Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths and Kev Geoghegan

All times stated are UK

Get involved

  1. Have a great weekend

    Well, we are done for the day but please scroll down for all the big names from the Silver Clef awards, including Lionel Richie, Craig David, Olly Murs and Jess Glynne.

    Plus there's an eerily beautiful new music video from Jamie xx, a slightly less beautiful new video by David Brent plus Patti Smith looks ahead to this weekend's British Summertime gig in Hyde Park.

    See you next week.

  2. Lionel Richie on the UK: 'I come here for the rain'

    Lionel Richie

    Lionel Richie's UK tour continues in London tomorrow and he's very much enjoying the UK fans - some of whom mobbed him outside the Silver Clef Awards in London earlier.

    "The Brits are just mad," he told us on the red carpet.

    "They would pay money to come see my show so they could sing. Who does that? I go, 'would you like me to sing the song?'. They go 'no!'. They sing every song! I’m having a ball."

    But the singer says he's now in the UK so often, people think he's moved here.

    "I don’t know if everyone thinks I’m living in Britain but all I get from customs on, is ‘Welcome home!’. 

    "Don’t take this wrong, but I come here for the rain! It’s the only place it rains every day. 

    "We get nothing but sun in southern California and it gets boring. And so I get a chance to wear some clothes. I come to Britain and my staff think I’m nuts, I’m like, 'I’m going out to walk out in the rain'."

    Lionel Richie

    Lionel even admitted feeling nostalgic watching this year's Glastonbury on TV, after his record-breaking legends slot there in 2015.

    "I really did - all I could think about was 'is the sun going to shine or is it going to rain?'," he said. 

    "[Last year] they kept telling me 'it’s going to rain' and it didn’t rain. It stopped right as I walked on stage and I was a little disappointed, as they had built up the wellies as being my shoe of choice that weekend."

    Lionel plays the O2 this Saturday and Sunday and next Wednesday 6 July, as well as Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena on 7 July - no wellies required. 

  3. Craig David: Glastonbury's newest fan

    Sarah Jane Griffiths

    Entertainment reporter

    Craig David

    Is there anyone enjoying making music more than Craig David right now? 

    The singer brought his positive vibes and big grin to the Silver Clef Awards to pick up this year's Innovation Award. 

    "I'm just so grateful," he told us on the red carpet. "I’ve got my friends and family. I wake up in the morning thinking about music and finish the day with a song, that didn’t exist, in my hand."

    Other reasons to be cheerful include his recent Glastonbury debut, and he's still buzzing after tearing up the Sonic tent on Sunday night. 

    Quote Message: It was overwhelming when I jumped on the stage. I saw so many people pack out the tent going out however far. People told me about 25,000 people came to see me, which is just crazy to take in. There was a moment when the crowd started to erupt at the end and it kept on escalating, getting louder and louder, and I was like ‘this is too surreal for me!’.

    And it seems we have a Glastonbury convert on our hands:   

    Quote Message: I really genuinely understand why Glastonbury is so special. Everyone was there for the music and regardless of it raining or not raining, or the mud, they came to have a good time. When I ventured out and got in the mix and saw what was happening - not just the stages, the hideout little vibes - I can see why people rough it up, it’s wicked. I would genuinely love to go back and play there, but to be in the mix of it? The boots were on and I was in it.
  4. Jamie xx releases new music video for Gosh

    Jamie xx video for Gosh

    Jamie xx has shared a new music video for the track Gosh, taken from last year's Mercury-nominated album In Colour.

    The promo has been directed by Romain Gavras who was responsible for MIA's Bad Girls and controversial Born Free videos.

    At the moment, it seems to be an exclusive on Apple music but you can watch it here.

    Jamie is also due to play at the BST Festival in London's Hyde Park tomorrow night, supporting Florence and the Machine.

  5. Olly Murs used music as therapy to get over his heartbreak

    Olly Murs

    While he admits he might not pick up many awards, Olly Murs is chuffed to pieces with his best male Silver Clef. 

    "I’m very proud of this one. Nordoff Robbins is a great charity so to be a part of this is briliant," he said.

