Indie stars Arctic Monkeys - who release their hotly anticipated second album Favourite Worst Nightmare today - also climbed the charts. The Sheffield lads leapt from 11 to No 2 with their single Brainstorm.

It was disappointment though for Mark Ronson whose cover version of The Smiths’ classic Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before dropped from second place to fifth.

But his album Version - which includes guest appearances from Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse - almost topped the album charts, debuting at No 2.

Mark was beaten to the top slot by Avril Lavigne whose album The Best Damn Thing went straight in at No 1 and follows the success of single Girlfriend which remains at four.

Another new entry in the album chart is Nine Inch Nails’ latest long player Year Zero which landed at six.

Des’ree sues Beyonce over song - April 19 2007
Beyonce Knowles is facing trouble after British singer Des’ree filed a lawsuit against her, saying she illegally covered one of the latter’s songs.

Charges have been filed in Manhattan Superior Court by Des’ree, alleging that the Dreamgirls star didn’t get permission to do her version of I’m Kissing You, which appeared on her most recent album.

Des’ree - best known for smash hit Gotta Be - says in the suit that there was an initial attempt for a deal to be worked out, but that they wanted to change the title and film a music video, both of which were denied. As a result, the song was simply recorded and released, under the title Still In Love (Kissing You).

There is no comment from either party on the matter so far, but it is thought that Des’ree is seeking a 150,000 US dollars in damages and more importantly, is hoping to stop distribution and sale of the song. This could stop sales of the album it’s on, the platinum-selling B’Day.

Beyonce faces lawsuit appeal - April 4 2007
The lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles and her mother Tina may have been thrown out last week, but the plaintiff plans to appeal.

The pair’s former business colleague Greg Walker had been wanting $1.5 million in damages from the superstar’s clothing line House Of Dereon, claiming he didn’t get his dues from helping to create the company.

He has even accused Beyonce and Tina of racism, telling the New York Post: "I believe if I was white, I would have been paid."

But while the suit was initially thrown out of court by Justice Herman Kahn, Walker says that he will be appealing the verdict. Judge Kahn said that the oral agreement between Walker and the Knowleses wasn’t valid.

Now Walker has shot back, saying: "The judge was star struck. I’ll never give up, because I know I’m right."

Neither Beyonce nor her mother have commented on Walker’s latest words.

Beyonce failing to sell out? - Mar 14 2007
Beyonce is apparently keen to get her next album out quickly - because she is desperate to flog tickets for her forthcoming UK tour.

The 25-year-old has been concentrating on acting with her performance in Dreamgirls but it seems the star now thinks she needs to boost her singing career.

"Only 50% of the tickets for her tour have been sold," a source told the Daily Star. "Everyone is surprised. Her team expected them to go straight away, but the fact is they’ve been on sale for months now.