News updates for 4 July 2016
will.i.am confirms he's sticking with The Voice as it moves to ITV
Carole King and Florence wow Hyde Park as Beyonce wins over Wembley
Frank Ocean reveals new release date for long-awaited second album
So nigh that we are, in fact, already here.
But scroll down to hear Ricky Wilson's thoughts on The Voice, plus will.i.am on joining the new series of the show as it moves to ITV plus Michael Kiwanuka on beating his self-doubt, Noel Gallagher's moving tribute to Caroline Ahern plus Queen Bey sends critics loopy at Wembley.
We'll be back with more tomorrow.
Image source, Getty Imageswill.i.am may have just confirmed he's sticking with The Voice UK as it moves to ITV for the next series (scroll down for more on that), but it seems Ricky Wilson has ruled himself out.
The Kaiser Chiefs singer - who won the show twice during his three years as a coach, including with this year's Kevin Simm - told us he'll be watching from home instead, "through gritted teeth".
Quote MessageI'm actually a bit nervous about how jealous I'm going to be when I see who's in that end seat. And I know that on a Saturday night when it comes on I'm going to be livid... but I think I made the right decision.
Quote MessageI'm quite excited about it to be honest because I do really like the show and I believe in it. And I think it's a great way of finding talent, whether they go on to do big things or not. I'm still in contact with loads of mine. Jolan, he's doing great things - I can't tell you about it, it's top secret. Kevin of course, Nathan - he's going to do big things - and I spoke to Beth last night.
Wilson says he's too busy with the return of the Kaiser Chiefs anyway (more on that coming later this week on Music News LIVE). So who would he like to see sitting in that spinny chair when The Voice returns?
"A 1-D-er" apparently. Watch this space...
Image source, ReutersAn archive of all of Prince's official websites from through the years has been launched.
A handy timeline, external lets you scroll through the years and it goes all the way back to 1994 and Prince Interactive - not an official website but his first experiment using a computer as a new way of accessing music.
"The Museum was built by the people who worked directly with Prince on these projects," Sam Jennings, director of the Prince Online Museum told Billboard.
Image source, GettThe View's frontman Kyle Falconer has put his wedding on hold and cancelled shows at Reading and Leeds to have treatment at a rehab facility in Thailand.
The 29-year-old said the 56-day stint at Lanna Rehab near Chiang Mai, where Pete Doherty was treated, is his "last chance".
Falconer - who was removed from a flight in handcuffs in Nantes, France, due to "violent behaviour" last month - told Scotland's Sunday Mail he has finally accepted he has a problem with drink and drugs.
“It’s weird. I’ve been in denial so long, I’m used to saying, ‘It’s not me, I was just drunk.’
"So I was never even apologetic as I couldn’t remember doing anything.
“Being told the next day what you’ve been up to, it’s not normal.
“You’ve got to listen to your loved ones, though, and if they say you have a problem, then you need to hear that."
The singer joined The View more than a decade ago at just 18 and helped the band gain a hard partying reputation.
"I’m determined to take it seriously this time," he added, "I have to.”
Image source, ReutersAs venues go, it's not exactly the toilet circuit.
Janelle Monae and Grammy-winner Kendrick Lamar are due to play at the White House later at the invitation of US President Barack Obama in support of the National Mentoring Partnership, external.
The event, held on the South Lawn, honours military heroes who will be attendance with their families.
BBC Newsbeat
Image source, Getty ImagesA festival in South America's been cancelled after Rihanna pulled out - reportedly due to fears about the Zika virus.
Organisers of the first ever Lollapalooza Colombia told ticket holders that a headline act had quit the show.
A local news publication, La Tercera,, external named Rihanna as the star in question - even though she was never officially announced for the festival.
They had published the line-up - also featuring Lana Del Rey, Disclosure, The Chainsmokers and Wiz Khalifa - with just "?????" at the top of the bill.
Kev Geoghegan
Arts and entertainment reporter
Former BBC Sound of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka has revealed his self-confidence was shaken so much between records that he scrapped an entire album.
"The idea of sitting down to write a song wasn't fun anymore, I always thought it wasn't good enough," he told us.
"I couldn't even put a track on and play a demo to people, I just thought they were awful."
Luckily, the frustration he was feeling boiled over into the song Black Man in a White World - which became the first single from his forthcoming album Love and Hate.
