Coldplay's 'X&Y' has been named the best album of 2005 in a list compiled by British rock magazine Q.

Franz Ferdinand drummer Nick McCarthy is glad he threatened to leave the Scottish band in November following a vicious row with frontman Alex Kapranos because it made the group stronger.

Westlife have been installed as favourite to claim best Irish pop act at this year’s Meteor Awards, it emerged today.

Hip-hop star Xzibit has blasted Usher for having a bad sense of humour after he took exception to a joke Xzibit made at his expense at the MTV European Awards last month.

Detroit rockers The White Stripes took centre stage at the Reading Festival - a year late.