizon, Vodafone and Control Room, is scheduled to be broadcast live on msn (music.msn.com) and will be available to Verizon and Vodafone customers around the world.

Madonna's single "4 Minutes" has become the second single ever to have digital sales exceeding one million (Rhianna was first) units in five weeks. As of today, digital sales are l,004,482 units. "Hard Candy" is the follow up CD to Madonna's "Confessions on A Dance Floor" which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and has sold more than 8 million copies.. The CD has already received Four Stars (****) in Rolling Stone, Blender and People Magazine. "It may be the best album of Madonna's career," raved Jim Farber in his Five Star (*****) review in NY's Daily News. The album has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in dance club mode with an urban-hip-hop beat in creative collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes and Nate "Danja" Hills.

source : marketwire

Vodafone, the world's largest mobile operator by revenue, and Warner Music International (WMI), today announced that on Wednesday, 30 April, Vodafone customers in 14 countries will be able to watch a live, one-off show by Madonna on their mobile. Streamed live from New York's famous Roseland Ballroom exclusively outside the US to Vodafone customers, the performance will celebrate the release of Madonna's new album, HARD CANDY, which is available globally from today.

Vodafone customers in Cyprus, Egypt, France (SFR), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa (Vodacom), Spain and UK will have access to the show via their mobile phones on Vodafone live! and via their PCs using a unique streaming platform at www.vodafone.com/music

Vodafone customers will be able to do more than simply view the performance. They will be able to interact and share their emotions with other online show goers and select camera angles to move around the stage to get the best view, making them feel as though they are there in person and part of the event.

Vodafone customers will also have a chance to win tickets to Roseland Ballroom in New York City and become one of the lucky few to experience Madonna's performance in person at the iconic venue.

source : unstrung.com

Entertainment Tonight: (#6949) - 2008/05/01 - link

Pop icon. Master of reinvention. International superstar. Madonna isn't just a singer. She's a force of nature. Tonight on ET, we'll slip you inside her "Madgesty's" rare live concert in New York... hear her thoughts on working with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland on her hotly awaited album, "Hard Candy" and more! Later: Kate Walsh returns to "Grey's Anatomy" (we've got your gotta-see sneak peek)... and feel the heat as we reveal TV Guide's "Sexiest Men."

Madonna: Hard Candy Special on Fuse - 2008/05/03 - link

She's only got "4 Minutes to Save the World," but she's taking a break to talk to fuse! Join us for a super-exclusive interview special with Madonna in her first-ever fuse appearance. It's the Queen of Pop like you've never seen her and she's dishing on her all-new album Hard Candy, including the smash hit "4 Minutes to Save the World." It's hard, sticky and you'll only find it on fuse!

Madonna's documentary highlighting the plight of Malawi's estimated one million Aids orphans has been given its world premiere in New York.

The film, which the singer produced and narrated, tells the story of several children, many of them born to mothers who have died of Aids, most of whom lead desperate lives.

On the red carpet at the Tribeca Film Festival, Madonna told reporters how I Am Because We Are contains a message of obligation.

"We are responsible for each other and that if we can help in any way, shape or form, we should," she said.

The documentary includes some excruciating scenes showing the agonising grief of a mother who has just lost her child to Aids.

There is also a harrowing moment when a young boy - a victim of genital mutilation - is being treated by medical staff.

But director Nathan Rissman said the idea was not just to shock audiences.

"We decided, if we were going to wake people up, we were going to try to point them in the direction of how we can solve these problems.

"There are so many solutions out there and I think that the more that we discuss this, the more that we have a dialogue about what to do, the better," he said.

Inner circle

The film is being launched just as Madonna waits for her adoption of a young Malawi boy to be finally approved by a court in the country.

The documentary shows the pop icon in a very positive light, but Madonna says she was ambivalent about appearing on camera.

"In the beginning I wasn't in the movie at all, but then I realised because I was narrating that it was important that I let people know that it was my personal journey and my experience.

