Just like Chris Martin and Kacey Musgraves (above) at last night's iHeartRadio Awards, we've arrived at the end of another bright and colourful week here on MNL.

Scroll down for new music from the likes of Jack Savoretti, LSD and Karen O, as well as reaction to the big Glasto line-up, action from SXSW and Michael Jackson's daughter Paris on why it's not her her role to defend her late father.

Plus seeing as it's Friday, our weekly 5 Things We Learned This Week, Taylor Swift and Cardi B socking it to the haters and Sam Smith opening up about his childhood liposuction surgery.

That's all the info-tainment we have for you this week.

We hope all your dreams come true this weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday morning.

Last but by no means least is Emeli Sande, whose new single Sparrow took flight today.

The Abderdonian singer has been speaking to our reporter Mark Savage about the many various influences on the track, from Aretha Franklin to Alicia Keys via... wait for it...

...Disney's The Little Mermaid.

No, really.

"When I was three or four, I would just play that movie and rewind it and play it and rewind it and play it," the singer said.

"I think I learned how to sing from Ariel!"

Sample the song above and read more

Oh I do like to be beside the Teeside... Oh I do like to be beside the Tees...

Tickets for this summer's Radio 1 Big Weekend in Middlesbrough sold out in less than two hours yesterday.

Many fans were delighted to bag tickets for the north east event on 25-26 May, which features the likes of Little Mix, Stormzy, Miley Cyrus and The 1975.

So Tash and Alan are "in" but others, like Sally (below), were less lucky.

Aside from high demand on Ticketmaster causing Big Weekend woes, some people seem to have been left frustrated and confused by the multi-pot ticketing process, which was designed to separate Middlesbrough residents from those in the nearby region and then, in turn, the rest of the country.

A spokesperson for Radio 1 told MNL: "Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2019 saw unprecedented demand with 64,000 tickets selling out in just over 100 minutes.

"For those unable to get tickets, you can enjoy all the action via Radio 1, TV, socials and online, across the weekend.

"We will also be announcing further events as part of Radio 1’s Big Weekend in coming weeks."

Image source, Getty Images

Contemporary artworks owned by George Michael have sold for £9.3m at auction.

They included pieces by Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.

The highest price was for The Incomplete Truth, a 2006 Hirst work consisting of a dove preserved in formaldehyde, which sold for £911,250.

Michael, who died in December 2016 aged 53, was a keen collector of works by the Young British Art movement and was friends with many of the artists.

The money raised will go to causes that the philanthropic star supported.

Read more

The Perth (Western Australia, not Scotland) band, produced by their old cobber Kev Parker of Tame Impala, are one of the many newly-announced bands heading to Glastonbury this summer.

Sadly, rumours that the Queen of Pop was set to make an appearance at Worthy Farm appear to be unfounded.

Maybe Pond can include this Madge banger from 1998 in their set and it will feel just like she is there after all.

The uber-talented musician dropped by the 1Xtra studios on Thursday to give a live taste of his new album, playing his latest single, King James - which is out today.

Alongside names like Brandy and Andre 3000, the late rapper Nate Dogg, external will make a posthumous appearance on the record.

Now, Cheeky Andy, as he is known on social media, has also revealed his new album cover which appears to show him snuggling up to his young son, Soul Rasheed (below).

Andy and his son did provide us with some of our fave pics from the Grammys in February.

Strong look guys.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Dancing with a Stranger singer has been opening up about his lifelong struggle with weight issues and body image, revealing he underwent liposuction surgery at the age of 12.

In a frank interview with I Weight ambassador and actress Jameela Jamil, the 26-year-old explained that after having been "chubby" as a kid and too self-conscious to swim, he then developed "breasts" in his adolescence, which began to negatively impact on his mental health.

His mum took him for the operation, which he admits worked at first but ultimately "didn't really change anything" because he soon put the weight back on.

"When I was a kid [at five or six] I was chubby and then it would get worse and worse and worse and I was holding a lot of weight in my chest," said Sam. "And then when I hit 11-years-old I went to the doctors.

"I was so self-conscious that it was affecting my mood everyday and my life as a teenager."

Image source, Getty Images

Referring to the surgery, he said:

Sam also revealed that he once considered having a sex change and that he yearns to be free from the trappings of fame.

"If I had the chance to do this all again," he confessed, "I would not do this... I wouldn't."

Watch below.

In an accompanying message to the Instagram video post, Sam wrote: "I know this sounds dramatic but this interview completely changed my life.

