Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor has been nominated as the International Album of the Year in the 2007 Juno Awards in Canada.

Taking The Long Way - Dixie Chicks (SONY BMG)
Ancora - Il Divo (SONY BMG)
FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake (SONY BMG)
Confessions On A Dance Floor - Madonna (Warner Bros*Warner)
Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Warner Bros*Warner)

USA magazine US recently published these pictures and soundbite about Lindsay Lohan's admiration for Madonna!

Madonna plans to celebrate 25 years of her showbiz career with a massive party and a special multimedia release.
In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, the 48-year-old star spoke about her plans, saying, 'I'm thinking about doing a 25-year retrospective — multimedia, with video and photographs of me by Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Steven Klein and Steven Meisel.'
The singer also mentioned that she would love to throw a party for all of her friends that would, "celebrate all the designers", such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix, who have created famous and groundbreaking designs for Madonna over the years.

M by Madonna has taken over the advertisment stands on the streets in Dusseldorf, Germany - as these pictures taken by madonnalicious visitor Rosa show.

 

 

Madonna won the online Hello! magazine poll to find the weeks Most Elegant Woman meaning fans can now vote for Madonna as the Most Elegant Woman of the Month. In this category she faces competition from Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren and Katie Holmes.

To vote for Madonna visit www.hellomagazine.com/vote/mostelegantwoman/month where voting ends on Monday 30 April and you can vote every 15 minutes!

UK magazine Hello! (27 March issue 962) featured a small piece on the H&M - M by Madonna London launch party.

Madonna features as one 'hot news stories' in the new edition of Grazia magazine (02 April issue) - this time discussing her house hunting in New York City and getting some quotes from her talkative father-in-law John Ritchie!

This huge M by Madonna advert has been placed on the famous Roosevelt Hotel looking down on Hollywood Boulevard (by Hollywood and Highland) in Los Angeles.

Madonna's The Confessions Tour is #1 for the 7th week in a row on the CD album charts in Mexico, and is also at #3 on the DVD charts.

Madonna is featured in the latest edition of UK magazine In The Know (27 March - 02 April issue) and includes a three-page article inside the magazine.

Madonna's official page at Myspace has just added this news item:

The 'M by Madonna' collection, which was designed by Madonna for H&M, is now in stores. We're sure that you've already visited your favourite H&M store and picked some great 'M by Madonna' items, right? It's now time to show Madonna and her friends on Myspace that you can model like the Queen of the Dance Floor herself!
Send us a picture of you dressed with some 'M by Madonna' clothes and/or accessories before April 6 and maybe your picture will be featured on Madonna's official Myspace page! Just pick the best picture and click the 'message me' button to start playing! One picture per person please. Thank you!

Don't forget you can also find madonnalicious at myspace/madonnalicious_com

Work on the M by Madonna mural in the SoHo district of New York City is continuing and madonnalicious visitor Michael J has sent in these pictures of the mural - including a great close-up shot.

Madonna has a re-entry on the UK Top 40 Dance Singles chart with Jump at #32 - which is not bad for a single that was originally released back in November 2006!

Check out the chart at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/dancesingles

A Madonna party is taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico on Friday 30 March - for more information on the party visit www.gaygdl.com/madonna

The M by Madonna first day of sales in Vienna was featured in Oesterreich Weekend on Friday 23 March. The magazine included a three-page article about the stampede for the collection and how the store had to restock some items a mere 7 minutes after the store had opened.

FOXNews.com are reporting that Madonna is already signed up for the charity Live Earth concert that takes place this summer.

They state that Madonna is due to perform at the Wembley Stadium, London leg of the concert on Saturday 07 July.

To read the original article visit www.foxnews.com/story

A M by Madonna mural is currently being painted in New York City - madonnalicious visitor Michael sent in this report:

I live in New York; while in a cab on Sunday driving down Houston (Between Lafayette and Broadway) in Manhattan (SoHo - 2 blocks from H&M) I spotted this mural being painted on the side of a building. It is the beginnings of a HUGE Madonna mural as an advertisement for H&M.

Below are some pictures of the mural from C-LOS and RicanMaverick:

M by Madonna adverts are all other the streets in Budapest and madonnalicious visitor Robi sent in these pictures of the adverts.

Danish journalist Frodi Holm Knudsen interviewed Madonna back in 2005 and asked this interesting question of her:

I had the honour of interviewing Madonna for my Danish newspaper B.T. when 'Confessions On A Dance Floor' was released late 2005.
I asked the Queen of Pop if she would support Hillary Rodham Clinton if she ran for president. At that time nobody knew whether the New York senator would run or not. Madonna answered: 'You bet I would! I wanna be her vice-president!'

madonnalicious visitor Ged was in Toronto when he caught the H&M staff preparing the M by Madonna window display - and they seemed amused that someone would want to take a picture of them!

The Spring 2007 issue of Smaart Woman features Madonna on the cover and a two-page article inside. This free publication is a career magazine for female students in the UK. Click on the images to enlarge.

madonnalicious asked fans to vote online for Madonna in two categories in the 22nd Annual IDMA Awards - and guess what? She won both categories!

Best Music Video - Jump - Madonna (Category #21)
Best Dance Solo - Madonna (Category #25)

To read the full list of winners and categories visit wmcon.com/idmawinners2007

madonnalicious visitor Debs took these pictures of the M by Madonna display at the Covent Garden branch of H&M in London.

madonnalicious visitor Michelle sent in her report from St. Louis:

Hello from stormy St. Louis. I went to H&M at noon today, the storms made it so I couldn't get there any earlier. Unfortunately St. Louis didn't get any handbags, belts, scarves, catsuit, bomber jackets or shoes. But I did manage to buy everything else our store did get. I am hoping my friend that lives in DC will go and buy me the rest of the line.
I had a lot of fun! GO GET IT ALL! (You will notice in the picture with the sunglasses that there are tiny cloths with tiny letter M's on them, those are cleaning cloths for the sunglasses. They gave me a stack of about 20. They also let me keep all the hangers!

madonnalicious forum member Heather was interviewed for this article from People.com about M by Madonna:

Clothing retailer H&M on Thursday debuted the Designed by Madonna line, and many of the items have already landed on eBay.
'We are watching where the items appear,' H&M spokeswoman Jenni Tapper-Hoël tells PEOPLE.
'We prefer people to buy our garments in stores,' but the chain doesn't mind the online auctions 'provided it is a few pieces that are being sold by people and not a big party behind it.'
H&M has branches in 18 states and Washington, D.C., and some shoppers had lined up at dawn to be first through the doors. Hot items include the Madonna trenchcoat, sunglasses, kimono silk dress and capri pants, all of which are already for sale online – with some trenchcoats offered at double the retail price.
'We also saw this happen when we sold ranges for Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, as well as Viktor & Rolf,' says Tapper-Hoël. 'We can't do anything about it.'
In New York City there was a mixed turnout at stores on Thursday morning. While the H&M store at 59th and Lexington had only around 10 people at the doors for opening time, the branch at 51st and 5th had more than 100 people, including TV camera crews, waiting to get inside.
But Madonna fans on the West Coast lined up early to snag first dibs in the 30-piece collection (accessories include a black turban). The first person at California's Beverly Center Mall was Heather Biede, who arrived at 6 a.m.
'I'm a huge fan of Madonna and I've been seeing her in the ads for the longest time,' Biede, 33, a massage therapist and personal trainer from Pasadena, told PEOPLE. 'The clothes are so cute and I definitely want to buy some stuff and hopefully win an autographed trench coat.'
The thought of selling her purchases online was near-sacrilegious to Biede. 'I would so keep it! I would never eBay it,' she said. 'I want to wear it to a special occasion, I really want to wear it to my step-mother's birthday party. I can also get the shoes so the whole outfit would be Madonna.'

