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Madonna - album title unknown - March

And so, in 2012, it's back to the day job for Madonna.

After directing her historical drama W.E. and moving into fashion with her daughter, the 53-year-old has been back in the recording studio.

The first single Give Me All Your Luvin, which if rumours are to be believed features guest turns from Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., is out at the end of January.

With a Super Bowl performance in the diary for February, expect more news on her 12th album by then.

Little Mix - album title and release date unknown

In the words of X Factor judge Louis Walsh: "Little Mix could be the next big girl band."

Of course, that remains to be seen. First, there's the matter of getting a mammoth X Factor tour out of the way and deciding on a musical direction.

However it pans out, fans will be hoping for new material which sounds a bit more them after their Cannonball winners' cover.

The last few X Factor champions have struggled (compared to their runners-up or third placed colleagues) so Little Mix will hope to buck that trend.

The Prodigy - album title and release date unknown

Fair to say the bookies were not overflowing with people putting money on The Prodigy mounting a huge comeback three years ago.

But they have a habit for producing incendiary live shows combined with a new-found positioning as godfathers of dance music (Chase & Status, Example all clambered to salute them).

This summer they'll headline Download festival with Metallica and Black Sabbath.

The way they saw off their last album Invaders Must Die, the Braintree punks would suggest there's plenty of fire left in their bellies yet.

Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again - 26 March

Hotly tipped by almost every blog, magazine and radio station - after releasing a couple of EPs the singer-songwriter puts out his debut album in the spring.

Kiwanuka recorded it in a studio on the Isle Of Wight with the intention of getting away from the speed of the city.

After touring with Adele and performing on Later...With Jools Holland in autumn 2011 he's got an eye on stardom.

In November he told us: "Doing the tour with Adele was just a good taste of what it could be like to do well and be successful. It looks amazing."

Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events - 13 February

Coldplay's Chris Martin knows what's good. That's why he invited Emeli Sande on tour at the end of 2011.

In the past the Scottish singer has written for Professor Green, Cheryl Cole and even Susan Boyle.

If her solo singles Heaven and Daddy weren't indication enough of her talent in 2011, her number one smash with Professor Green Read All About It would have been.

Telling us about the album, she said: "I'm looking forward to people hearing the full circle of what I do. It's been years in the making."

And if by some fluke it doesn't work, Emeli has a degree in clinical neuroscience. Not many pop stars can say that.

Emeli Sande's debut album, Our Version Of Events, is out in February.