Second UK music festival due to take place this bank holiday weekend cancels at the last minute
A new music festival that was due to take place this bank holiday weekend in Newcastle has been cancelled with just days to go.

The In Between Days festival was set to be staged in Times Square in the centre of the city and was promoted by the owner of Digital, a club that is based at that location. Acts due to play over three days included Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, DMAs, Tom Walker, Ian Brown and The Happy Mondays.

But organisers announced yesterday that the event had been cancelled. Their statement said: "It breaks our heart to make this announcement; no company sets out with an intention to cancel, postpone or reschedule an event (and when we have to cancel like this, we have to write off the significant amount of money we've spent so far)".

"We were so excited to play host to some of the biggest names and the best talent in the world", they added. "Sadly, it's not to be this time. To everyone who has supported us, we are so very grateful but obviously very disappointed that we have not been able to make this a reality for you".

"We would like to offer our thanks to all the artists, partner agencies, suppliers and, of course, our ticketholders for supporting us - we are so sorry to have disappointed you all", they concluded, adding that those ticketholders would receive an automatic refund.

It's the second new UK festival due to take place this weekend that has been cancelled with short notice. The Midnight Sun Weekender was due to kick off in the Scottish town of Stornoway later today, with The Pretenders, Primal Scream and John Fogerty booked to headline.

That event was cancelled last week, with organisers stating that "rising costs and limited availability on festival infrastructure, as well as the cost of living crisis having an impact on ticket sales, means that we are not in the position to deliver the event that we had hoped to bring to our beautiful island".

Festival Director Ian MacArthur added: "As organisers, we have tried everything we can to overcome the challenges we have faced to stage this event, however it has become impossible for us to move forward. We are deeply disappointed to confirm this news, especially at this late stage and would like to reassure our customers that anyone who has purchased tickets will be able to claim a refund".

The late in the day cancellation of two new festivals due to take place over the same weekend is a stark reminder that - even since the lifting of COVID restrictions - staging such events is a very risky business, especially with surging production costs.

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Tom Petty's family go legal over auction of clothing that belonged to the musician
The family of Tom Petty have announced that they are pursuing legal action against an auction house in Boston, called RR Auction, which is staging a sale of items - mainly clothing - that previously belonged to the late musician.

A statement issued by representatives of the Petty family yesterday reads: "The house has announced a current auction of personal property of Petty's that the entire family firmly believes has been outright stolen from a secured archive based on prior knowledge, staff observations and documentation".

The reps then add: "We believe RR Auction is offering stolen Tom Petty memorabilia with a completely false provenance inaccurate to fact and in complete denial of clear evidence they have been presented. They will not disclose the consigner who has provided these items or how they were acquired. But they are clearly stolen, there is no other word for it".

Confirming that legal action is now underway to block the auction and secure the return of the allegedly stolen items, the statement also urges fans and collectors to "refrain from participating in this auction until the matter is settled to avoid getting further involved in this legal action".

The statement concludes by stating that the items being auctioned off "have irreplaceable sentimental and educational value for the family and legacy of Tom Petty and we look forward to their safe return".

RR Auction has not yet commented and currently the items are still listed for sale.

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BMI partners with Music Nation on music licensing in UAE
US collecting society BMI has announced a partnership with Music Nation, a music rights management organisation based in the United Arab Emirates.

The two organisations will now work together to achieve the aim of "building and implementing new infrastructure and initiating the process of licensing in the UAE". It's part of a mission to secure new revenue streams for music-makers in a part of the world where copyrights have not traditionally been so easy to enforce and monetise.

Music Nation Chair Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak explains: "Through recent legislation, the UAE's leadership has paved the way for creatives to build rewarding careers in music. Building a state-of-the-art music licensing infrastructure is critical to delivering on the nation's vision and our initiative to ignite the UAE's music economy".

On the partnership with BMI to help make that happen, she adds: "We are excited to partner with BMI for their world-class management team and many decades of experience in this area, which will ensure the sustainability of music creators' work, attract new talent to the UAE, and ultimately launch and elevate careers for a local and regional community filled with so much potential".