    "Every album, as artists we go into a studio and write about our experiences and what we go through and that is therapy really. 

    "I've just been through a break up with my girlfriend so it was good to write about that. If music was taken away from me, I don’t know what I’d be able to do, so it’s a real honour to get this today."

  6. Lionel Richie honoured with the special Silver Clef Award

    Lionel Richie

    As the winner of the afternoon's big Silver Clef award, Lionel Richie was in demand on the red carpet, and was a bit overwhelmed by all the attention.

    Mopping his brow with a handkerchief as he made his way along the media run, he joked "I think this could be the farewell tour. When they give you all these awards back to back, it's like 'is this goodbye?!'."

    He said he was really honoured:

    Quote Message: To me, this is the best thing in the world because attached to it is a charity. You get to give back, it’s not just to be famous. That’s part of the equation, but the universe didn’t give this to you just to be famous, what you gonna do with it? That’s why I love this award - attached to it is some kids that are probably going to use music therapy as I used it - to pull themselves back together again.
    Barry Gibb

    Lionel was presented with the award by Barry Gibb, fresh from joining Coldplay on stage at Glastonbury on Sunday. 

    The Bee Gees star told us why he thinks Lionel is such a deserving winner: 

    Quote Message: Well there’s a lifetime of great songs, especially where I’m concerned the love songs. I’m a love song freak you know. That’s my taste, so I feel close to that, I feel close to Lionel.
    Quote Message: We met at the Madison Square Garden show many years ago and basically we’re airport friends. You pass people in airports and you always say hello and it’s sort of a friendship, but you don’t really know each other, so it’s like that for Lionel and I. So tonight I get to be a little bit closer.
  7. Silver Clef Awards: ELO's Jeff Lynne is excited to be 'an icon'

    Jeff Lynne

    Another artist still shaking the Glastonbury mud off today is ELO's Jeff Lynne, who took the coveted Sunday afternoon Legends slot at the festival, and is being honoured with the Icon Award at the Silver Clefs today.

    "It was amazing, I really enjoyed it. I’d never been before and to be on there and get that slot that we had was super."

    He told us he was very honoured to be named an Icon, by music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins.

    "This is a beautiful thing and I’m very proud of it. I never have taken anything for granted, I’m always shocked when I get anything but this is up there at the top," he said.

    "It’s a very prestigious thing and I actually went to the charity and saw for myself and saw what they did. 

    "I write a song if I’m fed up so it’s easy for me. It’s a beautiful thing to watch and I saw someone being made very happy.

  8. Silver Clef Awards: Jess Glynne 'still recovering' from Glastonbury

    Jess Glynne

    Jess Glynne told us she's "still recovering" from the mud at Glastonbury.

    The winner of Silver Clef's best newcomer award admitted it had been "a mad mad week" after making her debut on the Pyramid Stage at the weekend.

    "I had to get out of there, it was too muddy. I don’t like mud," she admitted.

    "Walking in wellies, it takes an hour to get anywhere! I’m still recovering, my thighs!"

    Luckily her award has cheered her right up.

    "I’m really excited, it’s a really special thing to be a part of.  Any recognition and being appreciated for your work is a really special feeling."

  9. Olly Murs 'doesn't win many awards'

    Olly Murs has been speaking on the red carpet at the Silver Clef awards, where he is being presented with the award for best male by music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins.

    View more on twitter
  10. Fearne Cotton talks new weekend slot on Radio 2

    BBC Radio 2

    Fearne Cotton has revealed her thoughts about taking over Graham Norton's weekend slot on Radio 2 over the summer with her co-host, actor and former pop star Martin Kemp. 

    They will also be joined by guests including Olly Murs, Chrissie Hynde and Ricky Gervais. 

    Video content

    Video caption: Fearne is sitting in for Graham Norton this summer alongside a cracking co-host
  11. Rapper accused Justin Timberlake of 'benefiting from black culture'

    Billboard magazine

    Vic Mensa

    Rapper Vic Mensa has weighed in on Justin Timberlake's latest Twitter spat, in which he was accused of appropriating black culture for his own use.

