The O2 hopes to reopen on Friday following roof damage in Storm Eunice
The O2 complex in London has confirmed that it will be closed until the end of this week after the venue's roof was damaged during Storm Eunice, which hit the capital on Friday.

Several sections of the dome that covers the AEG-operated O2 were shredded by the strong winds that occurred during last week's storm. Images of the dramatically damaged roof quickly circulated on social media leading to speculation that the venue might have to close its doors for weeks or even months while the dome was repaired.

However, the venue's management seem hopeful it will only take days to re-open the complex, even if the actual repairs take longer. Even that will, of course, result in some cancellations, including the shows Dave was due to play in the O2 Arena tonight and tomorrow.

A statement on the venue's social media yesterday said: "The last few days have been a huge challenge at The O2 and we would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to AEG Europe and The O2 staff who have been working tirelessly through the weekend to secure the site and get us ready to reopen later this week. We would also like to thank the suppliers and contractors who have supported us in making the venue safe".

"The outpouring of support from the industry, friends and colleagues has been humbling", it added. "We are so proud to be the world's most popular entertainment venue and we look forward to reopening our doors and providing a safe and secure best in class experience again very soon".

As for this week's closure, another statement on The O2 website reads: "The O2 prides itself on being a venue full of entertainment but following Friday's storm, we're not quite looking our best. We want to continue to provide a safe and secure best-in-class experience for our visitors, so we have made the decision to remain closed until Friday 25 Feb to give us time to carry out some necessary works on our roof".

Simply Red shows that had been due to take place at the O2 Arena this weekend had already been postponed into March because band and crew members had contracted COVID-19. New dates for the Dave shows should be announced in the next day or so.

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New UK hires at Downtown Music Services
Downtown Music Services - the label and publishing services division of the Downtown group - has announced two new appointments in its UK team which, it says, are part of a "broader expansion" of the company's business in the British market.

The first appointment is Sandra Croft, who moves over from Downtown's DIY distributor CD Baby to become Marketing Manager within the marketing team at Downtown Music Services.

She will, and I quote, "engage local digital service providers and provide strategic marketing support to the independent artists and creators that entrust their work to the platforms and services of the Downtown brand".

Meanwhile, Chelsey Blow joins the company's client services team from Sentric Music to become Client Services Coordinator.

Confirming the appointments, the company's Global President Mike Smith says: "We are pleased to announce Sandra and Chelsey in their new roles at Downtown Music Services. These are two very talented professionals who will play a key role in our mission to provide artists and their teams with everything they need to maximise their opportunities and engage with audiences around the world".

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Music industry has mixed reaction to removal of remaining COVID restrictions in England
The Night Time Industries Association has welcomed news that the UK government will today confirm the lifting of all the remaining COVID restrictions in England, in particular the legal requirement for those who test positive to self-isolate.

However, some in the music community see both positives and negatives to that change in the rules, particularly if - as feared - free COVID testing is also phased out.

Ministers plan to provide guidance rather than legally enforceable rules when it comes to things like self-isolation. That does provide more flexibility, which some hope will speed up the revival of the night-time and live entertainment sectors. Although - with some medical experts and opposition politicians arguing that the move to axe the remaining COVID regulations is premature - others fear it could actually result in a new spike of COVID cases, potentially setting things back.

Either way, many artists and venues will still encourage fans to take a COVID test prior to attending shows, and to stay away if they test positive. Though if the government does start to phase out free COVID tests as part of its 'hey, the pandemic's over, right?' strategy, fewer people are likely to comply with that guidance.

Nevertheless, the NTIA is basically positive about the latest development, with its CEO Michael Kill telling reporters: "The withdrawal of the remaining COVID restrictions is welcomed by the industry, and will further support business recovery and go some way to regaining customer confidence. Our responsibility to keep customers and staff safe remains our focus, maintaining baseline mitigations as we have done since [night-time businesses were allowed to re-open after the original lockdown]".

That said, like the Association Of Independent Festivals said last week, the NTIA argues that the industry needs further government support even as businesses are allowed to operate again without any COVID restrictions. "Experts have suggested that recovery to pre-COVID trading levels will take several years", Kill added, "[and] we cannot lose sight of the short term role that the government must continue to play in supporting the sector, beginning with the Chancellor's budget in March".

Also commenting on the latest change in COVID rules in England is Music Venue Trust boss Mark Davyd, who told NME that there are both positives and negatives to the new position being taken by the UK government. The changes could provide some extra certainty to those artists planning tours, but, "on the negative side", he added, "it remains the case that a significant number of vulnerable people, particularly the immunosuppressed, face the choice of taking known risks to take part in live music, both artists and audiences".

