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Well done everybody, we're now over the mid-week hump.

Back tomorrow with the penultimate MNL :(

Until then, scroll down today's LIVE page to read about Avicii's family tribute, Cardi B defending, or at least explaining herself and tributes to a ska legend.

We'll leave with this teaser for the new album from South Korean boyband BTS (did you get the clue from the headline?)

The South Korean band's Map of the Soul: Persona is due for release on Friday 12 April.

Goodbye 안녕

The slightly wonky strings at the beginning of Downhill Lullaby - the first solo song from Sky in six years - reminds us of a woozy Bond title sequence, like Blofeld has fed James some kind of psychedelic drug...

Aaanyway... the track is from her long-awaited second album, Masochism which is due this year.

Her debut, Night Time, My Time, was released in 2013 and you may also recall she featured on Primal Scream's 2016 album, Chaosmosis.

Sky is starring in the new movie, Lords of Chaos, a real life horror film based on exploring the dark world of Norwegian black metal.

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The Motown star was treated to an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday by Queen Bey at her star-studded 75th birthday party last night.

It looked like another singer Robin Thicke was about to say a few words before Beyonce burst into "happy birthday Miss Ro-o-o-o-o-o-sss," in the direction the lady of the hour, in her silver sparkly dress.

"I'll take Beyonce over me anyway," he joked.

Other celebs in the house included rapper Diddy and Khloe Kardashian, as well as Diana's daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross.

The City of Los Angeles have also declared 26 March to be, from now... Diana Ross Day.

Look, it's signed by the Mayor and everything.

She'll probably be entitled to an extra day off next year with that, we reckon.

Image source, Get

This next post might be a bit hard to swallow for some of you...

Debates have been raging around the dinner table this week after Channel 5 released its, ahem, 'offiical' list of Britain's Favourite Crisps.

The pyramid below is according to the British public apparently, who must have been delighted to be asked to vote on something so serious once again.

One man, however, whose voice was potentially lost in all of this was Liam Gallagher and he's spoken up in favour of his favourite crunchy potato-based snack (and Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac agrees).

For those of you who are unfamiliar the brand to which Liam refers, it has been produced in the Republic of Ireland since 1954.

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Drizzy loves a surprise appearance whenever he's over here.

Remember when he joined Giggs on stage at Reading Festival in 2017?

We do.

Well, on Monday night, the Canadian singer took full advantage of the slight gap in his UK & Ireland tour schedule to enjoy a few drinks and get stuck in with the crowd at Loski's gig at the Kentish Town Forum in London.

Watch below as Drake is seen rapping along to Money & Beef.

He's due to perform his second show at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham tonight so let's hope he's not peaked too soon.

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The American singer-songwriter, known as the Queen of Rockabilly has announced her retirement at the age of 81.

She first enjoyed success in the mid-1950s and 1960s as a pioneering rock-and-roll artist and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

She briefly dated Elvis Presley when they toured together in 1955.

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A statement on her official Facebook page, external said: "After over 60 years of touring, Wanda Jackson wishes to announce her retirement from performing."

The statement said she has taken the decision "solely based on health and safety", adding, "It has been a wild ride."

Watch her performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions in 2009 below.

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The rapper and actor has shared some behind-the-scenes footage of his daily transformation into Motley Crew star Tommy Lee (pictured, top right) for his role in the new Netflix biopic, The Dirt.

Check out the time-lapse video below of what Kelly had to go through every morning for four months in makeup.

Starting with covering up those tatts...

BBC Radio 2

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Phew, that's a relief as it's a rule that we live by here on MNL, we simply won't hide it anymore.

Louise is back with her first new music in 16 years and it's a pretty steamy little number.

The former Eternal singer will release her fourth album, Heavy Love, in October, and she popped into Radio 2 yesterday to give DJ Fearne Cotton the first play of lead single, Stretch,

"I've been away for a long time," she said, "I did [1996 track] Naked and I've been the girl next door and all those things and I wanted to do something really empowering.

"I really believe that as 44-year-old woman with two children I should be allowed to dance around and have fun and not be scared to be a bit sexy."

