As Victoria Beckham turns 40, Rachel Marie Walsh plots the evolution of Britain’s High Queen of Fashion

Coldplay, Kylie Minogue, David Bowie and other prestigious artists are set to leave EMI after Universal’s £1.2bn takeover was approved today on condition it sells several of the recording company’s labels.

Parlophone, the record label behind Kylie Minogue, Coldplay and Blur, is to be sold as a condition of EMI’s takeover by Universal, it was reported today.

Richard Branson is considering buying back Virgin Records.

Richard Branson is considering buying back Virgin Records more than 40 years after founding the business that spawned his empire.

The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying the record label has illegally used their name and music in promotional deals that hurt the band’s credibility with fans.

Janet Jackson has quit longtime label Virgin Records to join boyfriend Jermaine Dupri at Island Def Jam - but she won't be mixing business with pleasure.

Courtney Love sold a 25% stake in Nirvana’s sought-after back catalogue for more than $50m, it was reported today.

MARIAH CAREY’S comeback came full circle yesterday as she was nominated for eight Grammys, while Irish rockers U2 received five nominations.

The Rolling Stones celebrated Mick Jagger’s 62nd birthday by announcing the release of A Bigger Bang on Virgin Records, their first studio CD in eight years.

Pop beauty Janet Jackson has become the latest member of her family to face a court battle, after a man accused her of stealing a song from him.

Mel B will go up against Geri Halliwell when she releases her new single.

Melanie C has cancelled this week's shows on her UK and Irish tour due to illness.

Jennifer Lopez defended her use of animal fur in her clothing line on Australian radio last weekend - insisting she knows nothing about how fur is produced.

Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm's latest album has been leaked on the internet a month before its release - prompting fears it could derail the success of her comeback.

Jennifer Lopez met animal rights protestors head on at a record signing in New York yesterday - by wearing a fox fur poncho.

Melanie C is to debut a track a week from her new album 'Beautiful Intentions' on her website.

Savvy Mariah Carey has hardly touched the reported $26m (€20m) advance she received in a deal with Virgin Records in 2001 - because she considers the cash an investment.

Beyonce Knowles enjoyed a curry in New York last week that had been couriered 4,828 kilometres (3,000 miles) from Britain.

Singer Mariah Carey is reported to be facing financial problems after spending most of the $28m (€40m) she was paid to end her contract with Virgin Records in 2001.

Former Spice Girls star Emma Bunton is quitting Britain to move to America after two failed attempts to launch her solo pop career.

Richard Branson today unveiled more plans for a reality TV show to find a new top business brain – and he wants to take candidates white water rafting and parachuting.

Wannabe tycoons will travel the world with billionaire businessman Richard Branson for a new reality TV show, it was announced today.

Hollywood star Edward Norton is reportedly so worried about his ex-girlfriend Courtney Love's behaviour that he is urging her to enter a rehabilitation clinic.

Oasis hit Wonderwall was today named the greatest song of the past decade in a poll to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Virgin Records

THE pilot of the light aircraft that crashed in the Bahamas last year, killing 22-year-old American singer and actress Aaliyah, himself and seven others, had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his body, aviation officials said.

Victoria Beckham has parted company with Virgin Records.

The parents of Aaliyah are suing Virgin Records.

EMI is buying the independent record company Mute for €36m.

Former Sex Pistols wildman Johnny Rotten says he doesn't care about the chart performance of Sex Pistols' upcoming re-release of God Save The Queen.

Mariah Carey has signed a new deal with Island/Def Jam Records which will include her own label.

David Bowie, whose musical career has been on hold since walking out on Virgin Records, is to release his first album in three years this summer.

David Bowie has signed a new record deal with Columbia Records.

Mariah Carey's lawyer is threatening legal action against the record label which ended the singer's contract in a £19.6m buy-out.

Virgin Records have denied paying off Mariah Carey's contract.

Singer Mariah Carey, who had just recovered from a nervous breakdown, is back in hospital it was reported today.

Police believe engine failure caused a light plane carrying R&B singer Aaliyah and eight others to crash shortly after take-off from the Bahamas.

Mariah Carey is under psychiatric care following her recent stay in hospital.

Exhausted singer Mariah Carey told her own website she did not ‘‘know what’s going on with life’’ before checking into hospital, it emerged today.