For the Record: Album Alert

• U2 has raised over $3 million for AIDS charity RED, after Bank of America agreed to donate a dollar for every download of their new song “Invisible” over 24 hours. The track is not intended to be the first single from U2’s upcoming album, but instead as, according to Bono, “a sneak preview, to remind people we exist”.

• The US edition of the X Factor has been canceled after Simon Cowell announced his return to the UK show. The show has been on the air for three years, with different judges for each season; the latest saw Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio on the panel along with Cowell.

• Rapper and actor Ice T has taken on a new challenge – recording a Dungeons & Dragons audiobook. On his podcast Final Level, he describes the process, saying it took two days to read just 40 pages. “Every word you’re saying is pretty much made up,” he said. “Motherfuckers talk like Yoda: ‘Outside I go, into the sun thereof, in, out…’ how do you read this shit?”

• Mötley Crüe’s 10th studio album is due in the next few months, after which their last tour will take place during the second half of the year. Meanwhile, we can look forward to a Crüe country tribute album, featuring musicians such as the Eli Young Band and LeAnn Rimes covering their classics, albeit with a genre shift.

• And artists including Metallica, Motörhead, Anthrax and Tenacious D are contributing to a Ronnie James Dio tribute album, due April 1st. Proceeds from the album will benefit the cancer fund founded by Dio’s widow Wendy.

• Korn’s new “Spike in my Veins” video takes a harsh look at political media and celebrity news:

• The Cure are releasing new album 4:14 Scream, featuring material that was recorded at the same time as their 2008 LP 4:13 Dream. The band will also be releasing a series of live concert DVDs throughout the year, and have announced a Trilogy tour, during which they will perform three of their 80s albums.

• Armand Van Helden and A-Trak, together known as Duck Sauce, are planning on releasing their debut album Quack this Spring, and have already released four free tracks as an EP titled Duck Droppings available to stream here. The band will be performing this spring at the Coachella festival.

• And Iggy Azalea’s debut album The New Classic finally has a release date, after being postponed several times. The album is due April 14th. Look out for new single “Fancy”, featuring Charli XCX, expected later this week.

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss this week’s Eargasm, introducing Kid Ink, a new sexy summin summin on the hip-hip scene who’ll make you forget about Chris Brown and Drake in no time.