'Frozen' Soundtrack Could Take Down Adele, Taylor Swift In Its Billboard Warpath

The "Frozen" album is eyeing its eighth week atop the Billboard chart, and if it succeeds, it'll be the longest-running No. 1 release since Adele's "21." The beloved Disney tunes have a ways to go to catch up to the singer, however, as "21" spent a whopping 24 weeks as the highest-ranked album.

"Frozen" can count Taylor Swift among its conquests, though. It's currently tied with "Red" for the longest No. 1 trajectory since "21," but this week's chart should change that.

The soundtrack is expected to top Shakira's self-titled new album, which came out this week and is expect to sell 80,000 copies -- her largest debut to date. Johnny Cash's posthumous "Out Among the Stars" should take the No. 3 spot, industry forecasters predict.

"Frozen" doesn't face the stiffest of competition in the coming weeks either, so its reign could continue. Tyler, the Creator, Martina McBride, Jason Derülo and the Pixies are among the acts with new albums out in April. We called it back in February, but here's further proof that the first quarter of 2014 is a lame one for new music.

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Taylor Swift: New Year's Day Ballet Class!

Taylor Swift keeps it cute in her favorite color as she heads to a ballet class on New Year’s Day (January 1) in Los Angeles.

The 24-year-old singer carried a pair of ballet slippers with her as she was escorted in by several bodyguards.

The night before, Taylor hosted a New Year’s Eve party at her house, which was attended by her high school BFF Abigail Anderson, as well as Sarah Hyland and her boyfriend Matt Prokop.

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One Direction’s Niall Horan fails to recognise make-up free Adele at Lady Gaga show

Exclusive: Adele was left looking like a yearning One Direction fan wanting more when she was accidentally snubbed by 1D’s Niall Horan at Lady Gaga’s comeback gig in London.

The world’s most famous singer’s bid to go incognito on a rare night out with her fiance Simon Konecki backfired when it came to a little showbiz schmooze up in the rafters.

Moments before her missed chanced with Horan, the Someone Like You songstress sneaked in a fire exit right before the show started, make-up free with her hair in a bun and wearing a kaftan.

She was seated in a celeb-filled VIP area that included Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch.

While Adele successfully sneaked to her seat unnoticed, Horan was not so successful as members of the audience spotted him and queued up at his row for pictures.

Inundated with adoration the 19-year-old escaped by heading for a toilet break.

That’s when Adele took her chance to say hi, swinging around in her seat reaching out.

However, Horan failed to recognise the plainly dressed 25-year-old music heroine and appeared to flap the extended hand out of the way, indicating he needed the loo.

Adele was a well-behaved punter for the rest of the night and certainly looked nothing like the most famous woman in the world when she patiently got up and down all night as fans on her row kept squeezing by with their drinks.

The only hint of fame came when the mum-of-one’s fella needed the loo himself and he had a bodyguard sit in his seat so no one could sit next to his lady and shower her with adoration.

One row back and model of the moment Cara Delevingne caused a stir when she and her entourage turned up for Gaga’s show an hour late.

Adele couldn’t contain herself while marveling at Gaga’s rampaging show and led the seated audience to get up and dance for the swan song Applause. She made sure her getaway route was clear, leaving just before the show ended.

Back on stage and Lady G made good on her promise that she had a few surprises up her sleeve when she arrived in a burka-style mask while stabbing a knife.

Her big shocker of the night came when she hinted at sexual abuse before singing her track Swine when she cryptically spoke about a ‘pig inside me’.

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One Direction and Adele lead UK to record share of global album sales

The worldwide success of acts including One Direction and Adele propelled UK artists' share of total global album sales to a record of more than 13% last year.

The two acts took up three of the top five selling albums globally last year with Rod Stewart, Mumford & Sons, Led Zeppelin, Ed Sheeran and Emeli Sandé also making the top 20.

Adele's 21 topped the global best seller chart for the second year running, the first album to do so, meaning that UK acts have managed to take the title of world's top-selling album for five of the past six years. One Direction had the third and fourth biggest global sellers last year in Up All Night and Take Me Home respectively.

