THEY say all is fair in love and war – but the same can definitely not be said for the music business.
Insiders at the Ivor Novello song-writing awards told me a behind the scenes dispute is brewing between two of music’s finest female stars – Lana Del Rey and Lorde.
It comes after the former accused the latter of copying the melody of two of her songs.
Such disagreements are increasingly common, but in a bizarre twist sources tell me Lorde has quietly agreed to the similarity behind the scenes – but is refusing to do so publicly prompting a further fall-out.
An insider from the songwriting business explained: “The disagreement between Lana and Lorde has been quietly bubbling for a while.
“But nobody involved wants it to escalate further if possible.
“A lot of Lana’s fans had flagged one of Lorde’s new songs “Stoned At the Nail Salon” online saying the melody mimicked two of her tracks – Wild At Heart and Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman Like Me To Have.
“Lana’s team agreed and after an expert got involved and some discussions were thrashed out between everyone involved, Lorde’s people came back and offered Lana a percentage of the publishing rights to the song.”
But I’m told that despite the offer, Lana isn’t interested in the money – simply a public acknowledgement from Lorde that the track was inspired by her.
“It means the only last course of action would be to sue – but everyone is very keen to avoid that if at all possible and hopes there can be an amicable resolution instead.
“The forensic experts agree with the fans, so it seems to be quite a clear cut case.”
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in showbiz, court battles never play out nicely for anyone.
ARIANA Grande has enlisted Chic’s Nile Rodgers to help on her album.
The Good Times musician told me hit-maker Ryan Tedder called him to produce a track co-written by John Legend.
Nile said: “Over the last two weeks I’ve done pre-production for The Zuton’s new album.
“I just finished John Legend and Ariana Grande too. Working with Ariana was great.
“Look, Ryan Tedder is such an awesome writer that when he called me and gave me the instructions I was like, ‘I’ve got this’.
“I don’t say that in an egotistical way. I believe its my job to take artists from this place to that place.
“I can’t reveal what the music is like though, that’s for her to reveal.”
AFTER teaming up on new song After All, Sir Elton John has revealed Charlie Puth now feels like one of the family.
Speaking about their collaboration from his upcoming album The Lockdown Sessions, Elton said: “Charlie is an amazing musician, we just hit it off.
“He’s become a friend and a friend of the family. Our children love him and he loves them.”
The pair penned their track together and Elton said he loved every second of working with the US singer.
He added: “Charlie and I were in the studio, just the two of us.
“He’s got a little home set- up with his keyboards, synths, and Pro Tools.
“I played electric piano and actually wrote the song all the way through and then Charlie wrote the lyrics pretty quickly.
“He’s incredibly quick, Charlie. We just had an amazing chemistry in the studio.”
FANS who missed out on tickets to ABBA’s sell-out hologram shows next year are in luck.
Bjorn Ulvaeus has revealed the group are planning on adding more dates to the Abba Voyage gigs, which are being held at the Olympic Park in East London.
In an exclusive chat backstage at the Ivors with Apple Music 2021, he said: “We might add more dates because the Abba-tars don’t get tired.
“They can do ten shows a day and they have no private jets and no riders. They also have no worries about their voices and stuff.”
The Sun confirmed Abba’s comeback last month, which will see digital versions of Bjorn and his bandmates Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad, perform their classic hits and new songs.
At the Ivors, Bjorn also poured cold water on the possibility of a third Mamma Mia! film.
When asked about the prospect of another instalment in the film franchise, he said: “I don’t think there is any chance of a Mamma Mia! three.
“You can’t squeeze another story out of that.”
The foursome will reunite on the opening night of the concerts next May.
They spent weeks performing in front of the cameras together to create their digital concert. But earlier this month Agnetha said she believed it would be their final project.
She said: “There was a vibe, one felt, that maybe it’s the last thing we do. Same thing with the album.”
LIAM PAYNE’s on-again fiancée Maya Henry looked as though she was ready to call it a night after hitting London Fashion Week in this pyjama-style outfit.
The US model was at Harris Reed’s debut show at the Serpentine Gallery in the capital wearing the a pink silky top and trousers.
Maya was flying solo without Liam, who’d been spotted out with her at a Vogue dinner earlier in the week.
DAVID Beckham’s style hits and misses are the stuff of legend.
But the former England captain has now admitted his four children told him he was too old to wear trainers.
Becks told Vogue: “I put on a pair of trainers the other day and they were like, ‘Really Dad? Do you not think you are a bit old for those?’
“I was like, ‘No!’ Then I showed them 20 different pictures of me wearing other stuff and they were like, ‘OK, maybe you can’.”
Just make sure you keep that sarong in the back of the wardrobe though Dave.
WHEN Wayne Rooney put the England shirt back on for Soccer Aid, other players may have thought he’d take it easy.
But it turns out the Derby County boss didn’t hold back during the match at Man City’s Etihad Stadium.
Tom Grennan, who was playing for the opposition Rest Of The World team earlier this month, said: “I dropped the shoulder on Rooney a few times.
“The weirdest thing after the game was him coming up to me saying, ‘I tried kicking you a few times but I just couldn’t get near you’.”
MABEL often comes up smelling of roses in her choices of outfits.
But I’m not too sure about this loud floral dress she wore to Richard Quinn’s show at London Fashion Week.
The Don’t Call Me Up singer smiled as she arrived at the bash in the frock, complete with enormous bow and matching shoes.
On the night, she rubbed shoulders with stars including supermodel Erin O’Connor and Olympic sprinter Dina Asher-Smith.
Mabel returned to the stage last month and played a storming set at Reading Festival.
It was one of the first times she did a live performance of her latest single Let Them Know, due to the Covid pandemic – and I can confirm she smashed it.
The song is the first of Mabel’s yet-to-be-announced second album, the follow-up to 2019’s High Expectations, which was the highest-charting female debut album of that year.