    Earlier this week, Timberlake had tweeted his appreciation for a speech made by actor Jesse Williams at the BET awards, saying he was "inspired".

    Later, responding to a journalist's criticism about Timberlake's use of black culture, the star defended himself, saying "we are all the same".

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter

      Timberlake later apologised.  

    View more on twitter

    Now Vic Mensa, speaking on a US chat show on Wednesday, said: "Our problem here is that Justin Timberlake himself, you know, is definitely benefiting from using black culture for his sound, his dance moves, his dancers and blowing up off of it."

    But, he added: "If you roll down Justin Timberlake's Twitter for the past two years, which I just did, you see nothing that supports black people when it's more difficult, when there's a struggle. With everything that's going on and everybody that's been killed by police on camera in the last couple of years."

    JT has yet to respond to Mensa's comments.

    Read more

    Following the show, Mensa tweeted:

    View more on twitter
  12. Silver Clef Awards get underway in London

    Sarah Jane Griffiths

    Entertainment reporter

    View more on twitter

    The Silver Clef Awards are kicking off at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, with the likes of Lionel Richie, Jeff Lynne, Florence and Olly Murs all on their way. 

    Peter Andre was first on the red carpet as he's interviewing the winners for charity Nordoff Robbins which runs the event - and is pumped about speaking to Lionel. 

    "I once had the honour of performing in front of Lionel nearly 20 years ago, and today I could be interviewing him, so for me that's a real honour," he said. 

    He's also looking forward to catching up with Craig David - the winner of this year's Innovation Award - whose mum is apparently also a huge Andre fan. 

    "I know Craig quite well. His mum's a big fan so I did a big photo with Craig's mum a few weeks ago. He's great, he's a great talent."

  13. David Brent unleashes new video for single Lady Gypsy

    Ricky Gervais has unveiled the music video for the haunting ballad Lady Gypsy.

    It's ahead of the release of new film Life on the Road - due in cinemas in August.

    View more on twitter

      He's also announced two new live gigs:  

    View more on twitter
  14. One Direction to be named best live act

    One Direction

    One Direction are to be named best live act at the O2 Silver Clef Awards this lunchtime for the second time, despite being on 'hiatus'.

    They beat Adele, Little Mix and Ed Sheeran to win the award taking more than 60% of the public vote, in the only award of the day to be decided by fans.

    Other winners include Olly Murs and Florence Welch - who have won best male and best female respectively.

    We'll be catching up with some of the winners later on.

    Read more

  15. Lawyer in Led Zeppelin copyright trial is suspended

    The Hollywood Reporter

    Francis Malofiy

    The lawyer who accused Led Zeppelin of copying the intro to Stairway to Heaven from a track by the band Spirit has been suspended from practicing law.  

    According to the Hollywood Reporter, Francis Malofiy's professional behaviour has been subject to repeated judicial scrutiny and a ruling made on Thursday has suspended him for three months.

    He is accused of violating "various rules of conduct" during a copyright infringement lawsuit over Usher's song Bad Girl.

    During the six-day Led Zepp trial, Malofiy had more than 100 sustained objections and multiple admonishments from the judge.

    A prolonged series of questions about Led Zeppelin's interviews in the 1960s and 70s led Judge Klausner to interrupt, saying: "How many times can we beat a dead horse?"

    Following his suspension, if the estate of the late Spirit songwriter Randy Wolfe want to appeal, Malofiy could be unable to take part in any further trial.

    Read more

  16. Patti Smith: 'Playing in Hyde Park has a special meaning to me'

    Sarah Jane Griffiths

    Entertainment reporter

    Patti Smith

    Patti Smith has been sharing her excitement at playing London's Hyde Park tonight, where she and her band join headliners Massive Attack for the first in this year's series of British Summertime in Hyde Park shows. 

    The American singer-songwriter and punk poet told the BBC she is "thrilled" to be playing in the same park that's hosted artists from The Rolling Stones to The Who and Pink Floyd, as well as anti-war marches - and it has a "special meaning" for her:

    Quote Message: I can remember in 1969 I was in Paris with my sister when The Rolling Stones played in Hyde Park to remember Brian Jones. And I didn't have the money to leave Paris and go to London, but I just wished so much that I could be in Hyde Park and just thought it was such a beautiful place of gathering and remembrance. So it has a special meaning to me, just to have this opportunity to play.