Noting the extra problems that could be caused if free COVID testing is axed, Davyd added: "Grassroots music venues have done all they can to make their spaces as safe as they can be to manage those risks, including encouraging audiences to take a test and consider the use of masks. The removal of access to the free testing regime is a likely next step, and that's a complicated situation for venues who want to continue to do all they can to protect their community".

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50 Cent's film company to adapt Xerø comic book into movie
50 Cent's G-Unit Film & Television company has secured the rights to turn comic book Xerø into a movie, with plans to create a full-on franchise.

Written by Christopher Priest and published by DC, the comic ran for just twelve issues in the late 1990s. It follows Coltrane 'Trane' Walker, an African-American basketball player who is secretly also a government assassin. He hides his identity in the latter role by disguising himself as a white man.

"There's no one better than Christopher Priest to bring G-Unit Film & Television into the world of comic book superheroes", 50 Cent tells Deadline. "Watch as we build Xerø into a franchise alongside Christopher and [co-producer] Color Farm Media. I can't wait for the world to meet Trane Walker in an all new way".

Priest adds: "Xerø depicts a slow-moving car wreck at the intersection of race and class. The commonality of struggle represented by the life experiences of Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, G-Unit Film & Television and Color Farm assure a broad depth of first-hand appreciation for that delicate balance. It's exciting to be working together to create this new world".

No indication of when the film might make it to screens has yet been provided.

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Jamal Edwards dies
SBTV founder Jamal Edwards has died, aged 31, it was confirmed last night. In a statement, his mother, TV presenter Brenda Edwards, said that he had died on Sunday morning following a "sudden illness".

"It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness", said Brenda Edwards, in a statement shared by Loose Women on Twitter. "Myself, his sister Tanisha and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world".

"As we come to terms with his passing we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss", she added. "I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support. Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PHD".

A highly successful entrepreneur and media figure, Edwards began filming friends rapping in 2006, aged fifteen, setting up a YouTube channel for his videos the following year. SBTV - taking its name from his own rap moniker, SmokeyBarz - became an early online media outlet for many artists who went on to become successful - particularly in the grime scene. Stormzy, Dave, Skepta, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé and many more all received early support from the platform.

The YouTube channel grew into a successful business, broadening its reach while still maintaining its grounding in British black music. Edwards also worked on fashion projects, published a book on achieving success in business, launched a record label, directed music videos and more. He was also awarded an MBE for services to music in 2014, and became an ambassador for Prince Charles' youth charity The Prince's Trust.

Such was his popularity in the music industry and beyond, many tributes were shared on social media as news of Edwards' death began to spread yesterday.

Dave tweeted: "Thank you for everything, words can't explain", while AJ Tracey mourned the loss of a "West London legend". George The Poet said: "So many of us owe our careers to you bro".

Radio 1 presenter Greg James wrote: "This is absolutely horrible news. A truly wonderful, kind and funny man whose sole purpose was to encourage and support other people. The amount of love from some of the biggest artists in the world shows just how influential and pioneering he was".

Comedian Mo Gilligan, who hosted the BRIT Awards earlier this month, which was attended by Edwards, said: "A truly humble and blessed soul. Your legacy will live on for years and you've inspired a whole generation".

Rapper and comedian Ben Bailey-Smith recalled on Instagram: "I first met this visionary as a kid, when he was no more than 15/16 years old. He was local to me, had passion, positivity and a determination to bring out the best in people to an extent I had never before witnessed in someone so young".

"I used to host an open mic for young rappers with my friends back in Carnaby 03/04/05 and he would always come film on his lil Sony Handycam - way before any of us had camera phones or anything. One night he told me he was uploading his recordings to YouTube - I was like 'what the fuck is YouTube?' - THAT'S how far me and my man go back".

"He never stopped contacting me, checking in, or just saying whagwarn - even when he was way busier than I ever was. We repped west London together as kids with nothing, we repped Grenfell together as men with influence - he never let me stop believing in the transformative power of youth and the importance of investing in young people".

"I'm talking about a guy that genuinely believed that you could gain more from helping people than any money or job or fame could ever give you. And irrespective of the incredible success he had, he never ever lost his love for others".

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Iron Maiden celebrate The Number Of The Beast 40th with cassette release
In 2022, if there's a musical landmark that's noteworthy, you generally note it by putting out a limited edition release on either a digital format most people don't understand or a physical format most people can't play. Iron Maiden have opted for the latter.