Large billboards advertising M by Madonna are all over Berlin, Germany.

 

madonnalicious visitor Ana sent in this report about the M by Madonna collection:

My name is Ana and I am a Madonna fan from Washingotn, DC. It was fun seeing on your site how the sale of Madonna's collection went in Europe, Hong Kong and New York.
I went by the largest H&M store in Washington, DC yesterday after I got off work. Unfortunately, the collection is pretty small, it doesn't feature all the products (my favourite black and white dress was missing) and the most amazing thing, there was no advertising for the collection in DC or even in the US.
I bought a couple of items and at the check out I asked the cashier how the collection is doing. She said it was selling well for the first day.

Fellow fan Rick T also sent in this report from Washington DC:

I went to the H&M store located in Washington, D.C.'s high end fashion district, Georgetown to take a peek at Madonna's new clothing line. The first thing I noticed was the lack of advertising i.e posters, marquees etc. I did notice the etching on the glass windows however.
I went in and there it (collection) was. I am a male, so I'm not going to wear any of the clothes, but I have to say that some of the clothing looks a bit 'housewifey' if that's a word. I noticed about 3-4 females walking around the tables and displays picking things up and looking. One girl was actually buying a few of the pieces. I asked one of the girls if they liked any of it and her reply was, 'there is some cute stuff here.'
There were no lines to get in and the store wasn't terribly busy. But, then again it was 2:30 in the afternoon when everyone should be at work. I was disappointed that the black 'M' t-shirts the staff wore were not available for sale; I definitely would have purchased one of those!

madonnalicious visitor Engin snapped these pictures of the M by Madonna collection and display at the H&M store on 5th Avenue in New York City.

madonnalicious visitor Summer was one of the lucky fans to win a signed trench coat at the Beverley Center H&M store in Los Angeles.

Here is a closer look at her fantastic piece of M by Madonna memorabilia.

madonnalicious visitor Kelly visited the H&M store in Madrid and sends in this report:

Sorry no photos of the event. It was rather subdued here and not a big ad campaign, even in store. The H & M staff said that the cream was selling out while the black and white wasn't doing as well. The handbags were selling out fast as were the white sunglasses. Young and older women were both trying on the clothes and checking things out. I bought two silk shirts and the cream handbag.

Some of your fellow madonnalicious visitors have sent in pictures of themselves modelling the M by Madonna range - take a bow Carolyn, Michelle and Nicola!

 

madonnalicious visitor Koukla sent in this report and pictures from Canada:

I went to the Anjou store here in Montreal. I was there for the opening, we where about 10 people, no big rush and not much stock!
No shoes, only one bag (the white one), one scarf (as seen in my picture). But sadly they didn't have all the collection.
But the worst was there were NO SUNGLASSES! No glasses for us here in Canada!

NOTE: H&M hopefully will have the stock of sunglasses in all their Canadian stores from early next week.

UK newspaper coverage of the first day of sales of the H&M - M by Madonna collection was quite extensive yesterday and featured both pictures of the range, the queues and Madonna going to the gym on Thursday - featured below are scans from the Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and Daily Star.

Madonna and Me playwright Tommy Kearney has placed two tickets for his play on auction site eBay to help raise money for Raising Malawi.

To view the auction visit www.ebay.co.uk - for more information on the forthcoming play visit www.madonna-and-me.co.uk

Here are some pictures and a short report from Genoa, Italy thanks to madonnalicious visitor Annalisa:

The collection is amazing and lovely. I have bought the 40’s dress color champagne and the kimono dress pink/white/black. I’m so happy! I’m proud to wear M by Madonna!

Here is a fan report from madonnalicious visitor Joanaxf from Lisbon:

So yesterday I went to the H&M store in Chiado - Lisbon, to take a look at the Madonna collection. There wasn´t a lot a people, maybe 20, but what surprised me the most was that there was a variety of people trying the madonna outfits: from young people to not so young, to classic looking people, to people wearing an alternative look. And seeing this was amazing, because sometimes we wonder where are the portuguese Madonna fans in Portugal and now I know: they are everywhere! :)
About the collection: I really loved it - so feminine and classy. Loved specially the dresses and glasses. Oh and the shirts!

madonnalicious visitor Jorge also sent these pictures in from Lisbon:

madonnalicious visitor Jessie from tobeagirl.spaces.live.com sent in this fan report from Seville, Spain:

Don’t ask me how I did it, but I managed to convince my 17-year-old little sister to get up at 6 am and catch a one-hour train ride to Seville with me, die-hard Madonna fan. For the debut of the M by Madonna collection in H&M, we arrived there a few minutes before the store was open, and already spotted some fashion victims strolling around the area, keeping an eye on the cool window displays. Soon enough, the doors were open, and Madonna’s creations were ours for the taking, grabbing, and bagging!
During the few minutes we were there, only a few more women accompanied us to the top floor where the Madonna display was located. However, soon enough, more and more shoppers arrived, leaving the rest of the store empty, and began taking Madonna’s kimonos, suits, hand bags, belts....there was even a girl who picked up the cream-coloured gown to wear at her own wedding.
My sister and I tried on many items: I couldn’t resist wearing the cat-suit, several black dresses, kimonos and finally bagging the black gown (YES, I will find an occasion to wear it, believe me!). However, the first items to promptly disappear were the sunglasses, but we had ensured they were the first items we picked up.
The main H&M store in Seville stocked up every single item of the collection, except for the sequined-mini-gorgeousness I so much wanted to at least try. That didn’t seem to bother Southern Spanish girls who were trying all of the garments and bagging two or three, or four! of them each.
The verdict? Yes, the collection is slightly over-priced for H&M standards, but the quality and the finishings in each design justify such numbers. The tailored suits were lovely, and the trench coats simply amazing. The collection is quite solemn, black and white being the key tones. There are some rare numbers, such as the cat suit, that will only flatter taller figures, but most items make you look like a million dollars.
Guess what? My little sister, the only teenager around, couldn’t resist taking home one of the pale pink kimonos. If you are curvy, get one yourself: they couldn’t look any sexier on the most feminine shapes.
In the queues for the changing rooms everybody was commenting on how nice the clothes were, the lovely materials, and nobody complained about the higher prices. She’s Madonna, and even if she makes H&M slightly more expensive, face it: we will to anything to have some of her own glamour over our skin.

Madonna's house-hunting visit to New York City is covered in the current edition of UK fashion magazine Look (26 March 2007) - click on the article to enlarge.

madonnalicious Tanja attended the first days of sales of the M by Madonna collection in Alkmaar, The Netherlands. Here is her report and pictures before the store opened and all the goodies she got:

I met up with my friend Wendy, also a huge Madonna fan. We couldn't sleep for days, but finally the day was there! The shop was supposed to open at 9.30, but due to a re-opening that day it was 10.00 so we had to wait a little while. About 20 other people waited along with us, and everybody was very excited.
Finally the door opened and the shopping spree began! I felt like a kid in a candystore, the clothes were even more beautiful then I expected! Fortunately they had some clothes for the somewhat bigger girls, so we grabbed what we liked and went into the fitting room. Fortunately I fitted in the pinkish dress, in the pinkish top and the bodystocking! The also had sunglasses, so I bought a black one, a white one and....oh well, another black one to actually use! (The other ones will be carefully placed in a cabinet. Not to be touched, just to be looked at).
The sad thing was, that I really wanted to buy the big bowling bag but at our H&M they hadn't had the bags, the shoes, all scarfs, the turban, the beautiful leather trenchcoat, the white suit and so on and so on! That was rather stressfull, since I was really looking forward to that!
But I got some extra platic bags and clothing hangers, a few H&M magazines and for all my sunglasses a leather cover with cleaningcloth, so you don't hear me complaining.
What a magnificent collection! H&M and Madonna did great, I liked the 2006 collection, but they outdone themselves this time!

