Meet Nate Hills, the one-man band who helps shape the producer’s biggest hits…..

Hills’ role is often to refine Timbaland’s raw ideas, but they also write songs together. For example, Hills came up with the beat for “Promiscuous” and Timbaland created the hook. Lately, Hills has begun working on his own as a producer and songwriter with acts including Britney Spears, Diddy and Katharine McPhee. His most distinctive style is the spacey synth-rock sound he employed on Nelly Furtado track “Maneater” - which he also applied to a new song with Duran Duran and an upcoming solo track from the Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger. “I’m just a musical guy”, says Hills, who unlike many hip-hop producers has the chops to jam with live bands. “So I definitely want to venture into rock and stuff like that - where I can be free.”

Source: Rolling Stone

There are 20 versions of the cover this month, each featuring a “Q Icon” from previous issues.

You can buy the magazine from tomorrow in the UK! Find out more info here!

Pop star Madonna has been awarded a Guinness World Record for being the highest paid female singer.

The star, famous for constantly re-inventing her image, knocked singer Britney Spears from the top spot she had held since 2001.

It is thought Madonna made an estimated $50m (£26.7m) in 2004.

Source: BBC News

Earlier we reported that Britneyforums.net was experiencing difficulties. We can now gladly confirm that it is now fully functional, so post to your heart’s content!

We look forward to meeting new members at BritneyForums.net, so why not come and join if you haven’t already?

To visit, or register, please click here.

Music magazine Q is to celebrate its 20th anniversary with 20 different covers for its November issue, each one featuring a different musical icon - who have all given exclusive photoshoots and interviews, talking about their personal highlights and low points over the past 20 years, for the issue on sale September 30.

Paul Rees, editor of the Emap title, said: “The 20th anniversary of Q, the essential music guide, is a landmark moment, and therefore we were determined to mark it with a landmark publishing moment.”

Subscribers will receive a specially produced edition featuring all 20 different cover images. At £3.90 a newsstand copy, collectors will be forking out a total of £78 to assemble the complete set of stars, which is: McCartney, David Bowie, Madonna, Noel Gallagher, Pete Townshend, Paul Weller , Damon Albarn, Britney Spears, David Grohl, Dido, David Gilmore, Ian Brown, Richards, Michael Stipe, Jimmy Page, Johnny Borrell, Kate Bush, Beyonce, Richard Ashcroft and U2.

In a recent interview cpnducted by a UK newspaper, ‘Bay Windows’, Lauper was asked a question about Britney Spears.

The interviewer asked, in brief: “Do you think that celebrities are treated the way Britney Spears and others are these days?

Lauper replied that, “The media attention is a lot more invasive now than when I first became famous in the 80s; the paparazzi are far more aggressive than they were 20 years ago.” She continues to say, “I think they should give [Britney] a break, though. She’s only 20 or whatever. We’d all look ridiculous if the media were paying attention to our every move.”

To read the full interview, please click here.

Source: Bay Windows Newspaper

Britneyforums.net, BritneySpy’s community forum, has been experiencing difficulties for the past week.

We wanted to inform all the members that we are currently working hard on solving the problem, and hope that the forums will be up and running very soon.

Notification will be given to all when Britneyforums.net returns.

We apologise for the inconvenience.

JR Rotem claims to be taking Britney’s music to another level these days. He’s not new to the music scene though. He has worked with the likes of Rihanna, Lil’ Kim, 50 Cent, and even Paris Hilton!

He tells MTV that “She’s like everyone else”. “She’s hearing all the hits on the radio like [Nelly Furtado's] ‘Promiscuous’ and things like that.”

They both worked on “a bunch of stuff,” which included written work by both. Britney has been able to find time to listen to the radio, as well as care for her children, surprisingly. And she’s been popping in and out of the studio recording some “crazy ass stuff”.

He said, “I can tell you there’s some dance stuff; there’s some slow, more introspective stuff; some club things.”. “When she gets behind the mic there’s a magic that comes out - and the music that we’re doing is the next level”

But, getting a call from Britney, Rotem didn’t expect Britney to be the bubbly type person he was imagining. In fact, he felt intimidated when he got the call.

He said, “Here’s the person that’s arguably the biggest popstar in the world, so you would assume she could have an ego.”.

When Rotem got into the studio with her, he recalled that “She was just a real person. She was real sweet. She was so professional. She knows her voice so well, yet she would still take direction, let herself be produced and was open to ideas.”

He stated that he was “blown away to see Britney record in the studio” and “definitely gained some respect” because he found the talent “actually there”. He comments on how he doesn’t realise if a song is overproduced and how much is edited. However, he says, “you hear this finished result that sounds professional.”

Rotem has worked with Spears’ husband as well, and stated that he is “really good friends” with them both.

“There’s no egos. It’s not about encourages or partying, just trying to do the best possible music.”

Britney’s 5th studio album is due for release sometime in 2007. The release date, as of yet, remains unconfirmed.

Source: MTV News

Due for release on 31st October 2006, the 11 track US album of “Playing With Fire” is set to feature a track entitled “Crazy”, which features none other than Britney Spears herself.

The album will be distributed by Reincarnate Music, through Federline’s own label, Federation Records. The album can be ordered (for US residents only) by clicking here.

The staff at Britneyspy would like to wish Britney and Kevin a wonderful second Anniversary.

We wish them all the best.

CosmoGirl are doing a survery to see whether people like Britney’s black hair.

You can vote here!

Thanks a lot to Loren from CosmoGirl for emailing me with the info!

Britney’s official website has been taken down and replaced with a picture of a tiger morphing into an edited (more tiger like) picture of Britney, with a tiger growling and Britney breathing heavily in the background!

It says the new site is “in the works” !

