Music News: Britney Spears album for Xmas – Snoop Dogg gets visa to Australia thanks to Russell Crowe

Britney Spears’ record label may release her new album as early as this year, according to new reports.
Spears is currently working on a follow-up to 2007 LP Blackout and the singer recently admitted the new release will not be hitting shops until next year. But now new reports claim that executives at Spears’ music label, Jive Records, are planning to rush the album out early to take advantage of her current popularity.  Spears has gained favor with her fans after appearing to sort her life and her recent MTV VMA appearance,  following her public breakdown earlier this year.
A source tells, The UK Sun, “Britney’s last album, Blackout, was released in the middle of her meltdown and carried negative associations. It did OK but wasn’t as big as her previous releases. Label chiefs vowed her private life would never be allowed to overshadow her career again. However, they’ve been astonished by how well she’s managed to piece her life back together.”
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Snoop Dogg will be permitted to tour Australia with Ice Cube in October, having been granted a visa.

The rapper, real name Calvin Broadus, can now embark on a series of concerts after immigration officials conducted an assessment of his character.

He received clearance for the dual headlining tour in August, just a year after he was refused permission for a visa application to host the MTV Australia Video Music awards.

Oscar-winner Australian actor Russell Crowe wrote to the department of immigration during their assessment in support of Snoop Dogg’s visa application. “I submit to you that Snoop Dogg poses no threat to Australia or to any individual in this country,” he said.

But following a spate of public complaints about his criminal record, immigration officials weighed his criminal convictions against his previous behaviour while in Australia,” said a department statement on Thursday.

The 36-year-old’s “charity work” and “any likely risk to the Australian community” were assessed, the statement explained.

“We took into account all relevant factors and, on balance, the department decided to grant the visa.

“Mr Broadus will need to abide by Australia’s laws and he will be formally counseled before his arrival about his visa conditions and our expectations relating to his conduct.”

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