Robbie Williams ends album strike

Robbie Williams has ended his strike against his record label, EMI, and is scheduled to release a new album next year.

The singer's manager, Tim Clark, told BBC Newsbeat that he couldn't guarantee a new album for 2009, but that that was Williams' aim.

In January Robbie Williams threatened to withhold his next album from EMI in protest at the way the label was being run by its owner, Guy Hands. Clark accused Hands of running the label in the style of a "plantation owner".

However, Clark has said that plans are steaming ahead for the release of Williams' eighth studio album, the first since 2006's 'Rudebox'.

"I would certainly hope that a new album will be coming next year," he said. "There are never any guarantees but that's what we would hope.

"I was with Robbie last week. He was at home and writing songs. He played some of them to us. He's in fine spirits, in fine form and I think what he's doing sounds wonderful."

Clark said that rumours that Williams interest in UFOs had inspired the subject matter were "exaggerated".