"So I think and I hope and pray that I found the balance of myself in the film as well as the stories of the children," she said.

The film's director has been referred to as "Madonna's gardener" or "Madonna's nanny's husband", while Rissman acknowledges that he is very much part of Madonna's inner circle.

"Both my wife and myself have worked for Madonna and her family for the past four years, and my wife has a relationship with the family that pre-dates mine, but I wouldn't necessarily say that's how I got the gig," he says.

One aspect of Rissman's talents that impressed Madonna was the home movies he shot of her children, which may have played a role in him landing the job as her documentary director.

"I think I proved myself to Madonna and her family as a trustworthy colleague, co-worker, somebody that would share Madonna's creative vision, and I think that she just believed in me, and she saw something that she realised that we can get something done together."

Optimism

He may be a first-timer, but there is an intensity to the way Rissman has made this film, with much of it shot in cinema-verite style.

His camera does more than just convey the tragedy of the Aids orphans, but also shows optimism in the midst of the crisis.

In addition to extensive filming with the orphaned children in Malawi, the documentary includes interviews with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Bill Clinton.

It also propagates the view that Malawians cannot just rely on outsiders for help - they have to take some responsibility for their own problems.

For many of the participants in the documentary, Madonna's efforts are being seen as a laudable attempt to bring attention to a humanitarian crisis that much of the world ignores.

source : bbc

Even though Madonna is pushing 50, according to FHM Online she's still one of the hottest women in the world. It has announced the results of its poll of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World.

Madonna is number 87. Actress Megan Fox from "Transformers" is number one, followed by Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba. Hilary Duff is number 7, with Rihanna at number 14. Beyonce is number 20. Jessica Simpson, Katherine McPhee, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Fergie, Nicole Scherzinger and Carrie Underwood are other musicians who make the list. Britney Spears barely makes it at number 100, just behind Posh Spice Victoria Beckham.

Nearly nine million votes were cast.

source : ap

source : madge-tribe blog

Dear Friends,

I am so excited to bring you the first official news for this labor of love that I have spent the last two years working on.

We have recently been accepted into the Tribeca Film Festival and "I AM BECAUSE WE ARE" will debut on the 24th of April.

I am thrilled to be part of this festival and to share with you the amazing journey this film has taken me on.

Check out the Tribeca Film Festival website for dates, times and tickets at www.tribecafilmfestival.org.

As awareness grows around this film, we will keep you up to date with all the exciting news...

"I AM BECAUSE WE ARE" is a reminder that we are not defined without each other.

Love, Madonna

1 Candy Shop
2 4 Minutes
3 Give it 2 Me
4 Heartbeat
5 Miles Away
6 She's Not Me
7 Incredible
8 Beat Goes On (feat. Kanye West)
9 Dance 2Night
10 Spanish Lesson
11 Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
12 Voices

source : madonnanation

"Hard Candy" CD Release Party
Thursday, May 1st @ Splash Bar NYC
for more info visit ChrisRyanNYC.com

Thanks to Chris

Malawi's High Court has agreed to delay a hearing to finalize pop star Madonna's adoption of a boy from the southern African nation until May 15, a senior court official said on Monday.

Madonna had asked the court to postpone the hearing from April 22 because she had to travel to the United States on business, a lawyer close to the case had said on Saturday.

"I believe May 15 should be the final date for the hearing unless her lawyers ask for another date and put up reasonable arguments for that," the High Court official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Madonna's attorney Alan Chinula declined to comment.

Malawi's government recommended earlier this month that the court approve the adoption of two-year-old David Banda.

The pop diva met the boy in an orphanage in 2006 and began adoption proceedings soon afterwards. He has been living with Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie in London since shortly after the adoption process began.

The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, one of the countries in Africa hardest hit by AIDS.

