Thanks for joining us this week and have a top weekend, whatever you do. Let us know if you see any particularly amazing bands/acts.

We'll be back on Monday with more musical madness but it's ciao for now.

We'll leave you, as is now traditional on a Friday with the 5 Things We've Learnt This Week.

1) British hip hop is in rude health

Listen up people. Something big is brewing in Britain. And more specifically in London.

Following in the footsteps of Stormzy, Kano and Skepta, urban artists, like the humbly-named Dave above, AJ Tracey and Stefflon Don made up half of the longlist for this year's BBC Sound of 2017 on Monday.

Even Stormzy's own cousin Nadia Rose is getting in on the action...it's a family affair.

But remember the name and where you heard it first...Dave Who could forget it?

Read full entry here.

2) Dennis Hopper had great taste in music

Image source, AP

Grab some Beatles and Bob Dylan. Add a touch of Fleetwood Mac. Then chuck in a spoonful of Miles Davis and Leonard Cohen and what have you got? Well, just part of the recipe for Dennis Hopper's favourite music tastes.

Great taste doesn't come cheap though as the late Easy Rider actor's vinyl collection was up for sale this week for a cool £129,600 by fashion site M'Oda 'Operandi, external.

Whoever buys them, we just hope they don't meet the same firey-end as some of these punk records.

Read full entry here.

3) The name of the Rolling Stones 'fifth member'

Image source, Reuters

Darryl Jones. But of course you already knew that didn't you? No? Neither did we in all honesty.

Mr Jones has remained the "unknown Stone" for more than two decades now, never appearing in official band photographs.

But ahead of the release of their new album of blues covers (scroll down today's page for more) Keith and the gang have been paying tribute to their own unsung bass blues brother.

some of these punk records.

4) A lot of you really, really love Drake.

Image source, AP

And we mean like, reeeeally like him...

The Canadian rapper is so far ahead in the streaming world that Spotify have called it early and named him as THE most streamed artist of 2016 already, with a month to go.

Toronto's finest has apparently amassed 4.7 billion song streams this year. Yes you read that right, BILLION.

Had they all been by different listeners then that would be two thirds of the world's population having at least one dance (thank you...) to Drake.

Read full entry.

5) Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown can do a cracking Adele

Image source, Getty Images

And last but by no means least...

...we learnt that Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown could have a future singing career, if the acting work dries up.

She showcased her vocal talents by treating the Starbucks drive-through girl to a snippet of Adele's Hello while ordering a Latte and Frapacino for her and her Dad.

Rumour Has It that Adele will be in touch shortly to discuss backing vocals for her Wembley Stadium shows in the summer (okay, we made that bit up).

Read full entry

Image source, Adele

Image source, Getty Images

London superclub Fabric is to reopen its doors in January after agreeing to a new raft of security and anti-drug measures.

According to the club's Facebook page, external, the Friends and Family reopening weekend will take place over 6-8 January.

The Friday and Saturday nights have already sold out of advance tickets. 

The venue was shut in September following the deaths of two clubbers and the council said Fabric had a "culture of drug use" which staff were "incapable of controlling".

The terms of a new licence means under-19s will be banned from entering and anyone found with drugs, or who tries to deal drugs, will be banned for life.

In its new statement, the club said: "A community of people from the world over who came together and continued the principal of unity that was central to the foundation of our culture - to save us."

Rave away those January blues folks.

Image source, PA

Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon has shared his feeling about a court's decision to rule against the band as they fought to reclaim US rights to some of their most famous songs.

The group argued US copyright laws gave them the right to call for a reversion of copyright after 35 years.

But lawyers for Gloucester Place Music Ltd successfully argued that English laws of contract stopped them from doing so.

In a series of angry tweets, Le Bon called the case "old fashioned, ugly, imperialist, corporate greed".

Read more

BBC 6 Music

When was the last time you listened to Public Enemy's Fight the Power? What about Buffalo Stance by Neheh Cherry? Or Can You Dig It by Pop Will East itself?

Well thanks to 6 Music's 1989 day, part of BBC Music’s My Generation season, here are 89 specially selected tracks.

You are welcome.

Pop star Lady Gaga has called for an "harmonious" and "intelligent" response to Donald Trump's presidency at a secret gig for UK fans on Thursday night.

