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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths & Mark Savage

All times stated are UK

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  1. That's your lot...

    Sadly that's the end of today's Music News LIVE, but scroll down for new music from Little Mix, Gorillaz and one of Radiohead plus tour news from Drake and Busted, all the highlights from #Oldchella and star-studded performances from Alicia Keys and Beyonce.

    We'll be back bright and early tomorrow, but we can't go without sharing this sight to behold - Justin Bieber's waxwork has been given a sweaty makeover. No need to thank us...

    Video content

    Video caption: Justin Bieber gets a wax makeover for Madam Tussauds
  2. Gorillaz album 'finished in two weeks'

    Gorillaz

    Damon Albarn says the new Gorillaz record is almost ready... according to a fan who interrogated him while posing for a selfie.

    Posting on Reddit, the tastily-named "Placid Burrito" said: "My friend met Damon last night and inquired about progress on the album. 

    "Damon was apparently very friendly and let them know that they're mere weeks away from finishing recording! I'm just passing on the info."

    Setting aside the fact that this is a rumour from a friend of someone on an internet messaging board, finishing the record doesn't mean it'll be available in two weeks. There are a whole load of tedious things to sort out after that - mastering, artwork, sample clearance and the rest.

    But still, the recent activity on the band's Twitter account suggests new Gorillaz material is coming sooner rather than later.

  3. Desert Trip highlights

    Here are just some of the key moments from the first weekend of the Desert Trip festival in California, whose line-up reads like a Who's Who of Classic Rock...

    Video content

    Video caption: The Rolling Stones joined several huge rock bands for a concert in the Californian desert.
  4. OneRepublic on famous neighbours and damn good coffee

    Mark Savage

    Music reporter

    Ryan Tedder

    Ryan Tedder is probably more famous for working with Adele and Beyonce than he is for his own band, OneRepublic.

    As a result, his interviews always focus on other artists: "What's Adele like in the studio?"; "How did you write Halo?" - that sort of thing.

    So, as an experiment, I decided to ask him about anything other than songwriting - and the results are fascinating.

    Did you know he collected historical letters? Or that the secret service lock down his street twice a year? And why is he writing a book about coffee shops?

    Read the interview to find out

  5. X Factor act Brooks Way drop out of the show

    Brooks Way

    X Factor hopefuls Brooks Way have now dropped out of the ITV talent show after one of the duo was accused of sending threatening messages to an ex-girlfriend. 

    Producers had pulled the brothers' performance from Saturday night's first live show at the last minute. 

    Singer Josh Brooks said: "Due to events in my personal life I've decided that it's best not to be on the show at this time. 

    "While not everything that has been claimed is true I would like to apologise to everyone involved." 

    Meanwhile an X Factor spokesman added: "Following the allegations relating to Josh Brooks, we have decided by mutual consent that Brooks Way should leave the competition." 

    They'll be replaced by another group yet to be announced.

    Read more

  6. American Music Awards nominations revealed

    View more on twitter

    Fight Song singer Rachel Platten and Joe Jonas have announced the nominations for the 2016 American Music Awards (AMAs) live on Good Morning America - including (rather handily) a few nominations for themselves.

    Drake leads the charge with a whopping 13 nominations - beating Michael Jackson's record for the most in a single year. Rihanna's a distant second, with seven, while Adele and Justin Bieber have five each.

    Jonas's group DNCE are up for two, including new artist of the year; and Platten is up for favourite adult contemporary artist (as opposed to favourite old-fashioned child artist?) alongside Adele and Meghan Trainor...

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter

    The full (and long) list of nominees is on the AMAs website, but here's who's up for artist of the year:

    • Adele
    • Beyonce
    • Justin Bieber
    • Drake
    • Selena Gomez
    • Ariana Grande
    • Rihanna
    • Twenty One Pilots
    • Carrie Underwood
    • The Weeknd  
  7. Jay Z and Alicia Keys perform Empire State of Mind in Times Square

    Like the headline says...

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    The performance was in aid of Keys' new album, Here, which is out in November.

    The star also played a cover of John Lennon's Imagine, in honour of what would have been his 76th birthday, while Nas turned up to play One Love from his classic album Illmatic.

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
  8. Busted announce new tour for their new sound

    Busted

    Busted fans were treated to a full on nostalgia-fest when the band reunited for their Pigs Might Fly Tour earlier this year but, ahead of the release of their first new album in more than a decade, they've announced another tour next year.

    The band will play 21 dates around the UK in January and February, with tickets on sale later this week. 

    Charlie, James and Matt recently unveiled their grown-up new sound via the single On What You're On and when we caught up with them recently they admitted getting the two versions of Busted to gel together in a live show could be "a sticky point". 

    "That's going to be the hardest part of this whole process," said Charlie, "but with the old songs we are going to reinvent them a bit. 

    "We did for the [reunion] tour, the songs sounded different.

    "We will always play some of the old songs. We're not just going to not play old songs. But there will be a transition period as we move on."

    The new album Night Driver is out on 11 November.