"Being able to talk so openly about my body issues and feeling so safe whilst doing it was truly liberating."

The rock band from Reading have shared a psychedelic new animated video for their latest track, Mother.

Singer Matthew Thomson said: "Animation was a medium we were keen to explore with Mother, especially as we felt there would be scope to match the size and ambition of the sonic and lyrical vision of the recording."

It was a hottest record on Annie Mac's Radio 1 and the band are playing the Big Weekend in Middlesbrough in May.

Later in the summer they will also play sets at TRNSMT in Glasgow and Reading/Leeds festivals.

Pupils at a school for children with special needs are taking special lessons in DJing.

As well as tapping into their love of music, the sessions at Addington School, Reading, help improve their communication and listening skills.

Check out their newfound skills on the ones and twos above.

Image source, Anonymous

Loads happened this week in the world of music - but we know how busy you've all been...

ICYM(any of)I then, we've got your back now with our weekly MNL catch-up.

This week we learned that Michael Jackson 'innocent' adverts are to be removed from London buses, The Prodigy's Keith Flint took his own life - an inquest heard - and tributes were paid to "the greatest drummer in the world."

That said, here's our hand-picked five of the best:

1. Justin Bieber asked fans to 'pray for me'

The Canadian star reached out to fans this week after admitting he has been "struggling" of late.

"Just feeling super disconnected and weird," he wrote on Instagram.

"I always bounce back so I’m not worried just wanted to reach out and ask for your guys to pray for me".

The post came several weeks after the 25-year-old confessed to Cosmopolitan mag that he and new model wife Hailey Baldwin had found married life tough.

Read more

Image source, Getty Images

2. George Michael's old bandmate is writing a memoir

As schoolfriends and then Wham! bandmates, Andrew Ridgeley arguably knew George better than anyone and this week he announced a new book about their friendship and the formation of their group is in the offing.

George & Me will chart their rise to fame and success and will also cover their farewell gig at London's Wembley Stadium in 1986.

George died on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53.

Ridgeley wrote at the time: "I cried like I'd never cried before."

Ridgeley's publisher Louise Moore said he "is the only man who can tell this story.

"It's a memoir of love, friendship and music."

Read more

Image source, Getty Images

3. 'Barking' Olly Murs has landed a debut acting job

News broke this week that Essex's finest had landed his first ever acting gig on on the Disney Channel’s new animation series, 101 Dalmatian Street.

He will play a "cool Cornish Doberman named Spike" - who even has Olly's signature quiff (see above) - in a two-part special for the series, which launches on 18 March.

A delighted Olly said: “I perfected my dog barking skills many years ago, so I was able to get them out there to the universe today."

Read more

4. Alicia Keys' 'part autobiography' will be Oprah Winfrey's first book release

The singer and recent Grammy Awards host's book, More Myself, described as “part autobiography, part narrative documentary” will be the first put out by Oprah Winfrey’s publishing imprint.

“You know what’s really interesting is just recalling all of these places and spaces and the moments in your life that cause you angst or anxiety or proud moments, or things you have to work through,” said Alicia, in a promotional video.

“And I wanted to call it a journey because I did not, I do not want it to be called a memoir.”

Got that everyone?

The pair promoted the new book over a leisurely ladies' lunch., external

Read more

5. Teresa May collaborated with Dr. Dre

Straight Outta the Commons they were (sort of) on a Brexit tip, alongside Snoop Moggy Mogg.

We'll just leave this here...

Image source, Getty Images

It may sound like one of the characters from Transformers but it is in fact the name of the new full length collab between the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman and the DJ/Producer.

Speaking to the New York Times, external, Karen said the album explores themes of what it means to be a female artist in her 40s.

"It’s not a paved road, it’s not a well-beaten path,” she said.

"It’s 'find your way through that wilderness and write us a postcard.'"

Check out the video for the stomping Woman from the album below.

The English-Italian singer released his new album, Singing To Strangers, today.

The record features lead single Candlelight and a live version of Music’s Too Sad Without You, alongside Kylie in Venice.

Wonder if she can snag him a Glasto pass, as she is about to become a 'legend' at the event.

Check out the title track from the new record above.

Jack kicks-off his UK and Ireland tour in Leeds on Sunday night.

A group of rappers have been talking to the BBC about how their shared love of music has helped them connect despite coming from different backgrounds.

Leejay, (pictured above, middle) said: "Look at how many cultures are in this room right now, you don't really see that elsewhere."

