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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths and Kev Geoghegan

All times stated are UK

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  1. Thanks for joining us...

    ...but sadly our time is up for today. Scroll down for news on a special honour for The Who's Roger Daltrey, a moving statement from rapper Frank Ocean on the Orlando shootings and new music from Metronomy and The Divine Comedy. 

    We'll be back bright and early tomorrow with a look ahead to the big acts to catch at this year's Glastonbury and much more.

  2. Selena Gomez falls victim to the 'curse of the stage'

    Selena Gomez is the latest celeb to fall victim to a fate which befalls many a performer - the dreaded stage tumble.

    She managed to take a trip at a show in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sunday night.

    Luckily someone was there to catch the dive in full flow...

    View more on instagram

    And it comes just days after  her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber managed the same - though his swan dive was a thing of rare beauty...

    View more on twitter
  3. Sky Ferreira hits back at article praising her 'sex appeal'

    Sky Ferreira

    Singer Sky Ferreira has spoken out about an article in LA Weekly which saw the singer praised for her "sex appeal". 

    Last week's feature, which has since been widely condemned for its sexism, was written by regular columnist Art Tavana. 

    He likened Ferreira to an Italian sports car, Madonna, and “a more cherubic Sharon Stone, icy but also sweet, like a freshly licked lollipop.”

    LA Weekly music editor Andy Hermann published an official apology on the site the next day, and now Ferreira has shared her feelings.

    “I'm obviously a lot more than my ‘sex appeal’ or my ‘knockers’," she told fans in a whole series of tweets - some of which are below.

    "I'm not ashamed of either of those things either." 

    She added: "I'm glad that this is making people think & conversation is happening.”

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
  4. The Rolling Stones exhibition to move to New York

    The Rolling Stones

    The Rolling Stones have announced their Exhibitionism show will move to New York once the UK run is over. 

    It will continue at the Saatchi Gallery in London until 4 September before taking up residency at New York's Industria Superstudio from November.

    The show features more than 500 original and unseen artifacts from the band's personal archives and has the full cooperation of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood.

    It features The Rolling Stones collaborations with artists from Andy Warhol to Shepard Fairey and fashion designers including Ossie Clark and Alexander McQueen as well as recreations of the band's 1962 flat together on London's Edith Grove and a Stones recording studio.

    Recreation of The Rolling Stones studio at Exhibitionism
  5. The Divine Comedy unveil historical new music video

    The Divine Comedy have released the music video for the latest single Catherine The Great, a semi-romantic tribute to the famous Russian ruler.

    An admirably period-dressed Neil Hannon sings lines like "And she looked so bloody good on a horse/ they couldn't wait for her to invade."

    The video stars Elina Löwensohn as the empress...

    View more on youtube

    Catherine The Great is due out on 24 June with an album, Foreverland, out on 2 September.

  6. Imagine Dragons to play benefit gig for Orlando victims

    Imagine Dragons

    As Frank Ocean shares his thoughts on the Orlando nightclub shooting, Imagine Dragons and Nate Ruess are preparing to headline a benefit concert in aid of the victims and survivors. 

    The show's taking place on Wednesday at Hard Rock Live in Orlando to raise money for the OneOrlando Fund, set up after the Pulse nightclub shooting earlier this month which left 49 people dead and 53 injured.

    Read more

  7. Frank Ocean reflects on Orlando shootings

    Frank Ocean

    R&B singer Frank Ocean has written a moving social media post reflecting on last week's homophobic terror attacks in Orlando, Florida which left 49 people dead.

    The openly gay artist wrote: "Many hate us and wish we didn’t exist. Many are annoyed by our wanting to be married like everyone else or use the correct restroom like everyone else. Many don’t see anything wrong with passing down the same old values that send thousands of kids into suicidal depression each year. 

    "So we say pride and we express love for who and what we are. Because who else will in earnest?"

    He also recalls a transphobic incident from his youth involving his father.  

    Read his full post

  8. Netflix taps up British Djing legend for new film

    Billboard magazine

    Pete Tong

    It's all gone a bit Pete Tong over at Netflix.

    The subscription platform has apperently landed the Radio 1 veteran as its new music supervisor for EDM-themed film XOXO, starring Modern Family's Sarah Hyland.

