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Live Updates

Kev Geoghegan & Paul Glynn

All times stated are UK

  1. Closing Time

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    Alas, all good things must come to an end and after three years of Music News LIVE we've arrived at MNL-exit.

    Thanks for reading, it's been a blast.

    We hope you enjoyed it, perhaps learned something or even found your favourite artist.

    Read more about the changes to the BBC Music website and check out loads more content over on BBC Sounds

    Plus, don't forget to tune into BBC Radio 6 Music this weekend for coverage of their festival in Liverpool (it's bound to be boss).

    We'll leave you now with a fitting late 90s classic - as suggested by one reader, A E Hansen (below) - which won a Grammy for best rock song exactly 30 years ago.

    Last orders ladies and gentlemen, last orders...

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  2. Prodigy fans turn out in force for Keith Flint's funeral

    Image caption: Flowers are delivered for the funeral of Keith Flint at St Mary's Church in Braintree, Essex

    Fans of the electro rock outfit have been paying their respects to late frontman Keith Flint, at his funeral procession in Braintree, Essex.

    As we told you earlier the band requested people to line the streets to "raise the roof for Keef" and they have not let them down, arriving in droves clad in their best rave gear.

    Read more now over on BBC Essex's dedicated LIVE page.

  3. 5 Things We Learned This Week

    The week started with sad news of the death of iconic singer-songwriter Scott Walker.

    Newbie Tuesday artist Suzie Wu told us pop stars are now "all genre-less."

    Toymakers Mattel unveiled a new line of BTS dolls - to a mixed response.

    And Diana Ross was serenaded by Beyonce at her 75th birthday bash.

    Here are a few more...

    1. Cardi B defends her trademark application, whether you're 'Okuuur' with it or not

    The rapper is currently trying to trademark her popular catchphrase/noise- which she described as sounding like a "cold pigeon in New York City".

    Of course she has had some criticism but she took to social media to hit back at the haters of her latest money move.

    “It’s 2019 bitches - there’s a lot of ways to get rich," she declared, in an Insta' video.

    “Let me tell you something: Every single time I go to a corporate meeting, these folks be like: ‘Oh my god, can we please hear you say Okurrr?'

    "Every time I go to a TV show: ‘Hey, hey, can you teach me how to say Okurrr?’ Every time I go do a commercial: ‘Hey, can you finish it off with Okurrr?' You think I ain’t gonna profit off this?!"

    Read more

    2. Justin Bieber is taking another break

    The Biebs announced this week he is taking a break to repair some "deep-rooted issues".

    In a wayward post on his Instagram, the 25-year-old pop singer said he was unhappy during his last tour and needed time to focus "so that I don’t fall apart, so that I can sustain my marriage and be the father I want to be".

    "Music is very important to me but nothing comes before my family and my health," added the star, who earlier this month told fans he was "struggling a lot" with his mental health.

    Back in 2017, the Canadian cancelled the remainder his Purpose world tour on similar health grounds.

    Read more

    3. Avicii will be honoured with a suicide prevention charity

    The family of the late DJ, who was found dead in his hotel room in Oman in April 2018, have announced a foundation to raise money and awareness for mental illness and suicide prevention.

    The Swedish DJ, whose name is Tim Bergling, struggled with substance abuse and depression.

    The Tim Bergling Foundation will also address issues like climate change and nature conservation.

    "Tim wanted to make a difference," his family said in a press release.

    "Starting a foundation in his name is our way to honour his memory and continue to act in his spirit."

    Tristan Hunt from the Association For Electronic Music told Newsbeat: "His suicide brought into sharp relief just how many men suffer from this, especially within our industry."

    Read more

    4) German rock band Rammstein accused of 'trivialising' Holocaust

    The band have been criticised after releasing a new music video trailer which appears to shows them dressed as concentration camp prisoners, with nooses around the neck.