Shoppers lined up on 5th Avenue early Thursday morning, March 22 for the launch of M by Madonna, the latest capsule collection from Swedish fashion retailer H&M.
The collection, the second and last collection by Madonna offered by H&M, is a 30 piece selection of body conscious basics with a narrow silhouette, mostly in black, white or khaki, that include trench coats in nylon or leather, skinny black pants, cropped jackets, graphic print dresses, bodysuits and wrap sweaters.
Along with the clothing line, M by Madonna also features a range of accessories, including a corset belt, patent leather stacked heels and a jewel box purse in silver or black leather.
'Madonna went through her closet and picked out a few staples that she felt should be in every closet,' said Jennifer Uglialoro, a spokesperson for H&M. 'It's very glamorous, and timeless.'
The collection was designed in conjunction with H&M's head of design, Margereta Von Denbosch, and Madonna also directed the commercial, a first for the pop superstar.
Ruth Wong of North Vancouver, Canada, arrived at 10am to be among the first shoppers hoping to take snag some of the Madonna merchandise.
'It's our third day here, and we heard about the opening, so we thought, okay, we'll line up and see what this is all about,' said Wong.
And what did she think about pop stars as designers?
'Well, it works, because obviously it brings people out,' she said. 'We all want a little piece of them.'
Compared to the launches of H&M's previous limited edition collections with designers - Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf - the scene at the 51st Street flagship was relatively calm. While plenty of people carried around armfuls of clothing, no fights broke out and the merchandise was kept well stocked. Among the most popular items were 'M' logo print scarves and corset belts. Priced under $50, they were the fashion equivalent of a concert t-shirt.
Jeff Weidman, a New York City resident originally from Ohio and self-professed Madonna fan, explained that he was there picking up things for his friends back home, as there are not any H&M stores in Ohio.
'Also,' Weidman continued, 'Madonna has a great sense of style, so I wanted to come and see her clothes and support her.'
Especially for the worldwide launch, H&M will raffle off 90 trench coats signed by Madonna, 15 of which will be given away in the U.S.

madonnalicious reporter ROBERTBOYRACER sends in these pictures and report from the H&M first day sales in Los Angeles:

I arrived at 7am at the Beverly Center H&M store where 5 autographed coats were to be given away. There was only one lonely soul already in line ahead of me. She had arrived at 6am.
As we waited a handful of press showed. They were mainly magazine and internet press. I couldn't believe not more was done to promote the launch in a city as large as L.A. Not one advert in the newspapers.
Even at the store there was no hint of the signed trench coat giveaway. I watched from the windows as the 'M by Madonna' wearing t-shirt staff busilly hurried to get the collection on the floor and dress the window.
Sadly there was only one window devoted to the line and it was uninpressive. One of the staff members passed out the lottery cards for the raffle which is to take place sometime today as soon as they reach the 250 guests to enter the raffle.
When the doors opened it was a mad dash of about 30 people to the racks. Things went pretty quickly but the staff was good at replenishing the tables and racks. It was a fun experience but I can see why 'Los Angeles is for people who sleep....'

London free newspaper the Metro published this article today on shoppers queuing for the M by Madonna collection in London yesterday - click on the image to read.

Madonna is on the cover of this weeks Vanity Fair - Italia (29 March 2007 No. 12).

There is a ten page article inside, which includes a new interview with Madonna at the M by Madonna launch party in London earlier this month

Warner Music Malaysia has confirmed that Madonna's The Confessions Tour DVD will not be released in Malaysia. In other words, it has been banned because of the Live To Tell performance on the cross!

The M by Madonna queues in Oxford Street were featured in the London Lite free newspaper yesterday - and it talks about how fans braved snow and freezing temperatures to queue. Click on the image to enlarge and read the article.

madonnalicious Michelle has sent in this report from H&M in Garden City, NY:

Well, I was off from work today and was able to be at the H&M in Garden City, NY and be one of the first to enter the store to buy Madonna's collection.
The clothing line is fabulous. I bought two dresses, one blouse, the scarf and the sunglasses. The dresses fit beautifully, and she is right, they are for all figure types. The styles are great, the quality is excellent.
It makes you feel like you have a piece of her. They even give you the hangars. I urge every fan to get out there and buy a piece. You'll feel special owning it.

For fans wanting the full range of the M by Madonna collection head down to the Knightsbridge on the Brompton Road in London branch of H&M - they have a great display and the collection takes up a large part of the sales floor.

All the styles of coats, silk shirts, cashmere jumpers, shoes, bags, silk scarves, leather trenches, sunglasses and even turbans are on sale!

A new clothing line designed by Madonna for Swedish cheap-chic retailer H&M sold out in minutes in Stockholm, but the launch of the collection failed to spark mad rushes in other European cities.
The 'M by Madonna' garments disappeared off the racks in a flash in Stockholm, where hundreds of shoppers had lined up outside H&M stores to be the first to get their hands on the collection, consisting of about 30 items of clothing and 10 accessories, launched around the world on Thursday.
But in the rest of Europe, there were no stampede scenes as seen in recent years when designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Viktor&Rolf launched lines bearing their name for H&M.
In Paris, about 80 people lined up patiently outside the chain's store on Boulevard Haussmann before the opening. Once the doors opened the shoppers perused calmly through the racks.
In Madrid, home of H&M's Spanish rival Zara, the store was no busier than usual and the section selling Madonna's items was practically empty.
The same was true in the Finnish capital Helsinki.
In Stockholm as in Berlin, there were no chaotic scenes but the collection appeared to be a huge success and H&M said it was pleased by shoppers' positive reactions.
'The clothes were bought very quickly,' company spokesman Jenni Tapper-Hoel told AFP, adding that stores across Sweden already needed to restock by midday.
At the large Hamngatan store in central Stockholm, the clothes flew off the racks in minutes.
'The collection is magnificent. Fantastic. Very trendy. It's very Madonna,' Rosy Doad, a 23-year-old makeup artist who was among the first inside the store, told AFP.
'The line is very sophisticated, a kind of business casual, for a very powerful woman, like Madonna. It's very feminine and a little extravagant,' 19-year-old musician Alex Eisenstein said.
At H and M's flagship store in London's Oxford Street, a quarter of the ground floor was dedicated to the singer's collection.
The shop was busy, with a mostly younger, female crowd checking out the black, white and cream-toned items.
'I'm a huge Madonna fan,' said TJ Pursell, 40, an estate agent from southwest London.
'I wanted to come and see what it was like. I think she's great, I think her fashion's fantastic and I wanted to see if her collection was the same,' she told AFP.
The 'M by Madonna' line reflects the pop star's image: feminine, classical and sexy. Kimono dresses, skintight pants, pencil skirts, tight-fitting blouses, as well as accessories including wide belts, purses and high-heeled shoes.
The star chose neutral tones of black, white and cream, and luxury materials silk, fine wool and cashmere.
Cropped pants sold for 398 kronor (43 euros, 57 dollars), a dress for 498 kronor (55 euros, 72 dollars) and a blouse for 598 kronor (64 euros, 86 dollars).
A sneak preview of Madonna's collection was unveiled in Hong Kong on March 10, when a selection of items went on sale at the opening of the H&M's first store in China.
Founded in 1947, H&M has 1,345 stores in 24 countries.

Nicomad and Coad of the www.madonna-ciccone.forumactif.com forum visited the Paris H&M as the doors opened at 9:30am this morning - here are some of their pictures from the store and of the collection.

Fans can now download this ITV News item about the opening day sales of the H&M - M by Madonna collection in London's Oxford Street this morning.