Speaking to BBC London, she said she would work to protect advances made by the LGBTQ community.

Mr Trump's cabinet includes conservatives who have previously opposed gay rights. 

"[We] are going to do everything that we can to protect the social progress we have made over the last eight years.

"Political progress cannot happen unless there is social progress."

Image source, JACQUELINE DE MILIA

LA pop trio Muna say their new single is “for queer folks, for people of colour, for immigrants, for those who have been made to feel unsafe in their own skin."

I Know A Place has been a highlight of the band's live set for more than a year - and it finally gets an official release today, as the band build up to the release of their debut album, About U, in February.

If you're a fan of Haim or Carly Rae Jepsen, this anthem to inclusivity will be right up your street.

Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

When we spoke to the band earlier this year, they described I Know A Place as their secret weapon.

"It's kind of the turning point in the set," said guitarist Naomi McPherson.

"If people that aren’t sure they like us, they usually come to the dark side after that track."

Read the full interview here. 

They have already had a top five hit together so it's not entirely surprising that Louisa Johnson covered her mates Clean Bandit in the Live Lounge, complete with a string section.

The original version of the song, features Anne Marie (shortlisted for the Brits Critics Choice award - scroll down).

Louisa even managed a bit of a mash-up here with Ace of Base's All That She Wants. Nicely done.

Warning, may contain ads.

Image source, Daft Punk

Tired of the same old boring Christmas baubles? Well leave them in the box this year and strap on a pair of these bad boys instead, courtesy of French electro pioneers Daft Punk.

They've released their own set of signature helmet decorations this year as people Around The World get ready for the festive season.

Here's the full DP Xmas range, external, if you're that way inclined. Candles and snow globes are also available.

*Disclaimer: These tree ornaments are not guaranteed to help you Get Lucky this Christmas.

Image source, Daft Punk

Image source, Getty Images

Two nights was never going to be enough was it?

And that's precisely why "due to phenomenal demand", Adele has added two additional and final concerts at Wembley Stadium in London in June and July 2017.

Members of her website will get the chance to buy advance tickets next Wednesday 7 December.

The new dates are 28 June and 2 July, adding to the previously announced 29 June and 1 July.

We think one of our friends in the office will attempt to get to all four.

Not strictly speaking music news but we can't go through today with mentioning the death of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.

The actor - who payed the hapless put upon waiter Manuel - died at the age of 86 after suffering from dementia for four years.

He did showcase his musical skills in one of the episodes, with this charming cover of Charles Aznavour which you can watch below.

Read more

Image source, Getty Images

Some more new music for you now (scroll down for the sexy new Stones video) courtesy of Australian songstress Sia.

She's put new track Angel By The Wings up on Soundcloud and you can listen below.

The tune appears on the soundtrack for an upcoming docu-film about a Kazakh teenage girl, called The Eagle Huntress.

Why are there not more songs in the charts about this topic? 

Image source, AP

It's been out in the US for a few weeks but now the Hamilton mixtape - from the hit Broadway show - is available outside the States.

And it reads like a who's who of US music - Miguel, Sia, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Chance the Rapper, Nas, Common, Regina Spektor, the Roots, Francis and the Lights, Alicia Keys, Wiz Khalifa, Kelly Clarkson, Riz MC and more.

So, is creator Lin-Manuel Miranda just the most well-connected man in the world?

"One of the great things to come out of Hamilton is we met our heroes: Busta Rhymes, Common, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah," he told the BBC.

"These are all people who were in my head as I was writing Hamilton, so to have them come to the show afforded us an opportunity to say, 'What does this in turn inspire you to make?'"

The uber-talented showman also revealed how he managed to get a tune out of Dwayne Johnson, aka former wrestler The Rock for the new Disney movie Moana.

"As soon as The Rock signed up, he was like, 'Where is my song?'," said Miranda. "He knew that was one of his favourite parts of the Disney animated musical tradition."

Read more and check out Dwayne's song below

Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

Image source, PA

In what could be a landmark ruling, pop group Duran Duran have lost a High Court battle to reclaim the US rights to some of their most famous songs.

Simon Le Bon and other members of the group had argued US copyright laws allowed them the ability to retain rights to the music after 35 years.

