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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths and Kev Geoghegan

All times stated are UK

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  1. It's not you, it us...

    We're breaking up with you.

    But only until tomorrow morning when we will be back with loads more music news - such as a map of Europe's metal scene and a new set of rock star stamps.

    In the meantime scroll down for news on Robert Plant's copyright battle, an injury to Harry Judd from McFly and Beth Orton in session for 6 Music.

  2. Biffy Clyro debut new track and announce intimate acoustic show

    Biffy Clyro, Jack Garratt and Grimmy

    Biffy Clyro were in the Radio 1 studio to hear their brand new track Animal Style get played on air this morning - while co-hosting the breakfast show with Grimmy and Jack Garratt (pictured above). 

    They also posted a teaser of the track online, which they'd previously played live during a session for Annie Mac last month.

    View more on youtube

    The band - who are playing Radio 1's Big Weekend in Exeter this weekend - have also announced a tiny acoustic show at the 100-capacity Headrow House venue in Leeds. It's only open to Reading and Leeds festival ticket holders as the band are among this year's headliners.   

  3. Little Mix singer Jesy performs in a wheelchair

    Little Mix's Jesy Nelson has returned to the stage after injuring her foot playing in Kuala Lumpur on 21 May.

    She pulled out of the remainder of the gig after tearing a ligament during a vigorous dance routine at the Malaysian capital's Live at Life Centre.

    But fans in Singapore were rewarded when she returned on Monday night with the aid of a wheelchair. 

    View more on twitter

    Such a trooper.

  4. Vicar gets help with his organ (etc, etc)

    Rev Richard Coles and Martin Baker
    Image caption: Rev Richard Coles and Martin Baker

    A whole host of stars have been enlisted to the BBC's Get Playing initiative - which encourages beginners and lapsed musicians to pick up an instrument. 

    We told you yesterday about David Baddiel, who's helping put together a "virtual orchestra" for the Proms.

    Now Rev Richard Coles - formerly of The Communards - has pledged to re-learn the organ. Unlike you or me, though, he's getting some help from Martin Baker, Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral.

    Take a listen over here.

  5. McFly postpone tour following Harry Judd back injury

    McFly

    Pop band McFly have postponed their entire UK tour after drummer Harry Judd (pictured second-right above) suffered a herniated disc.

    His injury occurred at the base of his neck, and will require several months rest and treatment.

    "I'm absolutely gutted that we've had to postpone the tour," he said in a statement to fans.

    "I've honestly tried everything to make it work, but I'd never want to do a tour where I wouldn't be able to give you the 110% performance you deserve."

    Bandmate Tom Fletcher cheekily added: "Sorry we've had to move the tour. Completely Harry's fault. All complaints to be sent to @mcflyharry."

  6. Beth Orton plays for 6 Music

    Beth Orton has one of the most beguiling voices in pop, emerging 21 years ago with the albums SuperPinkyMandy and Trailer Park, which were credited with launching the "folktronica" scene.

    In later years, the singer distanced herself from the electronic elements of her music, saying they had come from her producers William Orbit and Andrew Weatherall, rather than her.

    But recently, she started experimenting with loops and samples on her own, and the result is Kidsticks, her first album in six years.

    The singer visited 6 Music yesterday to chat to Lauren Laverne and play her new song, 1973. 

    Watch the session below.

  7. Strokes singer to host new satellite radio show

    Pitchfork

    Julian Casablancas

    Julian Casablancas, The Strokes' singer is to host a new monthly music show for satellite radio station Sirius XM.

    The show, called Culture Void, will premiere on 26 May and feature the singer talking about his favourite obscure music. 

    "I’m excited to have an hour to get weird on a big platform," he said in a statement. 

    The Strokes, meanwhile, have announced a gig in New York later this month.

    View more on twitter

    Guitarist Albert Hammonfd Jr, added:

    View more on twitter

    The band is believed to be working on a follow up to their 2013 album Comedown Machine.  

  8. Ben Folds on Kesha: "She's the real deal"

    Rolling Stone magazine

    Ben Folds and Kesha

    Pianist and songwriter Ben Folds, who accompanied Kesha during her moving performance at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, has been talking about his friendship with the singer to Rolling Stone magazine.

    Kesha sang It Ain't Me Babe, in honour of Bob Dylan's 75th birthday, but the performance was nearly pulled as part of her ongoing dispute with her producer and record label boss Dr Luke (she is seeking to end her contract with his label, claiming he drugged and abused her, an accusation he denies).