Next month it will be 40 years since the release of 'The Number Of The Beast', the first Iron Maiden album to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals, and the first to top the UK charts. To mark the occasion the album is being re-released on cassette because, I don't know, reasons.

The super limited edition cassette release will feature the 2015 remaster of the album, with the eight tracks that appeared on the original release in most of the world (the Japanese version and a later re-release featured ninth track 'Total Eclipse'). The artwork will the same as the original 1982 cassette release, but with the inlay updated a bit.

The special edition will be released by Parlophone in the UK on 18 Mar and by BMG in the US on 25 Mar - the actual 40th anniversary being on 22 Mar.

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Teenage Cancer Trust shows to return next month
The Teenage Cancer Trust has announced details of its 2022 season of shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, the charity's first run of fundraising concerts since 2019, after COVID-19 caused the cancellation of its 2020 and 2021 programmes. They will run from 21-27 Mar.

On the line-up this year are Don Broco, Yungblud, Madness, Liam Gallagher and Ed Sheeran, plus there's an acoustic show from the band who played the charity's first ever Albert Hall fundraiser back in 2000, that being The Who. There'll also be the customary comedy night hosted by Joel Dommett and featuring Tom Allen, Rob Beckett, Rosie Jones, Romesh Ranganathan, Suzi Ruffell and Seann Walsh.

The Who's Roger Daltrey - the Teenage Cancer Trust's Honorary Patron and a driving force behind the charity's Albert Hall concerts - says: "Live music has been hit hard by the pandemic and it has been particularly frustrating for me that we haven't been able to get artists on stage to raise money for this vitally important cause".

"But we haven't given up", he adds. "My wonderful team and I have pulled out all the stops to make this 20th series of shows for Teenage Cancer Trust the best ever. I am so grateful for the loyalty and continued support given to us by the music and comedy industries. The Who will be back on stage this year at the Hall alongside some wonderful talent. After the last two unbelievably difficult years, young people with cancer deserve everything we can do for them".

The charity's CEO Katie Collins says: "We are so grateful to Roger and all the acts coming together to help us ensure that young people don't have to face cancer alone. The past two years have been so tough for young people with cancer and their families".

"As well as being amazing gigs these vital fundraising shows going ahead will make the world of difference", she adds. "Without the money raised at events like this - and people like Roger giving up their time to help others - our work would not happen and young people with cancer would go through treatment without the vital specialist care and support we provide".

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Kanye West says he sold more than $2 million worth of Donda 2 players in 24 hours
Since announcing that his new album 'Donda 2' will only be available via his own Stem Player, Kanye West reckons that he's sold more than $2 million worth of the devices.

Initially that sounds like quite a lot of money. Though that's equates to sales of around 8000 devices. Which means only a relatively small number of fans are willing to fork out $200/£200 to hear the new record in the days or more likely hours (minutes?) before it hits piracy sites.

West announced last week that his new album - due out tomorrow - will only be available via the physical device he launched last August, which allows users to play back and remix his music.

"'Donda 2' will only be available on my own platform, the Stem Player. Not on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or YouTube", he wrote on Instagram on Friday, before setting out the rationale for that decision: "Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It's time to free music from this oppressive system. It's time to take control and build our own".

Of course, even with all the recent Spotify dissing, it seems unlikely that any new artist-led movement will be able to sustain everyone releasing albums on devices that cost $200 a pop, but I guess that's not the point. On Saturday, in a subsequently deleted post, West announced that he'd "made $2,227,012.05 in 24 hours" from over 8000 Stem Player sales.

Not everyone is happy about this particular plan, though. On Friday evening, DJ Akademiks claimed on Twitter that Apple had pulled out of a "$2 million+" sponsorship deal with West following his announcement that he'll be holding his new record back from all the streaming services. The company was apparently on board to livestream this week's 'Donda 2' launch party.

In another deleted Instagram post, West posted a screengrab of a text message apparently confirming that Apple had indeed pulled out of a sponsorship deal. Although in West's version of events it was a $100 million deal. Either way, he's looking out of pocket.

The question is, will essentially selling a $200 album to a handful of superfans - leaving everyone else to download or stream it from illegal services - ultimately score him more than he would have made from putting that album up on legit streaming services?

And - assuming he does ultimately put the record onto all the streaming platforms - will those who have just bought a Stem player be as pissed off as those who signed up to Tidal to listen to the rapper's 'Life Of Pablo' album after being told it would "never, never, never" be available anywhere else? Until, of course, it was.

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