Vogue magazine are talking about Madonna's love of baseball caps:

Baseball caps are back on the fashion map this winter thanks to Lucky Seven, the London-based hat company swiftly becoming an obsession with Madonna. The singer has been seen in no less than eight different designs over the last two months, all of which carry bright retro crests from cult TV shows and films including Star Wars, Galactica, Moonraker and Alien....

To read the rest of the article visit www.vogue.co.uk/vogue_daily/story

The current edition of Dutch magazine Gala (25 October issue) features Madonna on the cover and a four-page article inside about how she 'wants to rule the world'.

Journalist Steve Pafford interviewed the Pet Shop Boys for the current issue of gay magazine QX (issue 660) - which is available free in UK bars and clubs. The interview included these few paragraphs about working with Madonna:

I'd wondered how Madonna fitted into their scheme of things. The boys has wanted her to sing 'Heart' but eventually recorded it themselves, giving them their fourth No.1 in the process, and she less than graciously returned the favour by asking them to be a mere support act on her Who's That Girl tour in 1987, when the duo were at the peak of their commercial clout! Any talk of recording together? Nope. 'She'd be impossible,' Neil conceded, 'It would never work'.
But fast forward to 2005 and the finely tuned 'secret ears' that David Bowie once described Tennant having must have pricked up considerably when he heard Confessions On A Dance Floor, 'because so many of the reviews mentioned that the album sounded like us, and in fact then she mentioned us as one of the inspirations for it.'
Indeed, producer Stuart Price revealed that when they were recording the album in his flat, Madge shouted 'Pet Shop Boys - I fucking love them!' So being hailed as an influence by the Queen Of Pop herself would have undoubtedly allowed Neil to rewrite and revise his opinion of Her Madgesty, and when Barbara Charone, Madonna's UK publicist, called him up, 'I thought she's finally going to ask us to remix a single, but she said, 'Would you like to interview Madonna?' and I said 'No, I'm not a fucking journalist!'
Striking while the iron hoof's hot ' that put the idea in my head. 'Jump' sounds like it's got a bit of 'West End Girls' in it to me,' he acknowledges. 'But the song we thought sounded most like us was 'Sorry', so we asked to remix it and within 12 hours we were doing it,' prompting Neil to freely admit that 'I've always wanted to sing a duet with Madonna.'
And surprise, surprise, guess who dared to 'add a load of vocals,' with Neil playing the 'pathetic guy' in the lyrics? Madonna told him, 'That was really cheeky of you but it worked,' and went on record as preferring it to the original, even sampling his dulcet tones of her last tour. 'I felt quite proud that I was in her show,' he beams. 'She called it a 'killer remix'.'

USA Today are asking the quick question, Who's your favorite 'Rolling Stone' cover girl or guy?, in an online poll.

To vote for Madonna visit www.usatoday.com (scroll down the page for the poll).

The UK music trade publication Music Week (27 October issue) features Madonna on the cover and has a two-page article inside looking at the business behind Madonna's new deal with Live Nation, including the fact that after her studio album is released in Spring 2008 it is likely that Madonna's last album for Warner Brothers will be a greatest hits collection in late 2008. Click on the article to enlarge.

The UK version (420mm x 297mm size) of the 2008 official Madonna calendar is available to buy now online direct from the publishers at www.danilo.com/Madonna

Madonna celebrating Lourdes 11th birthday in Los Angeles is featured in this one-page picture article in the new edition of UK magazine Hello! (30 October issue 993).

Madonna's filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie has spoken out for the first time about his adopted son David Banda, denying reports the Malawian tot has caused a rift between him and his superstar wife.
The 39-year-old reveals the two-year-old has settled well in England and is now part of the family. He says, '(David's) part of the family now. We haven't talked about the adoption for ages - he's part of us. We haven't talked about it for the past six months. It was only in the first month when the adoption was going through - since then we've all been getting on with our lives and it hasn't been mentioned. That's par for the course. He's part of the family.'

UK celebrity magazine Closer (27 October - 02 November issue) uses Madonna recent look at the recent GQ Awards to illustrate an article on why grey is the colour to be seen in this season.

