At Japan's Mirikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Damon Albarn recently played "Everyday Robots" and Blur's "Strange News From Another Star" for an audience that included two robots—one of whom eerily resembles a human being. "When I was invited to sing for an android," said Albarn in an interview for an associated video, "it's a not a thing you get asked every day. [...] The more they look like us, the more odd the whole experience becomes." (Pitchfork)

Björk announced that she's working on a new studio album, to be released next year. (Consequence of Sound) Adele may also release a new album next year—but it certainly won't be out this year. (New York Times)

Michael Stipe, whose interest in visual art predates the formation of R.E.M., is participating in a fall residency at New York University's Steinhardt Department of Art and Art Professions. Each week, Stipe and another guest artist will give a class of 18 students a prompt for each to create 100 images and GIFs. The overall theme: "the glut and onslaught of information made available by the internet, often without context or authorship; the disproportionate and impulsive reactions that it provokes, and the reckless cynicism of a 24-hour news cycle." (Billboard)

When U2's new album was dropped into 500 million iTunes libraries, Apple called it the largest record release of all time. But how many of those users actually listen to the music? That's been a subject of hot debate, with estimates ranging as low as a couple hundred thousand. That's poppycock, says Apple: 26 million users have downloaded the album, and when streams are included, a total of 81 million users have "experienced" the music. Songs of Innocence will be released in traditional, physical form on Tuesday. (Billboard)

At the annual ASCAP awards, Ellie Goulding's "Lights" was awarded Song of the Year and Dan Smith of Bastille was given the ASCAP Vanguard Award for emerging artists. (Billboard)

News92, a news station in Houston, has closed down due to "sustained poor ratings performance and significant financial losses." In its place, station owner Radio One is launching an all-Beyoncé station to serve Queen Bey's hometown. (Billboard)