    Folds said Kesha was dealing with the situation "with incredible grace" and praised her artistic integrity.

    Quote Message: The main thing is that Kesha has had the same choice as everyone: Take the tough road and stick up for herself or just get in line. The fact that her personal and artistic growth is so important to her that she's willing to be kicked off television shows and not put a record out – that's what people are responding to. It takes guts to develop your voice, reinvent and be yourself like David Bowie or any other great artist. She just took a big risk.

    Meanwhile, Kesha performed another Bob Dylan cover - I Shall Be Released - at Dylanfest in Nashville last night.

    Watch it below.

    View more on youtube
  9. Neil Young forgives Donald Trump using his music without asking

    Neil Young

    Although he is a fan of the potential US Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young says he has forgiven Donald Trump for using his music at rallies.

    Young was among a group of artists who criticised Trump last year, after the Presidential candidate used his song Rockin' in the Free World at conventions.

    But now, ahead of the release of his new album Earth, Young gave an update on his position.

    "The fact that I said I was for Bernie Sanders and then he didn't ask me to use Rockin' in the Free World doesn't mean that he can't use it," he told Reuters.

    "You know, once the music goes out," Young added, "Everybody can use it for anything.

    "But if the artist who made it is saying you never spoke to them, if that means something to you, you probably will stop playing it. And it meant something to Donald and he stopped."

  10. Watch Rihanna at the Billboard Awards

    Mark Savage

    Music reporter

    Rihanna

    Rihanna's performance of Love On The Brain at Sunday's Billboard Awards has been widely praised as the stand-out moment of the night.

    The star's raw-yet-nuanced delivery was a revelation - Rihanna is not particularly known for her vocal prowess - as she tore into the song's impassioned melody.

    Although it wasn't available online immediately after the show, Rihanna's team have wisely added the performance to her YouTube channel this morning.

    If you haven't seen it already, check it out. It's one of those rare songs that can completely change your perception of an artist.

    View more on youtube
  11. Naked Lunch excerpts to be accompanied by punk soundtrack

    The Independent

    William S Burroughs

    Some of the most obscene passages in William S Burrough's beat classic Naked Lunch have been set to punk music for a project more than 20 years in the making.

    The “psychedelic spoken word” album is being produced by Hal Willner, who has worked with the likes of Lou Reed and Marianne Faithful.

    Canadian artist King Khan has composed 13 new tracks to accompany Burrough’s words - which the late author recorded prior to his death in 1997.

    The 1959 novel, which was made into a film in 1991, shocked the literary world with its graphic descriptions of drugs and sex.

    Producer Willner says the spoken words are "very funny in an outrageous way". 

    Burroughs previously worked with Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain for the 1993 song The Priest

    The new album, Let Me Hang You will be released on 15 July

    Read more

  12. The Coral recall their studio excesses

    Mark Savage

    Music reporter

    The Coral

    Indie-rock heroes The Coral headline Liverpool Sound City this weekend, riding hot on the heels of their comeback album Distance Inbetween.

    Released in March, it was the band's first album of new material in six years - an almost unimaginable gap given their prolific productivity in the early 2000s.

    Speaking to me ahead of Sunday's show, singer James Skelly and keyboard player Nick Power talked about their creativity, and how it sometimes spiralled out of control.

    Quote Message: Residential recording studios are always in the hills somewhere so you end up with cabin fever. We did a concept album about an otter once, in a £1,500-a-day studio. It's a good laugh but it’s not the most productive. from Nick Power
    Nick Power

    We hereby start the campaign to get this lost album (You Otter Know? Otter Than Hell?) released. If someone could set up a Kickstarter page, that'd be grand.

  13. 'Style icon' David Bowie to be honoured at Fashion Awards

    Billboard magazine

    David Bowie

    It's not just the music world paying tribute to David Bowie - he's set to be honoured by the fashion world too, at the CDFA Fashion Awards in New York next month. 

    The style icon and singer of Fashion will be honoured posthumously with the ceremony's board of director's tribute, collected by actress Tilda Swinton - who starred opposite Bowie in the video for The Stars (Are Out Tonight) - from his 2013 album The Next Day.

    A special presentation will also feature a musical tribute by Dexter actor Michael C Hall, who recently starred in Bowie’s off-Broadway musical Lazurus. 

    Read more

  14. Shura is "seven months pregnant" with new album

    BBC Radio 1

    Shura

    Since she featured on the BBC's Sound of 2015 longlist, Shura has released seven singles, but kept fans waiting for her debut album as she sculpts and perfects her dreamy pop style.