    According to a quote obtained by Reuters, Charlotte Knobloch, a Holocaust survivor and former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told German paper Bild: “With this video, the band has crossed a line."

    She added: “The instrumentalisation and trivialisation of the Holocaust, as shown in the images, is irresponsible.”

    The German government’s commissioner for anti-semitism Felix Klein, called the video “a tasteless exploitation of artistic freedom.”

    Rammstein have yet to respond to the criticism.

    The band did announce today though that their self-titled seventh album will arrive on 17 May.

    Read more

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    And finally...

    5) A Salt-N-Pepa mini-series is in the works

    US subscription channel, Lifetime, has given the green light to a new series based on the iconic NYC rap group.

    Queen Latifah is reported to be on board as an executive producer alongside Cheryl 'Salt' James and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton.

    The series - due to be broadcast in 2020 - will explore the lives of the artists from their time as nursing school students to their takeover of the world of hip-hop.

    Read more

    We'd tell you more about all of those stories, but we don't want to Push It.

  4. Miley Cyrus brings back her Hannah Montana look!

    Newsround

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    Miley has been feeling a bit nostalgic this week it seems, having shared pictures of herself with her hair styled just like Hannah Montana.

    For those that don't remember, that was the Disney show were she made her name as a child.

    The show was on TV until 2011 until Miley left to become a pop star in her own right.

    The show celebrated its 13th birthday on Sunday and Miley's throwback pics on social media (above) has got some fans dreaming of a comeback.

    Read more

  5. Newbie Tuesday: Archive of new artists

    Here's one for all you fans of new music out there...

    From of the breakout success of 2019 Brits Critics' Choice winner Sam Fender and runner-up Lewis Capaldi, to the Nicki Minaj co-signed Ms Banks - via BBC Biggest Weekend stars Dream Wife, The Orielles and Connie Constance - we've pulled together a collection of archived interviews from our regular Newbie Tuesday new acts feature.

    Basically, your favourite band/artist is waiting for you here...

  6. Louise shares raunchy comeback video for Stretch

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    Louise has released the rather steamy visuals for her first new song since 2003.

    Earlier in the week the 44-year-old told BBC Radio 2's Fearne Cotton that she was not scared to be sexy any more.

    Check out Stretch above and see if you agree.

  7. New Ronnie James Dio tour announced

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    Not bad when you consider he died nine years ago.

    A hologram of the former Black Sabbath frontman (after Ozzy Osbourne was sacked) was revealed at a music festival in Germany in 2016.

    Now it's going out on tour again, for 100 dates this year.

    Check out the trailer above.

    His former guitarist Doug Aldrich reportedly said earlier this year that Ronnie - who died of stomach cancer in 2010 - “would be pissed” about it, telling a podcast.

    "Ronnie would be, like, ‘Come on, let me be dead in peace!’

    "Ronnie was a no-frills guy. He was not down for stuff like that.”

    Perhaps he can join Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly on the virtual road...

  8. Lil Uzi Vert pops to shop to spit first bars of the year

    Free Uzi, which was previously teased on the Philadelphia rapper’s Instagram Story, is his first new music of 2019 and finds him dancing around a corner shop rapping bars that are a little too top shelf to bring you here on MNL, even on our last day.

    The video, which you can find online if you don't mind that kind of thing, was directed by collaborator Qasquiat.

    Uzi recently appeared on Jay-Z's Roc Nation website, as part of their roster.

    Not a bad reference for your hip hop CV, we suppose.

  9. A 'new' Marvin Gaye album hits the digital shelves

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    The long - and we do mean long-awaited follow up to Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking political and social 1971 album, What's Going On?, is out today.

    You're The Man is from an album Marvin scrapped following the poor commercial performance of the title single.

    He died in 1984, shot by his father after a fight.

    The album has now been released to mark what would have been Marvin's 80th birthday on 2 April and features all of Gaye’s solo and non-soundtrack recordings from 1972.