Guy Ritchie isn't a big fan of his wife Madonna's pop music - because she doesn't record enough Irish jigs. The filmmaker admits he rarely listens to music, and when he does he plays Irish music for pleasure.
He says, 'I like folk music or gypsy stuff. I like simple stuff. I don't really like popular music. I don't know why I feel so drawn to Irish Republican songs, considering I'm a Brit, but I feel as though they have a lot of soul. I like some popular music....If I really like a track Madonna does I get into it for 10 minutes or however long you're supposed to get into popular music.'

The new issue of Australian magazine DNA features this two-page article on Madonna's black roots - fans can read the article by visiting dnamagazine.com.au (although readers will have to register for free to view the full article) or buying the magazine in stores.

madonnalicious has some exciting news about Madonna's new album:

* It has a tentative release date in the US of Tuesday 11 March

* It has a working title of Connextion - although this will be changed for release

* It currently contains 12 tracks

* The Beat Goes On track that was leaked a few months ago actually is the finished product for the album

* Another song is a ballad, much like the tone of Promise To Try but is more about a rebirth than death

* There is another song with a strong techno 'thump' with just Madonna singing, no other musical sound and it works pretty well, almost haunting and stays with you

Fans can purchase an official SING vest top which contains the names of all 23 artists on the track (including Madonna!) at annielennox.clickncreate.net for £25.

I wrote and recorded 'SING' to try to inform people about how the HIV AIDS pandemic is affecting women and children in South Africa. 23 internationally renowned female recording artists joined me on this first 'SING' project. This vest has been ethically sourced, and I will be donating the profits from the sale to Treatment Action Campaign, which is a grass roots network across the whole of South Africa.

Visit www.itn.co.uk to view a news report on Madonna's directoral debut Filth and Wisdom, which may premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next year.

One of the actors in the film, Richard E. Grant is interviewed about the part he plays in the film, and says he plays a poet, a blind writer who is based on Madonna's dance teacher.

UK magazine first (29 October issue) features this two-page interview with David Banda's biological father, who says that Madonna is perfect for David and features a new picture of Madonna and David in New York City. Click on the article to enlarge.

The new edition of UK magazine Closer (27 October - 02 November issue) features this article on Madonna helping Lourdes celebrate her 11th birthday in Los Angeles.

A Halloween Madonnathon is being held in New York City on Friday 26 October at Pyramid 1984 from 10:00pm till 4:00am. $8 cover charge.

Visit www.spincyclenyc.com/1984 for more information about the event.

German magazine TV14 features a two-page article on Madonna's deal with Live Nation in this weeks edition, and WAZ (18 October issue) also looks at the deal.

Published reports are saying that Madonna and Guy may be granted full official custody of baby David Banda five months earlier than expected.

Madonna is due to appear before the high court in Malawi next month for a review of her temporary adoption order. The hearing was originally not die to take place until April 2008.

Playwright Tommy Kearney wants to let madonnalicious readers know that his play, Madonna and Me, will be playing in his home town of Liverpool next year following a successful run in London. Click on the flyer for all the information.

Donna De Lory's artist liason officer Paul Yanez has sent this note for madonnalicious readers who also follow the work of Donna:

Donna and I wanted to take a minute to let you guys know that we have posted her new music video for the title track from her latest release Sky Is Open. We hope you to hear your guys feedback on it....we are so excited!
The video is posted on her myspace page (www.myspace.com/donnadelory) or you can view it directly on www.youtube.com

The video is filmed in Donna's studio and in a national park near her home and Donna's band and daughter also appear in it.

Madonna, Lourdes, Rocco and David were photographed recently as they all visited the Los Angeles Kabbalah Centre - to view the pictures visit www.x17online.com

Since Madonna started her 'world' tours a stop in Paris has always been included. madonnalicious visitor Sandrine is sharing with fans tickets to the six tours that have played in Paris, Who's That Girl (1987), Blond Ambition (1990), The Girlie Show (1993), Drowned World (2001), Re-Invention (2004) and Confessions Tour (2006).

All madonnalicious can say is bring back souvenir tickets!

The new edition of US magazine Entertainment Weekly (20 October issue) features an article called Madonna & Radiohead: The week that changed music and looks in depth at Madonna's move to Live Nation:

The Material Girl dumps her longtime label for millions, while the alt-rock titans let fans download their new album for free. A week of maverick moves could forever change the industry's tune.