    But the work has been completed - and Nothing's Real is finally due to be released on 8 July.

    Speaking to Radio 1's Annie Mac last night, the singer-songwriter said the imminent release made her feel like she was "seven months pregnant."

    "I've been told that I'm glowing, I'm kind of a bit bored of glowing now, can I just deliver the child? I'm just really, really excited about giving birth."  

    In order to tide her fans over until July, Shura played her new single Nothing's Real, an 80s-indebted summer anthem with a sugar-sweet chorus.

    "This record is about fancying someone," she said, "then realizing that it’s probably not gonna happen."

    Listen below.

  15. Gary Numan documentary to premiere at Edinburgh International Film festival

    Gary Numan

    A documentary about electro-pop pioneer Gary Numan is set to have its European premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival next month.

    GaryNuman: Android In La La Land by Steve Read and Rob Alexander was two years in the making and follows Gary on tour, in the studio, on holiday and as he moves from the UK to Los Angeles.

    It will also explore the darker side of his story - depression, anxiety and near bankruptcy.

    Read said. "We’ve had the most extraordinary access to one of the most extraordinary artists in the world today. It is as up close and personal as it gets."

  16. Snoop announces new album and return of his label

    NME

    Snoop Dogg

    We heard recently about Snoop Dogg's latest venture - Coach Snoop, a documentary following his involvement in youth soccer in the US - but it seems music is still very close to his heart. 

    The rapper's announced plans to release a new album this summer and revive his label Doggy Style Records to champion new artists. 

    In a live video on his Facebook page he called on wannabe rappers to submit demos.

    “I’m putting all kind of artists on right now," he said, "My goal is to put out 100 singles before August."

    He casually added at the end of the clip, “Oh my album? July 1st.”

    Titled The Return of Doggystyle, it's being billed as a sequel to Snoop’s classic debut, released in 1993. 

    Read more

  17. Coldplay and Laura Mvula to play concert for Prince Harry's charity

    Coldplay

    Prince Harry's charity Sentebale has announced it's hosting a music concert in the gardens of Kensington Palace on 28 June. 

    It will be headlined by Coldplay, fresh from closing this year's Glastonbury, with Laura Mvula, Nico and Vinz and George the Poet - the charity's new ambassador - on the line-up too. 

    The show will raise funds and awareness of the challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Tickets go on sale this Friday. 

    View more on twitter
  18. 1xtra report back from The Great Escape

    Rejjie Snow and Jamz Supernova

    Jamz Supernova broadcast a Great Escape special on her 1xtra show last night, catching up with a host of urban artists who attended the new music showcase in Brighton over the weekend, including Mura Masa, Jones, SG Lewis and Rejjie Snow (pictured above) - who talked about supporting Madonna on her recent tour.  

    "That happened, yeah," Rejjie told Jamz, admitting he initially didn't believe his manager that he'd been booked.

    "My mum's a big Madonna fan, she's obviously an icon. We went out to Prague and did the show, 20,000 people, two nights, a bit crazy. 

    "People weren't really into it because it was a hip-hop thing you know, a couple of people were booing me - but it's all motivation! After that show I was ready for anything, so I'm happy I did that."

    You can listen back to the whole show or a selection of clips on the website. 

    View more on twitter
  19. Secondary ticketing 'distorts market' says Arctic Monkeys manager

    The secondary ticketing business is "distorting" the market, the manager of some of the UK's biggest bands has warned.

    It comes as Which? magazine says some ticketing websites are operating outside of the law.

    Ian McAndrew manages the Arctic Monkeys and has worked with artists including Travis, Brand New Heavies and Royal Blood.  

    Ahead of a government-commissioned review into the problem of touts selling tickets online for way above the face value, he told the World Tonight what needed to be done to tackle the problem.   

    Video content

    Video caption: The manager of the Arctic Monkeys explains the problem of ticket touting.
  20. Jamie Cullum takes a trip to The White House

    Chick Corea and Jamie Cullum

    While performing at The White House during International Jazz Day recently, Jamie Cullum turned a security alert to his advantage - using the evacuation from the building as a chance to quiz some of his heroes. 

    Grabbing his recording equipment, he interviewed the evening's other guests while they were "on lockdown" - including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea (pictured with Jamie above), Marcus Miller, Robert Glasper, Kurt Elling and Esperanza Spalding.

    You can now listen to the interviews online, which went out on his Radio 2 show last night - with the jazz greats discussing everything from new records to the Obama's love of Jazz and what it's like inside The White House.