News updates for 16 January 2016
Skepta leads Brit award nominations
Singer Jennifer Holliday pulls out of Trump inauguration
Christine and the Queens hope for new record 'by end of the year'
That's all for today's Music News LIVE page.
If you're just joining us - firstly where have you been? secondly scroll down to find out more about Christine and the Queens' second album and Sting's possible new supergroup.
You can also see Paul Weller in his Sherlock/Viking disguise (yes reallly) and find out the latest Glastonbury line-up news.
We'll be back same time tomorrow morning see you then.
NME
Image source, gettyThe designer of David Bowie's Blackstar album cover has said that the singer did not know about some of the secrets and messages he had put into it.
When asked if Bowie asked him to fill the artwork with secrets, Jonathan Barnbrook replied: “No, he didn’t – he didn’t know about some of them.”
The singer died of cancer in January 2016 two days after the album's release.
Fans discovered the secrets months later.
Barnbrook also told the NME that he thought the singer might have been planning to do some live dates for the album.
Quote MessageI didn’t know he was ill when I met him that June. He was so full of energy and so positive. I asked him as I always did ‘are you going to do a tour?’ The first he said, which was ridiculous was ‘I’m not much of a performer, you know?’ I said ‘I beg to differ to differ, David! But this album is quite intimate – you could do a few small shows’ – then he said ‘oh, maybe I could’.
Singer-songwriter Greg Trooper has died at the age of 61.
His songs have been recorded by artists including Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Robert Earl Keen, Maura O’Connell, Lucy Kaplansky, Tom Russell, and Walt and Tina Wilkins.
And he had star-studded help on his albums with harmony vocals by the likes of Emmylou Harris and Rosanne Cash.
Until last August Trooper spent more than half the year touring.
His death was announced by his wife Claire Mullally.
Image source, Clare MullallyFellow performers and friends have been paying tribute.
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Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip has revealed plans to release a sister album to his solo album Piano, a collection of reinterpreted songs from his own career .
Listen With(out) Piano is due out on 3 March and features 11 new versions of tracks from the original record.
The hook being that this time they have been reworked by the likes of Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside.
And to give it a little something extra, the tracks can be played at the same time as the ones on Piano.
Cool huh?
Image source, ElbowIf you go down to the woods today...you might bump into Elbow.
The band have announced a series of live gigs in forests in England this summer to support the release of the forthcoming seventh album Little Fictions
As part of Forest Live, they will play a number of dates in what's described as "spectacular woodland settings".
Tickets go on sale 9.00am this Friday 20 January.
Here's a full list of dates...
Image source, Getty ImagesRag 'N' Bone Man was celebrating at the weekend, when he was presented with the Brits Critics' Choice award for 2017.
He was previously named runner-up in the BBC's Sound of 2017.
The singer, whose track Humans made number two in the chart, is soon to release his debut album.
But he said, despite the reality being more people will stream it or get it on CD - he still can't wait for the vinyl.
"I can’t wait to get my hands on that physical record and have it in my hands," he told music reporter Mark Savage.
"I prefer vinyl. It’s the physicality of it – the touch, the smell of a new vinyl. I like the digital age – of being able to have the world of music at my fingertips – but nothing beats a vinyl."
Rag’n’Bone Man performs Skin in his beloved old venue, Brixton Jamm, for Sound of 2017.
His sentiments were echoed by Sound of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka, nominated this year at the Brits for best male and best album for his record Love & Hate.
"I moved flat about five months ago, and when I set up my record player, I thought 'What’s the first thing I should play?' And I put Love and Hate on really loud, and blasted it. That’s the only time I’ve listened to it since I finished it."
Quote MessageThe way I listen to music, is I use Spotify and vinyl. So I got rid of all my CDs, so I listen on Spotify and if I love a record I’ll buy it on vinyl.
The singer revealed he had donated his CD collection to charity, most regretting giving away Neil Young’s Harvest.
"But I’ve still got Freewheeling Bob Dylan on CD. That’s still on the shelf," he added.
British singer-songwriter Sampha performed his latest track on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon over the weekend
He's collaborated with the likes of SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake and Kanye but No One Knows Me Like the Piano is a prime example of his moving, stripped back best.
Sampha came fourth in the BBC's Sound of 2014 but we are still awaiting his debut album - luckily its due on February, so yaay!
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Image source, Getty ImagesNews now on Glastonbury and American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson will apparently be performing at the festival according to his official website, external.
The 80-year-old has Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage on June 23 on his list of tour dates.
However the festival isn't confirming it.
Here's what a spokesman told the Press Association....
Quote MessageThe 2017 line-up is coming together really well, and our next line-up announcement will be in the spring. No more names to confirm until then.
Radiohead are the only confirmed act for Glastonbury so far.
NME
Image source, Getty ImagesNick Cave has given his first interview since the death of his teenage son Arthur in 2015 and the release of the album The Skeleton Key, inspired by the tragedy.
Nick and his band The Bad Seeds have kicked off their tour in Hobart, Australia, performing songs from the new record live for the first time.
"I was a mess, big time,” he told The Australian, external.
Arthur Cave died from "multiple traumatic injuries" after falling from a cliff in Brighton.
Nick said going in the studio a few months after his death was “not a good idea, and I hope I never have to do anything like that again.”
The making of the album was documented in the film One More Time With Feeling.
Nick added: "The way the film seemed to open something very deep for people, and how so many people out there had lost people they loved, you know, just how many grievers there were.
"It was a very powerful feeling, and ultimately shifted something in me, and Susie too, and stopped us feeling so completely hopeless all the time.
Quote MessageIt was like we had done something good for Arthur, all of us, and had placed the memory of him up there in the stars.