Tonights edition of the Evening Standard gave its review on the M by Madonna collection launched in stores today - although the reviewer did not love the dresses they felt the accessories were very strong.

Hundreds of shoppers poured into the H&M store in Oxford Circus today as Madonna's fashion collection hit the high street.
Fans braved freezing temperatures from 6am to be in the queue. They grabbed everything from leather trench coats to oversize sunglasses from the M for Madonna collection as the store played the singer's music.
One of the first inside was Shadley May, 39, who had been working as a forklift truck driver all night. He was under instruction from his fiancée to pick up a £39.99 dress. He said: 'I'm very relieved to have got it. I was slightly confused, I wasn't really sure whether I was going to recognise it.'
The M for Madonna collection follows similar collaborations by the store with Viktor&Rolf and Stella McCartney, both of which sold out within hours. Many pieces then appeared on eBay for more than their original price.
It looks as if this collection is going to be no different. Georgina Bryan and Alex Edmonds, 18-year-old students from Chislehurst, were stockpiling items in a corner. Georgina said: 'We've bought everything in our own sizes and a couple in size 12s as well which hopefully we can sell on eBay.'
Popular items are expected to be a sequined mini dress selling at £99.99, silk tunic dresses at £39.99 and leather trench coats for £149.99.
The collection is the result of a collaboration-with H&M design chief Margaretavan den Bosch. It tries to offer something for everyone: from evening tops to lumber jackets, tailored blazers and shirts to kimono dresses. All the pieces have a discreet 'M' motif on linings, zippers and buttons and the colours are mostly neutrals. The stand-out piece is a cashmere cardigan with silk-covered buttons. The accessories, squaretoed patent heels, clutch bags, skinny belts and sunglasses, are very strong.
The dresses are less successful. All seem to be cut in an unflattering empireline shape. The problem is not so much Madonna's designs but the fabric quality. The viscose jersey used for many garments tags the skin and threatens electric shocks, and the leather goods are plasticlooking - which is disappointing as the collection is priced about 25 per cent above the retailer's regular collection.
Nonetheless H&M is banking on the hope that fans will overlook quality for the chance to buy a Madonna original.

ITV News have just broadcast a report from the H&M Oxford Street store reporting about the launch of the M by Madonna collection - here are some screen captures from the news item - check back later for a download of the clip.

Here is a picture of the tshirt male staff will be wearing during the M by Madonna promotion. Female staff get to wear the same design but in a skinny-fit tshirt.

Here are some pictures of the Brent Cross H&M during this mornings sales.

After 25 years of dominating the music scene, Madonna is moving into the High Street.
Madge's new fashion collection has gone on sale across the country at branches of the chain H&M.
A range of clothes and accessories, priced from £7.99 to £149.99, has been launched at H&M's Oxford Street branch in central London.
Called M By Madonna, the collection has seen the music icon team up with design chief Margareta van den Bosch.
The 48-year-old star is also modelling the collection for the retailer's advertising campaign.
She said: 'Working with H&M was an exciting and new creative challenge. I'm happy with the results and look forward to wearing M By Madonna along with the rest of the world.'
The range includes jackets, blazers, kimono dresses, handbags, sunglasses and trenchcoats.
Ms Van den Bosch said: 'Madonna has an impressive feel for fashion and trends. She was extraordinarily style-conscious, passionate and involved in even the smallest details.'
Previous collections for H&M by designers Stella McCartney and Victor&Rolf sparked a rush of buyers.

madonnalicious brings you these exclusive first pictures of one of the signed trench coats that will be given away to some lucky fans tomorrow.

Are you going to be waiting in line for H&M to open on Thursday morning? Doing some retail therapy? Or even just having a look at the collection in real life?

If this sounds like you, then madonnalicious needs you to help report from around the world on the first full day of sales of the M by Madonna collection.

We need your pictures of the adverts, collections, window displays and even the queues outside the stores, and even reports on what you think of the collection.

To submit your material and reports, email the site at madonnalicious@gmail.com

Madonna's H&M - M by Madonna range gets a large three-page spread in the current issue of UK magazine Look (26 March 2007 issue) - click on the images to enlarge.

Here is the confirmation on the trench coat giveaway in Germany, which now involves four cities, instead of the previously published three:

For Germany, in four major cities there will be one store (in each citiy) where the first 100 customers on Thursday 22 March will have the chance to win one of three trenchcoats, signed by Madonna. These stores are:

Berlin - Kurfürstendamm 237 - Opening: 10:00am

Hamburg - Spitalerstr. 12 - Opening: 9:30am

Munich - Kaufingerstr. 18 - Opening: 9:00am

Cologne - Schildergasse 98-100 - Opening: 10:00am

Later on there will be another chance for winning two more of those signed trench coats via a draw.

In total there will be 10 signed trench coats offered in 2 H&M stores in Paris:

* 5 signed trenches for the 5 first visitors at H&M 54 Boulevard Haussmann
* 5 signed trenches for the 5 first visitors at H&M Forum des Halles Porte Lescot

This advert scanned below was featured in this mornings edition of 20 Minutes:

Vote for Madonna as the Most Elegant Woman in this weeks online poll run by Hello!.

To vote visit www.hellomagazine.com/vote/mostelegantwoman

Madonna and Guy's trip back to Malawi next month to see the progress on the orphanage construction is featured in the new edition of UK magazine Closer (24 March issue) - click on the article to enlarge.

The H&M press office have stated that 10 signed M by Madonna trench coats will be given away on Thursday 22 March.

The first 250 people in line at the 5th Avenue H&M store will be given an entry form and their names will be entered into a draw later that day to give away 10 signed trench coats. Winners apparently don't need to be there for the draw.

This advert below was featured in this mornings edition of AM NY newspaper:

It would be a tragedy of biblical proportions if the most epic New York superstars stopped buying New York’s most epic real estate. So, is it a bad sign that former New Yorker Madonna came and left Manhattan this month without grabbing a French limestone townhouse or a 17-room co-op? Apparently not.
A source with knowledge of the chameleonic diva’s real-estate dealings told The Observer that she’ll be back in a few weeks to finish up her New York purchase.
Two weeks ago, her Madgesty hit the Upper East Side with hopes of finding the appropriate domicile for her return to the Big Apple. She toured four different townhouses and fell in love with a 14,700-square-foot mansion on East 62nd Street, according to the New York Post.
The six-floor mansion lives up to Madonna standards: It has seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, three kitchens, a gym with a sauna, and a garden. (Unclear if there’s a yoga studio or a Kabbalah meditation room.)
The price tag for the townhouse is $35 million. An exorbitant price for most, it represents just a fraction of the $175 million that the legend pulled in last year, according to Billboard magazine.
Madonna’s primary residence for the past few years has been a 1,000-acre estate in the British countryside in Wiltshire. (Better to match the Detroit-area native’s, um, English accent.)

Madonna's dress from the H&M - M by Madonna collection is featured in the fashion pages of heat magazine (24-30 March 2007 issue).

H&M Germany will be giving away several signed trench coats at three of their flagship stores in three major cities on Thursday 22 March.

At the moment the process for giving out the coats, or which three stores it involves has been released yet. Please stay tuned for more information.

Also another two signed trench coats will be given away in a lottery involving fans who have signed up to the German newsletter before the end of April.

Also featured in the current edition of UK magazine Now (26 March issue) is an article previewing the M by Madonna collection. Click to enlarge.

She's always in vogue and never seems to stop....and now you can also look forward to reading more of Madonna's books. Her debut book, The English Roses, topped the New York Best-Seller List for kids.
But now Madonna is looking at writing an adventure book for boys, she revealed:
'As the mother of a boisterous young man, I have an idea that I think will appeal and hopefully give mums some down time too.'
Madonna also plans to turn her first series of books into children's short films, voicing the parts herself.