    It also features remixes of some of the songs by The Fugees and Amy Winehouse producer Salaam Remi.

    Listen to his work on the track Symphony above.

  10. Tom Hanks could be set to play Elvis's manager

    Variety

    The Oscar winning actor is in talks to play Elvis Presley’s famously mysterious manager 'Colonel' Tom Parker in director Baz Luhrmann’s forthcoming biopic about the legendary musician.

    Parker - who discovered Presley when he was an unknown - was responsible for his record deal with RCA and his successful acting career.

    But he also commanded a huge cut of Presley's earning and was thought to be responsible for the fact Elvis never played overseas.

    Born and raised in the Netherlands where he worked on carnivals, Parker continued to manage Presley's affairs after his death but accrued massive gambling debuts and died in 1997.

    In casting Elvis, Baz apparently wants a newcomer for the role.

    Read more

  11. Sigur Rós charged with tax evasion in Iceland

    Pitchfork

    Members of the Icelandic band have been charged with new counts of tax evasion.

    According to documents, the bandmembers, including singer Jónsi Birgisson collectively evaded a total of 151 million Icelandic Krona (£946,000) between 2011 and 2014.

    The band were cleared of tax evasion last year, claiming an accounting mistake.

    The new charges come from local authorities as opposed to the Icelandic government.

    In a statement which the BBC has obtained, Sigur Rós said they "regret that this matter needs to go before the courts, but at the same time they hope that their point of view will be understood.

    "They have always had the full intention to comply with their financial and tax obligations and they thought they always did."

    Read more

    In November, Jónsi released a triple vinyl album created under his Frakkur alias.

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  12. Billie Eilish drops 'game-changing' debut album

    The self-proclaimed new goth pop queen has released her eagerly-awaited and lengthily-titled debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? today.

    The album, which carries the singles You Should See Me in a Crown, When the Party's Over and Bury a Friend, has been given five stars by the NME.

    "When We All Fall Asleep... is a memorable and game-changing debut record," they write, "with Billie's disruptive streak front and centre."

    The Guardian were similarly impressed giving the "thrilling Gen Z terror-pop" 4/5.

    And Pitchfork say the record "lives in a world of its own: gothic, bass-heavy, at turns daring and quite beautiful."

    That's a big "yes, please" all round then.

    Check out Billie performing the provocative Wish You Were Gay, exclusively for BBC Radio 1 at the iconic Maida Vale studios earlier this month below.

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  13. Connie Constance: 'British blood ain't all the same'

    As the Brexit deadline comes and goes, a rising UK pop star has been considering what it means to be young, dual heritage and British amidst the political 'mud' of 2019.

    Former MNL Newbie Tuesday act, Connie Constance - who dropped her debut album, English Rose last week - told us: "We're all from these different cultures now really...

    "But there are so many things that we're so in line with, no matter where you are from, or whether you are left or right."

    Check her out her attempt at "reshaping the English Rose" with a cover of the Jam track (below), from which her album takes its name.

    Read more

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  14. Julia Michael and Niall Horan share intimate acoustic duet

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    Some time for new music now, we think.

    Julia and Niall have shared a video of their performance of What a Time from her Inner Monologue Part 1 EP.

    They didn't appear together in the original video for the song, with Julia singing to a Niall lookalike.

    Now they've remedied that and you can check it out above.

  15. Keith Flint funeral: The Prodigy fans to line streets

    A "large number of well-wishers" are expected to line the streets ahead of the funeral of The Prodigy star Keith Flint.

    Essex Police said it was expecting sizeable crowds to gather along the procession route through Braintree in Essex from 15:00 GMT.

    Local schools will be closing from midday to allow pupils and parents to escape the anticipated traffic chaos.

    Flint, 49, was found hanged at his home near Dunmow on 4 March.

    His bandmates have called on fans to line the route to St Mary's Church in Bocking and "raise the roof for Keef".