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Sting, external performed to a star-studded audience in Malibu at the weekend and he tweeted a picture of a few of his fellow performers and guests at the charity fundraiser - which we're wondering if he's hinting at a new supergroup on the way with Sting, Chris Cornell and Brad Pitt.
Interesting fact - the average age of these three hunks is 56.6 years old.
They could call themselves The Good Genes.
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The Guardian
The final episode of Sherlock last night had a secret cameo from a music star but we doubt even the most eagle-eyed fan spotted who it was.
A mysterious Viking, lying apparently dead on the floor of 221B Baker Street in the closing tableau, was none other than singer-songwriter Paul Weller.
A "show source" confided the news to The Guardian's Mark Lawson , external- Weller is apparently a friend of Martin Freeman aka Doctor Watson.
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One person who missed out on a Brit award nomination is Laura Mvula but instead of doing the usual pretending like it didn't matter she revealed on Twitter that she was "genuinely hurt" to be left out.
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The singer received her second Mercury nomination for her highly-acclaimed second album The Dreaming Room and has received support from Jo Whiley.
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She then retweeted lots of supportive tweets from fans but admitted that not everyone was happy that she'd been honest about her feelings.
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The Wrap
Image source, ReutersBroadway singer and actress Jennifer Holliday has pulled out of performing at US president-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday.
The star of the original production of Dreamgirls has written an open letter, published on US website The Wrap, explaining that she thought her initial decision to sing "would be my simply keeping in my tradition of being a “bi-partisan songbird” having sung for Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush".
However, following an article in The Daily Beast, external which was entitled 'Jennifer Holliday Will Perform at Trump’s Inauguration, Which Is Heartbreaking to Gay Fans', she has now pulled out.
The article explained how her portrayal of the character Effie and, in particular, the song And I'm telling you, external, deeply resonated with the gay community.
Holliday wrote: "In light of the information pointed out to me via the Daily Beast article yesterday, my only choice must now be to stand with the LGBT community and to state unequivocally that I WILL NOT PERFORM FOR THE WELCOME CONCERT OR FOR ANY OF THE INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES!"
Both Mr Trump and vice-president elect Mike Pence have both previously strongly opposed gay marriage.
Quote Message"I sincerely apologise for my lapse of judgement, for being uneducated on the issues that affect every American at this crucial time in history and for causing such dismay and heartbreak to my fans.
Country music stars Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood will perform at the event on 20 January as will 3 Doors Down and America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho.
Image source, Getty ImagesOne of 2016's huge success stories was tiny French electronic balladeer Christine and the Queens.
To cap it off, she's picked up a Brit award nomination.
The pansexual star, also known as Heloise Letissier, is in the running for best international female, while transgender artist Ahnoni - who won the Mercury Prize as Antony and the Johnsons in 2005, is up for best British female solo artist.
Letissier says it's "weird" to have acceptance and diversity celebrated in the arts whilst politics seems to be going the other way.
"I think we’re going to need brave artists that can not only perform but take a stand for what they believe in," she told the BBC.
"Some people would say to me, 'you’re here, so everything’s ok for queer people.' I never thought it was ever ok. To be a pop artist is not the same as having rights allowed for queer people."
Quote MessageYou exist in a bubble as a pop artist. With what’s happening right now, we have to pop the bubble and be more involved.
The singer also revealed she is working on the follow up to her debut album Chaleur Humaine.
"Yes, yes, yes. I hope to have an album finished before the end of the year. It’s been three years with this album so I need something new.
"I have new words to sing. I have new things to say as a woman."
BBC Newsbeat
Image source, PASome of the Brit-nominated artists this year have been sharing their thoughts on the issue of diversity.
In 2016, white acts dominated the awards - out of 48 nominations for British artists, only four musicians were from ethnic minorities.
It led to #BritsSoWhite trending on Twitter and many stars openly criticising the event.
It lead to organisers overhauling the voting system, improving the representation of both women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
This year sees grime artists Kano and Skepta and soul star Michael Kiwanuka in the running for best British male and NAO, Emeli Sande and Lianne La Havas shortlisted in the best British female category.
Well you'll have to tune into the awards on 22 February to find that out.
But at last we now know who will be in the running at least.
After winning the Mercury Prize in September, Skepta continues his incredible run with three nominations for best British male, best album and the breakthrough award.
He's been matched by Little Mix, who also have three - including best group and best single, for their song Shout Out To My Ex.
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And 'the Mix are up against The 1975, Bastillle, Biffy Clyro and Radiohead.
David Bowie has received posthumous nominations for best British male and best album, for his haunting swansong Blackstar.
After a row over diversity at last year's ceremony, the rest of the best British male category comprises artists from BAME backgrounds.
Craig David, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka and Skepta, who we've mentioned already.
In the best British female category, Emeli Sande, Lianne La Havas, NAO, Ellie Golding and Anonhi will battle it out.
Well the weather outside is frightful and the music news is quite delightful.
Forgive the musical intro but we're just so excited to be bringing you another full week of the best music news that you can handle.
We've had the nominations for this year's Brit awards, we'll fill you in who is in the running and who has been left out in the cold.
We'll hear from Christine and the Queens, Michael Kiwanuka and Critics' Choice winner Rag 'N' Bone Man
Plus, with Donald Trump's inauguration just days away, another Broadway singer has pulled out of the event, Prince's secret charity work is revealed and Nick Cave has given an emotional interview to an Australian magazine.
In the meantime, head to Friday's Music News LIVE to read 5 things we learned about this week, including Trainspotting 2's soundtrack and Emma Watson's singing voice.
Off we go...