BMI CEO Mike O'Neill says: "The foundation of a thriving music industry is doing right by creators, providing them with the education and support to succeed and ensuring that they are paid for their work. This is at the heart of BMI's mission and aligns with the vision of Music Nation and the UAE".

"We were honoured when Music Nation first approached us", he goes on, "and are THRILLED that we are now partnering with them to help support their mission of creating the best possible infrastructure for music licensing and talent development within the region".

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X Ambassadors sign to Virgin Music
X Ambassadors have signed a new deal with Universal Music's artist services division Virgin Music. Alongside the announcement comes new single 'Happy People', the latest in their '(Eg)' series of collaborations, this time featuring Teddy Swims and Jack Ross.

"X Ambassadors are at a point in their career where they know exactly where they are going and what they want in a partner to help them get there", says Virgin Music President Jacqueline Saturn. "We are THRILLED to have them join Virgin and we will use our global resources to help them reach new audiences and excel even further in what is already an incredible career. We can't wait to share their new music".

Speaking about the new single, X Ambassadors lead singer Sam Nelson adds: "Our new song 'Happy People', featuring Teddy Swims and Jack Ross, is about struggling to maintain your own health and happiness while constantly being assaulted with images of everyone else's seemingly perfect lives. This is something we all come up against every day, just looking down on our phones".

"Having the opportunity to work with Teddy and Jack on this song was a transcendent experience with both of them", he goes on. "Any time they open their mouths, you just feel so deeply what it is they're saying and what it is they're singing, they cannot help but reveal everything to you when they sing and that is golden".

The band are set to play Lafayette in London on 27 Jun. Watch the video for 'Happy People' here.

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Nick Grimshaw to return to the airwaves, filling in on the Virgin Radio breakfast show
Nick Grimshaw will fill in during the Virgin Radio breakfast slot next week, presenting his first radio shows since leaving Radio 1 in 2021.

Grimshaw will appear as a guest presenter on Virgin's 'The Chris Evans Breakfast Show' which, of course, means there'll be a former Radio 1 breakfast show host providing half term cover for a former Radio 1 breakfast show host.

And now a couple of quotes in which each of the two DJs goes over the top praising the other. Guess which one's THRILLED. Twice. Here we go.

Grimshaw: "So excited to be back on the radio for the week looking after my childhood hero's show! He's the man who made me love radio and I can't wait to be on next week everyday from 6.30am".

Evans: "I love Grimmy both on the radio and in real life. I think he's just all round fab. It's been an honour and a pleasure to call him a friend for almost a decade and it's a joy to now be able to say he's also a colleague. I am THRILLED he's depping for me on the Virgin Radio breakfast show. Simply THRILLED".

Evans alone may be THRILLED twice, but when you factor in the whole Virgin Radio team, they are THRILLED thrice.

Adds Virgin Radio Deputy Content Director Nick Daly: "We're THRILLED to have Nick join the show while Chris takes a well-earned break. Virgin Radio listeners will not be disappointed as the legendary Grimmy is back on the airwaves and we're excited to welcome him to the top of the tower!"

The Virgin Radio studio is at the top of a tower by the way. That's what he's talking about there. The altitude sickness is probably why everyone's so THRILLED all the time.

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Tina Turner dies
Tina Turner has died, following a long period of illness, at her home in Switzerland. She was 83.

Her longtime manager, Roger Davies, who worked with Turner throughout most of her solo career, said in a statement: "Tina was a unique and remarkable force of nature with her strength, incredible energy and immense talent. From the first day I met her in 1980, she believed in herself completely when few others did at that time. I will miss her deeply".

Born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, she began her career in music when she joined her future husband Ike Turner's band The Kings Of Rhythm in 1957. In 1960, he made her frontwoman of the band and - without her knowledge - renamed her Tina Turner, trademarking her new stage name so that he could replace her with another Tina if she ever left the group.