    Read more

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  16. Boyzone's Keith Duffy misses gig after being taken to hospital

    The singer was rushed to hospital after falling ill while on tour with the Irish boy/manband in Asia.

    They were due to perform in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday night.

    The 44-year-old was taken to hospital "on the advice of the local medical team", a statement said.

    No reason has been given for the medical emergency.

    On Twitter, the band said: "Our brother will be back on his feet as soon as possible and we thank you for all your wonderful support in the meantime."

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    Boyzone are due to perform in Perth, Australia, on Saturday.

  17. 'Emotional' Bey & Jay honoured at the LGBTQ Awards

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    Beyonce and Jay-Z told gay people everywhere they love them as they were honoured for being allies of the LGBTQ community at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles last night.

    "We're here to promote love for every human being," said Beyonce, on stage with her rapper hubby.

    "To choose who you love is your human right," she added, before quoting the lyrics of her own tracks, Formation - to loud cheers.

    Bey went on to pay tribute to her Uncle Johnny, who died after contracting HIV, describing him as "the most fabulous gay man I have ever known."

    Jay meanwhile paid tribute to his gay mother, Gloria, who was honoured with an award last year.

    "I get to follow in her footsteps spreading love and acceptance," he said.

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    It was famed drag act Shangela, however, who stole the whole night.

    She got a standing ovation after delivering a Beyonce tribute performance in front of the on-watching Bey.

    "I'm overwhelmed," said the singer of the performance, joking, "I've put a run in my stocking from Shangela!"

    Check out some footage below.

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  18. James Arthur pulls out of gig due to 'crippling anxiety'

    The singer tweeted fans on Thursday evening explaining he was cancelling a show at the Royal Albert Hall in London due to being "crippled by anxiety".

    He said his "poor mental health" in recent days had been "badly affecting me."

    James had been due to support Take That at a gig in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

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    The charity tweeted it was sending "our thoughts and best wishes".

    "Seconded," the London venue tweeted. "Sending you love and strength from all of us here James".

    The singer has spoken previously about his mental health battles, in particular anxiety, telling Newsbeat: "At one time it was horrendous and I didn't know what it was. I go through these episodes where I can't breathe and I feel like I'm having a heart attack."

    Other singers have reached out to the singer including You, Me at Six's Josh Franceschi.

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  19. Liverpool band Her's killed in US crash

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    Some incredibly sad news to start today...

    Both members of the Liverpool band Her's and their tour manager have been killed in a crash in the US.

    Duo Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading, as well as manager Trevor Engelbrektson, died while travelling to a gig in California on Wednesday, their record label Heist or Hit said.

    The label described them as "one of the UK's most loved up and coming bands".

    The duo had recently released their debut album and had been featured by BBC Music Introducing.

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    Heist Or Hit said they were killed "in a road accident in the early hours of Wednesday whilst travelling to a show in Santa Ana, California".

    They had performed in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday and were driving about 350 miles to Santa Ana in California when the crash happened.

    Posting on their Facebook page on Monday, the band wrote: "It's almost home time for the lads, US tour has gone swimmingly so far. Got a hot sunset date with the Grand Canyon tonight."

    Tributes have been coming in from fellow bands like Idles (above), those that worked with them and fans alike.

    Idles called them "wonderful people," who "always brought a smile to our faces."

    Read more

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  20. Today is the day

    It's 29 March 2019 everyone and you all know what that means...

    It's time for the final ever Music News LIVE.

    So let's make it a good one, shall we?

    Coming up between now and 16.00 GMT:

    • Beyonce and Jay-Z honoured at LBGTQ Awards
    • Tributes to Liverpool band Her's
    • Fans gather to pay tribute to Keith Flint
    • Boyzone's Keith Duffy is taken to hospital in Thailand
    • New music from the likes of Billie Eilish (above), Lil Uzi Vert, Louise, Jax Jones, Julia Michaels + Niall Horan and more
    • The last ever 5 Things We Learned This Week

    Let's get started.