The epidemic has left an estimated one million orphans in the country.

source : reuters

The wait for is nearly over for Madonna's new album 'Hard Candy' - out 28th April and ITV.com/music is celebrating this highly anticipated release by starting every week with Madonna Monday. The site will be crammed full of fantastic Madonna themed content. Not only can you check out the gallery - the A-Z of Madonna, but you can also see an interview with the Queen of Pop and watch her latest video '4 Minutes' with Justin Timberlake.

The site will also be running a search for the Material Girl's finest musical moment. From the controversy of 'Like A Virgin' (1984), the psychedelic pop sound of 'Ray Of Light' (1998) to the discotastic 'Confessions on a Dancefloor' (2005), she has proved that regardless of the genre she is capable of adding her inimitable sound. We want you to tell us your favourite studio album from her past 10 records - stretching from her self-titled debut in 1982 to 2005's Confessions On A Dance Floor. Just go to itv.com and cast your vote. The winning album will be announced on Monday 28th April.

To find out more go to ITV.com

Thanks to Ruth

Madonna is to headline the main stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Maidstone, in Kent.

The international superstar, who went to number one in the UK singles chart with 4 Minutes on Sunday, will play the two-day event on Saturday 10 May.

30,000 fans are expected at Mote Park to enjoy more than 50 other bands and solo artists on 10 and 11 May.

Other acts taking part include The Fratellis, Robyn, Duffy, Scouting For Girls, The Feeling and The Hoosiers.

Listeners can register for tickets for one week from 8am on 21 April until 10am on 28 April.

More than 470,000 people applied for tickets in 2007.

Organisers say demand is expected to be even bigger this year.

Successful applicants will receive a pair of tickets for either Saturday or Sunday.

Gates open at 12pm and close at 10pm.

Click here to register for tickets.

source : bbc

Pop queen Madonna showed no sign of relinquishing her crown as the most successful female solo artist of all time by clocking up a lucky 13th UK number one single.
Her track, 4 Minutes featuring Justin Timberlake, deposed British hip-hop star Estelle who slipped to number two with American Boy featuring Kanye West after four weeks at number one.

The song 4 Minutes is taken from Madonna's album Hard Candy, which is released on April 28, and is the first time she has released a single featuring a guest artist, according to the Official UK Charts Company.

For Madonna, 49, it marks a further milestone in a career which has seen her amass more UK number one singles than any other female solo artist.

Kylie Minogue trails behind her with seven number one singles to date.

Meanwhile in the album chart, Brighton indie-popsters The Kooks saw their keenly-anticipated second album, Konk, storm into the top slot.

X Factor winner Leona Lewis's album, Spirit, climbed three places to number two, while Mariah Carey's new release, E=MC2, entered in at number three.

source : pe

Madonna - Give It 2 Me
Written by Madonna and Pharrell Williams
Produced by Madonna and The Neptunes

What are you waiting for?
Nobody's gonna show you how
Why work for someone else
To do what you can do right now?

Got no boundaries and no limits
If there's excitement, put me in it
If it's against the law, arrest me
If you can handle it, undress me

Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on

Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

They say that a good thing never lasts
And then it has to fall
Those are the the people that did not
Amount to much at all

Give me then bassline and i'll shake it
Give me a record and i'll break it
There's no beginning and no ending
Give me a chance to go and i'll take it

Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on

Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

Pharrell: Watch this

Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it

Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
(to the left, to the right, to the left, to the right)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
(to the left, to the right, to the left, to the right)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
(to the left, left, right, right, left, left, right, right)
Get stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid...
(left, left, right, right, left, left, right, right)

Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on

Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new

You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new

Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, Yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

Give it to me

source : mnation

Today: 2008/04/25
(7-9 a.m.): Madonna is interviewed. Jenna Wolfe discusses manure and methane power on "Green Power." All things Green on "Friday Whip."

Madonna has asked a Malawian court to delay a hearing to finalize her adoption of a boy from the southern African nation, a lawyer close to the case said.

The singer's law firm in Malawi filed an application requesting the High Court in Lilongwe to hear her adoption of David Banda on May 15 instead of April 22, as originally scheduled, the lawyer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Madonna's need to travel to the United States for business reasons was cited as the reason for the delay, the lawyer said.

