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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths and Kev Geoghegan

All times stated are UK

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  1. Bye for now

    Well another afternoon has passed and no Frank Ocean album has emerged. Maybe we'll have some better news for you next week.

    In the meantime, scroll down for new music from Tim Burgess, John Newman and Grimes.

    Plus find out why Slash didn't end up in the Stone Roses and who is in the running for the anti-Mercury Prize - aka the Twenty Quid Music Prize.

    See you again on Monday... 

  2. Viola Beach expected to top chart with posthumous album

    Viola Beach, the British band who were killed in a car crash in Sweden, look set to top the album charts later today, after what would have been their debut album was released in their memory. 

    All four members of the band and their manager died in February when their car plunged from a bridge into a canal near Stockholm. 

    Coldplay paid tribute to Viola Beach at Glastonbury in June, performing their track Boys That Sing as part of their headline slot on the Pyramid Stage.  

    Earlier today the brother of guitarist River Reeves, Finn, and sister of drummer Jack Dakin, Lauren, spoke to BBC Arts correspondent David Sillito about the prospect of a number one album. 

    Video content

    Video caption: Viola Beach could top album chart
  3. The pop singles in the running for £20 prize

    Little Mix

    Just in case you missed it during all yesterday's excitement about the Mercury Prize, there is another music shortlist in town...

    The (relatively) famous Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize is now in its 13th year, celebrating the best British pop single of the last twelve months.

    As the title of the award suggests, the winner, announced on 15 September (the same day as the Mercury Prize), gets "twenty quid, cash". Not to mention kudos.

    Here is this year's shortlist: 

    • Do It Well - XYconstant feat Tom Aspaul
    • Elizabeth Taylor - Clare Maguire
    • Hotter Than Hell - Dua Lipa 
    • Love Me Like You - Little Mix (pictured above)
    • Party Politics - The Rhythm Method
    • Pillowtalk - Zayn
    • Sax - Fleur East
    • Somebody Else - The 1975
    • Something In The Way You Move - Ellie Goulding
    • Tears - Clean Bandit feat Louisa Johnson
    • What’s It Gonna Be - Shura
    • You Don’t Know Love - Olly Murs
  4. Fifth Harmony's Normani on fans 'hate'

    Normani Kordei

    Fifth Harmony's Normani Kordei has defended herself on Twitter after becoming what she calls a "target of unjust hate" from her own fans.

    She's faced trolls online after hesitating in an interview when asked to find something she likes about bandmate Camila Cabello. 

    There have been rumours of a rift in the group centring around Cabello, who is working on solo material.

    "I would like to address an issue that has been completely blown out of proportion," Normani posted on Twitter.

    "I have shown nothing but commitment for the success of Fifth Harmony, even promoting on my days off but yet I always find myself as the target of unjust hate and slander.

    "I have love and respect for all four band mates whether you choose to believe it or not," she continued.

    "I am here to offer great music and performance along with my girls."

    Read more

  5. Is Revolver the Beatles' greatest album?

    BBC Culture

    BBC Culture

    The Beatles

    Exactly fifty years ago today, The Beatles released their album Revolver. Tracks like Taxman, Eleanor Rigby and Tomorrow Never Knows have helped bolster its claim to be the greatest album the band recorded.

    The record spent 34 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, seven of which were at number one.  

    It marks a further creative step forward for the band (pictured above in 1966). 

    Writing for BBC Culture, Greg Kot argues it is the Fab Four’s crowning achievement.    

    Read more

  6. Prince's ex-wife wants divorce records to remain sealed

    Prince

    Lawyers for Prince's ex-wife Manuela Testolini are arguing that records from the couple's 2006 divorce should remain sealed.

    Testolini - the late singer's second wife - appeared in a Minnesota courtroom yesterday, but did not speak.

    A local newspaper wants the couple's divorce records to be released, but Testolini's lawyers object, saying they are tied to a private settlement.

    According to the Associated Press, the newspaper's lawyer said Prince's privacy died with him and the court files are newsworthy, given the case surrounding his estate, which has an estimated value of at least $300 million (£229m).

  7. Lyric video for Tim Burgess and Peter Gordon collaboration

    As we've mentioned before, Tim Burgess has teamed up with US composer Peter Gordon for a new album due out in September.

    The pair recently debuted Begin, the opening track from the album entitled Same Language, Different Worlds, and now they've shared a lyric video for the song.

    The album's set for release on 2 September on Tim's own O Genesis label and the pair are due to play Festival No.6 in Wales that weekend.

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads. 

