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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths and Kev Geoghegan

All times stated are UK

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  1. And that is that...

    Game of Thrones

    So, we're out of here but please scroll down to find out why Five have pulled out of a pro-Brexit gig and why music venues in Beijing are closing, plus hear new music from Wild Beasts and Ariana Grande.

    And if you're looking for a way of wasting a few minutes, Spotify now says it can can tell you which Game of Thrones character you are, based on what music you like.

    The Beatles, Lapsley, Led Zeppelin, Notorious BIG and Bon Iver will match you with the doomed Ned Stark and the quote:

    "I learned how to die a long time ago."  

    Cheerful stuff.

  2. Ariana Grande fighting tight race for UK number one

    Ariana Grande has released the new video for the latest track from her new album Dangerous Woman - which is currently battling Richard Ashcroft for the top spot in the UK chart. 

    She's just 100 copies ahead of the former Verve singer's first album in six years, United Nations Of Sound.

    Into You features Ariana having a steamy affair with her bodyguard. 

    View more on youtube

    Meanwhile Ashcroft's just announced two headline shows in December in Liverpool and London. 

  3. Five pull out of pro-Brexit gig in Birmingham

    Rich and Scott from Five

    Five have pulled out of BPop Live, a music festival funded by an anti-EU group, which they were set to play alongside Alesha Dixon and East 17.

    A statement from the group said Five's allegiance was "first and foremost to their fans". 

    It said when Rich and Scott agreed to play the event they understood that it was a pop concert funded by one of the Brexit organisations and not a political rally, adding: 

    Quote Message: As it has come to light that this is more a political rally with entertainment included they have both decided to cancel their involvement. They would like to make it clear that as a band Five have no political allegiances or opinions for either side. Their allegiance is first and foremost to their fans.

    Dixon and East 17 are still set to perform, alongside Sister Sledge. 

    Sigma cancelled their appearance at the same event last month after being told that they "weren't aware it was a political event".

  4. Drake notches up more than half a billion US streams

    Drake

    Rapper Drake's latest album has now been streamed more than 500 million times in the US in the three-weeks since its release.

    The first record it shattered was the 115 million streams set by Beyonce in the first week that Lemonade was released in April.

    Then on Friday, he became the first ever artist to top both the official singles and album charts in the US and UK in the same week.

    The 500m streams don't include figures from outside the US.

    Drake has overtaken Justin Bieber as the most-streamed artist of all-time on Spotify.

  5. Paris Jackson gets inked with Michael Jackson album cover

    Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has been inked in his memory.

    The 18-year-old, who was just 11 when he died, took to social media to show off her new tatt inspired by the front cover of his Dangerous album.

    View more on instagram
  6. Ryan Tedder and Jess Glynne sings listeners' texts

    After yesterday's breakfast show which saw Craig David sing the weather forecast, Grimmy's guests Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic and Jess Glynne performed a song based on listeners text called I need to take the Macaroni Out...

    With mixed results...

    Video content

    Video caption: An improvised song with your texts as lyrics? This could go either way to be honest...
  7. Wild Beasts announce new album and release first track

    Wild Beasts album cover

    Wild Beasts have announced album number five is imminent, with Boy King set to be released on 3 August. 

    The first track Get My Bang debuted on 6 Music this morning and they've shared the video online too - featuring some cool choreography and a new synthy, Ryan-Gosling-in-Drive vibe. 

    View more on youtube

    Here's how some of their fans have been reacting to the track:

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
  8. Fearne Cotton and Paul Gambaccini get new Radio 2 shows

    Let's have a look at the current Radio 2 schedule:

    There's Chris Evans, who used to be on Radio 1. Sara Cox, who used to be on Radio 1.

    Simon Mayo, who used to be on Radio 1 and Jo Whiley, who used to be on Radio 1.

    To sum up, it's fair to say that Radio 2 like to employ people who used to be on Radio 1.

    Which brings us to Fearne Cotton.

    Fearne Cotton

    The former Radio 1 DJ is also now joining Radio 2. 

    Not as a permanent presenter, but standing in with Martin Kemp to cover Graham Norton when he's on holiday from his Saturday morning show this summer.

    If you're a fan of lively radio shows full of banter, good music and top guests, then we have very good news for you - as the BBC said in a press release that Fearne and Martin will be presenting a lively show of banter, good music and top guests.

    Other schedule changes announced by the station include Paul Gambaccini's appointment as the new presenter of Pick Of The Pops, replacing Tony Blackburn.

    Here he is wearing a nice blue tie:

    Paul Gambaccini

    Gambaccini said:

    Quote Message: I am honoured to be asked to present one of Britain's iconic radio programmes. I will strive to meet the standards of my illustrious predecessors, including Alan Freeman and Tony Blackburn.

    Blackburn was fired by the BBC following the Dame Janet Smith inquiry into sexual abuse at the corporation, because his evidence to the Jimmy Savile sex abuse inquiry "fell short" of the standards demanded, according to BBC director general Tony Hall. 

