After various incarnations, Joan Wasser is now where she wants to be, writes Ed Power.

After huge hits with the likes of Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars, for his new album, Mark Ronson has mined his recent painful breakup, writes Lucy Mapstone

In another time and another place, Rufus Wainwright would be selling millions of records and living a life of Elton John-esque fabulousness. That time was the Seventies, when tortured singer-songwriters with a knack for melody-festooned hits and off-the-cuff melodrama were quite the thing.

Gay performers have long been prominent in the pop industry. However, it’s only in recent years that coming out has become the norm, writes Caomhan Keane.

Ciara Higgins is the artistic director of the Great Music in Irish Houses Festival, running June 13–18. 

Our regular arts/ents writers select their personal highlights of the year

IDRIS ELBA has earned his first BAFTA television awards nomination. The British actor has been nominated for his performance in the title role of the hit BBC series Luther.

Rufus Wainwright thinks he'd be more successful if he wasn't open about his sexuality.

MUSIC NEWS:

THIS is a story of how you can recover after your worst nightmare. It’s the story of a mother whose three children died. Madonna Badger, 49, was an art director, for people like Calvin Klein, and owned a successful company in New York.

The underground punk band and the hit producer repeat their unlikely pairing, says Ed Power

The Rolling Stones were finally confirmed as headliners for this summer’s Glastonbury Festival after months of rumours, with Mumford & Sons and Arctic Monkeys.

Martha Wainwright’s ‘Come to Mama’ was inspired by her mother’s death and her son’s birth, writes Tina O’Sullivan

Chart star George Michael declared it was “great to be alive” as he made a triumphant return to the stage in Vienna after fighting for his life 10 months earlier.

Rufus Wainwright is to wed his long-term partner Jorn Weisbrodt on Thursday.

Rufus Wainwright is about to marry his gay lover and is courting mainstream sales with new album Out of the Game, says Ed Power

Amy Winehouse felt "competitive" towards Adele.

The biggest names in music celebrated the singer’s 60th on Saturday night, watched by Des O’Mahony

JOAN WASSER is glad she didn’t become famous until she was 36.

George Michael has admitted he and Kenny Goss have broken up – just months after denying rumours of a split.

Chart stars Florence And The Machine lead the field for music awards bash the Mojo Hall Of Fame this year after being shortlisted for four gongs, it was announced today.

Singer Rufus Wainwright – who sought guidance from the ‘Rocket Man’ hitmaker Elton John in 2000 when he was struggling with an addiction to crystal meth – claimed the flamboyant star is very quiet away from his public persona and has little belief in his own abilities.

Legendary songwriter Leonard Cohen will play an extra date in Ireland this summer after selling out two Dublin concerts today in less than an hour.

Leonard Cohen is returning to Ireland this summer for a clutch of concerts, it was revealed today.

Rufus Wainwright is willing Amy Winehouse to pull through her troubles after they forged a friendship when she turned to him in one of her darkest moments.

Elton John angered fans who had paid up to $2,500 for tickets to a benefit performance in New York on Monday, when he only appeared onstage for the final three songs.

Singer Rufus Wainwright has been commissioned to compose his debut opera, to be premiered in the UK, it was announced today.

Dublin Docklands plays host to a weekend music extravaganza as the 2008 Analog Festival kicks off tonight.

Newcomer Duffy has received three nominations in this year's Mojo Honours List, more than any other artist.

Hit TV shows 'Brothers and Sisters' and 'Ugly Betty' repeated their success at the 2008 Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards on Saturday by scooping the same top awards as last year.

Rihanna and Timbaland have designed their own T-shirts for the clothing giant H&M's 'Fashion Against Aids' range.

The Who, The Killers and Arctic Monkeys will headline this summer’s Glastonbury Festival, it was confirmed today.

The father of singer Rufus Wainwright threatened to kill his son because of an article in Rolling Stone magazine, it has been revealed.

Scottish actor Alan Cumming wed his partner, illustrator Grant Shaffer, in a civil ceremony in London yesterday.

A talking-heads documentary about the Canadian singer: Songs for Manic Depressives.

DESPITE the huge number of open-air concerts last year, new arrival Electric Picnic proved the hit of the summer and with another star-studded line-up just announced, it looks poised to repeat the trick.

The line up for this year’s Electric Picnic Festival in Co Laois has been announced. The self style ‘boutique’ festival returns as a three day event this year on September 1-3.

REM frontman Michael Stipe is to headline a concert urging the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Plans are being discussed to broadcast some of Elton John’s concert in Dublin on Saturday as part of Live 8 events taking place around the world, it emerged today.

Tour partners Sting and Annie Lennox have recorded the former The Police star's We'll Be Together hit for the new Bridget Jones' Diary sequel's soundtrack.

Dave Matthews will pay tribute to Neil Young at an awards ceremony.