Read how it helped him regain his confidence and watch him perform the song at Glastonbury below:
Image source, EPAGlastonbury chose Damon Albarn and the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians to open the Pyramid Stage this year - one of a series of special concerts for the collaborators - and a new BBC radio documentary has gone behind the scenes of rehearsals.
Members of the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians were dispersed around the world when their home country was torn apart by war and many of them had not seen each other for five years.
BBC World Service spent time with them as they reconvened at a rehearsal space in east Amsterdam for an emotional reunion.
"I cannot describe how it felt when we finally met again", singer Mais Harb said. "There were lots of tears, lots of hugging, lots of happiness."
Rolling Stone magazine
Image source, GettAerosmith, external guitarist Joe Perry has rejected singer Steven Tyler’s claims that the band’s next tour will definitely be their last.It's after Tyler told US DJ Howard Stern in June that the next Aerosmith shows will be a "farewell tour, because it’s time".Perry - who is currently playing with supergroup Hollywood Vampires - told Rolling Stone he can't imagine doing a farewell tour.
"I don't know how it sits with me yet," he said.
"At this point in our lives and career, maybe it is time to say ‘OK, it’s the end of this era – but there’s a new era on the horizon.’
"So I don’t know if I’m comfortable saying ‘final tour’ and making a big deal out of it.”
However he then added: "We'll see what happens. If it was going to happen, we're closer to it than, say, any other time in our insane career."
He also joked: "I always hold my breath whenever Steven does an interview on his own."
Image source, Getty ImagesDrake's album Views is still dominating the US chart - scoring a ninth week in a row at the top of the Billboard 200 where it debuted.
It's apparently the most weeks a male artist has spent at the top in more than ten years - since Usher's 2004 album Confessions.
Read more fun facts on Billboard, external. Meanwhile in the UK album chart, Adele's 25 reclaimed its crown after a week that included her Glastonbury set and the album's debut on streaming sites.
Drake's One Dance topped the singles chart for a 12th straight week, becoming the UK's third longest-running number one ever.
Only Bryan Adams and Wet Wet Wet have spent more consecutive weeks in the top spot.
And we all remember Everything I do and Love Is All Around with nothing but deep affection...
Image source, Getty ImagesAt a gig in Nashville at the weekend Noel Gallagher dedicated Oasis track Half the World Away to his friend - comedian and actress Caroline Aherne, following news of her death earlier on Saturday.
The song was the theme tune for Aherne's hit sitcom The Royle Family.
"The following song is for a friend of mine who died this afternoon," Gallagher told the crowd, according to Digital Spy, external.
"Her name was Caroline and she was a very, very, very funny woman.
"She used this next song on a very, very, very, very brilliant sit-com in England called The Royle Family."
Gallagher also pointed up to the sky and added: "To wherever you are."
Earlier he'd shared a photo of Aherne on his Instagram page, telling fans: "RIP Kaz. I shall sing for you tonight. (My God you made us laugh!)"
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Aherne died on Saturday at the age of 52 after suffering from cancer.
Read more, including the many tributes from her co-stars and friends.
Aphex Twin's new EP Cheetah got its premiere on BBC Radio 6 Music last night.
Fans gave their reactions to the seven-track record as part of a live listening party on the station's Now Playing show with Tom Robinson, ahead of its official release this Friday.Having waited 13 years between 2001 album Druxqs and 2014's Mercury Prize-nominated Syro, Aphex Twin - real name Richard D James - has been much more prolific of late, having released a single and another EP since Syro already.
He also recently published his first music video in 17 years, CIRKLON3, directed by a 12-year-old schoolboy from Dublin.
You can stream Cheetah EP now and listen back to the reactions - here's what a few fans made of it and the Aphex Twin-inspired playlist that followed:
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Billboard magazine
Image source, Getty ImagesDemi Lovato and Nick Jonas paid tribute to victims of the Orlando shooting at the weekend as the pair's tour arrived in the US city.
They performed Rise Up, external with singer Andra Day in memory of those killed and injured in the attack on gay nightclub Pulse last month - as well as remembering singer Christina Grimmie who was also recently shot and killed in Orlando.
Jonas told fans on Instagram afterwards that they'd wanted to honour the "victims of the terrible acts of violence recently.”
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Image source, Getty ImagesR&B star Frank Ocean appears to have taken the bull by the horns and announced when his long-waited second album will be coming out.
The singer has frustrated fans with a series of missed dates but now, according to his website, external, the LP will come out this month.
He posted a form with a bunch of dates which have been and gone, the most recent being "July 2016".
