Reuters - Randy Newman's musical world has always been populated with unsavory characters -- racists, rapists, sociopaths -- and dark themes that often belied the songwriter's gift for a compelling melody and a love for blues, R&B and rock 'n' roll.

AP - Dixie Chick Emily Robison and her husband, singer Charlie Robison, have divorced.

AP - NEW YORK (AP) — Mary J. Blige has been sued in New York for $2 million by a company that says she stole some of the music she used on her latest hit album, including one used on an iPod commercial.

AP - A bar worker at a popular Times Square karaoke club was arrested Thursday after confessing to beating a woman to death with a pipe on the club's roof during an argument, police said.

Reuters - British rock trio The Police played their final concert together on Thursday and were joined by the real police -- the New York City police band.

AP - The Police ended one of rock 'n' roll's most successful reunions in Madison Square Garden on Thursday with a tribute to other famous trios, an assist from some real cops and a not-particularly close shave.

Reuters - One of Australia's most successful rock exports, the Grammy-winning trio Wolfmother, has been torn apart by "longstanding frictions," according to a statement published on the group's Web site on Thursday.

Reuters - Pop singer Jewel eloped with her rodeo-star boyfriend in the Bahamas on Thursday, People magazine reported.

E! Online - The Dixie Chicks are minus one rooster.

E! Online - Count on Britney Spears to steal the spotlight at a soiree, even when she's not even doing anything.

E! Online - Looks can be deceiving. Apparently.

Reuters - Warner Music Group Corp, the world's third-largest music company, said on Thursday that video game makers will need to pay more to license songs for music-based video games like "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band."