Liz Rosenberg also adds more comments about how the deal may have changed the music industry:

'I think it marks the beginning of a new era in how record companies function, but I wouldn't call it the beginning of the end. For the last year or two it's become much more crystallized that everyone in the business has to explore new ways of being profitable. The combination of Radiohead and Madonna these last few weeks is a big shift.'

To read the full article visit www.ew.com or pick up the magazine in stores.

In a published report in Hollywood Insider, Liz Rosenberg gives fans the first 'firm' news on when the new album is expected.

Liz states that Madonna's new album could be released in March 2008 and a greatest hits package could be released late 2008/early 2009.

Madonna's current record label Warner Brothers have issued this statement following on from the news that Madonna will be leaving them to join Live Nation:

We congratulate Madonna on her future plans. She is one of the most remarkable artists of our time. We are excited to issue her upcoming album next year. We are also honored to own her catalog of recordings from the past 25 years, as well as to manage her library of songs for an extended period of time. From all of us at Warner Music Group, we thank Madonna for a valued and enduring partnership.

madonnalicious reader Iain was at the premiere of Kylie Minogue's Showgirl tour documentary White Diamonds last night.

The documentary contained a track called Alone Again that is sung by Kylie and written by Madonna and Rick Nowels.

Here is the official press release from Live Nation regarding Madonna decision to sign with them - and at the end of the release Madonna confirms that we will have to wait till next year for the new album:

Live Nation's President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rapino officially confirmed today - October 16, 2007 - that Madonna has entered into an unprecedented global partnership with Live Nation and will become the founding artist in its Artist Nation division.
'The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift,' commented Madonna. 'For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I've never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless. Who knows how my albums will be distributed in the future? That's what's exciting about this deal - everything is possible. Live Nation has offered me a true partnership and after 25 years in the business, I feel that I deserve that.'
'Madonna is a true icon and maverick as an artist and in business,' stated Mr. Rapino. 'Our partnership is a defining moment in music history. I am thrilled that Madonna, who is also now a shareholder in our company, has joined with us to create a new business model for our industry. Bringing all the varied elements of Madonna's stunning music career into the Artist Nation and Live Nation family, moves her future and the future of our company into a unique and extraordinary place.'
The first-of-its-kind partnership between Madonna and Live Nation encompasses all of Madonna's future music and music-related businesses, including the exploitation of the Madonna brand, new studio albums, touring, merchandising, fan club/web site, DVD's, music-related television and film projects and associated sponsorship agreements. This unique new business model will address all of Madonna's music ventures as a total entity for the first time in her career.
Arthur Fogel, Chairman of Live Nation's Global Music Division and Chief Executive Officer of Global Touring, who has produced the artist's last three worldwide tours with the company which generated close to $500 million in the last six years commented:
'Madonna is without a doubt one of the most fiercely original artists in history. It is a great opportunity for Live Nation and Artist Nation to build upon our years of success with Madonna as a touring artist.'
Artist Nation was created to partner with artists to manage their diverse rights, grow their fan bases and provide a direct connection to fans through the global distribution platform and marketing proficiencies that have made Live Nation the world’s largest live music company. Headed by the division's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Cohl, Artist Nation has significant infrastructure in place to execute additional revenue streams including recorded music, merchandise, studios, media rights, digital rights, fan club/website and sponsorship divisions.
Joining with Artist Nation to work with Madonna will be Live Nation's unmatched global distribution platform and artist-to-fan-reach, including over 80 offices in l8 countries, over 200 national and local sponsorship personnel, over l60 venues, access to over 35 million fans that attend well over l0,000 shows that Live Nation produces, promotes and/or hosts each year for over l,000 artists including fan access via Live Nation's growing database of over 25 million fans.
'I've been fortunate enough to work with Madonna for half my life. She has always encouraged me and set a great example for me to push the boundaries to reach our full potential. This partnership exemplifies just that,' commented Madonna's co-manager Guy Oseary.
Angela Becker, Madonna's co-manager added, 'The partnership and vision for the future that Artist Nation along with Live Nation presented to us assured me that this is the ideal home for Madonna. It is with great trust and optimism that we collectively move ahead together.'
In regard to Madonna's relationship with her current label, the artist commented, 'My time with Warner Bros. Records has been great. I appreciate their hard work and value the many relationships I have developed over the years with the label in the U.S. and around the world. I have an album coming out with them next year and I'm excited about it. We still have work to do together.'