Madonna's M by Madonna collection and launch party in London last week is featured in the current edition of UK magazine Now (26 March 2007 issue).

Madonna, petite in a white jersey 1940s dress of her own design, has a confession, but it is not about the range of black, white and neutral clothes that she has designed for the Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M.
Madonna's secret is that she has been working for two years on the archive of her performance and personal clothes, which are stashed away in California and are currently being classified.
'I'm thinking of doing a 25-year retrospective — multimedia, with video and photographs of me by Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Steven Klein and Steven Meisel,' said Madonna, who also wants to 'celebrate all the designers' like Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix who have created exceptional pieces for her.
Madonna, 48, was launching her 'M by Madonna' line in the cool-but-cozy Artesian bar, designed by Tom Collins, at London's Langham hotel. The H&M collection goes on sale Thursday and is already worn by the pop diva herself, on vast billboards across town.
As fashion spectaculars go, this was a discreet affair, with the sophomore designer knotting the belt of a trench coat and tweaking its collar as she unveiled this first line of ready-to-wear pieces — following the track suit she created for H&M last year.
'I didn't want to do a gigantic line of clothes and I wanted to keep the color palette simple,' said Madonna of the black, white and neutral range. 'I did the track suit because that is what I want to work out. These are clothes I want to wear and wish to keep on. I have a group of girls who work for me I call 'Semtex girls' (read 'explosive') who are hard-working but who like to have fun. There is nothing in this collection about the stage, theater and drama.'
Price is the key to the 26-piece line of slim dresses, cropped jackets and pants, with a bunch of accessories (including a wide patent leather corset belt). Madonna's little white jersey dress, with a girlish raised waist and softly puffed sleeves (inspired from a find in her closet), sells for $59.90. A leather jacket is top-of-the-range at $198, but you can buy a 'very Madonna' belted blazer for $69.90 and for $10 more, a denim zippered top. Jeans, at $59, are way below premium prices.
Accessories do not include Madonna's favorite French beret, but there is a turban hat, as well as bold hide-behind sunglasses and handbags. The corset belt, in mock crocodile, sells for $34.90. The 'M' collection will be in all H&M stores in 28 countries carrying women's clothes.
Looking at the lineup of nice but unremarkable clothes (which, of course, look much more fab in the ad campaign, when it is Madonna's well-honed body filling out a curvy white shirt and pencil skirt), it is hard to imagine why such an icon of pop culture wants to reach out to her adoring public with clothes as well as music.
The singer, who says 'it wasn't new for me to be on the floor with pins,' says that she was involved in the design, had fittings done on herself and believes that 'it is not a job to take lightly.'
Margareta van den Bosch, H&M's head of design, said that Madonna 'showed me part of her wardrobe' as the basis of the taste and style, and that the star was very much involved in the project. Madonna said that she was inspired from her closet by 'a certain kind of pencil skirt,' 'bits of details' and vintage clothes that she has collected since she appeared in the 1985 movie 'Desperately Seeking Susan.'
'I wanted it to be unique and simple at the same time,' said Madonna, while admitting that it was tougher than she had expected, after years of involvement in her stage wardrobe, to 'design clothes anyone can wear.'
'My day job includes fashion — but I am not sure I'd want to design clothes,' she says. 'I have a new-found respect for designers.'

Here are some huge billboards advertising Madonna's H&M - M by Madonna range on the junction of Old Street and Great Eastern Street in London.

Unfortunately for fans in the UK there are no plans to have any special events on Thursday 22 March at the moment, such as the signed coats giveaways that took place in Hong Kong to celebrate the launch of the M by Madonna collection.

madonnalicious visitor Bella snapped these pictures of the Munich train station in Germany which features many, many adverts for the M by Madonna collection!

madonnalicious has been advised that larger branches of H&M stores in the UK will be stocking the complete collection while smaller stores will stock a slightly smaller selection of the collection.

Madonna is on the cover of the current issue of French magazine Astropoche magazine.
The two-page article focuses on Madonna's relationship with Guy Richie.

For more information visit www.astropoche.fr

Yesterdays edition of Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung featured this article about fashion collections designed by stars, but mainly focuses on the M by Madonna collection for H&M. Click on the article to enlarge and read.

The LA Times features an article about H&M's LA store PR coordinator - who puts celebrities into H&M clothes - the article looks at Madonna's M by Madonna collection and gives fans some good news. Unlike previous special designer collections for H&M which were of strictly limited quality, the M by Madonna range will be replenished throughout the month it is on sale:

Yes, even divas wear H&M. And Pansy Tolou (PR coordinator) has already become well-versed in the Hollywood art of product placement: Hoodies? Kate Bosworth. Black Label men's wear? Adrien Grenier. Skinny jeans? Rihanna.
Fergie, Tolou says, has requested the sequined micro-mini from the M by Madonna collection, which will go on sale Thursday. At $198, it's one of the priciest pieces, but the spangly dress is nothing if not 'Fergalicious,' although Madonna might beg to differ.
Working with H&M's head designer, Madonna created 30 pieces inspired by the greatest hits in her own closet. In a palette of black, white and cream, there are leather trenches and bomber jackets, low-cut silk kimono dresses, thin cashmere knits, sexy disco dresses, skinny jeans with ankle zippers, a cotton 'naughty secretary' dress and the cream wool suit Paster deemed 'divine.'
Unlike the limited edition Viktor & Rolf line that sold out within hours, M by Madonna stock will be replenished throughout the month it's in stores. But as stylists and H&M fans already know, if it's not Madonna it's something else. An organic cotton line will appear in late March, Kylie Minogue will be modeling chic bathing suits this summer, and racks of new merchandise will continue to stream in every day.

To read the full article by Steffie Nelson visit www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle

Madonna and Guy's night out at the Los Angeles Purim party feature in a two-page article in the current edition of UK magazine heat (17-23 March issue).

This was no everyday clothing launch: There was thumping music, muscled male dancers and a great wall of paparazzi planted on the pavement outside the Langham Hotel. The event was the unveiling of M by Madonna for Hennes & Mauritz.
On Tuesday night, the pop star, clad in a white Forties-style jersey dress of her own design, laid out the theory behind her new collection for the Swedish fast-fashion retailer.
'I wanted something casual but naughty, sensible but sexy. That's me. That's how I am. I wanted the collection to be for a working girl,' said Madonna in a not-so-quiet corner of the Artesian Bar at the hotel, near Oxford Circus.
'This is a combination of outfits I would love to wear. Bits and pieces have been inspired by the outfits in my own wardrobe, and also by what I love, like kimonos or my favorite Seventies vintage dress with the butterfly sleeves. I bought it in New York 10 years ago, and have worn it down to threads.'

Visit www.madonna.com to read the full report of the H&M London launch party.

Vienna Online have published some pictures of the H&M campaign covering the walls of the U-Bahnstation in Vienna.

Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor has re-entered the UK album chart at #33.

The April 2007 issue of UK fashion magazine Glamour previews Madonna's upcoming M by Madonna collection for H&M.

This issue of Glamour also features a two-page M by Madonna advert.

Madonna is still the queen of charts in México as she is still at #1 in the CD charts with the CD/DVD of The Confessions Tour and at #3 in the DVD charts.

The 19 March issue of UK magazine Grazia also featured a small item on Madonna and Guy's fancy-dress at the Los Angeles Purim party earlier this month.