Watch below.

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The 1975 frontman has some choice words for celebs who take part in paid meet and greet sessions with fans.

Writing on Twitter (below), Matty (centre, above) told fellow 'slebs: "Meet your fans or don't.

"Don't only meet them if you're getting payed [sic]. Honestly what are you doing".

The band are currently on a world tour so if you're heading to Paraguay to watch them on Thursday night and you happen to bang into Matty before or indeed after the show, you can be safe in the knowledge that he is talking to you by choice.

Reassuring news.

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Dee Barnes, the first female hip hop broadcast journalist, has revealed that she's now homeless.

She says she fell on hard times after her career was derailed when she was "brutally" beaten by Dr. Dre in 1991, over a TV segment about his band N.W.A.

Dre was charged with assault and battery, to which he pleaded no contest and was fined $2,500 and sentenced to two years probation and community service.

She filed a $22 million lawsuit against the rap star, which was settled out of court in 1993.

Now Dee has launched a GoFundMe campaign, external, asking fans to help with her housing situation.

“Right now, I am officially homeless," she told the website HipHopDX, external in an interview this week.

"My goal with the campaign is to regain stability, which is imperative for survivors of any trauma."

Image source, Getty Images

The Canadian singer-songwriter has produced two tracks for the soundtrack to the Maryland rapper's’ debut novel, Supermarket.

Check out the track, I’m Probably Gonna Rock Your World, below.

Presumably you're meant to listen as you read.

According to a description on its website, the “darkly funny psychological thriller” centres around a “depressed, recently dumped” character named Flynn who discovers a crime scene at the supermarket where he works.

Logic will also narrate an audio edition of the book.

Mark Savage
Music reporter, BBC News

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Plenty of songwriters describe their music as therapy. Lucy Rose says writing her fourth album inspired her to find a therapist.

Called No Words Left, it's the singer's starkest, loneliest album to date; filled with lyrics about anxiety and helplessness that spilled out, unbidden, in a studio in Brighton last summer.

Rose was often "so consumed by my feelings that I was unaware I was writing a song". On Pt 2, she found herself literally lost for words, her emotions bursting forth as a desolate, woebegone cry.

"I'd never imagined myself singing like that, ever," says Rose, explaining she recorded the vocal at her lowest ebb.

"It was so bad I'd been almost silent all day. Barely, barely communicating.

"Then that evening I said to my producer, 'I want to try something,' and... God, I felt like something was being released in me.

"For the first time, I felt like I could describe what was going on inside with that song."

Read more

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The singer-songwriter is reported to be among performers at New Zealand's national remembrance service on Friday, for the victims of the Christchurch mosque attack.

The memorial on Friday will mark two weeks since the shootings that killed 50 worshippers and hurt 50 more.

Organisers on Wednesday said Yusuf/Cat will be among those taking the stage, external at the event.

The singer converted to Islam in the 1970s and devoted himself to education and philanthropy in the Muslim community.

Earlier this month, he tweeted a picture of a white dove (below) as he mourned the victims of the terror attack.

An opera singer was asked to change her EU flag themed dress for a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall.

British soprano Anna Patalong sang in six performances of the Classical Spectacular concert from 21 to 24 March.

On Saturday, Patalong wore a sash and necklace featuring EU stars.

She posted the above pic alongside the caption "rocking some EU colours for tonight’s concert..."

The show's producer, Raymond Gubbay Ltd, encouraged her to wear another dress on Sunday, as the outfit was "open to misinterpretation".

Read more

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The Coldplay singer has filed for a restraining order against a woman he accuses of his endangering his family.

Martin claims she left a package at his house in Malibu, California, as well as notes referring to death, suicide and his two children.

According to legal documents filed in Los Angeles, the woman believes she is in a “romantic relationship” with Martin.

He was granted a temporary restraining order, meaning she must stay at least 100 yards away from him until a court hearing next month.

The order protects Martin and his partner; the American actress and model Dakota Johnson, as well as his children Apple,14, and 12-year-old Moses.

Chris's ex-wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, is not listed as needing protection.