    View more on youtube
  8. Did Slash's taste in trousers prevent him joining The Stone Roses?

    Slash

    There has long been a rumour that Manchester legends The Stone Rosesalmost replaced John Squire with Guns N'Roses guitarist Slash. 

    Now it seems the story may be true, and it may have been Slash's leather trousers that got in the way.

    Squire departed in 1996, and was (briefly) replaced by Aziz Ibrahim - who, during a recent chat with the StageLeft podcast, confirmed that overtures were made to the legendary rock guitarist.

    "There had been auditions. Slash had offered to play," Ibrahim said.

    He added there was "a lot of bitterness and anger" towards Squire and that perhaps the band had thought: "Let’s get the greatest rock icon of all time," simply to annoy him.

    "Slash was in England and his manager wanted to manage the Roses," Ibrahim continued. 

    "They thought: ‘Yeah yeah, we’ll get this big rock icon, that would really annoy John.’ Then they said something to the effect of: ‘We’re not going to work with a guy with leather pants, are we?' 

    "So Slash wasn't in."

  9. Miguel premieres song from The Get Down soundtrack

    Miguel

    Musical series The Get Down, about the birth of hip-hop in New York, hits Netflix on 12 August and Miguel has debuted an original track from the soundtrack, due out the same day.

    The disco-inspired Cadillac premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show and you can listen to it on Rolling Stone

    The Get Down also features music from exec producer Nas, Grandmaster Flash, Zayn and Nile Rodgers. 

    Director Baz Lurhman was a guest on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show yesterday to discuss the series, and you can listen to the interview below. 

    Video content

    Video caption: The director discusses his new Netflix series about hip-hop called 'The Get Down'
  10. John Newman shares sun drenched video for Olé

    Earlier this week, we shared the devastating news that John Newman is being treated for a brain tumour, several years after he was successfully treated for the same condition. 

    In much happier news, he has shared the video for his Calvin Harris written and produced single Olé. 

    Filmed in Los Cabos, Mexico, it features both lads looking well depressed* on a boat full of lovely ladies. *not really.

    View more on youtube
  11. 6 Music to mark 20 years since Oasis at Knebworth

    BBC 6 Music

    Oasis

    BBC Radio 6 Music is to mark the 20th anniversary of Oasis at the height of their  powers, when they played in front of 250,000 people over two nights at Knebworth.

    In a special programme on Wednesday 10 August - exactly 20 years to the day after the first show - Steve Lamacq will explore the build-up to the weekend, sharing memories from those who were there, and featuring interviews with Dreadzone, Cast and Kula Shaker who supported Oasis over the weekend.

    Lamacq said: “Knebworth was the biggest moment in British rock history since The Stone Roses played Spike Island. 

    "It was a statement of just how ambitious and fearless they were. Just the idea that over two million people applied for tickets is extraordinary really, but showed just what a phenomenon they’d become." 

    Across the week, 6 Music will also broadcast programmes from the BBC archives including a documentary on the history of their label Creation Records, featuring interviews with founder Alan McGee and its main artists.

    There's also another chance to hear Mark Radcliffe take a closer look at the band in What’s The Story? The Story Of Oasis and Matt Everitt's The First Time With Noel Gallagher, when Noel chats about his first exposure to music and how the anthems of the football terraces inspired his childhood. 

  12. The frustrating life of a Frank Ocean fan

    BBC Newsbeat

    Frank Ocean

    Being a Frank Ocean fan - and enduring the long and much-teased wait for his second album - could try the patience of a saint. 

    Michael Raya, the 21-year-old behind Twitter account Frank Ocean Daily, has told Newsbeat it's "exhausting but exciting trying to find him". 

    The singer teased fans about his album release again earlier this week with a live stream of a man doing woodwork.

    Each move Ocean makes is eagerly monitored by fans including Raya.

    "It's been an adventure trying to keep up with him and what he's been doing," he said.

    "There's a lot of fake information out there and people aren't really happy when you put out fake information.

    "They don't really get mad at you, they get mad at Frank."

    Read more

  13. Katy Perry shares video for Rio anthem Rise

    As the world gears up for tonight's opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio, Katy Perry's shared the video for her track Rise, the soundtrack to NBC's US coverage of the 2016 games. 

    The video sees Perry travelling solo across Utah’s Snow Canyon and Sand Hollow State Parks, with a pesky pink parachute doing its best to hold her back.

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads.

    View more on youtube

    You can also check out this handy guide to the seven times Perry has smashed it with her videos. 