The Madonna zip-front tracksuits sold at H&M last year may have disappointed some fans, for in all their polyester shininess, they didn’t look like something She would wear. A cheerleading squad at a Florida retirement home, maybe, but not Her.
'I didn’t read the reviews,' Madonna said on the phone the other day. 'I don’t care what people say. I like them.'
Next week Madonna gets a do-over as a celebrity designer.
Blouses, wrap dresses, printed halter tops, corset belts and a turban — all designed by Madonna! — go on sale in H&M’s 1,300 stores on March 22. And, She wants you to know, real effort went into these clothes, like maybe She does care, just a little, about what people say.
'Did they come and see my show?' She asked, still on the subject of the mixed reviews. 'If they’d seen my show, they would cut me some slack about how simple my tracksuit was. I like the simplicity of it and live in my tracksuits.'
But one cannot live in tracksuits alone. The new collection, called M by Madonna, has an unexpected vibe that could be described as landed-gentry Madonna goes office-casual Madonna.
The degree of workplace appropriateness depends on whether one chooses to accessorize with pearls or a riding crop. Madonna, who chooses both, was inspired by the dynamic young women who work with Her, a group She calls the Semtex Girls, because, you know, they are like the explosive. Naughty!
'They are the kind of clothes that mean business and fun all at the same time,' Madonna said. 'I thought about what I like to wear every day.'
Still, there will be Madonna fans (um, me) looking for something more emblematic of the many, many Hers. Like that bodysuit ($19.90) that speaks of 'Confessions on a Dance Floor'; or the double-breasted pantsuit (jacket, $99.90; pants, $59.90), circa 'Express Yourself'; or a long white dress ($69.90) that could have been a castoff from 'Vogue' days. But no.
'I didn’t really think about anything in connection to the stages of my career or the evolution of my persona,' She said.
Not even the $34.90 corset belts?
'Well, what part of my career didn’t I have a corset in?'

Todays edition of UK newspaper the Daily Express featured a small article and picture of Madonna at the London lauch party to celebrate her M by Madonna collection for H&M - click on the article to enlarge.

Publishers Marketplace are reporting that the tell-all expose by Madonna's former nanny Melissa Dumas, entitled Live To Tell: My Life as Madonna's Nanny has been cancelled by the publishers themselves.

Crown publishers said: It will not be publishing the memoir to be authored by Madonna's former nanny, Melissa Dumas. The rights to the book have been released to the author, who is represented by Sharlene Martin of Martin Literary Management.

The current edition of UK fashion magazine Look (19 March issue) featured a small picture of Madonna and Guy attending the Purim party earlier this month.

As exclusively revealed yesterday on madonnalicious Madonna did attend the London launch of the M by Madonna collection last night at the Langham Hotel.

Madonna looked stunning in a white M by Madonna (of course!) dress with poker straight hair - she even took the time to sign some autographs for fans as she left the event with her co-manager Angela Becker.

To view pictures from the event visit www.wireimage.com

Go and show your support for the Queen of Pop at this party taking place in Paris on Friday 23 March. For more information visit www.wherestheparty.eu

madonnalicious can bring fans the exclusive news that Madonna is scheduled to attend the London launch party of her M by Madonna collection for H&M tonight.

The party is taking place at the Artesian Bar at the Langham Hotel in London.

The most famous Berliner's Madonnamania party is back - this time will be held on Saturday 24 March at the famous Berlin Gay and Lesbian club Schwuz.

Check out more information at www.schwuz.de and click on Kalender.

USA Today lists Madonna, Sting, the Beastie Boys, and Metallica as 'strong shots' for being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

This year's inductees were R.E.M., Gandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Van Halen, the Ronettes, and Patti Smith.

To read the full article visit www.usatoday.com/life/music/news

The German magazines have caught up with Madonna and Guy's night at the Purim Party in Los Angeles on Saturday 03 March - scans below are from the latest issues of Bunte, In and In Touch. Click on the images to enlarge.

After falling to #2 last week, Madonna's The Confessions Tour DVD bounces back to #1 in the official Aria DVD chart - www.ariacharts.com.au - it is now her fourth week at #1.

Also, the triple platinum The Immaculate Collection re-enters the chart at #23.

Fans in Chile can attend a Madonna party taking place on Saturday 17 March:

Celebration On A Dancefloor
MADONNA
Confessions Tour - Full Videography - Remixes - Exclusives
CHERRY Be-Sexual
Errazuriz 884 Valparaíso CHILE

According to published reports at The Book Standard the tell-all book by Madonna's ex-Nanny Melissa Dumas is being fast-tracked for publication in September this year.

The book entitled Live to Tell: My Life as Madonna's Nanny will focus on the home life of The Ritchies from the nanny's perspective.

World rights for the book were sold to Lindsey Moore at Crown Publishing, according to Dumas's agent, Sharlene Martin of Los Angeles-based Martin Literary Management.

madonnalicious visitor Kevin was one of 500 lucky shoppers to receive a free pair of M by Madonna sunglasses at the public opening of the new H&M store in Hong Kong.

The giveaways not only included the sunglasses, but a case and a numbered card.

Madonna is back in New York and has been house hunting - here is a report from yesterdays edition of the New York Post:

Madonna hits the street on the Upper East Side yesterday during her house-hunting tour. Among the homes that she toured with brokers were these opulent town houses.
The Material Mom is said to have her eye on this 14,700- square-foot East 62nd Street mansion, which features grand entertaining rooms with double-height ceilings, and marble floors, staircases and fireplaces.
Madonna wants to make New York her playground again!
With handlers and brokers in tow, the Material Mom toured four pricey town houses on the Upper East Side yesterday, and is said to have fallen for a Gilded Age mansion on East 62nd Street - with a $35 million price tag.
'She's seriously looking to buy,' a source said. 'She's actually flown here to concentrate on finding a New York home where she'll spend a good deal of time - and perhaps even send her children to school here.'
'Living in the English countryside must be getting a bit monotonous for her.'
'She wants big and grand,' said another real-estate broker familiar with her search. 'She's looking for dramatic ceiling heights, large entertaining spaces and flat-out opulence.'
The kabbalah queen spent the majority of her time here going through the Beaux Arts-style six-level elevatored limestone home with 14,700 square feet of interior space that includes seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, three kitchens, separate servants quarters, a gym with a sauna, billiards room and a garden.
The home features grand entertaining rooms with double-height ceilings, and marble floors, staircases and fireplaces.
For her growing family, one floor in the mansion features two children's bedrooms, a playroom, a kitchen, and a nanny's bedroom.
The master bedroom has its own floor with a study, two separate bathrooms and a large dressing room.
The 103-year-old residence is owned by noted architect Emilio Ambasz, who bought the property in 1992 for $3.2 million, according to public records.
Ambasz has had the house on and off the market for the past six years at various prices.
Sources say the 48-year-old singer visited other town houses on East 67th Street, East 69th Street, and East 96th Street - all of which were located between Madison and Fifth avenues.
'I didn't hear anything from her, but it wouldn't surprise me,' said Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, who noted that her family is growing. 'Hopefully, I'll have a new neighbor. I'd be very happy.'

To for more on this article visit www.nypost.com/madonnas_city_comeback_tour

Here are some pictures showing the queues from the opening of the new H&M store in Hong Kong and the general public sale of the M by Madonna collection that happened on Saturday 10 March.

Madonna is set to join the cast of hit plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck after confessing she’s a big fan of the show.
Creator Ryan Murphy reveals he’s currently writing a part for the pop superstar. Murphy would like Madonna to play opposite pal and A League Of Their Own co-star Rosie O’Donnell, who has become a regular on the show after hitting the headlines for a sex scene she filmed with Nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon last season.
Murphy says, 'I’m going to write something for Madonna, who is a fan of the show and I would love for her to do something with Rosie.'
Madonna isn’t be the only big name being considered for upcoming episodes - Nicole Kidman has already signed on for a cameo and McMahon explains his Premonition co-star Sandra Bullock is also interested in a role. He adds, 'Sandy said she wanted to come on last year and she didn’t. She wants to come on the last episode and she wants to get her whole body done, or something.'

