AND NOW HERE’S THE NEWS: After months...

AND NOW HERE’S THE NEWS: After months of rumors--all heatedly denied--it’s official. After six years and six albums, R.E.M., America’s leading rock band (at least according to Rolling Stone), has left I.R.S. Records. The lucky new label? Not Virgin or A&M;, as was rumored earlier this year, but Warner Bros. Records, which just signed the band to a long-term contract. . . . Cinderella’s second album, “Long Cold Winter,” will be out in May. Produced by Andy Johns, it includes such songs as “Falling Apart at the Seams,” “Fire and Ice,” “Take Me Back” and “Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone.” . . . James (J.T.) Taylor, lead singer of Kool & the Gang, has left the group to pursue a solo career. Taylor, who had been with the band since 1979, is slated to collaborate on new material with hit songwriter Rod Temperton. . . . Billy Vera has a new album due out May 3 on Capitol Records. Titled “Retro Nuevo,” it features “Between Like and Love” (the first single), “Let You Get Away,” “Heart to Heart (Eye to Eye)” and “Poor Boys.” . . . And Crowded House is putting the finishing touches on its new album. Produced by Mitchell Froom and tentatively titled “Temple of Low Men,” it should be out by mid-June.