Songwriters play central role in new music books (AP)

Alicia Keys finds "freedom" from Motown sound (Reuters)

Reuters - A music industry desperate for bankable superstars has all but anointed Alicia Keys as heir to the golden era of Motown, when Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and others made it seem easy to pump out timeless R&B hits.

Officials: Pot found on 2 Lil Wayne tour buses (AP)

AP - Rapper Lil Wayne and 11 people traveling with him were briefly detained Friday night after U.S. Border Patrol officers found marijuana on two of his tour buses, authorities said.

Alicia Keys named top R&B artist of decade (Reuters)

Reuters - With seven No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs tally and four consecutive chart-toppers on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Alicia Keys walks off as Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the decade.