This two-page M by Madonna advert featured in the Saturday 10 March edition of the Hong Kong newspaper.

Madonna may soon have to face the prospect of having her personal life spelled out to the world in a 'tell-all' memoir, if a woman who claims to be her former nanny is able to find a publisher.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Melissa Dumas has written her version of the inner-workings of Madonna's household, and has drafted an 80-page proposal which she is shopping around to various publishing houses.
The alleged proposal is said to tackle subjects such as Madonna's marriage, her children's behavior, her participation in Kaballah, and her motivations for adopting a Malawain baby, according to the report.
There has been no comment made from Madonna nor Dumas so far, but the EW article points out that the proposal allegedly contains a copy of an unsigned nondisclosure agreement which was issued to Dumas by Madonna after she had already resigned as her nanny.

Madonna graces the cover of this weeks issue of the Austrian magazine Die ganze Woche. The shot is from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party last week in Los Angeles, inside the magazine is a one-page article on her new H&M collection.

Attendees of the invite-only world premiere of the H&M - M by Madonna collection on Thursday night in Hong Kong all received these great promotion scarves featuring the M by Madonna - M logo.

Pictures below thanks to Wendy Lam at www.nitrolicious.com - check out their blog for more exclusive pictures from the opening night.

Here are the H&M official press pictures from the opening event of the H&M - M by Madonna collection in Hong Kong on Thursday 08 March.

H & M Hennes & Mauritz, the international fashion retailer, is opening its first store in East Asia, on March 10 at 68 Queen's Road, Central Hong Kong.
'We are very proud to open our first store in East Asia, in Hong Kong. China is a strategic and exciting market with great fashion awareness and spending power. We therefore see a vast potential for expansion. We are convinced that we can offer our Hong Kong customers added value through fashion and quality at the best price', says Rolf Eriksen, CEO H&M.
The new store measures approximately 3,500 square meters on four floors and offers an extensive collection of fashions for women, teenagers, children and men - everything from fashion basics to clothes that reflect the very latest trends. The store features H&M's contemporary indoor décor and with new garments arriving in the store every day, H&M makes it easy for its customers to dress their individual style.
For this season, H&M's Head of Design Margareta van den Bosch teamed up with Madonna to create a unique yet classic line - `M by Madonna'. The 'M by Madonna' line includes glamorous tops, street-cool lumber jackets, tailored blazers and other apparel including shirt dresses and kimono-shaped dresses. A Madonna favourite is a stylish trench-coat in cotton poplin or leather.
Fashion-savvy shoppers in Hong Kong can look forward to getting the world premier of the `M by Madonna' collection, two weeks before the rest of the world!
In April H&M opens two stores in Shanghai and during fall 2007 H&M will open three new stores in Hong Kong.

The main English-language newspaper in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post, was distributed with an H&M glossy wrap today.

The paper also included a short article on Saturdays public opening of the store - commenting that the signed Madonna trenchcoats may no longer be given away as originally intended.

madonnalicious visitor Kevin Chung brings us this news in from Hong Kong:

Good news for Hong Kong Madonna fans, the new H&M store is holding a event on the first day the collection goes on sale (Saturday 10 March) - the first 10 people who visit the store will receive a coat/jacket which has been signed by Madonna, and the following 500 people will receive the Madonna designed sunglasses!

Update: 09 March 2007
Due to safety concerns with crowd control - the 10 signed coats will now NOT be given away. However the 500 pairs of sunglasses will still be given away.

Campaign shots have been put up all over the subway and streets around the brand new H&M store in Hong Kong that will premiere the M by Madonna collection to the general public on Saturday 10 March. Madonna is taking over Hong Kong....

Fans in New Haven, Connecticut can catch Madonna's turn as Susan in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan on the big screen.

The film is playing at the Criterion Cinema late on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 March.
Check out the details at www.criterioncinemas.com/insomnia.htm

The H&M official website has gone M by Madonna mad in anticipation of the world premiere of the collection in Hong Kong tonight.

Fans can view all the campaign images, the entire collection (with prices) and view both the edit and directors cut of the TV commercial in HQ at www.hm.com - just visit the Inspiration link and click on M by Madonna.

The father of Madonna's adopted son David is hoping the superstar brings the tot to visit him when she returns to Malawi next month.
Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are scheduled to return to the impoverish African nation to open a $2.92 million Kabbalah Centre, which the singer has funded herself.
David's biological father Yohane Banda desperately misses his son and hopes Madonna will let them meet during her time in Malawi.
Banda says, 'I can't wait to hold him in my arms again. I want to see if he still recognises me after all this time. I want to see if he still looks like me with all the British food he is eating.'
Madonna and Ritchie filed interim adoption papers to adopt the youngster in October (2006) and will have to wait up to 18 months for the paperwork to become official.

The H&M - M by Madonna advert is being broadcast in Hong Kong on a large billboard. The short advert is directed by Madonna herself and Dan Cadan and is in the style of The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty.

Fans can now download this clip - which includes a teaser trailer at the beginning advertising the opening of the new H&M store in Hong Kong and the world premiere of the M by Madonna collection.

Badly Drawn Boy star Damon Gough is so keen to work with Madonna he has already written a song for her. Gough referred to the Hung Up singer on his 2002 hit You Were Right, and despite having worked with Hollywood star Jack Nicholson and French singer/actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, the 37-year-old is still desperate to record with the pop superstar.
He says, 'I'd like to work on collaborations with some other artists like Madonna. She would be my first choice. I do have one song in particular I think would be perfect for her. (It's) one that didn't get released so it didn't have an official finished title. But the working name was In Two Minds.'

Here is the first look at a H&M - M by Madonna window display. This picture was taken at the Hong Kong store which will hold the premiere of the collection tomorrow (Thursday 08 March) and will sell the collection to the public on Saturday 10 March.

The 03 March issue of Billboard magazine published their annual Moneymaker list and Madonna earned $175 million in 2006 ranking her at #2.

Madonna who earned exactly $175,143,644.85, delivered her 10th studio album, the Grammy winning Confessions On A Dance Floor in late 2005. The disc debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and spent 30 weeks on the chart in 2006. According to Nielsen Soundscan Confessions On A Dance Floor sold 1.6 million units.

In May 2006, Madonna kicked off her Confessions Tour which was the second highest grossing tour of 2006 - and the top grossing tour ever by a female artist. The trek grossed slightly less than $195 million according to Billboard Boxscore.
Shortly after the tour commenced Madonna become the worldwide spokesmodel for global retailer H&M. Her own womens clothing line, M by Madonna, debuts Thursday 22 March 2007 in all H&M stores that carry womens clothing.

Want Madonna's trapper hat? UK magazine heat answered a question about where you can buy the SSUR Kangol hat in the 24 February - 02 March issue.

Madonna is on the top of the International Repertoire Sales Chart in Greece for a third week with her CD/DVD The Confessions Tour.

The Confessions Tour is also on the top of the Combined Repertoire Sales Chart in Greece (Local & International Repertoire).

Visit ExtraTV.com to watch a small clip of H&M - M by Madonna collection being previewed and an interview with Jennifer Uglialoro, H&M's fashion spokesperson.

The clip also gives fans a first look at the M by Madonna clothes labels and the M zippers on pieces in the collection. Below are some screen captures from the clip.

Do you think Madonna should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

To show that you want Madonna to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vote online at spinner.aol.com/rockhall/future-inductees-poll - you will have to click through the pictures till you find Madonna.

This funny picture of Madonna and her hat was featured in the February 26 issue of the UK version of the National Enquirer - click on the image to enlarge.

Tickets are now onsale for the production of Madonna and Me which takes place at the Union Theatre in London in April and May.