Sales of albums by UK artists accounted for 13.3% of the worldwide total in 2012, up on the 12.6% achieved in 2011 and the highest ever. The UK has now provided the best-selling album worldwide for six of the past seven years.

This effort was praised by David Cameron, who pledged that the government would continue to back the UK's creative industries.

"We should be extremely proud of how our world-leading music industry continues to go from strength to strength," he said, speaking at an event held by music industry body the BPI on Wednesday night. "British music is enjoyed across the world and we will keep backing our creative industries that support jobs, create opportunities and contribute to the economy."

"Music is fundamental to Britain's identity as a nation and the world is singing with us," said the BPI chief executive, Geoff Taylor. "As music goes digital, Britain has the potential to be even more successful, connecting instantly with fans who love our music wherever they may live. The time is right for government to back innovative businesses like music that can lead the economy back to growth."

The BPI said that the popularity of UK acts in the US made for something of an "invasion". One in seven of the albums sold in the US, the world's biggest and most competitive music market, last year was by a British artist.

"British music continues to be global export success story – it puts Britain on the map, culturally and economically, generating jobs both at home and abroad," said the BPI chairman, Tony Wadsworth.

In the UK 52% of all albums sold were by British acts, with Emeli Sandé's debut Our Version of Events the biggest seller of 2012.

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TOP PICK: Golden Globes 2013: winners

The full list of winners from the 2013 Golden Globes, including Adele, Ben Affleck and Damian Lewis.

FILM

Picture, Drama
Argo

Picture, Musical or Comedy
Les Miserables

Actor, Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Actress, Drama
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Director
Ben Affleck, Argo

Actor, Musical or Comedy
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables

Actress, Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Supporting Actress
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables

Foreign Language
Amour

Animated Film
Brave

Screenplay
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Original Score
Mychael Danna, Life of Pi

Original Song
Skyfall (music and lyrics by Adele and Paul Epworth), "Skyfall."


TELEVISION

Series, Drama
Homeland

Series, Musical or Comedy
Girls

Actress, Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland

Actor, Drama
Damian Lewis, Homeland

Actress, Musical or Comedy
Lena Dunham, Girls

Actor, Musical or Comedy
Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Miniseries or Movie

Game Change

Actress, Miniseries or Movie
Julianne Moore, Game Change

Actor, Miniseries or Movie
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie
Ed Harris, Game Change

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Adele And One Direction Albums Top Most Returned Christmas Gifts Of 2012

Considering most music fans in the world already own it, it’s pretty un-surprising that Adele‘s global hit album 21 has been revealed as the most returned Christmas present of 2012.

NME reports that 47,315 people traded in their copy of 21 on UK CD-trading website musicMagpie on Christmas Day.

The album – home to Adele’s worldwide breakthrough singles Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You – has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and netted the British songstress six Grammy awards. Noise11 recently reported that the album was close to becoming only the seventh album in history to sell over 1 million units in Australia.

Fellow British acts Emeli Sande and One Direction also felt the wrath of gift receivers – taking out second and third spots on the “most returned” list respectively. Sande’s Our Version of Events clocked up 41,038 returns, while One Direction’s debut album Up All Night received 37,846 returns.

When it came to DVDs, cult vampire chick flick smash Twilight topped the list of the most returned DVDs for Christmas, with 36,217 copies. The Batman franchise’s iconic hit The Dark Knight wasn’t far behind – with 35,461 copies sent back.

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TOP PICK: Adele Gives Birth to Baby Boy?

Adele and her boyfriend Simon Konecki have welcomed a baby boy, according to reports.

The 24-year-old singer and her 38-year-old beau brought their child into the world last week, according to The Mirror.

“Adele and Simon are ecstatic at their new arrival,” a source said. “She was over the moon that they were expecting their first child together.”

In August, Simon told the Mail On Sunday, “The baby is coming so soon. I’m very excited. Adele is doing well and we can’t wait.”

Adele revealed the news of her pregnancy back in June.

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