Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan will release a follow-up to 1996's rarities set Stuff, which will be called Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff, Volume 2. The album, which Billboard reports will be released on April 29, features duets with Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper and Emmylou Harris. McLachlan also includes covers of "The Rainbow Connection," The Beatles' "Blackbird", "River" by Joni Mitchell and "Unchained Melody." This will be her first studio release since the 2006 holiday album Wintersong.

Following the success of musician biopic films like Ray and Walk The Line, production for a movie based on Brooklyn rapper Notorious B.I.G., a.k.a. Biggie Smalls a.k.a. Christopher Wallace, begins this month. Fellow Brooklyn rapper Jamal Woolard will play the iconic rapper in the Fox Searchlight film, titled Notorious, directed by George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food). The film's executives held open casting calls with the intention of finding a suitable candidate already familiar with rap techniques, as opposed to finding a professional actor that would have to be taught how to rap. Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, is thrilled with Woolard playing her late son. "He is a talented and charismatic actor, and I am excited that he will bring Christopher's character to life," she said. Notorious is set to be released in January.

10 Years have unveiled their first tour dates in support of their second album, Division. The band will play a single show in Nashville, TN on March 19 before headlining a series of shows and music festivals across the country. Drummer Brian Vodinh told The Pulse of Radio that he and his fellow band mates are excited to hit the road and play new songs. "The bottom line is the new stuff is just fun to play," he said. "It's upbeat and, you know, every band goes through the whole same thing: when you tour behind an album for however long, even if it's just a year, it's just refreshing to bring out new stuff." Division is the follow up to 2005's The Autumn Effect, and features the single "Beautiful" as well as "Focus," which was co-written by Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo.

Songwriter and former 4 Non Blondes leader Linda Perry is suing Warner Music Group and Atlantic Records for millions of dollars in royalties from the debut album of her protege, James Blunt. Perry's record company, Custard, filed the suit against WMG and Atlantic, which distributed Blunt's Back to Bedlam, claiming breach of contract, says Reuters. Perry said after discovering Blunt in 2003, she signed him to her label and delivered Back to Bedlam to Atlantic. Under their contract, Atlantic agreed to pay a basic royalty of 20 percent of U.S. sales from Blunt's album to Custard, which then passed 13 percent onto Blunt. But Perry claims she has not received all the money which she was due. The suit seeks lost royalties and $5 million in punitive damages. However, WMG spokesman Will Tanous said, "Custard has always been and will continue to be compensated in accordance with the terms of its contractual arrangement with Atlantic."

Florida-based rapper Plies will release his second album, Definition Of Real, on June 24. Definition Of Real will follow the rapper's 2007 Gold album, The Real Testament. Plies' latest collection of songs includes the double-single "Bust It Baby, Pt.'s 1 and 2." Special guest Ne-Yo appears on the second portion of the two-part track.

ASCAP will honor Lionel Richie and the self-proclaimed gangster of love Steve Miller at their 25th Annual Pop Music Awards on April 9. The invitation-only event will be held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Both artists will be presented with the ASCAP Golden Note Award, given to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. ASCAP president, Marilyn Bergman, is happy to award such accomplished artists, "As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our Pop Awards, we are especially proud to spotlight the achievements of ASCAP members Steve Miller and Lionel Richie. Both of them are iconic music creators whose enduring and instantly recognizable songs say, 'America' around the world."