Quickies - Sam Mendes may direct next Bond film

The British-born director, who is married to Titanic star Kate Winslet, is rumoured to be the front-runner to take charge of the next instalment of the spy franchise.

A source said: "Sam is one of the best directors around. His work on American Beauty and Road to Perdition suggest he could add even more realism to the character following on from the new direction Bond has been taken in over the last two films."

The film-maker, who won the Best Director Oscar for American Beauty, is the latest in a string of suggested directors, including fellow Oscar winner Danny Boyle and Marc Forster, who helmed the last 007 movie, Quantum of Solace.

Rihanna

The Russian Roulette singer is not satisfied with being a globe-conquering pop star and is ready to turn her attention to the screen in 2010.

She said: "There is so much I want to do. I would love to try my hand at acting. I just want to keep getting better."

Rihanna, 21, is also keen to get involved with fashion and is keen to design her own clothing range.

The pop beauty, who is renowned for her daring and racy choice of outfits, added: "I'll hopefully be making movies and having something to do with fashion as well as making music in years to come."

As well as her acting plans, Rihanna has made a number of other resolutions for the coming year.

Her priority is to correct her horrendous time-keeping.

She said: "I want to stop shopping, stop being late, start waking up early, stuff like that."

Aguilera

The Beautiful singer, who will release her fourth LP, Bionic, in March, says her sound has changed dramatically since she became a mother to her 23-month-old son Max.

Christina Aguilera told Marie Claire magazine: "I had a really hard time being light before. I'd get a little weird about it being too clichéd. My first record was very clichéd pop - what everyone else wanted.

"Stripped was inspired by a lot of pain and Back to Basics still had some sort of relation to my past. My new one is just about the future - my son in my life, motivating me to want to play and have fun. Things that maybe I've been afraid to do in the past, to allow myself to go to a place of 'less singing'. I'm more vulnerable and stronger at the same time."

It seems motherhood is now having a different effect Aguilera - who is married to music producer Jordan Bradman - since she started recording the LP.

In October, the 29-year-old pop star claimed it would be "unfair" if she changed her career or style just because she had a family.

Asked how becoming a mom had affected her attitude to work, she said: "As far as motherhood affecting me creatively goes - like, I shouldn't be wearing that because I'm a mom - it hasn't. That wouldn't be fair to me. It's important to keep a strong sense of yourself when you're a mom. You're still you."

Richie Spice

The year 2009 was a very good one for reggae artiste extraordinaire Richie Spice, as the prolific singer and songwriter continued in his usual hit-making form. Last year, he scored several hit singles that topped reggae charts worldwide such as Street Life, King and Queen and More Life.

His hectic international schedule saw him touring the USA, Europe and Australia. He also did several shows in Bermuda and throughout the Caribbean in countries such as Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, Dominica, French Guiana, The Bahamas (Abaco, Freeport and Nassau) and Barbados.

Richie Spice closed out 2009 in fine style with a spectacular performance at the recently held Original Dancehall Jam Jam showcase, which was held at the Jamalco Sports Club in Halse Halle, Clarendon, on December 31. The following night, he began the new year on a high note with an equally impressive performance at the Trelawny Family Fun Day, which was held at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

Fifth album release

He is expecting even more success, as he will be releasing his fifth official album early this year. He is also slated to do a six-week tour of Europe and the UK, which will begin in February. Throughout the year, he will also be touring the Caribbean in an unconventional way as far as tours are concerned, as he will only be doing weekend events across Caribbean. He is very keen on doing these dates in the Caribbean, as they are part of an unofficial Caribbean tour that he embarked on a year ago. It is his intension to perform in every country in the Caribbean before the end of the year, as he wants to connect with all his fans across the English-speaking Caribbean and French and Dutch Antilles.

Richie's next big local performance will be at Pepsi Rebel Salute.

The prestigious Excellence In Music and Entertainment (EME)awards is back and this year's staging of the event will be on Thursday, February 4, at the Gardens at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.

The EME awards is the brainchild of popular radio personality Richard 'Richie B' Burgess. He created this award show to honour the players in the local music industry, both past and present, for their hard work in creating and maintaining excellence within our rich musical culture. The EME awards is a non-profit venture.

Since its humble beginnings back in 2005 as a small, in-studio production, the EME awards has grown to become one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the local entertainment calendar.

The EME awards has garnered unwavering support and popularity through the years and has attracted coverage from both the local and international media. Last year, the presence of America's BETJ Channel provided quite a fillip for the EMEs and their repeat airings of the event has definitely added to the excitement both here and abroad.

Over 85 per cent of the awardees were in attendance for both the 2008 and 2009 staging and the organisers hope to improve on that this year. This is a clear indication of the respect the industry has for this event. 2010 promises to be even bigger and better.