This video was created as part of the BBC's We Are Bradford project, created with local people to tell stories which matter to them.

LG cheekily tweeted today he's looking forward to resuming his "residency" at Worthy Farm, after being announced on the Glasto lineup.

There's a few Glasto regulars that could lay greater claim to that we're sure...

Anyway, just a few days before that he'll play the Eden Sessions festival at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Liam will play Eden on 26 June, exactly 10 years after having headlined with his old band Oasis, shortly before their explosive demise.

Labrinth, Sia and Diplo - or LSD, as they are collectively known - have released a new track, called No New Friends.

It's where piano pop banger meets nursery rhyme with a "la la la la" chorus and you can listen above.

We got our champagne dreams / In an endless drought/ We are the kings and queens seeking our aces out / We got all we need, no new friends now

The track will appear on the group's self-titled debut album, which is out on 12 April.

Ariana Grande was named artist of the year and also won album of the year for Sweetener, while Taylor Swift's Reputation tour was honoured.

Taylor (above), who won tour of the year, said early press reports that the shows would flop "really did wonders for my self-esteem."

"It was great to hear people say that I would be playing to nearly empty stadiums!" she half-joked.

She went on to say that an "unforeseeable factor... was my fans, I owe everything in my life to you."

Oh Taylor, stop it.

Another winner on the night was Cardi B, who replicated her best hip hop win at the Grammys with another trophy for her ever expanding cabinet.

She recorded a video speech (above) as she was "busy doing some things."

Fair enough - those rhymes won't write themselves.

"I gotta thank my haters," she added. "Because y'all be saying mean things and think they discourage me but they make me go harder."

Wasn't us Cardi, we've been with you from the start.

See more winners, external

BBC Music Introducing

Six of the UK's most talked about new acts showcased their talents to a room of US fans and industry bigwigs at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas on Wednesday night.

The night, hosted by BBC Music Introducing, was headlined by recent Brits Critics' Choice winner Sam Fender.

Check out our former MNL Newbie Tuesday-featured artist performing his track, Play God, above.

Three more bands who have featured on this very LIVE page also gave the American audience all they've got, including London soul singer Grace Carter (above).

Electro-pop star in-waiting Georgia told us earlier this week that she planned to honour the spirit of the late Keith Flint with her SXSW performance and you can find out below how that turned out below.

Also on the bill were Another Sky, The Howl and Hum and Big Joanie.

Watch more SXSW videos

BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Felicite Tomlinson

Instagram influencer Felicite Tomlinson - sister of One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson - has died at the age of 18.

The aspiring fashion designer, who had 1.3 million followers on the platform, died at her flat in west London following reports of a cardiac arrest.

Louis was told of her death on Wednesday and has cancelled his appearance at Comic Relief this evening.

Felicite and Louis lost their mum Johannah to leukaemia in 2016.

Read more

Image source, Getty Images

Responding to a fan on Twitter, the eldest child of Michael Jackson has spoken out about her lack of comment on the controversial two-part documentary which accuses her late father of being a child molester.

"There’s nothing i can say that hasn’t already been said," she said, adding that her cousin Taj Jackson - who has mounted a public campaign defending his uncle - "is doing a perfect job on his own".

Two men have accused the late pop star of grooming and sexually abusing them over a number of years.

The Jackson family have closed ranks saying the accusations made against Michael are false and his estate is in the process of suing broadcaster HBO.

"I support him. but that’s not my role," continued Paris. "I’m just tryna get everyone to chill out and go with the flow, be mellow and think about the bigger picture."

Elsewhere, fashion label Louis Vuitton also said on Thursday that it was removing Michael Jackson-themed clothes from a new collection in the wake of the documentary.

Lead designer Virgil Abloh said: "I am aware that in light of this documentary the show has caused emotional reactions.

"I strictly condemn any form of child abuse, violence or infringement against any human rights," he added.

Read more

Image source, BBC / Getty Images

The Killers and The Cure will top the bill at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival this June, it's been revealed.

They're among more than 60 acts joining this year's line-up, including R&B legends Janet Jackson and Lauryn Hill.

Stormzy had already been revealed as the Friday night headliner; while Kylie Minogue will play the coveted "legend slot" on Sunday afternoon.

The festival kicks off on Worthy Farm on 26 June, with full coverage on BBC radio, television and online.

Read more

Reaction to the lineup has (as usual) been a mixed festival bag...