Madonna and concert promoter Live Nation Inc. announced a deal Tuesday that will give Live Nation a stake in her albums, tours, merchandising, films and other music-related projects.
Financial terms were not disclosed in the joint statement released by Madonna and Live Nation. A person familiar with the agreement previously told the Associated Press it was worth about $120 million over 10 years.
The official announcement came after weeks of speculation that the Material Girl would abandon Warner Music Group Corp., which refused to match the Live Nation deal.
Madonna said in the statement that she was drawn to the all-ecompassing deal with Live Nation because of the changes the music business has undergone in recent years.
'The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift,' Madonna said. 'For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I've never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless.'
The singer still owes Warner Bros. Records another studio album and a greatest hits album.

The BBC are looking for the UK's best solo tribute act for a new primetime TV show hosted by Graham Norton.

If you are, or know a Madonna tribute act please log onto bbc.co.uk/ultimatetribute for further details and fill out the online application form.

The new edition of UK fashion weekly Grazia (22 October issue) features Madonna in one of the 10 Hot Stories this week. Click on the article to enlarge.

Lourdes celebrated her 11th birthday on Sunday and spent the day with her friend and mum Madonna at the Shutters Hotel Spa in Santa Monica.

Later that evening they dined at the family restaurant Il Ristorante de Georgio Baldi.

Visit justjared.buzznet.com to view pictures from the day.

Madonna attended Shabbat services at the New York Kabbalah Center on Friday 12 October - she was wearing all black and her red trucker hat.

Also in attendance at the services were baby David, Guy Oseary, fashion designer Donna Karan and pop R&B artist Ari Gold.

Annie Lennox has teamed up with 23 of the world’s most acclaimed female superstar voices for the charity record Sing, to raise money and awareness for the HIV/AIDS organisation, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).
The original track, already available to download through all online retailers, will be accompanied by special remixes available from Saturday 1st December - WORLD AIDS DAY.
This will be the first ever digital release on a Saturday in the UK. Annie Lennox 'Sing (Remixes)' will feature guest vocals from Madonna, Celine Dion, Pink, Shakira, KT Tunstall, Dido, Faith Hill, Fergie, Sugababes, Beth orton, Bonnie Raitt, Marths Wainwright, Joss Stone, melissa Etheridge, Angelique Kidjo, Beverly Knight, K.D. Lang, Shingau Shoniwa, Galdys Knight, Isobel Campbell, Sarah McLachlan together with The Generics.
'Sing' will feature hot remixes from Moto Blanco, Dean Coleman, Harry 'Choo Choo' Rimerez and Annie Lennox & Nitin Sawhney.

madonnalicious reader Gabriella was on the British Airways flight with Madonna and David to New York City and had this report to share with fans:

She was actually very nice. I've seen other celebrity mothers, and their children recognize the nannies but not the mothers themselves....this was not the case with David, he knew and loved his mother and she carried him in her arms and played with him during the flight. I was quite impressed as I expected more diva-like behaviour!

UK newspaper the Sunday Mirror published this picture today of Madonna in New York City on Friday - still wearing her H&M - M by Madonna sunglasses.

madonnalicious can bring you some exclusive news about Madonna's Malawi documentary I am because we are....

* The documentary focuses on children who have lost their parents to AIDS

* It has very strong imagery and emotional value

* The film is in both black and white and colour and is around 100 minutes long

* Madonna herself narrates the documentary

* It will not be distributed to theatres but through 'other' means

The private film screening that Madonna attended in New York City this week with pal Rosie O'Donnell was of Madonna's forthcoming documentary about the welfare effort in Malawi called I am because we are.

Rosie O'Donnell wrote one of her poems about the film on her blog at rosie.com:

her documentary
I AM BECAUSE WE ARE
which was devastating
and amazing

The following article talks in more detail about how the rumoured Live Nation deal would work out - including the fanclub:

If Madonna leaves Warner Bros. for an all-encompassing $120 million deal with Live Nation - as the Wall Street Journal reported this week - the concert promoter will struggle to make money on the deal, according to a Billboard analysis of the numbers.
The 10-year deal reportedly includes: $50 million in cash and stock for the right to promote Madonna's concert tours; a signing bonus of $17.5 million; and advances totaling $50 million-$60 million for three albums.
The deal is virtually unprecedented, likely driven by touring potential, but sources say it doesn't obligate her to tour. Last year, Madonna was second only to the Rolling Stones in gross touring dollars, taking in nearly $200 million at the worldwide box office and playing to more than 1.2 million people in just 60 shows.
Of course, gross is not net. A tour with high overhead like Madonna's might net only $50 million-$70 million on a $200 million gross, according to industry estimates. According to the Wall Street Journal, Madonna would keep 90% of touring revenue, 70% of merchandise revenue and 50% of licensing sales.
So, given these parameters, on a given tour cycle, Live Nation could theoretically be looking at $5 million-$7 million from ticket sales and maybe $6.5 million-$7 million from merchandising. Madonna has done three tours in the past 10 years. With three tours over the next 10 years, sans licensing and label revenue, Live Nation could earn an estimated $42 million; this is a conservative estimate that doesn't include potential ticketing, fan club and sponsorship revenue.
Things are dicier on the recorded-music side.
The 49-year-old pop singer sold about 20 million copies worldwide of her last three studio albums, according to sources. Her last album, 'Confessions on a Dance Floor' (2005), sold 1.6 million units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and sold 7 million units worldwide.
With 20 million albums sold - and then, adding in new revenue streams of ringtones, subscriptions and whatever revenue comes down the pike from ad-supported sites - a traditional record label could get into striking distance of the generous advance paid by Live Nation.
If Madonna maintains her recent level of sales, a traditional record label probably could make a blended profit of about $3 per record, yielding $60 million in pre-tax profits, after marketing, distribution and royalty payments - not enough to match the advance. But Live Nation is not a record label, doesn't have a label infrastructure, and is gambling that Madonna can maintain the same level of sales.
If Live Nation licensed the album worldwide, Billboard estimates it could earn between $84.5 million-$98.5 million in revenue - not enough to make a profit - yielding a total revenue in the $126.5 million-$140.5 million range.
The tipping point for profitability could be Live Nation's ability to exploit Madonna's branding. Madonna's H&M fashion line, for example, is believed to have earned more than $20 million-plus in its first year. Live Nation could benefit substantially from future such deals.
The deal had not been confirmed by Friday evening, and Live Nation officials could be reached for comment.

London newspaper the Metro covered the Live Nation deal story in Friday's edition.

US fashion publication, Women's Wear Daily picked up on the story from the Wall Street Journal that Madonna would get 50% of any licensing for items such as perfume brands. Visit www.wwd.com to read the full article.

Here is a scan of yesterday's Wall Street Journal - which was the newspaper that broke the story about the Live Nation deal. Click on the article to enlarge.

A big thank you to everyone who voted for madonnalicious as the Best Unofficial Music Site in this year's BT Digital Music Awards - the site made #9 in the Top 200!

Check out the full list at www.btdma.com/dma07/peoples_choice/

While in New York City, Madonna also met up with Rosie O'Donnell and the pair went to a film screening - below is a screen capture of Madonna and Rosie.

Pop diva Madonna will sever her ties to Warner Bros. and sign a $120million 10-year deal with concert promoters Live Nation, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
The newspaper's online edition reported that the 49-year-old music superstar was close to finalizing the details of what it described as a 'virtually unprecedented' deal, citing people familiar with the deal.
The decade-long pact with Live Nation would see Madonna cement her status as the world's highest paid female singer, giving her a lucrative mix of cash and stock, the report said.
In return, Live Nation would be granted the rights to three studio albums as well as the right to promote concert tours, sell merchandise and license Madonna's name, the report said. Spokesmen for Live Nation and Warner Music were not immediately available for comment.
The report added that record labels were clamoring to sign artists on similar deals as the music world adjusts to the new realities of the digital download revolution, which has led to plunging sales of CDs.
It said that in the past headline acts like Madonna would release new work through a major label before brokering separate deals for touring and merchandising with specialist companies.
Increasingly however, music industry players are seeking to secure wide-ranging deals that allow them to tap into multiple revenue streams, such as endorsement deals, concert ticketing and merchandising.
Since the release of her 1982 debut single 'Everybody,' Madonna has become one of the most successful female singers in history, releasing a string of chart-topping albums and singles.
According to recent figures her album sales alone have topped more than 200 million while her most recent world tour, 2006's 'Confessions Tour,' was the highest-earning tour by a female artist.
Madonna is widely regarded as the world's highest-earning female singer while Forbes magazine estimated her worth at 325 million dollars, in its ranking of the wealthiest women in entertainment, behind chat-show queen Oprah Winfrey, 'Harry Potter' creator J.K. Rowling and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart.