Court officials refused to confirm the application.

"Adoption is a confidential matter and we separate adoption files from the regular case files," Thomson Ligowe, assistant registrar in the High Court, told Reuters.

Malawi's government recommended earlier this month that the court approve the adoption of Banda.

The pop diva met the boy in an orphanage in 2006 and began adoption proceedings soon after. He has been living with Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie in London since shortly after the adoption process began.

The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, one of the countries in Africa hardest hit by AIDS.

The epidemic has left an estimated one million orphans in the country.

source : reuters

source : fashion spot

IFC Entertainment has secured North American rights to Madonna's directorial debut, "Filth and Wisdom."

Scripted by Madonna and Dan Cadan, and co-produced by Madonna and Nicola Doring, comedic drama was initially intended as a short. It will unspool in autumn, with a theatrical run coinciding with video-on-demand availability.

Intertwining plotlines track, among other characters, a man who spanks for money, a chemist and a pole dancer.

The material girl had initially contemplated an iTunes release, but instead partnered with IFC.

"She took some interesting risks stylistically that all pay off at the end," said IFC acquisitions and production veepee Ariana Bocco. "When I saw the film, I felt that it deserved a bigger, wider platform. Madonna and her crew are open to the kind of release we're going to do, so it was a natural fit."

source : variety

at VH-M.com

from Icon :

We are pleased to confirm that Madonna's 'I Am Because We Are' documentary will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on April 24. Since tickets to such an event will be hard to find, Madonna has kept four of them for her beloved Iconers! Want to attend this special event? Just log into the Icon Board's 'Madonna-Main Discussion' forum at NOON/EST - 9.00AM/PST on April 17 for a chance to win a pair of tickets. All you will need to do is be the first to answer one of the two Madonna related questions to be asked in the 'I Am Because We Are' thread, which will be posted at Noon/EST 9.00AM/PST on April 17th. Good Luck to you all!

Music Load has 30 seconds previews of all the tracks from Madonna's new album !

Beginning today, VH1.com is accepting submissions for their "4 Lines To See Madonna" promotion - a contest where two creative fans will win a pair of tickets to see Madonna perform at a special show at New York's Roseland Ballroom on April 30 - one day following the release of "Hard Candy".

To enter, visit the VH1 Blog at MadonnaTickets.VH1.com and provide your best 4 lines of poetry about Madonna. Submissions can focus on any Madonna-related topic - from her upcoming album release to her astonishing 26-year career. Show the world you have what it takes to stand out in the sea of Madonna fans and you could be one of two winners to receive two tickets to a once-in-a-lifetime exclusive Madonna performance.

Submissions will be accepted on the VH1 Blog through April 24, 11:59 AM and will be judged on creativity and originality.

Thanks to Luis

1. 4 Minutes [Edit] 3:1]
2. 4 Minutes [Peter Saves Paris Edit] 4:49
3. 4 Minutes [Bob Sinclar Space Funk Edit] 3:23
4. 4 Minutes [Junkie XL Dirty Dub Edit] 4:05

Amazon | iTunes

Please be sure to have everyone buy them SEPARATELY, so they each
count as a single sale. If folks buy the EP, it's only one sale.

Thanks to Mike

source : amazon

During her interview for WPGC 95.5, Madonna confirmed that she'll go on tour at the end of this summer!
Click here to download/stream the interview.

from vodafonemusic.co.uk:

As the days tick down to the release of Hard Candy, we're giving you the chance to download album tracks - before they're available anywhere else. Over seven days we'll give you exclusive access to a different song every day. So, for just 49p per track, you can be a step ahead of everyone else.

Vodafone's exclusive release schedule:

21/04/08 - Candy Shop
22/04/08 - Miles Away
23/04/08 - Give It 2 Me
24/04/08 - Heartbeat
25/04/08 - Beat Goes On
26/04/08 - Devil...
27/04/08 - She's Not Me