Guardian Music — Former painter and decorator leading Rihanna by a huge margin, according to the latest sales figuresThe X Factor winner Matt Cardle is on course to hit the Christmas number one slot by a huge margin with his single When We Collide, according to the l... more info

Mjsbigblog — Matt Cardle was crowned the latest X Factor UK winner this past Sunday. His winner’s single is a cover of Biffy Clyro’s “Many Of Horror (When We Collide)” is now out on iTunes UK. Watch the official video after the jump. W... more info

Guardian Music — After 18.8 million viewing figures, Matt Cardle now faces competition to take the Christmas top spot in music chartsMatt Cardle's victory in The X Factor and the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing combined to produce the largest Sunday night TV audi... more info

Guardian Music — What do you look for in a Christmas No 1, and what does your favourite Christmas hit mean to you?This is the time of year when music snobs clash with lovers of pop and kitsch: while legions enjoy watching the X Factor, others bemoan the popularity of... more info

Guardian Music — You can hate The X Factor's chart dominance without hating pop, which is why I'm backing these Cage fighters to bring some silence to the festive top spotLast Monday, a group of musicians gathered in the intimate surroundings of Soho's Dean Street st... more info

Guardian Music — The late John Cage and Captain Ska are rivals to Simon Cowell's reality-show pop starsTonight, as the victorious contestant in ITV's The X Factor is finally anointed, the race for the Christmas No 1 spot in the charts will begin in earnest. Whether R... more info

Guardian Music — The Enterprise, London NW3James Blake is folded awkwardly over a couple of keyboards in the upstairs room of a pub, eyes squeezed shut, lips pressed against the microphone, his feet negotiating a tangle of effects pedals. He sings most of a song call... more info

Guardian Music — Recording of an orchestra not playing may yet be the most serious competition the forthcoming X Factor winner will haveIn a small, stuffy Soho recording studio, the musicians were poised to begin. Headphones on, guitars slung, drumsticks raised, fing... more info

Guardian Music — Shhh! Follow our Ustream to watch stars including Pete Doherty and Billy Bragg record a cover of the John Cage composition, 4'33"You've got to admire the cheek. Today in a London recording studio musicians including Pete Doherty, Billy Bragg, the Koo... more info

Guardian Music — Pete Doherty and Billy Bragg among those teaming up to record John Cage's silent composition in a bid for Christmas No 1Later today, Pete Doherty, the Kooks, Billy Bragg, Imogen Heap, Orbital and many more will gather in a London studio, collaboratin... more info