Celebrity Mound

Columbia Records executives fear Beyoncé’s new album, “4,” could be a dud after she refused to return to the studio to re-record new tracks, sources say.

“They’re very nervous about Beyoncé’s new record,” an industry insider said. “It doesn’t have the hit songs that her fans are used to. They asked her to make changes, but she said no.”

Bracing for the worst, Columbia suits are strategizing in case of slower sales and have had “quiet discussions” about the reunion of Destiny’s Child.

“Beyoncé’s career has stalled a bit,” a source said. “Columbia seems to think they can get some mileage out of a comeback record with all of the girls.” Another source tells us Destiny’s Child could start recording together as early as October, with a suggested album title “Family Reunion.”

But Kelly Rowland might not be eager to join forces again. Our source said, “She has her own solo career now, why would she want to be singing back up for Beyoncé?”

A Columbia rep said, “All I know is that the record came in . . . Nothing was ever discussed to change it.” Beyoncé’s rep said, “All of this is completely untrue. All of it.” Rowland’s rep didn’t respond to the media.

Meanwhile, Columbia’s parent company Sony Music, under new leadership of ex-Universal honcho Doug Morris, will be consolidating. Insiders say Sony honchos are in discussions to dump Jive Records, the label that signed Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. One of the most successful music labels, Jive was purchased for close to $3 billion in 2002.

Now, Peter Edge is poised to take over Sony’s RCA label that will absorb many of Jive’s artists — but staff layoffs are still expected in July. “X-Factor” judge L.A. Reid jumped from Island Def Jam last week to revitalize Sony’s Epic Records as chairman.

Sources say Sony plans to transfer Jive’s Tom Carrabba to Epic to work under Reid and control his legendary spending. A Sony rep declined to comment.

Beyonce will no longer be managed by her father, Mathew Knowles.

Beyonce’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told The Associated Press in a statement Monday that the Grammy-winning singer and her father have parted ways “on a business level.”

Knowles has managed his daughter since she debuted as a teen in the multiplatinum-selling group Destiny’s Child in the late 1990s and throughout her superstar career as a solo artist.

Beyonce says in the statement that she is grateful for the role her father has had in her career.

She adds that “he is my father for life and I love my dad dearly.”

Always at the top of her fashion game, Beyonce Knowles has clearly embraced the latest trends for prints on her Mediterranean cruise.

But while anyone brave enough to wear such a loud design would probably tone it down with a pair of plain shorts or trousers, Beyonce decided to team three different prints together as she stopped off in St Tropez.

However, given her superstardom, maybe the singer is just one of the few people who can pull off the clashing ensemble.

Joining her husband at the exclusive Club 55 on the French Riviera, Beyonce stopped traffic in her eye-catching ensemble of eye-wateringly, tight gold and burgundy shorts, an embellished ikat-print shirt, leopard-print bikini top and bag.

While the combination may not be to everyone’s taste, individually, each piece is quite on-trend.

The ikat print is a summer favourite, and leopard print is set to be huge this autumn.

As for the shorts, this pair is unlike any we’ve ever seen. The clashing patterns are bold and brash, and as they are both tight and high-waisted, highly unforgiving. It is testament to the 28-year-old’s toned body that her curves still, somehow, look good.

The couple have been cruising around the Med over the past few weeks in the $350,000-a-week, rented 180-foot yacht named The Altitude.

The Benetti, Italian-made yacht includes six cabins, a gym and a Jacuzzi.