    And if it's coverage of the opening ceremony you're after, you may want to settle in for a late one - it airs in the UK on BBC One from 23:40 BST until 04:00. 

  14. The top 20 'greatest symphonies of all time'

    Beethoven

    Beethoven's dominated a list of the 20 greatest symphonies of all time, voted for by 151 of the world's top conductors including Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Antonio Pappano.

    Beethoven's Symphony No 3, Eroica, topped the poll carried out by BBC Music Magazine, with five of his works making the top 20, including his final complete symphony No 9 in second place. 

    Mozart’s final Symphony No 41, Jupiter, completed the top three with more surprise choices included Armenian composer Arvet Terterian’s rarely-heard Symphony No 3 (1975) and Havergal Brian’s gigantic Gothic Symphony (1927).

    You can have your say by taking part in their #SymphonyWorldCup on Twitter. 

  15. The Beatles 'would be touring again' says Ringo Starr

    Ringo Starr

    Ringo Starr has said in an interview that if John Lennon and George Harrison had been around, The Beatles would have toured together again.

    "We would have gotten over our difficulties and gotten on the road again," he told Bloomberg Business Week.

    The drummer also opened up about his thoughts on streaming: "Though the Beatles are streaming now and have had a billion streams, I haven’t actually done it myself. If I’m in the car, I usually listen to the radio."

    He shared his views on Brexit too, and why he voted Leave: "I thought the European Union was a great idea, but I didn’t see it going anywhere lately. It’s in shambles... Britain should be out and get back on its own feet."

    Read more 

  16. Radio 1 kicks off its weekend in Ibiza

    View more on twitter

    Radio 1 has decamped to Ibiza for the weekend, with Annie Mac broadcasting last night's show live from the White Isle and joining the likes of Toddla T, B.Traits, Pete Tong and Monki for a live mix on Grimmy's Breakfast show live from Cafe Mambo this morning. 

    Find out who's broadcasting when from clubs including Ushuaia and Space tonight and tomorrow. 

    View more on twitter
  17. Grimes shares track from Suicide Squad soundtrack

    Grimes

    Grimes has shared new tune Medieval Warfare, written for the soundtrack to Suicide Squad. 

    The Canadian singer says she was "very stoked" to be asked to contribute to the movie, based on the the DC Comics antihero team of the same name, which stars the likes of Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Viola Davis. 

    Medieval Warfare debuted on Apple's Beats 1 and you can listen to it and Grimes' chat with DJ Zane Lowe (where she also reveals she's "dead serious” about wanting to train for the mixed martial arts UFC) on the Pitchfork website

    Grimes Suicide Squad artwork

    The Suicide Squad soundtrack - out today along with the movie - also features Eminem, Lil Wayne, a Bohemian Rhapsody cover by Panic! at the Disco and a collaboration between Skrillex and Rick Ross, which you can listen to below.

    It's fair to say the music is faring better than reviews for the film, which currently scores just 27% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads. 

    View more on youtube
  18. CSS cover Duran Duran's Rio for the Olympics

    CSS

    As it's the opening of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero tonight, we've got a pretty appropriate track to share now - Brazilian electro outfit CSS have covered Duran Duran's 80s classic Rio.

    The band made the announcement on their Facebook page writing: "In Tribute to the Olympics in the house, we did a cover of river of Duran Duran, with participation of Simon Le Bon and John Taylor (!!!!!)."

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads. 

    View more on Soundcloud
  19. Amy's Place rehab centre opens in singer's memory

    The Amy Winehouse Foundation was set up after the singer's death five years ago with the aim of helping young people with drink and drug problems.

    Now it has teamed up with a London housing provider to open Amy's Place, a new recovery house that's hoping to help re-integrate women back into society after rehab.

    Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27. 

    BBC reporter Alice Salfield got a tour of Amy's Place in east London.

    Video content

    Video caption: Amy's Place opens
  20. Libertines to headline unity concert

    The Libertines

    The Libertines are headlining a gig on behalf of the Unity Rocks organisation - set up by their drummer Gary Powell - which is aiming to unify the UK through music.

    The Hope Not Hate event at the O2 Academy in Brixton on 7 September will feature support from rapper/producer Rat Boy. 

    Powell said: "The idea of ‘Unity Rocks’ is to bring people together, regardless of their creed, colour, religion or whether they voted Brexit or not. This is not about politics or politicians, it’s about unifying as a nation and working to make a united more tolerant Britain."

    The gig will see the Libs off on their tour of South America in October, which takes in dates in Mexico, Chile and Argentina.