    Smith, who recently filled us in on her writing projects - including a follow up to her hit memoir Just Kids - said she would be making time to write in her hotel room while she was in the city, adding "I always do good work here."  

    The Because the Night singer took a break from music to raise her two children but started touring again in the 90s, and says mixing it up means she's always happy to take to the stage. 

    Quote Message: I actually love to perform live. All the other ways that I work are very solitary, so touring is a different experience because I have my band and my crew and of course performing with people. So it's still special because it's not the only thing that I do, but it's unique in that it's the most collaborative thing that I do.
    Patti Smith and the Dalai Lama on stage at Glastonbury 2015

    Smith - who brought the Dalai Lama on stage with her when she performed at Glastonbury in 2015 (pictured above) - joins Massive Attack, TV on the Radio, Warpaint and Ghostpoet on tonight's line-up.

    "You know, I'm a person that listens to opera and Jimmy Hendrix," she said of her fellow performers. 

    "I'm not completely in tune with what's happening in contemporary music, but I just like that it's happening. Whether I've heard of them or not, people are bringing new ideas and I'm just happy to be part of it."

  17. Chase & Status land another Hottest Record and reveal new collaboration

    Chase & Status have revealed they've teamed up with Shy Fx for one of the tracks on their forthcoming new album.

    The duo told Annie Mac they're "not allowed" to announce too many details, but revealed it has 15 tracks, one of which is the Shy Fx collaboration.

    "It's [been] a long time in the making and finally we've made a song together and we all love it man," they said. "And it's great to work with Shy, and we're excited about the record, we really are."

    The new Rude Kid remix of their track Spoken Word, also featuring Ghetts, was the show's Hottest Record last night. 

    Annie chatted to all four of them about the musical projects they have brewing, including Chase & Status' forthcoming headline slot at Wireless. 

    Listen to the chat and the track below: 

  18. Apple 'in exploratoratory talks' to buy Tidal

    Tidal launch in New York

    Apple is considering buying Jay Z's music-streaming service Tidal. 

    According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, "exploratory talks" have been taking place but may not result in a deal.

    Jay bought the service from Swedish tech firm Aspiro for a reported $56m (£42m) before unveiling it at a star-studded event in New York last March, with guests including Kanye West, Beyonce and Alicia Keys - who all have stakes in Tidal.

    But it has not gone smoothly for the A-list owners, as people have baulked at an expensive monthly subscription fee and several executives have quit.

    Kanye released his latest album The Life of Pablo "exclusively" on the service, only for it to show up on other streaming sites a fortnight later.

    Last week, he also premiered his controversial new music video for Famous, featuring naked portrayals of celebs including Taylor Swift.

    However, a Tidal spokesman has also apparently denied a deal has been discussed with Apple.

    Watch this space.

  19. Sean Paul and Wiz Khalifa to headline Bestival

    Wiz Khalifa and Sean Paul

    Hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa and dancehall star Sean Paul have been added to the line-up for this year's Bestival - sharing the top of Sunday night's bill in a "massive soundsystem superclash".

    They join previously announced headliners The Cure, Major Lazer and Hot Chip at Rob da Bank's Isle Of Wight festival in September. 

    Sean Paul said he "can't wait" to play the festival, adding: 

    "I've heard the grand finale on the Sunday night is the best festival spot in the UK and I'm gonna bring the fyyyaahhh."

    We hear ya...

    Read more

  20. Morning all, brollies up...

    It may be a drizzly start to July out there but there is loads of new music to keep your spirits up today from the likes of Biffy Clyro, Metronomy, Blink 182 and Fergie.

    Plus we'll be at the Silver Clef Awards a bit later to meet Lionel Richie, Olly Murs and Massive Attack among others.

    In the meantime, check out Thursday's Music News LIVE for Rihanna's Star Trek Beyond theme Sledgehammer, news on Lil Wayne's prison memoir and new music from Jamie T and Shaggy.