THIS year marks two decades since Craid David released debut album Born To Do It but there’s plenty more to come from the British R&B star.
I can reveal he has sparked a bidding war between major record labels eager to sign him following the incredible success of his comeback.
The 7 Days singer returned to the charts in 2015 and since then has scored six Top 40 singles as well as albums that hit No1 and No2.
But now that he’s completed the two-record deal he signed five years ago with label Insanity, he has been approached by key figures who are eager to get behind him for the next stage in his career.
A music insider said: “Craig was blown away by the reaction to his comeback. But he felt like he wanted a change of tack after completing the deal with his last label.
“He’s working on a new album now which he plans to release next year and is exploring exciting options on who to work with for it.
“Craig is a free agent at the moment and all of the major record labels have shown interest.
“Now it’s a case of him negotiating the best deal because he can easily command a seven-figure fee, given how well his music is being received.”
It’s been an impressive return for Craig who has performed a string of lucrative tours as well as having major chart success — something the majority of acts making a comeback fail to do.
He will be back on the road in April for his Hold That Thought gigs and is expected to release his eighth studio album later in 2021.
He had been hoping to put his album out this year but pressed pause on the new release after the world went into lockdown because he knew he would not be able to tour it.
Craig has one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen, so as much as I’m eager to get some more music from him, I can understand why he’s waiting.
But when those dance floors are eventually back open again, there will be no stopping him.
RICHARD Madden is back on home turf after flying back to the UK from Los Angeles – and he brought an actor pal with him.
I revealed in May how he was living with Teen Wolf actor Froy Gutierrez in a luxury two-bed pad owned by his Game Of Thrones co-star Emilia Clarke, who played Daenerys Targaryen in the hit show.
But the pair have now been photographed together in London where they have been hanging out with Dominic Cooper and Gemma Chan, Richard’s co-stars in forthcoming superhero flick The Eternals.
The Bodyguard hunk was pictured with an overnight bag in London’s Primrose Hill while Froy carried a black bin liner.
They also dined together at high-class restaurant The Wolseley last week. Froy is really getting the best of Britain while he’s here.
During his visit to the UK, Richard also popped home to Scotland and posed outside a stately home on Instagram.
MILEY Cyrus is riding high in the charts with new single Midnight Sky – but don’t expect an album any time soon as she won’t release one until restrictions ease and she can do live shows.
She said: “My music is about really connecting and I want to be able to get to a time when we can all be together again and listen to music together, so I want to put out singles until then.”
There will be plenty of music to go on the album, however, as she has been writing throughout the night.
She said: “I’ve been feeling a little bottled up and I’ve not been able to get that release enough so I’ve been writing a lot of music in the middle of the night when no one else is around.”
MABEL might be trying to tell us something with her choice of outfit – as it had the word “bad” written all over it.
The Don’t Call Me Up singer hit the town with fellow singer Raye in London’s Soho.
Mabel showed off her freshly dyed blonde hair on the evening out, with the skin-tight black and white number to complete her look.
And there was no chance of missing the duo, as her Tequila star pal opted for a clingy purple dress with red boots.
It’s a far cry from the streetwear collection that Mabel recently launched with H&M and Kangol, which is full of tracksuit bottoms, bucket caps, sweaters and bum bags.
Mabel and Raye went for dinner at posh restaurant Bob Bob Ricard in the centre of the capital.
With both singers having songs in the Top 20 at the moment, a celebration must have been in order.
STEPS are set to bank big money from their upcoming comeback album and tour.
But in the meantime, Ian “H” Watkins is pocketing a small fortune from personalised video site Cameo.
The Nineties pop star recently signed up with the service, which flogs tailor-made celebrity video messages. And I’ve learned he made a whopping £2,000 in the first three days alone.
He is charging fans £41.50 for a message from him, and he has been overwhelmed with customers.
A source said: “H’s focus is obviously being back in Steps but he’s realised this will be a great earner for him.
“Two thousand pounds for a couple of hours’ work is amazing, so he’s chuffed there’s been so much demand.
“It’s easy money and if it makes fans happy too, then it’s good for everyone.”
As well as messages for people’s birthdays and anniversaries, he’s even been recording pep talks to give words of encouragement to fans who have found it tough during lockdown.
He has been shooting the messages from the garden of his house in Wales and more recently from the hotel he’s been staying in while in London promoting Steps’ latest tune.
The group returned this week with their new single What The Future Holds and they will premiere the video for it on YouTube this morning.
Thankfully, you don’t have to pay through the nose for that one.
DEMI Lovato has spent £5.4million on a new Los Angeles home with a gym and cinema to share with fiancé Max Ehrich. It comes three months after she sold the Hollywood Hills pad she was living in at the time of her 2018 overdose.
BRUCE Springsteen will return next month with a new album which was created in record time.
The iconic musician recorded Letter To You at his home studio in New Jersey along with the E Street Bnd and said it took just five days to make.
Speaking about the 12-track record, Bruce, whose career spans over 40 years, said: “I love the emotional nature of Letter To You and I love the sound of the E Street Band playing completely live in the studio, in a way we’ve never done before, and with no overdubs.
“We made the album in only five days, and it turned out to be one of the greatest recording experiences I’ve ever had.”
At least he’s had a productive year.
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