The couple married in 1962, and as Ike & Tina Turner had a very successful career with songs such as 'River Deep, Mountain High' and 'Proud Mary'. However, behind the scenes Ike's controlling and physically abusive behaviour towards Tina was a constant - something she documented in her first memoir - 'I, Tina' - in 1986, which was adapted into the 1993 film 'What's Love Got to Do With It?'

She eventually left Ike in 1976 and, when their divorce was finalised two years later, she received a settlement that gave her two cars and the rights to continue using her stage name. She quickly launched a solo career, but struggled to gain popularity until her fifth solo album, 'Private Dancer', in 1984. That LP included songs such as the title track and 'What's Love Got To Do With It?'

Both 'Private Dancer' and 1986 follow-up 'Break Every Rule' went to number two in the UK, with her next album 'Foreign Affair' topping the chart - spawning singles such as 'Steamy Windows' and possibly Turner's best known solo song, 'The Best'.

Her success continued into the 90s, particularly as a live act, and she contributed re-recordings of some older songs to the soundtrack of that 1993 biopic, 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' She then also recorded the theme tune to 1995 James Bond film 'GoldenEye', written by Bono and The Edge. And off the back of that, a new album, 'Wildest Dreams', arrived the following year.

Just before the end of the 90s, Turner released what was to be her final solo album, 'Twenty Four Seven', in 1999 to mark her 60th birthday. Her tour in support of that album in 2000 was the highest grossing of the year, but as the dates drew to a close she announced her plans to retire from music.

She did briefly return to performing in 2008, however. First alongside Beyonce at that year's Grammy Awards, and then on one final tour.

Then, in 2016, she announced that she was working on a musical about her life, 'Tina', which opened at the Aldwych Theatre in London in April 2018. The following year it also opened on Broadway in New York. And, earlier this month, an Australian production opened at the Theatre Royal in Sydney.

In 2021, Turner signed a deal with BMG, which gave the company a stake in her recordings, songs and brand. Yesterday, its outgoing CEO Hartwig Masuch said: "There will only ever be one Tina Turner. Her music and her life's journey touched so many people. We send our condolences to her dear manager and husband Erwin and all those who loved her".

Meanwhile, CEO of Recorded Music at her record label Warner Music, Max Lousada, said in his own statement: "All of us at Warner Music are deeply saddened by the passing of the one and only Tina Turner. A global icon and trailblazer, instantly recognisable by her incredible voice and inimitable style, she was one of the greatest stars of all time".

"Even after the countless awards, the 180 million album sales, the record-breaking tours and unforgettable acting roles, Tina will be remembered most through the sheer joy of her music", he continued. "So powerful is her extraordinary, universal appeal that there is no doubt she will continue to influence generations to come. She stands as the epitome of artistic self-empowerment".

Turner is survived by her second husband Erwin Bach, and two of Ike Turner's sons from his first marriage, Ike Turner Jr and Michael Turner, whom she adopted.

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DEALS

Universal Music's Capitol Records has signed Teo Glacier off the back of his recent viral hit 'Too Much'. "I never imagined myself signed to a label, especially one with the history of Capitol Records", he says. "I still can't really believe it to be honest. I'm waiting for someone to wake me up and ruin this dream. It's a dream I had from the start but it was never a goal. It always felt too impossible to actually try and achieve something like this. To the fifteen year old boy stuck in quarantine making songs - anything is possible bro, cos we did it".

Ólafur Arnalds has renewed his publishing agreement with Wise Music Group's Bosworth Music. "Feeling like our work together has just begun, I am very pleased to be extending my relationship with Bosworth and Wise", he says. "They have been a great, close partner to me and my team in these last couple of years, creative and flexible, and will no doubt continue to be".

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APPOINTMENTS

Sony Music Publishing UK has promoted Andrew Spence to General Counsel. "Putting songwriters first is something truly at the heart of all we do and I'm grateful I get to play a part in that", he says. "I'm also delighted to continue my journey at Sony Music Publishing and be surrounded by so many talented people; from my colleagues to the amazing writers and catalogues we represent".

