Chris Brown Talks Negative Image, New Music on Today

Chris Brown is slowly but surely getting back to business—he just isn't saying much about it. After suffering a seizure during a recording session earlier this month, the 24-year-old "Fine China" singer appeared on Today's Friday, August 30, broadcast. "I'm good, I'm good," Brown said, referring to his recent seizure. "Just needed some rest. That's it."

Brown was then reminded of a previous Today interview where he vowed to promote positivity. As cohost Matt Lauer pointed out, "Some of the social media messages you've been sending out recently have been on the negative side. What's going on?"

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"Uh, it's not my music," Brown explained, clearly not wanting to address his ongoing legal troubles. Changing the subject, he told the crowd, "I love my fans."

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

Asked about rumors of retirement, the Virginia native replied, "I'm just putting out the music right now. As far as how I work, I'm always going to continue to work for my fans and make sure they have fun." In early August, Brown tweeted that his upcoming album, X, will "probably be my last album." He has since deleted that tweet.

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Brown also said his "God-given talent" and his "fans" inspire him to keep making music. "All my fans make me who I am," he explained.

The singer-songwriter did not address his community service requirements, nor did he mention being cleared in a hit-and-run case on Aug. 15.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family)

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New Couple Alert? Ellie Goulding and One Direction's Niall Horan Reportedly Spotted Kissing at Music Festival

Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images/Mike Marsland/WireImage

Is there a late summer romance blooming between two of music's biggest names?

British reports claim that Ellie Goulding and One Direction's Niall Horan were spotted smooching at the V Festival last weekend.

The two reportedly were seen enjoying the Kings of Leon set on Sunday and did their best to blend in with the crowd and not get noticed.

During one of the songs, "Niall allegedly launched himself" into the "Lights" singer for a kiss.

The new couple was flanked by bodyguards so their offstage sweet moments could be kept as private as possible—and away from festival-goers' pesky camera phones.

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It looks like the boy-bander has had a crush on the blond beauty for quite some time.

In a recent interview with GQ magazine, the 19-year-old singer said, "I'll say one thing: Ellie Goulding—wow. She's absolutely amazing looking."

Whoa there, tiger!

And now that the 26-year-old pop singer has split from boyfriend Jeremy Irvine, it looks like she's having no trouble at all finding another leading man.

On Aug. 13, Horan tweeted to fans to rally up support for Goulding's latest single, saying, "Everyone my good friend @EllieGoulding Has a huge tune out right now! And I really want her t get #1, go get it"

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What a supportive friend…no, but seriously.

And just take a gander at their flirty banter back in July where Horan wrote, "Just listening to some @elliegoulding! What a talent she is! Beautiful voice !"

To which she coyly responded, "I knew you loved me hahaha"

Interesting…

Meanwhile, Horan isn't the only one who is seeing his love life heat up.

After tons of speculation, fellow bandmate Liam Payne has confirmed to Yahoo! Omg! that he is dating his childhood friend Sophia Smith.

When asked whether it was public knowledge, he said, "Well it is now! It's new, she's sitting right over there. It's not been long."

Clearly it's been quite a fun summer for these Brit boys!

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Radiohead singer pulls Spotify music

15 July 2013 Last updated at 11:35 GMT Yorke said shareholders would shortly be "rolling in it" at the expense of new artists Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke has pulled some albums from music-streaming service Spotify in protest at how much it pays artists.

Yorke has pulled his solo album The Eraser as well as a joint project with producer Nigel Godrich, Atoms for Peace.

The singer tweeted that they were "standing up for our fellow musicians" by removing their albums.

Spotify said it is "still in the early stages of a long-term project".

Radiohead's albums are still available on the site.

Yorke tweeted: "Make no mistake new artists you discover on #Spotify will no[t] get paid. Meanwhile shareholders will shortly being rolling in it. Simples."

Spotify is the world's most popular music streaming service. Recent figures from the company say it has 24 million active users, of whom six million pay a monthly fee for added features.

It said that it had paid $500m (£332m) to rights holders since it was launched in Sweden in 2008 and expected to pay another $500m this year.

"We're 100% committed to making Spotify the most artist-friendly music service possible, and are constantly talking to artists and managers about how Spotify can help build their careers," the site told the BBC.

Yorke has also removed his music from rival streaming site Rdio.

'Same old industry'

"It's an equation that just doesn't work," Godrich said on Twitter. "The music industry is being taken over by the back door... and if we don't try and make it fair for new music producers and artists... then the art will suffer.

"Make no mistake. These are all the same old industry bods trying to get a stranglehold on the delivery system."

Godrich, who has produced on every Radiohead album since OK Computer, added: "Plus people are scared to speak up or not take part as they are told they will lose invaluable exposure if they don't play ball. Meanwhile."

British electronica artist Four Tet replied with his support: "Exactly. I had everything on my label taken off. Don't want to be part of this crap."

There has been much controversy over how much streaming sites like Spotify and Pandora pay artists, which comes as Pandora is pushing to change US laws to lower how much it must pay in royalties to songwriters.

The band Pink Floyd recently published an editorial on the issue.

"Nearly 90% of the artists who get a cheque for digital play receive less than $5,000 a year.

"They cannot afford the 85% pay cut Pandora asked Congress to impose on the music community," Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason added.

Subscription services are the fastest growing area in digital music, making up 13% of worldwide sales. But 57% of global recorded music sales still come from physical products such as CDs, down from 74% in 2008.

As well as Spotify, Rdio and Pandora, services like Xbox Music, Google Play Music All Access and the soon-to-launch iTunes Radio compete for streaming listeners.

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