    The movie follows six strangers whose lives collide at an electronic music festival and is scheduled to be launched on 26 August. 

    He has previously worked on films like The Beach and 24 Hour Party People.

    Read more

  9. When Elvis met Nixon at The White House

    Meeting with Elvis Presley, 21 December 1970 Nixon Presidential Materials Project, White House Central Files

    This photo is the most requested image of the American National Archives - an unlikely handshake between a pre-Watergate US President Richard Nixon and a just-past-his-peak Elvis Presley.

    The pair's meeting in the Oval Office at The White House on 21 December 1970 is now the subject of a new film Elvis and Nixon, which stars Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon.

    Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon in Elvis and Nixon

    Presley requested the meeting to express his concerns about drugs (and The Beatles) and brought the US president a gold-plated Colt 45 as a present. Nixon in turn gave him a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge. 

    BBC Arts has been exploring the cultural echoes of the unusual moment.   

  10. Metronomy debut another taster from forthcoming new album

    Joe Mount

    A new Metronomy track Night Owl has appeared online, after getting its first play on Annie Mac's Radio 1 show last night. 

    It's the third track we've heard from upcoming album Summer 08, which is due for release next Friday 1 July - following Old Skool and Back Together. 

    Songwriter and singer Joe Mount told Annie back in May that the album is ”the most fun thing I’ve done in a long time”.

    You can listen to Night Owl below - but stick with it, it takes a while (almost a minute) to get going...

    Warning: third party content, may contain adds.

    View more on youtube

    Meanwhile VANT's track Karma Seeker was Annie Mac's Hottest Record last night - listen back to the track and her interview with singer Mattie to find out more.

  11. Classical violinist finds happiness in Finnish folk music

    BBC Radio 3

    Violinist Pekka Kuusisto has said he found "happiness" after ditching classical music in favour of Finnish folk, in a moving interview with Radio 3's In Tune programme. 

    He told presenter Suzy Klein that discovering a new way to play was a lightbulb moment for him.

    "I was doing well: I had been studying, I was starting to get concerts… but I wasn't sure why I was even playing violin in the first place," he admitted, "I had gotten lost, somehow."

    Listen to Kuusisto's frank discussion about his life-changing musical discovery, and a live performance, below:

  12. Glastonbury weather update and festival tips

    Glastonbury webcam

    So the word from on site is that the mud caused by some downpours earlier in the week has started to dry up.

    It's dry at the moment (proof above) and it's not due to rain for the rest of the week.

    To get you in the mood for whichever festival you are heading to this summer - The Poke has compiled 15 tips to surviving such an event.

    We love number nine - we totally saw it first before it became mainstream and popular. 

  13. Rita Ora's long-delayed second album is a step closer

    Rita Ora

    Rita Ora has promised fans "The next chapter is going to be incredible!" - after revealing she's signed a new record deal with Atlantic Records. 

    It follows a long-running dispute with Jay Z's label Roc Nation, from which she parted company in June, over the follow up to her 2012 debut.

    Atlantic, which also represents Ed Sheeran, Birdy and Marina and the Diamonds, called Rita "a great singer who’s hugely passionate about music", adding: “We look forward to getting in the studio with her and making an incredible album.”

    As Billboard reported in December 2015, Ora took legal action against Roc Nation stating her contract violated California law due to the “seven-year rule” and claimed she had been “orphaned” by the label.

    In January this year, Roc Nation filed a counter-complaint against Ora calling for the return of $2.3 million in promotions and damages on the four remaining records in her then contract. 

    View more on instagram
  14. One in seven people in the UK pay to stream music

    Justin Bieber

    One in seven people in the UK pays for a music streaming subscription, according to new research.

    The report, for trade paper Music Week, also showed that one in 10 people regularly borrowed someone else's subscription.

    Reflecting a BBC / ICM poll earlier this year, the survey found that 42% of people who paid to stream music continued to buy it in other formats.

    Spotify remained the dominant service, capturing 62% of the market.

    The most streamed song in the UK is Sorry by Justin Bieber with over 100 million streams.

    Read more 

  15. Unseen Lionel Richie photos to go on display in London

    Lionel Richie

    Unseen photos spanning Lionel Richie's career are going on display in London, taken by photographer Alan Silfen, who's been capturing shots of Lionel since he was in The Commodores aged just 17.

