GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME: PAUL McCARTNEY TO PLAY iHEARTRADIO MUSIC FEST

The iHeartRadio Music Festival talent lineup, which was already off the charts, just got that much more jaw-dropping with the addition of Paul McCartney. The cute Beatle and his amazing band have been knocking ’em dead of late with epic sets at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and elsewhere. They’ll provide the crowning touch to a bill that includes Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, J. Cole, Elton John, Muse, Tiësto, Chris Brown, Keith Urban, Fun., Miguel, Bruno Mars, Phoenix, Zedd, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Ke$ha, Drake, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Benny Benassi, plus the intriguing pairing of Queen and Adam Lambert.

Not surprisingly, the Clear Channel brain trust is over the moon about the booking, starting with the fest’s two co-executive producers:

"After only two years, the iHeartRadio Music Festival has attracted the biggest music artist in the world," said President of Entertainment Enterprises John Sykes. "Having Paul join this year's already spectacular and diverse lineup heightens the excitement for what has become the most anticipated music festival of the year."

Tom Poleman, who carries around the weighty title of President of National Programming Platforms, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, seconds that emotion, stating, "The addition of Paul McCartney to the lineup underscores the magnitude and diversity of the iHeartRadio Music Festival. There's no bigger icon in music."

The fest will take place on Sept. 20 and 21 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas. McCartney will presumably close the show on Saturday evening.

McCartney has an apparent motive for playing such a high-profile event. He confirmed to Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman that his next studio album—his first since 2007’s Memory Almost Full—will arrive before the end of the year. When Friedman asked if the new album was coming after the new year, Macca replied, “No. Now. Before that.” According to other reports, the young, cutting-edge Mark Ronson produced several tracks.

And try to get your heads around this, boys and girls: McCartney’s current band—guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, keyboard player Paul "Wix" Wickens and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.—has been together for 11 years, longer than the Beatles and as long as Wings. But unlike Wings, the current lineup has remained unchanged since Paul assembled it with the help of longtime producer David Kahne in 2002.