madonnalicious visitor Brandon reports from New York City:

I went to see a play last night, which is two blocks from my apartment. When we showed up we learned that Madonna was there just 24 hours before. God dang it! I can't believe she was within two blocks from where I live!
She went with Carlos Leon to go and see the Off-Broadway play at the New World Stages in Hells Kitchen about Celia Cruz....who, by the way, is also known as the Madonna of Latin music (or so I am told).

Visit www.broadway.com to view pictures of Madonna at the theatre.

Madonna, baby David and three assistants were spotted jetting out to New York City on a British Airways flight yesterday morning.

Madonna also caught up with long-time friend Ingrid Casares and visited the Medical Arts Center later that day.

Madonna and Guy as the face of UK DIY store B&Q? Well no, but the store have used 'look-a-likes' for their forthcoming advertising campaign, and Madonna, Guy and riding crop (!) feature in one of the the pictures.

A sneak-peak at the new campaign was featured in the current edition of UK magazine heat (13-19 October issue).

London newspaper the Evening Standard published The 1000 - London's Most Influential People 2007 list this evening.

Madonna was featured in the list of the 50 most influential people in music in London, here is the piece written about Madonna:

Madonna, 49, POP ICON
Robbie Williams summed it up with his last single: 'I love you baby, but face it, she's Madonna.' Still in a different league after more than 20 years at the top of pop's tree. Every female pop singer, and plenty of males, must concede that she's an influence.

Madonna is featured in both German magazines Gala and In Touch (04 October issues) talking about adoptions and enviromental issues.

Madonna's attempt to adopt a second Malawian child has been thrown into doubt after the child's outraged uncle voiced his opposition to the move. The pop superstar, 49, and film director husband Guy Richie are expecting 13-month-old orphan Mercy James to be the latest addition to their family following the successful adoption of David Banda from Malawi last year.
However, Mercy's uncle, John Ngalande, insists he does not want the child to be adopted by a white person. He tells British newspaper The People, he says, 'We were told when Mercy went into the orphanage that we would be in constant contact with her and that she would come back to us after six years. I would like to stick to that. Whether it be Madonna or any other white person, I'm against our child being taken away.' He adds, 'I would rather we be poor and struggling with Mercy, than for her to go and live with a big white star far away.'

A 256-page hardcover photographic book called Madonna Confessions is due for release in June 2008 according to Amazon.com

The photographs were taken by Madonna's manager Guy Oseary during the tour.

For anyone who managed to squeeze into Gogol Bordello's legendary set at Toronto's Drake Hotel in early 2006, seeing frontman Eugene Hutz and violinist Sergey Ryabtsev on London, England's Wembley Stadium stage with Madonna for the Live Earth concert was surreal, to say the least. It turns out that Madonna is a pretty big fan of the group, so much so that she invited Hutz to star in her directorial debut - a film called Filth And Wisdom.

Unrelated, you did a short film with Madonna?
Yeah! We just finished.
Did you do it in New York, or was it in London?
No, it was in London.
How did you get hooked up with that? What's it all about?
We just had some mutual friends. And I've heard for a while that she was a big fan of Gogol Bordello and of my acting efforts. At one point we were talking, she just called me, and we're talking more and more and eventually arriving to an idea that she was arriving to her perfectly super-fun offer to do a lead role in her directing debut. It was really fun.
It was very much of a collaboration, and eventually the whole band was in the movie - playing Gogol Bordello playing itself. And when she asked me, 'So how do you feel about dressing up as a woman?' I knew it was going to be fun. Still, I didn't know it was going to be that much fun.
How was she as a director?
You know, I think she's really good. For directors, you can always tell. You can always define the power of a director by how specific they get. And she was incredibly specific. Not necessarily with me, because I basically operate by doing my own thing. By inviting me, it's pretty much....
You get what you pay for. Yeah and, I mean, of course there was things that she needed from me as a director. We just had a perfect communication about that. And I think it's going to be a pretty fun - a pretty fucking fun bonanza - when you see it.
It's like a 30-minute thing, and it'll be out at the end of next year.
Yeah, I think it's going to be much sooner than that. She's a real, real dynamo. It was amazing to see how she works. She is actually that girl that makes it all go around. You know what I mean? So as much of her worldwide-known show business enterprise that goes along with her name, you know, the person who's actually in the centre of it all, that's making it all happening, is her. I was super-impressed with that.