    Blackburn said at the time he had given his "honest account and best recollection" of the events which took place.

    Blackburn tweeted about his replacement:

    View more on twitter

    Read more.

  9. Why are Beijing's gig venues closing?

    Over the past decade, China's capital Beijing has enjoyed a boom in its underground music scene for Western-style concerts.

    But several of the clubs have closed in recent months.

    Owners have blamed rocketing rent prices and increased red tape put in place by bureaucrats who just don't understand the youth music scene.  

    Watch this BBC News report

    Video content

    Video caption: Why are music venues in Beijing closing?
  10. Tragically Hip singer Gordon Downie has brain cancer

    Gordon Downie

    Gordon Downie, the singer with Canadian alt-rockers The Tragically Hip, has announced via the band's website that he has terminal brain cancer.

    The 52-year-old said the diagnosis came "a few months ago."

    His bandmates added: "Since then, obviously, he's endured a lot of difficult times, and he has been fighting hard. In privacy along with his family, and through all of this, we've been standing by him."

    The statement also says the band plans to tour this summer. 

    Downie and his wife Laura Leigh Usher have four children.

    Since the band formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1984, The Tragically Hip have released 12 studio albums and two live albums and won 14 Juno awards - Canada's answer to the Brits.

  11. Christina Aguilera and Usher to voice new animal show

    The Hollywood Reporter

    Christina Aguilera, Usher

    Musicians including Christina Aguilera, Usher, Ellie Goulding and Joan Jett are indulging their inner David Attenborough by taking part in a new nature series from the Discovery Channel. 

    According to The Hollywood Reporter the six-parter called Hello World! will take a closer look at natural wonders with the help of the stars' music and narration.

    Aguilera’s episode will use her song Light Up the Sky to showcase strong maternal caregivers including a mountain goat and a cheetah, while Jett’s Bad Reputation will soundtrack animals that get a bad rap.  

    Steven Tyler will also feature along with Dave Matthews, with the show due in the US in July.

    Usher’s episode will feature his song Stronger as a sea turtle and red fox demonstrate how adversity makes them more resilient - here's what he had to say on the matter:  

    Quote Message: Not many people may know of my strong affinity for animals and nature. Hello World! gave me an opportunity to not only look cool to my boys, but also help introduce a new and modern way of learning about the world and the animals living within it.
  12. Kanye West sued by Hungarian rock star over plagiarism claims

    Kanye West

    Kanye West  - earlier described by his mate Sir Paul McCartney as a "monster", albeit an inspiring one - is being sued by a Hungarian rock singer who has accused him of sampling his work without permission.

    Gabor Presser has filed for damages of at least $2.5m (£1.7m) at New York's US District Court.

    He claims one-third of New Slaves from West's album Yeezus, is an unauthorised copy of the 1969 song Gyongyhaju Lany.

    Lawyers for West and Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC have yet to comment.

    Read more

    Warning: third party content, may contain adds.

    View more on youtube
  13. Glastonbury unveils line-up for Arcadia area

    Carl Cox

    DJs Carl Cox, Basement Jaxx and Andy C have been confirmed to play one of Glastonbury's dance areas Arcadia. 

    This year, the Metamorphosis show will "chart the fate of abductees plucked from the crowd as they are morphed into evolved new beings."

    Sounds a bit scary to us, but the festival adds: "With jellyfish swooping from the skies, creatures crawling overhead, musical lightning firing from performers in the midst of the crowd and ground breaking technological innovations coming to life, all roads lead to the Spider’s hilltop lair to explore new dimensions, new heights of interactivity and new depths of immersion."

    Other acts confirmed include Plump DJs Vs Stanton Warriors, Daniel Avery, 6 Music's Craig Charles and the Mechanical Orchestra.

    View more on twitter
  14. NAO debuts new track Girlfriend

    Hackney based singer-songwriter and producer NAO, who came third in the BBC's Sound of 2016 poll, has announced a release date for her debut album For All We Know and shared a new track from it. 

    Annie Mac made Girlfriend her Hottest Record on her Radio 1 show last night and you can listen to the track and her chat with NAO, all about her "wonky funk" music, below. 

    The singer told Annie: "We've gone for it this time. I had a really wonderful writing session and this song just came out of nowhere and I felt like it was different from anything I had done before so I was like 'let's give it a go'."

    View more on twitter

    If you like that you can also catch her on this week's Later... with Jools Holland tonight and Friday on BBC Two. 

  15. The Avalanches post documentary trailer online

    Since They Left Us

    Australian band The Avalanches have posted what seems to be a trailer for a documentary explaining the band's elusive last decade and a half. 

    A play on the group's one and only 2000 album Since I Left You, it's entitled Since They Left Us: What Ever Happened to The Avalanches? and seems to document the 'will-they-won't-they?' story of a possible second album.

    View more on youtube

    The Avalanches recently announced a new live date at London's Oval Space on 9 June, which joins sets at Primavera festival in Barcelona, Field Day and Wild Life in the UK and Splendour in the Grass in Australia.

