Justin Timberlake knows a song will be a hit if it sounds good in his car.

The 'SexyBack' hitmaker is convinced his fans mainly listen to his music whilst driving and so has developed a unique "car test" to ensure his records are up to scratch and sound great when played through vehicle speakers.

The 29-year-old star now goes into his car and listens to his new material at several stages throughout production.

He explained: "I actually have something what I call the 'car test'. A lot of people listen to my music in their cars. So I do that with my music after I finished it and I test the songs in my car. Then I go back to the studio and fix different things. The car test - it works."

The 'Love Sex Magic' hitmaker recently admitted he wasn't ready to release new material and was waiting for the right idea to "slap him in the face".

He said: "I'm obviously not the type of artist who rushes anything. I've done, like, two records in the last eight years. So, until it kind of slaps me in the face, I'm going to tinker around with everything."

Rihanna's new album will be filled with "surprises".

The 'Russian Roulette' singer - whose last LP 'Rated R' topped charts around the world - is currently working on new material, which producer-and-songwriter Sean Garrett believes will contain songs which are "f***ing smashes".

He said: "I got a record on Rihanna's new album. She's got some surprises. The record I gave her was very, very positive, very big. It's a f***ing smash."

Sean is particularly thrilled with his track - which he expects to be released as a single.

He explained to Rapup.com: "It's just so infectious. It's about getting past any drama and just being happy to be alive. It's an encouraging record. It feels great, and it's got great tempo. I made sure that it was bulletproof.

"It should be a single unless something crazy happens. It's hot as f**k. I think it's a record that's gonna stay on the radio for a long time."

Rihanna's 2009 album - which was released shortly after her very public split from her boyfriend Chris Brown - was filled will mellow, heartfelt tracks.

However, Sean thinks her new offering will be more upbeat.

He said: "It'll be more energetic.

"Whenever I think of Rihanna, it makes me happy. To be honest, I wasn't really that excited about hearing her in a dark zone."

Gary Barlow has renewed his songwriting deal with Sony/ATV.

The Take That singer - who has penned tracks for a host of other artists, including Dame Shirley Bassey and N-Dubz - is delighted to have extended his publishing contract with the group so he can continue writing for other people.

He said: "Because songwriting is such a huge part of what I do, the partnership with Sony is so important."

However, any pop stars hoping for a track from the 'Patience' hitmaker may have a long wait as Gary is currently tied up with recording the next Take That album, the follow-up to 2008's hit LP 'The Circus'.

Sony/ATV boss Rak Sanghvi said: "He's got to focus on the Take That record with the rest of the guys and they're doing it now, but he's not a man who sits around.

"I'm sure the second the Take That record is in the bag he'll be off on other projects."

It was recently reported that Take That - Gary, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald - have teamed up with their former bandmate Robbie Williams to record five songs for their new LP, which is expected to be released later this year.

Lady Gaga feels she has finally been accepted by her British fans.

The 'Bad Romance' singer - who is currently working her way across the UK with her 'Monster Ball Tour' - feels just as at home in London as she does in her native New York.

The flamboyant pop star - who played London's 02 Arena last weekend -said: "London is not always an easy crowd, and I remember because I used to open for so many people here. I always found solace when I went to the gay clubs because they were always wild and dancing, and they really loved and enjoyed me. But The O2 was something I've never experienced before."

The 23-year-old starlet - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta - said her fans were very important to her, and she wanted to protect those who were "troubled".

She said: "I look out into the audience and I hear them singing my music and supporting me and I want to do everything I can to protect them because some of them are really troubled and insecure."

Gaga - who began her tour in Manchester last month - had to redesign some of her set after several props were lost in transit from the US.

A source said: "Right up to the wire there was mad panic. Gaga lived up to her name when she arrived to find half of her costumes had not arrived and pieces of the set were missing. She has spent over a million pounds on this new stage show, so she was furious that everything wasn't in place."

Lil Wayne will be sentenced for gun possession charges today (03.03.10).

The rapper - who is expected to receive a one-year prison term for being caught in possession of a firearm on his tour bus in 2007 - will attend a hearing at Manhattan's Criminal Court at 2.15pm today (03.03.10).

The hearing has been put back twice as yesterday (02.03.10) a fire broke out in the court room just after 10.30am which led to his case for criminal possession being cancelled, and in February the sentencing was postponed because the hip-hop star needed tooth surgery.

Speaking of the fire, David Bookstaver, a spokesman for the Office of Court Administration, told Billboard.com there was a "little fire, but no Lil Wayne."

According to reports, the fire broke out in the boiler room, which caused smoke to fill the lobby of the 17th floor Criminal Court building on 100 Centre Street.