    Silfen has since travelled the world with the singer and calls himself "a friendly voyeur in Lionel's life" - snapping events from his already legendary Glastonbury slot last year to shots with Princess Diana and Frank Sinatra and just kicking back in a Melbourne hotel room.

    The exhibition, which opens on 4 July, is being hosted by Mayfair hotel 45 Park Lane as part of a series of exhibitions.

    Lionel said Silfen had become "part of the family":

    Quote Message: He’s an amazing artist as well as a friend. It’s great to see all of the photographs displayed together and the experiences we’ve shared. What’s unique about this exhibition has been the selection process - revisiting the memories, the good times and stories from each special moment as well as being able to rework some of the photos especially for this.
    Lionel Richie
    Lionel Richie

    The Grammy Award-winner tours the UK from this Saturday 25 June with dates in Manchester, Colchester, London and Birmingham. 

  16. Drake *could* be toppled from UK chart lead this week

    Kungs

    While his US chart domination is secure (scroll down for more), Drake has serious competition on his hands in the UK this week, where he's been number one for 10 weeks so far with One Dance. 

    This Girl by Kungs Vs Cookin' On 3 Burners is currently winning the singles chart battle, sitting at number one ahead of Friday's Official chart countdown.

    French producer Kungs' remix of the Australian funk trio's 2009 track is 1,800 combined chart sales ahead of Drake at number 2. 

    Warning: third party content, may contain adds.

    View more on youtube

    Rick Astley's album chart reign looks to be short-lived as 50 slips to number four in the chart update. 

    Red Hot Chili Peppers' new release The Getaway is currently lagging 4,000 chart sales behind Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool - which is currently at number one after its physical release last Friday. 

    Jake Bugg's On My One is at three and Mumford & Sons five-track mini-album Johannesburg - a collaboration with Baaba Maal, The Very Best and South African band Beatenberg - is currently new at five.

    Meanwhile this week's Offical Trending Chart is topped by Sigala's collaboration with John Newman and Nile Rodgers, Give Me Your Love.

  17. Cyndi Lauper: Boy George said I would have 'so much fun' at Glasto

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    US pop legend Cyndi Lauper is looking forward to popping her Glastonbury cherry this weekend.

    She is headlining the acoustic stage on Sunday night and revealed her pal Boy George has filled her in on what to expect.

    She also talked about her long-term friendship with the British singer...

    Video content

    Video caption: Cyndi Lauper says she is 'so excited' about playing Glastonbury for the first time.
  18. Sigur Ros invite fans to a 24-hour trip round Iceland...

    Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi Birgisson

    ...and you don't even have to leave your front room, or your office, or school or wherever else you're reading this while you're (possibly) meant to be doing something else.

    The band have team up with the makers of "slow TV" - which is exactly what it sounds like -  to soundtrack a trip around their native Iceland.

    It's set to a constantly evolving soundtrack based around elements of new song óveður and not only is it being shown on Icelandic national TV (surely it's easier for people to look out of their windows?) but it's also streaming on YouTube.

    Enjoy and remember to take it S...L..O...W...w...w...

    Warning: third party content, may contain adds.

    View more on youtube
  19. Drake keeps a firm hold of the US album chart

    Drake

    Another week, another record broken for Drake...

    The Canadian rapper has clung to the top spot in the weekly US album chart for a seventh consecutive week.

    That makes him the first male artist in more than a decade to achieve the feat, according to Billboard.

    The previous artist was Eminem in 2000, who spent eight consecutive weeks at number one with The Marshall Mathers LP.

    Drake's album Views sold 121,000 copies for the week ending 16 June and his tracks were streamed more than 110 million times, according to analysts Nielsen SoundScan.

    Nick Jonas' third solo album, Last Year was Complicated took the number two slot.

  20. Roots Manuva, James Blake and Deerhunter items auctioned by Field Day

    Roots Manuva

    One-off artworks by the likes of Roots Manuva and Deerhunter - painted backstage at Field Day in London earlier this month (as pictured below) - are being auctioned off for charity by the festival. 

    James Blake, Goat, The Avalanches, Fat White Family and Beach House are among the artists who've signed Field Day tea towels for the auction, in aid of housing charity Shelter. 

    Roots Manuva painting
    Deerhunter painting

    It's live on eSolidar now and runs until 8 July.

    Read more on NME.