Bits About Pop: From Katy Perry accepting an avocado in lieu of pay to banter botherers The Wanted calling it a day

BAPS!

• Katy Perry used to accept avocados as payment for her early per­form­ances. (Popjustice)
• In not that shocking news let’s be honest, Pharrell will be having a singsong at the Brits. (Popjustice)
• Kian from Westlife has announced that he’s signed a record deal and that an album will be out in March. (Popjustice) There’s some more inform­a­tion on it all here too. (Music Week)
• ‘Nutbush City Limits (The 90s Version)’ hitmaker Tina Turner’s releasing a love songs com­pil­a­tion called ‘Love Songs’ just in time for Valentine’s Day. (Billboard)
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor has said some things about a wide variety of topics in an interview scenario. (BBC)
• Also, in other Bexto news, her next single will be ‘Runaway Daydreamer’. (Digital Spy)
• Bright Light Bright Light has remixed up and coming elec­tro­pop duo Erasure’s new single. (Soundcloud)
• Charli XCX, Kelis and THE MIGHTY TOVE LO are all per­form­ing at The Great Escape festival in May. (Metro)
• Laughing boy Mikky Ekko’s original solo version of Rihanna’s ‘Stay’ is now online. (Entertainment Weekly)
• And in other Rihanna duets now not featuring Rihanna news, Shakira’s recorded a version of ‘Can’t Remember To Forget You’ solo and in Spanish. (YouTube)
• Paloma Faith’s subtle, subdued and artfully restrained album artwork is now online. (Popjustice)
• Also, in more Shakira-related news, her new album is called ‘Shakira’. (Facebook)
• In some more Rihanna news too, she’s in the studio again and if this picture is anything to go by is hard at work smoking and reading. (Instagram)
• Ellie Goulding performed ‘Burn’ (‘Bum’) on Letterman in the United States of America last night and there’s a video of it happening on the internet now. (The 405)
• Here’s a picture of Kylie and Ricky Martin together on the set of The Voice in Australia. (Instagram)
• Usher’s working with Jermaine Dupri on his new album. (That Grape Juice)
• It looks like iamami­whoami are asking for some money from fans to create something new and probably com­pletely baffling. (To Whom It May Concern)
• A snippet of Disclosure and Mary J Blige’s col­lab­or­a­tion on a new version of ‘F For You’ is now on the internet (the full version is out tomorrow). (Popjustice)
• According to some radio stations in America, Lady Gaga’s next single may well be ‘Gypsy’. (Popjustice)
• In popstar man­age­ment news, Sky Ferreira’s now working with Troy Carter. (Popjustice)
• The Knocks’ new single ‘Comfortable’ is now on the internet for the world to enjoy. (Soundcloud)
• Tegan & Sara are playing at the Amnesty International Bringing Human Rights Home concert alongside the likes of Lauryn Hill, Flaming Lips and Popjustice regulars Pussy Riot. (Pitchfork)
• THE WANTED ARE SORT OF SPLITTING UP BUT NOT QUITE! (Popjustice)

And just for old time's sake…

What a song.