A high note for Callas: Plaque marks NY birth site (AP)
AP - And a star was born.

Italy: La Scala deal reached, premiere saved (AP)

AP - The management of La Scala says it has reached a deal with a performers' union to save the gala premiere of the new season.

Former UCLA hospital worker admits selling records (AP)
AP - A former employee of UCLA Medical Center pleaded guilty Monday to selling information from the medical records of celebrities and high-profile patients, including Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett, to the National Enquirer.

Manic Street Preachers' Richey Edwards officially dead (Yahoo! Music)
Yahoo! Music - Manic Street Preachers' Richey Edwards has officially been declared "presumed dead."

Britney Spears to embark on `Circus' tour in March (AP)

AP - Britney Spears is taking her "Circus" act on the road.

Classical musicians get shot at fame on YouTube (Reuters)

Reuters - The video-sharing website YouTube will take classical music out of pricey concert halls and bring it to the masses by holding an online competition where the public chooses musicians to play at Carnegie Hall.

U2 scrap Rick Rubin tracks on new album (Yahoo! Music)
Yahoo! Music - U2 have shelved a host of tracks recorded with Rick Rubin on their forthcoming 12th studio album.

Britney Spears "Circus" is back -- new album, tour (Reuters)

Reuters - Britney Spears starred in her own "Circus" on Tuesday, performing songs from her new album of that name under a big top in New York City, unveiling plans for a 2009 tour and celebrating her 27th birthday.

Rock act Creed in talks to reunite (Reuters)

Reuters - Creed is hammering out details for a lucrative 2009 reunion tour, sources tell Billboard. The Scott Stapp-led hard rock group, which was one of the top sellers of the past decade, has not performed since a rancorous split in June 2004.

iTunes: Coldplay, Leona Lewis topped sales in 2008 (AP)
AP - Coldplay was the hottest iTunes album download this year: Its "Viva la Vida" was crowned the best-selling album of 2008, while Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" was named the top-selling single.