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Image source, APBeyonce's Formation tour landed in London at the weekend and had the national critics fawning at her immaculately pedicured feet.
Following nights in Sunderland and Cardiff last week, Queen Bey played two sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium.
There's not much in the way of balance as it seems very few people, if any, left the shows disappointed...
Clashmusic's live blog, external said:
Quote MessageFrom start to finish, the singer proved why she’s called Queen B, but also why she’s a movement. Uplifting, her incredible vocals, her ‘always on beat’ choreography, her presence and determination given to us by her musical messaging was like the best feel good movie you’ve seen in years. There’s no doubt about the night, Beyoncé gave us life.
The Mail said:
Quote MessageLiving up to her reputation as an international hitmaker and show-stopping performer, the Sorry star put on a production to remember for her adoring fans.
The NME was similarly impressed with the show:
Quote MessageIt's getting harder to wow crowds with pop show pyrotechnics and clever set design, because most of us are a bit spoiled these days, but when she turns the B(ey) stage into a giant paddling pool for an awesome final sequence that includes Freedom, Survivor and End Of Time, it's a properly jaw-dropping moment.
The Evening Standard added:
Quote MessageWhile Beyoncé’s vocal range was captivating on no-frills ballad 1+1, this tireless performance was also about showing off her sculpted physique on the revolving 60ft screen with a selection of skimpy outfits and booty-shaking moves. The paddling pool for the singer and her dancers to splash around in was a slightly baffling finale. On the whole, though, it was a stadium-sized spectacular for Beyoncé’s empowering message.
BBC Radio 2
Love it or haaaaaate it - I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred is still one of the most enduring earworms of the past 25 years.
It was a US number one but could only managed number two in the UK (held off by Brian Adams' Everything I Do...) and it has been voted both one of the worst songs ever and one of the greatest songs of the 90s. Go Figure.
Singer Richard Fairbrass has been telling Chris Evans how the song came about and whether he is still indeed '"too sexy for my shirt".
Image source, PAWhile last night in Hyde Park was all about Carole King (scroll down for the review), it was Florence and the Machine who headlined the British Summertime festival on Saturday night.
Her hometown performance rounded off a whopping 18 months touring third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - and on stage singer Florence Welch urged her fans to love each other.
"I have been feeling a bit heartbroken recently but tonight I have been feeling so much love," she said.
"I see so much love in each and every one of you, the love you have here I see so clearly, take it out there with you."
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Image source, PAThe singer was supported by US hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar (pictured above) and pals Jamie xx and Dev Hynes aka Blood Orange.
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Meanwhile Friday night was all about Bristol's finest trip-hoppers Massive Attack (below), with support from Patti Smith and Young Fathers.
Image source, PA
Image source, APwill.i.am is the first star to confirm he'll be returning as a coach on The Voice when the singing talent show moves to its new home of ITV.
The Black Eyed Peas star has been a judge on the show since it started in the UK in 2012 and has announced he's also now signed up to be a coach on spin-off show The Voice Kids when it kicks off next year.
Quote MessageI'm delighted to be continuing The Voice UK on ITV and being a voice of direction and guidance for the usual suspects, and I'm thrilled to add The Voice Kids to the mix ... I know The Voice switched to ITV, but I'm not going to Brexit The Voice UK. I'm happy to make ITV my home now. I love the UK.
No other judges have been announced as yet. Last year, will.i.am featured alongside Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson, Paloma Faith and Boy George - who had controversially replaced Tom Jones for the last BBC series.
ITV confirmed Emma Willis will host the show and the junior version - which will be open to young solo singers between the ages of seven and 14.
BBC Newsbeat
Image source, AFPRadio 1 is to celebrate all things indie in a ten-hour takeover later tonight.
Between 18.00-04.00 BST, the station will only broadcast acts signed to independent record labels.
Arctic Monkeys, Skepta, Wolf Alice and, until recently if reports are to be believed, Adele have all been signed to indies.
Radio 1's head of music, Chris Price, said: "The UK's independent label community is one of the most vibrant in the world."
Mark Savage
Music reporter
Image source, PACarole King looked overjoyed last night as she played her first UK concert since 1989.
She spent most of the show beaming from ear to ear, as the audience sang back every word of her classic album, Tapestry.
King even did the "jump up, jump back" dance while playing an encore of The Loco-Motion, which she wrote with her ex-husband Gerry Goffin in 1962.
"So this is what 74 looks like!" she exclaimed, to a huge cheer.