  16. Paul McCartney: 'I love Kanye... he's a monster'

    As well as revealing the struggles he went through after The Beatles came to an end (scroll down to watch), Sir Paul McCartney has also been chatting to Radio 4 about his relationship with Kanye West.

    The pair have collaborated on a few tracks, including FourFiveSeconds with Rihanna, and Macca told Mastertapes presenter John Wilson that Kanye's "a monster... a crazy guy that comes up with great stuff”.

    Watch the star recall his time in the studio with the "eccentric" rapper who he says "inspires me". 

    Video content

    Video caption: Sir Paul reveals some illuminating stories about his collaboration with Kanye West.

    The show, which will be broadcast in full on Radio 4 on Saturday, was recorded in front of a star-studded live audience at Maida Vale earlier this month. 

    Noel Gallagher was in attendance with Paul Weller - and Weller's celebrity plus one? Brad Pitt, who was in town filming new spy drama Five Seconds Of Silence and apparently keen to hang out with the modfather. Not a bad way to pass a break from filming...

    View more on twitter
  17. BBC Music urges people to become part of a 'virtual orchestra'

    David Baddiel

    Calling all music lovers: the BBC is asking amateur musicians to take part in a new 'virtual orchestra' as part of the BBC Proms.

    Whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or a lapsed player, if you are over the age of 16, you can have the chance to feature in a digital performance which will be part of the Last Night of the Proms on 10 September.

    The 'audition process' involves uploading a short video playing The Toreador Song from Bizet’s opera Carmen to the BBC Get Playing website by 27 August.  

    The BBC edit the videos into a three-minute performance which will be shown on BBC iPlayer and Big Screens at Proms in the Park around the UK.

    BBC Get Playing ambassador and comedian David Baddiel, who is a keen piano player and who will be adding his performance to the BBC Get Playing virtual orchestra. 

    "You can go to the BBC website and there will be a number of different versions of Bizet’s Toreodor Song, in sheet music, for different instruments at different levels," he said.

    "So you can click on 'guitar – beginner' or 'bagpipes – advanced', whatever you like. 

    "It can be someone playing the triangle. If you want to have some bins and drum along to it, I can’t see anything wrong with that. If you don’t happen have a Steinway but you have a great sense of rhythm, why not do that?"

    Why not indeed?!

    Video content

    Video caption: David Baddiel explains why he is a pianist in a virtual orchestra
  18. Eminem sells off bricks and wood from 'iconic' childhood home

    BBC Newsbeat

    Eminem possibly wouldn't give you the shirt off his back but he is willing to sell you a brick from his home.

    To mark the 16th anniversary of his Marshall Mathers LP, the rapper is selling off bricks and bits of wood from his, now demolished house, in Detroit.

    He called them "once in a lifetime collectables created from the remains of what has become a very iconic symbol for me and my career". 

    At $300 a pop though, it's one for serious Eminem fans or those with one brick short of a stack.

    View more on instagram

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  19. Madonna defends her right to perform a Prince tribute

    Madonna

    Plenty rushed to criticise Madonna's Prince tribute at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night, from Eurythmics star Dave Stewart on Twitter to various members of the press

    View more on twitter

    But after Questlove rushed to the defence of any artist who wants to pay tribute yesterday, Madonna has now had her own say on the matter.

    The star, who had performed Nothing Compares 2 U before being joined on stage by Stevie Wonder, told fans on Instagram: "Anyone who wants to do a tribute to Prince is welcome to. Whatever your age Gender or skin colour."

    She added: "If you loved him and he inspired you then show it!!!! I love Prince 4 ever". 

    View more on instagram
  20. Justin Bieber decries awards ceremonies calling them 'hollow'

    BBC Newsbeat

    Justin Bieber

    It takes more than a top male artist award from Billboard magazine to make Justin Bieber happy it seems.

    Having performed and won at Sunday's show, the singer has since launched a surprising broadside at award ceremonies, claiming: "When I look in the audience I see a bunch of fake smiles so that when the camera hits them they look happy."

    In a lengthy post on Instagram, he told followers he meant "no disrespect", but continued: "But I don't feel good when I'm there nor after. 

    "I try to think of it as a celebration but can't help feeling like people are rating and grading my performance."

    View more on instagram

    Bieber also suggested "a lot of people in the audience there to be seem worried about how much camera time they will get or who they can network with." 

    He ended the post by saying: "There's an authenticity missing that I crave! And I wonder does anybody else.."

    He later followed up with a second post:

    View more on instagram

    Bieber's posts follow a tumultuous period in the singer's private life.

    In March, Bieber settled a lawsuit with a photographer who claimed the star kicked and punched him in Los Angeles in 2012.

    He was also accused of sending bodyguards to attack a photographer outside a Buenos Aires nightclub during a 2013 visit, an allegation which has led to him being barred from playing tour dates in Argentina.

    Last week, he told fans he would no longer pose for selfies.

    Read more