US magazine Entertainment Weekly is running an online poll to find out the 1970's and 1980's female Ultimate Hotties and Madonna is included in the nominees.

To vote for Madonna visit www.ew.com/ew/article

People.com have published a picture of Madonna and Guy wrapped up against the cold in London on Monday night - to view the picture visit www.people.com

First we had a Confessions On A Dance Floor inspired dress for the girls (see 27 September story) and now we have what looks like a Confessions Tour disco-crucifix pendant for the boys! The pendant is available online from UK retailer TopMan at this link: www.topman.com - so what are you waiting for boys?!

Dolly Parton answered some fan questions recently for CMT Insider - on hearing that Dolly may be releasing a dance record in the future one fan asked Would you ever consider recording a song with Madonna? Dolly's short and sweet answer was:

Well that would be great! Madolly and Madonna.

DJ Steve Sidewalk has apologised to Madonna and Warner Brothers for playing a leaked version of Candy Shop in a New York night club.

On his MySpace page, DJ Steve Sidewalk says he is very sorry for playing Candy Shop. He says he played the track assuming it was a pre-release, which would be played worldwide only days after he initially got it.

I was contacted by Warner Brothers and they expressed their displeasure in knowing that Candy Shop had been leaked and that I had been given a high quality copy. They told me that Madonna is not ready for the song to be released and it may not even be the first single or on the album....Madonna, I know you've heard it all before....but I am sorry!

Madonna is featured on the cover of Brazilian business magazine HSM Management (September/October issue 64/year 11/volume 5).

The article is entitled The New Rhythm of Enterprising (O novo ritmo do empreendedorismo), Madonna is considered an example to be followed by other business people and CEOs. Through Madonna's five strategic dimensions for achieving her success (vision, client and market knowledge, improvement of competencies by lowering the weak points, coherently implementation and continuous re-invention) she became the richest singer in the music business. Her capability to re-invent herself is to be followed by businesses nowadays. She's a master of marketing and business through her companies.

The was written by Jamie Anderson - teacher of strategy and innovation on the ESMT European School of Management and Technology and by Martin Kupp, ESMT courses director.

The November 2007 issue of UK music magazine Q celebrates The 21 People Who Changed Music - Madonna is included and notably is the only female on the list of 21 which includes The Beatles, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix.

Madonna is the most successful female pop star that's ever existed. If she was to retire now - which looks unlikely - no other woman could come close to covering all her bases. Gwen Stefani makes similarly hooky pop-dance tracks. Fergie's got the moves. Lily Allen has the mouth; Kylie, the gay following; Dolly Parton, the business mind; Barbra Streisand, the ticket prices. But no female star - no star, full stop - does it as better as Madonna.

UK designer art company, the Red Collection is currently featuring Madonna in its debut season. The inclusion of the Madonna Collection, one of 4 themes this season is based on the recent Confessions Tour. There are four individual designs to choose from and also available as a complete set. The hand numbered lithographs have been published as a limited run of 275. The prints are available for the duration of the season or until stocks run out.
Madonnalicious visitors have the opportunity to get in first and pre-order ahead of the official launch on Monday 08 October. A special 25% discount is also available to madonnalicious visitors. Enter the code: madonnalicious (case sensitive) during the check-out process to receive the discount at www.theredcollection.com

Blondie singer Deborah Harry has accused Madonna of stealing her look when she rose to fame in the 1980s. Harry was an up-and-coming musician when Madonna became a pop sensation with her self-titled debut album in 1982, and is convinced the Like A Virgin singer got the idea for her platinum blonde hairdo from the now-62-year-old star.
She says, 'I came right up against the Madonna thing. Maybe it's my paranoia but she had a lot of my looks. If you look closely, sometimes there's pictures of her and me that completely overlap. She (Madonna) was getting such a huge push from Warner (Bros), I was definitely on the B-list. It was a hard period for me. I don't think anybody knew how to market me or what to do with me. I was like a fish out of water.'