  9. C Duncan plays new album live for BBC Scotland

    Scottish artist C Duncan got a Mercury nomination for his debut album, Architect, which he recorded in his bedroom, hitting his IKEA chair to make percussion sounds.

    The follow-up, The Midnight Sun, was released on Friday, named after a Twilight Zone episode about the Earth heating up after its orbit changes path and starts heading towards the Sun.

    Full of spacey, dream-pop lullabies, the album has garnered several four and five star reviews already. And, on Friday, the musician popped up on BBC Scotland's music show The Quay Sessions to play six of the tracks live for the first time.

    You can watch the full episode above. 

  10. Beyonce closes Formation tour with trio of special guests

    View more on instagram

    Beyonce wrapped up her Formation world tour on Friday night with a performance at New Jersey's MetLife stadium, after playing 49 dates in six months.

    To celebrate, she brought out Mr Beyonce, Jay Z, for Drunk In Love, and tennis legend Serena Williams for Sorry.

    The star also played the Lemonade album track 6 Inch for the first time, while suspended upside down above the stage.

    But the real highlight was a show-stopping duet with Kendrick Lamar, who reprised his section from the single Freedom, while splashing around in a paddling pool at the end of the stage (we are not making this up).

    There is some fan-shot (ie rubbish) footage of the song below...

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads.

    View more on youtube
  11. Profits at Beggars Group skyrocket - thanks to Adele

    Adele

    Operating profits at Beggars Group - home to indie labels like 4AD, Rough Trade Records and XL Recordings - reached £16.7m last year, a rise of 229.2%.

    The figures, published via Companies House, are largely down to Adele's 25, which sold more than 10 million copies in November and December last year. 

    Her success will, in turn, help to fund acts like Lapsley, Kaytranada, The xx and Badly Drawn Boy.

  12. Lady Gaga to take part in Carpool Karaoke

    View more on twitter

    In case you missed it, Lady Gaga revealed over the weekend that she's the latest star to hitch a ride with James Corden for his Carpool Karaoke segment. 

    After being spotted out and about filming the viral segment for The Late Late Show (which producers say is "coming soon"), Gaga tweeted a picture of her and Corden wearing matching pink cowboy hats. 

    Let's hope the British presenter wasn't tempted to try too many of Gaga's other famous get ups. Corden in a meat dress anyone?

    View more on twitter
  13. Kate Tempest forced to pull out of 6 Music Live

    Kate Tempest

    Kate Tempest had to cancel today's 6 Music Live performance at the last minute, due to illness. 

    She was due to play live on Lauren Laverne's show, but the presenter broke the news that she was "really not well enough" to perform, after a morning of rehearsals...

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter

    Tempest has since tweeted her apologies too, adding that her in store gigs tonight and tomorrow night are also off...

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    Slow Club had kicked off 6 Music Live during this morning's breakfast show. Catch up on their set or get more details on the website

    Slow Club

    Still to come today are John Cooper Clarke in Manchester with Radcliffe and Maconie, a session from Jamie T - fresh from a raucous sold out show at Brixton Academy last night - in London with Steve Lamacq and Parquet Courts on Marc Riley's evening show.

  14. Fans split over decision to display Prince's ashes

    Prince

    Prince's former home and recording studio complex opened to the public last week in Minneapolis.

    The 65,000 square foot Paisley Park mansion includes studio and office spaces where Prince worked and the performance areas where he rehearsed for his tours. However his living quarters, and the elevator where was found dead on 21 April, are off limits.

    But an urn containing the star's remains reportedly is on display in the foyer, reports the St Paul Pioneer Press.

    According to Stereogum, the ceramic and glass urn was designed by Prince's sister and nephew and features seven (Prince’s favourite number) iridescent crystals.

    Fans have expressed mixed emotions about the star's ashes being on view...

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    View more on twitter
  15. Nicki Minaj announces new album... kind of

    Nicki Minaj

    Over the weekend, Nicki Minaj announced she was about to "drop" (release) a new album called Pick My Fruit Out.

    In a series of tweets, she said the album was coming on Sunday night, and unveiled a fruit-based tracklisting including future classics Grapes, Mango and Banana (Harambe interlude).

    Sadly, she later admitted that the whole thing was an elaborate ruse, telling fans she had "been cryin laughin this whole time"...

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter

    We're just excited to learn who that rapper might have been? Fruit Lupe Fiasco? Kendrick Lamarmalade? Snacklemore? WE DEMAND ANSWERS.

  16. Little Mix announce new single, Shout Out To My Ex

    Little Mix

    Little Mix have announced the first single off their forthcoming album will be called Shout Out To My Ex, and will premiere live on The X Factor this Sunday - after which it will be immediately available to download.

    It was written by the band in conjunction with Iain James, who wrote their debut single Wings; and Camille Purcell, who wrote last year's Black Magic.

    "Shout Out To My Ex is a song that we're sure loads of people can relate to," said Jade Thirlwall. 

    "It's all about moving on after a relationship ends to bigger and better things, and leaving the past where it should be."