Check it out yourself here!

Exciting!

Happy first birthday to Sean Preston! I can’t believe he’s 1 already… I hope you have a great day with your parents and new baby brother!

According to a source, Brit checked in to the hospital under an assumed name — using the first name Pebbles — last evening. The baby was delivered by Cesarean section at shortly after 2:00 a.m., weighed in at 6 lbs. 11 oz and was 19 inches long.

Our source indicates she deliberately led everyone to believe it was a girl but always knew she was having a boy.

Source: TMZ

I really don’t think Britney and Kevin knew what the sex of the baby was until yesterday, they said they weren’t going to find out so why would they both lie? I’m sick of all these articles saying they knew they were having a boy or a girl.

There is a rumour currently circulating around the internet in regards to Britney coming back in November 2006. I would like to announce that there is no plan for any new Britney studio release anytime during this year.

I have, however, recieved information from Victoria, of Sony BMG New Zealand, that Britney’s album will be having a 2007 release.

In other news, she has also confirmed reports of Kevin Federline’s negotiations with Sony BMG to release his debut album: ‘Playing With Fire’.

This is what she had to say:

Hi Asad

Cheers
Victoria.

We will be continually working on confirming more details regarding the forthcoming release in the coming months (inlcuding those internationally), so watch this space! Nicky is currently on leave, but I daresay she will have a lot of information to provide regarding the new album.

I’d also like to congratulate Britney and Kevin on the new addition to their family. September will surely be a busy month for the Federlines with 2 birthdays and an anniversary! I wish them all the best.

He turns one on Thursday, and is looking cuter than ever!

Access Hollywood confirmed with Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, that Britney has given birth to her second child.

The proud grandfather says he has already seen the baby.

When Acesss Hollywood Executive Producer Rob Silverstein congratulated Mr. Spears, he said, “Thank you!, we appreciate your concern. Everything is great.”

Sean Preston will reach the tender age of 1 on Thursday, and now he reportedly has a baby brother.

And yes folks, that would make Kevin Federline a father four times over! He also has a four-year-old girl, Kori, and a two-year-old son, Kaleb, from a previous relationship with Shar Jackson.

Britney reportedly delivered a 6-pound, 11-ounce baby boy, via C-section, just before 2 a.m. this morning.

Federline reportedly took her to the hospital last night to prepare for her C-section surgery. Sean Preston was also born via C-section, almost a year ago.

According to reports, Kevin was joined at Britney’s bedside by Britney’s mom, Lynne, and her sister, Jamie Lynne. No one from Kevin’s family was present.

Source: MSNBC

I just want to say a big congratulations to Britney, Kevin, Sean Preston and all the Spears/Federline family on the birth of the new addition!

It’s strange that he weighs 6 pounds 11 ounces though - exactly the same weight as Sean Preston was when he was born last year!

Pop star Britney Spears, 24, gave birth to a baby boy on September 12, a Federline source confirms to Us Weekly.

This is her second child with husband Kevin Federline, joining older brother, Sean Preston, who turns one on September 14. Federline also has two children with his ex, Shar Jackson, a daughter, Kori, 4, and a son, Kaleb, 2. Spears and Federline, 28, celebrate their second wedding anniversary on September 18.

The couple have spent the last month preparing for the new edition to their family. They recently finished painting the new nursery in neutral hues fit for a boy or a girl.

On August 18, Spears went on a shopping excursion to LIFESIZEkids at Fred Segal Melrose with her son Sean Preston, her bodyguard and two friends. Her first purchase? A Bugaboo Chameleon stroller (retail price: $879.00).

“She loves the stroller and kept putting Sean Preston in and bouncing him up and down to make sure he was happy in it before buying it,” says an eyewitness. The singer – who was friendly and cheerful with the staff — later bought a frame and a photo album at World Avenue home furnishings. “She just said how happy she is right now and how excited she is for the new baby,” says a source.

Spears is still searching for a new nanny after letting her last one go. “I think she’s having trouble finding staff (including nannies) she can trust,” says a source. “As of now, she’s with Sean Preston all the time and its hard for her to think of someone else who she’s willing to put him in the care of –she’s very suspicious and wary of people she doesn’t know.”

But, even without the extra help, Spears couldn’t wait to meet the littlest Federline. “I’m ready to have my baby now,” she told Us last week.

A rep could not be reached for comment.

Source: Us Weekly

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OK! is delighted to report that Britney Spears and hubby Kevin Federline are the proud parents of a new baby boy! According to a source close to the family, the 6 pound, 11 ounce tot, whose name is still being kept under wraps, was born in the early hours of Sept. 12 in a Los Angeles-area hospital. As reported in OK!, Brit had been hoping to hold out on delivering the child until a scheduled C-section on Sept. 14, the first birthday of her son Sean Preston Federline, but, according to the source, a pre-labor consultation with her physician showed that was an impossibility.

Source: OK!

Britney is ready for baby number two, and it’s a girl, OK! has learned. Though her second child is due Sept. 22, Brit’s hoping to deliver the baby via C-section on Sept. 14, the same day big brother Sean Preston was born a year ago! “Britney wants to raise the kids as twins,” a source close to the singer and her husband, Kevin Federline, tells OK!. “She thinks it will be totally cute to have their birthdays on the same day.” OK! also reveals how Britney picked a name for her daughter-to-be… Britney’s mom has flown from Kentwood, La., to help Brit prepare for her new delivery. With Kevin landing a deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment to distribute his first album, and the couple’s wedding anniversary on Sept. 18, it’s going to be a busy month for the pop star mom!

Source: OK! Magazine

I wouldn’t normally post this, but this is on all this week’s US tabloids so it looks like the info could have leaked from somewhere…