For more information on the production and tickets visit madonna-and-me.co.uk

The playwright Tommy Kearney is also casting for four male dancers for the play:
We're casting four male dancers, they must be graduates/professional for a 10 minute dance sequence and the CV's should be sent via email to dancers@madonna-and-me.co.uk. Also the play was covered by the documentary 'Madonna Changing Lives', so any graduates/professional dancers with a tale to tell would be an advantage. Minimum height 5' 6".

Pop superstar Madonna has a secret museum housing all her favourite stage and screen outfits.
The Material Girl has kept hold of thousands of costumes which she keeps hidden away at an undisclosed location in California.
She reveals, 'I have an archive museum in a warehouse which houses all the costumes I've worn on stage and in videos - one-of-a-kind pieces made for me and special pieces I've always loved.'

Lets hope fans get to see all these costumes in an exhibition on day....soon!

Madonna and Guy's appearance at the Purim Festival at the Los Angeles Kabbalah Centre has been featured heavily in the UK newspapers today.

The event was not just the tabloid press but the couple even made the cover of one of the more serious broadsheets!

Featured below are scans from the Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Star and The Guardian - click on the articles to enlarge.

madonnalicious has finally started the 2007 Gallery - you can view the latest upload of 80 pictures here or visit the 2007 Gallery.

madonnalicious visitors Joe, Abiram, Jackie, and Laura watched Madonna and Guy leave the Purim Party that took place at The Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles last night. Jow managed to grab these two exclusive pictures as they left the party.

As the Purim tradition dictates, partygoers dress up in fancy dress and Guy was dressed as a cop and Madonna as a 1920's flapper.

Madonna had three entries in the UK Album Chart last week - with two re-entries showing that The Confessions Tour release sparked interest again in Madonna:

#62 - The Confessions Tour
#68 - The Immaculate Collection (Re-Entry)
#70 - Confessions On A Dance Floor (Re-Entry)

Check out the latest charts at uk.launch.yahoo.com/c/uk/album_charts

This eight page pull-out M by Madonna advertising portfolio is featured in the April 2007 issue of Elle - Quebec.

Madonna is up for two dance awards at the 22nd Annual International Dance Music Awards. She is nominated in the Best Dance Music Video (Number 21) and Best Dance Artist Solo (Number 25).

Fans can vote for Madonna online at http://wmcstore.com/idma/ballot - please note you can only vote ONCE otherwise your vote will be disqualified!

madonnalicious visitor Jerry caught this picture of Madonna at the fifth Confessions Tour concert at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday 18 July.

Rumours are building in Hong Kong that Madonna may attend the grand opening of the Hong Kong H&M store on Thursday 08 March.

This event would also be the unveiling of her first capsule collection M by Madonna.

However fans should remember at the moment these are just rumours and Madonna has not confirmed her attendance.

Queen of pop Madonna dislikes shopping for clothing so much she employs assistants to do it for her, despite her reputation as one of the world’s best dressed women.
The Material Girl, who lives in London with her children and husband Guy Ritchie, prefers to dress simply on a day-to-day basis. She says, 'I don’t pay attention to British women’s style. I just run around in my tracksuit with sunglasses on. I have never liked shopping. I don’t like going into a store and going through the racks. I am happy to have girls do it for me.'

madonnalicious visitor Michal took these great pictures at the second Philadelphia show at the Wachovia Center on Thursday 13 July.

When it comes to deciding whether her new outfits are hot or not, it's Madonna's husband who wears the trousers.
And since the 48-year-old pop superstar is about to launch a range of clothes for High Street chain H&M, it's a good thing that Guy Ritchie has impeccable taste.
Madonna confides: 'I try them out on my husband - I put on an outfit and say, 'Do you like this?' and he says, 'Yes, that's cool'. I think he pretty much approves of how I dress. But once he said, 'I like the dress you're almost wearing'.'
But she gets her own back when it comes to Guy's wardrobe.
'I like it when my husband wears suits and I tell him that on a regular basis,' she says. 'He is very obedient in the clothes department!' We don't doubt it...

The Steven Klein shot commercial Madonna made for Tokyo property development Brillia Mare Ariake is now broadcasting in Japan - below are some screen captures from the advert. Fans can watch the clip online at YouTube at this link.

Madonna's voiceover on the advert says: Beyond Race. Beyond Gender. Beyond Religion. Beyond Culture. Beyond Tomorrow. Just Perfect. Brillia Mare Ariake.

The hype for Madonna's upcoming M by Madonna collection for H&M is building up in within media worldwide.

This article was featured in todays edition of the New York Daily News:

Material Girl vogues it up with line of clothes at H&M - By Gina Salamone
Madonna can finally dress us up in her love. On March 22, the first capsule collection of clothes composed by the iconic trendsetter hits the shelves at H&M outposts around the world - including 10 New York area stores.
In an exclusive first peek at the highly anticipated 'M by Madonna' line, we fell for key pieces including a range of slick belted trench coats ($99.90-$298), a vampy black jersey evening dress ($59.90) and the super-skinny black pants ($59.90) that are one of Madonna's signature looks.
And that, says H&M's design chief Margareta van den Bosch, isn't a coincidence.
The Material Girl and van den Bosch spent days combing through the superstar's well-appointed closets, selecting the strongest staples to use as inspiration for the 30-piece collection.
'Madonna has a remarkable feel for fashion and trends,' says van den Bosch. 'She was involved in even the smallest details of the design.'
Prices range from $12.90 for a turban to $298 for a leather coat. Other hot picks - which are bound to create the kind of frenzy H&M witnessed last November when Viktor & Rolf's capsule collection turned into a stiletto-riot as shoppers clamored for limited-edition goodies - include a slimming pencil skirt ($49.90), sexy satin shirts ($49.90), movie-star shades ($34.90), a satin bomber jacket ($59.90) and a super assortment of dresses ($34.90-$59.90).
M by Madonna is the latest of several recent collaborations for H&M. Karl Lagerfeld created an exclusive collection for the stores in 2004 and Stella McCartney followed suit a year later. But Madonna's the first celeb - with no designing experience - to infiltrate the superstore's shelves.
That, predicts Ashley Baker, a style editor at Glamour magazine, shouldn't be a problem.
The collection will be 'a slam-dunk business venture for Madonna and the clothing company,' Baker explains. 'For Madonna, it expands her portfolio of things that she can do successfully. And for H&M, it's a way to get customers into their store that maybe have never been to their store before. They have a presence in the United States certainly, but right now they're really concentrated on the coasts. This Madonna collaboration, I think much more so than Viktor & Rolf, is going to interest people in the fly-over states.'
Madonna's a kind of fashion everywoman, after all, alternating costly couture with street-worthy sweats. 'When she shows up at events, she's wearing expensive designer clothes,' says Baker. 'But when you see her on the street, you'll see her often in an Adidas track suit and a pair of sneakers. I think she's trying to take that street sensibility and bring it to a mass audience.'
M by Madonna goes on sale Thursday, March 22. Doors open at 10 a.m. but be warned, the long lines will start forming as early as the night before.

These pictures were captured by madonnalicious visitor Billy at the first Philadelphia concert at the Wachovia Center on Wednesday 12 July.

The Confessions Tour (CD+DVD) goes up 2 places from #9 to #7 on Album Top 20.

The Confessions Tour (DVD) falls one place from #5 to #6 on Music DVD Top 10.

The April 2007 issue of UK magazine Elle is now in stores and features Madonna on the cover and an eight page interview inside.

Unfortunately we do not get any new pictures as the photoshoot featured is by Solve Sundsbo and originally featured in Harpers Bazaar in March 2006.

Madonna's The Confessions Tour CD/DVD is still #1 on the Australian ARIA DVD chart after 3 weeks! Check out the chart at www.ariacharts.com.au