Australian singer Kylie Minogue capped her comeback from breast cancer today (Nov. 5) with a new single and the launch of a mobile phone social networking site that its designers said was a first for a major pop act.
The single "2 Hearts" precedes the Nov. 26 release of the album "X." To coincide with the single, Minogue has launched her own social networking Web site, allowing fans to register on their mobile phones, blog, communicate with other users and upload images and video.
Its designers, New Visions Mobile, believe it is a more mobile and flexible model than social network sites like MySpace and Facebook, already important marketing tools for pop stars. It also allows Minogue to sell music online.
"The whole thing is set up so that Kylie can update her blog and have a closer connection with fans," said Julia McNally, business development director at New Visions Mobile.
Meanwhile, Minogue's spokesperson also confirmed she had discussed the possibility of a world tour in 2008, when she will be 40, but that no decision had been made.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported today that Minogue had cancelled a forthcoming tour due to concerns over her health. "Kylie has not been told by her doctors that touring 'could seriously harm her health'," EMI spokesperson Murray Chalmers said in a statement.
"Touring is something that she is still considering for the future. Her health remains excellent," he said, adding that Minogue's representatives had demanded a "prominent apology for today's highly damaging story" from the Mail.