    So there you go.

    View more on twitter

    Read Radio 1's round-up of other bands that have sent a message to their exes. 

    Little Mix's fourth album - the follow up to the biggest-seller of their career so far, Get Weird - will be out before Christmas.    

  17. Drake to play six nights at the O2

    Drake

    R&B star Drake has announced a UK tour for 2017, which will incorporate an impressive six nights at London's O2 Arena.

    The star, whose One Dance spent 16 weeks at number one earlier this year, will also visit Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow and Birmingham in January and February next year.

    The dates follow his wildly successful Summer Sixteen tour in the US, which featured an array of special guests, including Rihanna, Eminem, 2 Chainz, and even basketball star LeBron James - who danced and sang along to the track Pop Style.

    Drake had to postpone several of the dates after sustaining an ankle injury - and delayed his most recent concert, in Montreal, for 40 minutes as he had a dressing applied.

    However, he is expected to be back in full health for the UK tour.

    The dates include a night in Birmingham on 22 February, which is the same night as the Brit Awards - where Drizzy is almost certain to win best international male. 

    We wonder whether he'll open the ceremony before racing up the M6 to make his headline show?

    The full UK tour dates are as follows:

    January 2017

    • Thurdsay 26 - The Hydro, Glasgow, UK
    • Saturday 28 - The O2, London, UK 
    • Monday 30 - The O2, London, UK

    February 2017

    • Wednesday 1 -  The O2, London, UK
    • Thursday 2 - The O2, London, UK
    • Saturday 4 - The O2, London, UK
    • Sunday 5 - The O2, London, UK
    • Wednesday 8 - First Direct Arena, Leeds UK
    • Saturday 11 - Manchester Arena, Manchester, UK
    • Sunday 12 - Manchester Arena, Manchester UK
    • Friday 17 - Sheffield Arena, Sheffield UK
    • Sunday 19 - 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
    • Wednesday 22 - Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, UK 
    • Thursday 23 - Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, UK
  18. Stormzy headlines 1xtra Live in Liverpool

    1Xtra

    Stormzy at 1xtra Live

    Stormzy closed 1xtra Live in Liverpool on Saturday night, topping a line-up that boasted Wiley, Giggs and Wretch 32 - and marking his final gig of the year, after he was forced to cancel dates in Australia last month.

    You can catch up with the highlights of his set, find out 11 times 1xtra Live smashed it, check out a photo gallery of the night and watch lots of live performances online now, including Stormzy's latest single, Cold...

    Other performers (pictured below) included Sean Paul, Lady Leshurr and Craig David - who was celebrating topping the charts on Friday with his first UK number one album in 16 years...

    Craig David
    Lady Leshurr
    Sean Paul

    If you can't be bothered to watch and listen back to the whole thing (and let's face it, none of us have decent attention spans any more... is that a biscuit?) here's a handy round-up of the entire event in just 90 seconds...

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    Video caption: The biggest moments from our biggest gig of the year.
  19. Bands get government funding to boost foreign sales

    Catfish and the Bottlemen

    British bands are to get £2.8 million in government funding to help them break into international markets.

    The money will be distributed through the record industry's Music Export Growth Scheme which has already helped fund the careers of Catfish and the Bottlemen (pictured above), Public Service Broadcasting and 2014 Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers.

    Music is one of Britain's biggest exports - with UK acts artists accounting for almost one in every six artist albums sold worldwide in 2015. But a recent report warned that Britain's influence could be damaged by Brexit, and called on the government to support the music industry.

    Bands can apply for a grant - worth up to £50,000 - on the BPI website from today until Monday 7 November. The winning applicants will be announced in December.

    Read more

  20. Radiohead's sessions with Jack White won't be released

    Ed O'Brien

    Four years ago, as they wrapped up the tour for The King Of Limbs, Radiohead spent a few days recording material in Jack White's Third Man studios in Nashville.

    Fans have long wondered what happened to the material - but it seems it will never be released.

    "It was alright," guitarist Ed O'Brien told BBC 6 Music. "Jack was so hospitable, him and his engineer [but] listen, it’s notworth waiting for. If anything was amazing, you can be sure we’d try and put it out."

    O'Brien was being interviewed on The First Time, in which musicians look back over their career and the music that shaped their lives.

    He revealed that visiting Brazil and being exposed to music by the likes of Jorge Ben and Gilberto Gil had helped lift him out of a depression "at the height of OK Computer".

    Those experiences have informed his first solo album, which he hopes to record next year.

    "After the last load of touring, I said to the guys [that] in five years time me and my wife are going to go and live in Brazil for a year. 

    "I was really aware that I’d had so many adventures with this band, I wanted to have an adventure with my family.

    "So we went to live in Brazil, and we lived on a little farm... next to a waterfall. And I would go each day, walk up the hill to this beautiful little hut next to this lake and I started writing."

    Listen to the clip below - and catch the whole programme on the BBC 6 Music website.

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    Video caption: Ed O'Brien on the importance of Brazil