But lawyers for Gloucester Place Music Ltd, part of EMI Music Publishing, successfully argued English laws of contract stopped them from doing so.

Girls on Film, Rio and Bond theme A View to a Kill were among the disputed tracks.

Read more

NME

Manc indie-rockers The Courteeners quit a gig just three songs in last night after frontman Liam Fray was hit in the face with a plastic bottle.

The incident happening while the lads were knocking out a rendition of their modern classic Cavorting at The Hippodrome in Kingston-Upon-Thames and you can see some fan-shot footage below.

After a 20 minute wait, the venue confirmed that the band would not be returning.

If you're not offended by colourful language there's a heated 'discussion', shall we say, going on about the incident on Liam's personal Twitter page.

And if you want to see The Courteeners (hopefully playing a slightly longer set) again, alongside a stellar lineup of fellow Mancs Blossoms, The Charlatans and Cabbage, you can do so at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester in May.

Read more., external

As winter tightens its grip, do you long for the long hot second summer of love?

If so get tuned into 6 Music now, as all day they'll be pretending that it's 1989 again in the latest of the BBC's People's History of Pop series.

So dig out your tie-dye t-shirt and baggy jeans and get lost in a day of alternative 80s music, interviews and archive.

Their album of the day today is the new debut record below from an up-and-coming four-piece from Manchester, who are being tipped for good things.

Surely they'll have to lose the lemons though if they want to be taken seriously?

You can also keep up to date at the 6 Music Celebrates 1989 Live page.

Pop singer Izzy Bizu has been named the BBC Introducing artist of the year.

The London based soulstress has been championed by the BBC's scheme for new music talent since sending in her song White Tiger three years ago.

She also sang the BBC's Euro 2016 theme, external, a version of Edith Piaf's La Foule.

She will be given her prize at the BBC Music Awards on 12 December - but warns not to expect too much from her acceptance speech

"I'm really scared of public speaking," she told music reporter Mark Savage. "I can sing, but in between the songs I'm like, "What do I say?!"

Just keep singing then Izzy.

Read more

Image source, AP

It's New Music Friday and The Rolling Stones are celebrating their latest album release Blue & Lonesome - a blues covers record which was recorded over three days in London.

And they've secured the services of Twilight actress Kristen Stewart in a really quite cool new video for their Eddie Taylor cover Ride ‘Em On Down.

It sees Stewart speeding around a deserted Los Angeles in a vintage car, doing donuts, smoking fags in a petrol station (which we think is reckless frankly) and getting out for a boogie on the floor.

Not a bad day's work really.

Kristen said: "It didn’t take much more than a few words to get me amped on the idea. The Stones. A 65 Mustang. Alone in Los Angeles.

There's certainly worse ways to spend an afternoon Kristen.

But she do look a bit lonely out there in post-apocalyptic LA, don't you think?

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Image source, JMENTERNATIONAL

First up today, The Brits Critics' Choice award its shortlist of three new acts as the prize marks its 10th anniversary.

Pop diva Dua Lipa, blues singer and BBC Sound of 2017 pick Rag N Bone Man and dance vocalist Anne-Marie all make the shortlist, which is voted for by music industry experts.

Previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith, James Bay and Florence + The Machine, so no pressure there guys...

The winner is announced on Thursday, ahead of next year's Brit Awards so then we'll know which one of the above trio will be taking home a stylish new Dame Zaha Hadid-designed trophy.

Would look good in the spare room that.

Find out all about the contenders here.

Image source, Getty Images

...Sunday always comes to late. But Friday never hesitate!

Let's hope Robert Smith was right about this at Wembley Arena last night shall we, as The Cure continued their first UK/European tour since 2008 (they're back there again tonight and tomorrow, but our man Colin Paterson saw the Manchester show earlier in the week).

We have one final big fat dollop of Music News LIVE for you today ahead of the weekend, as Lady Gaga performs an intimate concert in London and the Brit Awards Critics' Choice shortlist is announced.

And as it's New Music Friday we'll have fresh tracks from the likes of The Rolling Stones and Sia.

Finally today we'll reveal our 5 Things We've Learnt This Week from the world of music.

But it's our secret, ok?