Nuclear Blast Records has promoted Nathan Barley Phillips and Shawn Keith to Head of A&R, Europe and Head of A&R, North America, respectively. Meanwhile, Tommy Jones moves up to Label Manager, North America, while A&R Jens Prueter will also take on the newly created role of Head Of Catalogue/Senior A&R. "We have been constantly developing and improving our approach to offer the best services to our artists across all channels and nail our position as the number label in heavy music", says MD Marcus Hammer. "We are convinced that we are taking a further step now to an even brighter future".

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RELEASES

Portugal. The Man has released new single 'Summer Of Luv', featuring Unknown Mortal Orchestra. "When [producer Jeff Bhasker and I] originally sat down to write 'Summer Of Luv' we intended to make this a heavy song with a big riff but [when] the vocals came out chill, because I was still recovering from my jaw problems, we realised it sat better in this space", he says. "As we were working on the song, it just felt like it needed another voice. Ruban from Unknown Mortal Orchestra also lives in Portland and is one of our favourite artists, he just fit perfectly in". New album 'Chris Black Changed My Life' is out on 23 Jun.

Little Dragon have released new single 'Gold', taken from their new album 'Slugs Of Love', which is out on 7 Jul.

Lunch Money Life have released new single 'In Jesus Name', featuring Love Interest. New album 'The God Phone' is out on 9 Jun.

Flamingods have released new single 'Dreams (On The Strip)'. "The power of dreams has got me hooked over the past few years", says the band's Kamal Rasool. "When I lost my dad to COVID three years ago, I started having lucid dreams about him where he existed within these surrealist settings that felt both poetic and nonsensical. It felt like he was trying to reach me in these dreams, to give me advice or perhaps just be closer to me. It changed my perspective of dreams and the sometimes-potent effects they can have on you". The band will be touring the UK in November.

Vexed have released new single 'X My <3 (Hope To Die)'. "Inspired by the victims of religious extremists, cults or abuse of power, this song is about how one person shouldn't be able to dictate other people's lives based on their own personal opinions", say the band. Their new album 'Negative Energy' is out on 23 Jun.

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GIGS & TOURS

Meet Me @ The Altar have announced two headline shows following their performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals. They will play Manchester's Deaf Institute on 29 Aug and The Underworld in London on 31 Aug.

Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.

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Abba say "no way" to 50th anniversary reunion at Eurovision
Sweden's win at this year's Eurovision means that the country will be hosting the event next year as the 50th anniversary of Abba's victory at the big old song contest passes. How will Abba themselves mark this occasion? Surely by getting together on the Eurovision stage, right? Think again, says the band's Benny Andersson.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight about another anniversary - the first year of their Abba Voyage show in London - Andersson says in an interview set to air tonight that there is "no way" that the band would reunite for next year's Eurovision.

"I don't want to", he says bluntly. "And if I don't want to, the others won't. It's the same for all four of us. Someone says no - it's a no".

You need confirmation of that? Well, sitting by his side, Bjorn Ulvaeus adds: "We can celebrate 50 years of Abba without us being on stage".

It probably shouldn't be a surprise that they don't want to perform together, given that they have already built a whole show using digital avatars to avoid ever having to do so again.

"We achieved more than we could ever hope for [with Voyage]", says Andersson. "Seeing this happening after four or five years of work and realising that the audience actually connected to what was on stage. Not like watching a movie, but as if we were actually there".

With Abba Voyage currently only being staged in London, Andersson also explains that there have been discussions about constructing venues able to host the show in other countries too, with one at the top of his list.

"I have to say I'd like to take the show to Australia", he says. "It would feel good to go back there and say thank you to Australians for supporting us from day one".

The interview will be broadcast tonight on BBC Newsnight, which airs at 10.30pm. A longer version will also be made available on BBC iPlayer.

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