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That's Sir Paul McCartney to you and I.

One of the Beatles star's school books has sold at auction for £46,800 after a bidding war by two fans.

It was snapped up for nearly 10 times its estimate by a UK telephone bidder at an auction of Beatles memorabilia in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside.

Sir Paul, 76, used it for his English Literature lessons at Liverpool Institute High School for Boys.

Image source, PA

Sir Paul's school book was owned by a family, based in Liverpool, who said they have had it "for as long as they can remember".

It contained 22-pages of essays by the Beatle when he was a teenager including pieces about Thomas Hardy's novel The Return of the Native and John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost.

The book also featured a doodle of a man smoking, and critical comments by his teacher Alan "Dusty" Durband. But the Beatle got impressive grades for his work, B- to B++.

A pair of John Lennon's glasses went for £9,600, but a cassette of George Harrison songs went unsold.

Read more

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The New York rapper has posted a lengthy message on Twitter explaining she is "not proud" of chapters from her past, after a video emerged of her discussing drugging and robbing men.

The three-year-old footage, which was shared on social media over the weekend, caused a backlash online, with many suggesting it was tantamount to confessing to committing serious crime.

The 26-year-old has now responded, explaining her pre-fame actions - during her time working as a stripper - were what "I felt I needed to do to make a living".

"I never claim to be perfect or come form a perfect world with a perfect past," wrote Cardi, "I always speak my truth."

She added: "There are rappers that glorify murder, violence, drugs and robbing. Crimes they feel they had to do to survive.

Read more

Billboard magazine

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The family of the late DJ, who was found dead in his hotel room in Oman in April 2018, have announced a new foundation - named in his memory - to raise money and awareness for mental illness and suicide prevention.

Although no official cause of death was released, the Swedish DJ, whose name is Tim Bergling, struggled with substance abuse and depression.

The Tim Bergling Foundation will also address issues like climate change and nature conservation.

"Tim wanted to make a difference," his family said in a press release.

"Starting a foundation in his name is our way to honour his memory and continue to act in his spirit."

Image source, Getty Images

Following Avicii's death at age 28, there have been increased calls for more emotional support for artists and DJs working in electronic music.

Speaking at the annual International Music Summit (IMS) in Ibiza, veteran DJ Pete Tong called Avicii "one of the most talented and successful artists of his generation".

"The warp factor speed of his breakthrough fuelled by the adrenaline rush and global connectivity of social media ensured that Tim’s feet never touched the ground," said Pete.

He called the circumstances surrounding Avicii's death "the perfect storm, in the sense that few will ever be that young and that talented, making the right music, at precisely the time when a world wide musical movement is about to explode."

Image source, Getty Images

Musicians have paid tribute to singer Roger Charlery, known as Ranking Roger, who has died aged 56.

The Birmingham-born star, best known as a vocalist with The Beat, died at home on Tuesday, surrounded by family, a statement on the band's website, external said.

Charlery had suffered a stroke last summer and was reported to have been diagnosed with two brain tumours and lung cancer in recent months.

Tweeting condolences, songwriter Billy Bragg said: "Rest easy, Rude Boy."

Ska-revivalists The Specials declared: "Goodnight to a legend."

Pauline Black, who fronted two-tone band The Selecter, posted a short excerpt from Hamlet, which read: "Goodnight sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Meanwhile, Matt Hoy, a touring vocalist with reggae group UB40, wrote on Instagram: "Rest in Peace Ranking Roger, such sad news!! Lovely guy... Way [too] young!! Condolences to his family."

Read more

Morning all and welcome to the midweek Music News LIVE.

Coming up today between now and 16:00 GMT.

• Cardi B clarifies her comments regarding her pre-rap career behaviour
• Paul McCartney’s old school book sells for a ridiculous price
• Avicii’s family launches a foundation to address mental health
• Tributes to The Beat’s Ranking Roger, who has died aged 56

We'll start with the UK ska band performing at The Quay Sessions in Glasgow for BBC Music.

Check out their medley of Ranking Full Stop and Mirror In The Bathroom above.