Music News

Pink is to receive the BMI President's Award for Songwriting.
The 'Just Give Me A Reason' hitmaker has been named as the recipient of the prestigious accolade, which recognises "outstanding achievement in songwriting and global impact on pop culture and the entertainment industry".
Speaking about the musician, Barbara Cane, BMI Vice President, said: "Pink is an extraordinary songwriter whose mastery of craft and passionate artistry has transformed a generation of Pop and Rock music culture around the world.
"She has captivated music lovers with her unforgettable, emotional and edgy magnificence of song, voice and performance."
The 35-year-old performer - who has three-year-old daughter Willow Sage Hart with husband Carey Hart - released her debut solo album 'Can't Take Me Home' in 2000, and has since gone on to release five more solo records.
Her most recent album, released last year, was 'rose.ave' which she recorded with City and Colour's Dallas Green under the duo name You+Me.
The award - which has previously been won by Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Adam Levine and Pitbull - will be presented to Pink at the 63rd annual BMI Pop Awards, which will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills on May 12.

Paloma Faith has written a "surprise" song with Gary Barlow.
The 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This' singer is hard at work in the studio creating the follow-up to 2014's 'A Perfect Contradiction', and revealed she has written a track with the Take That frontman which she thinks will shock their fans.
She confessed: "When you hear what we've come up with, people will be going 'Bloody hell!'
"I really loved working with him, and what we've come up with is a pleasant surprise."
The 33-year-old musician - who won the British Female Solo Artist award at the BRITs in February - also hinted she will be making a political statement with her fourth record, because she believes it's "important to comment" on current events.
She continued: "I don't claim to be the most profound person on Earth, but I watch the news, I follow politics and it's important to comment about these things."
And now she has decided to offer up her opinions on world issues, she has vowed not to sing about her love life, as she doesn't have much to say about the subject.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "I've set myself a mad challenge, to make a record with nothing about love in it.
"I'm really happy in love and I don't feel that longing about it."

Idris Elba has been dropped by his record label.
The 42-year-old actor and musician signed to Parlophone less than a year ago but has revealed his music was "not commercial enough" for the company.
He admitted: "The label dropped me after this album.
"It's a risk to make a record with an actor and not everyone's going to believe in that. In an industry that's suffering, they have to put their money with the winners."
The star recorded with South African musicians while making 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom', which led to the release of his album, 'Idris Elba Presents mi Mandela', although it failed to be a success commercially which resulted in Parlophone's decision to end his contract.
He continued: "It's not commercial enough. Labels are suffering, there's not a number one record on it - how do they justify spending money on it? I get it."
However, the hunk has not given up on his musical talent, and has decided to self-fund his next studio album 'Murder Loves John', which has been inspired by the BBC One drama in which he stars, 'Luther'.
Speaking at the British Film Institute in London, he said: "If I didn't get signed again, it wouldn't stop me making another album. I'd just find another way to fund it."

Noel Gallagher was presented with a painting of his brother Liam by a fan as he landed in South Korea.
A huge crowd of admirers showed up to Seoul Airport to see the rocker as he touched down in the Far East country last weekend and many were armed with gifts for the 'Riverman' singer.
Noel - who played in Seoul as part of his world tour in support of his new album 'Chasing Yesterday' - was stunned when he unwrapped one present and discovered a painting of his younger sibling Liam, who he has feuded with on-and-off since Oasis split in 2009.
On opening the portrait, Noel admitted to The Korea Herald newspaper: "It was very, very funny, I f***ing pissed myself it was so funny."
He later posted on his tour blog Tales From The Middle of Nowhere: "So, I'm given a present in a large bag which had drawn on the front: F***ing AMAZing PRESent ... It was a painting of our Liam ... AMAZing indeed!! (sic)"
The High Flying Birds frontman also blogged about his South Korean fans to praise them for their passion and loyalty.
He said: "The gigs were just unbelievable, not for anything I did I might add, simply because those fans are truly incredible ... very special ... seemingly mostly teenage girls (which is nice) (sic)".
He added: "Not quite sure what I've done to deserve that at such a late state in the game but ... nice one!"

Charli XCX wants to collaborate with Chris Martin.
The pop star admits she would love to write a song with the Coldplay frontman and would be very happy if the track ended up on the band's next album.
Speaking to Daryl Morris on The Hits radio, Charli - who has previously written for Iggy Azalea and Icona Pop among other artists - said: "I'd like to write a song with Chris Martin. I'm a big Chris Martin fan. We actually toured together a couple of years ago and that was cool. I don't know about whether it would be a song for me or just a song that we write. But I think he's an amazing songwriter."
Charli has been busy for the past few months touring her second album 'Sucker' and she hasn't written a new track for a "long" time.
The 'Boom Clap' singer is itching to get back in the studio and pen some new music because the lack of creativity in her life is getting her down.
She explained: "I haven't written for so long. I feel really depressed about it. I've not been in the studio I've just been on tour and it's not cool to not have been in the studio. Don't get me wrong I love being on tour and especially as it's my first headline tour of the UK ever, which is very exciting, but I do want to get back in the studio!"

Johnny Marr and Paul Weller want to record a song together.
The two rock legends are keen to get in the studio together and hope they can lay down at least one track which they'll be able to release.
Paul said: "We've talked about working together for a long time."
Johnny added: "We'd love to do it. We'll do a single together at some point, definitely."
The pair were inspired to make music together after duetting on stage at their Teenage Cancer Trust concert last month.
The former Jam and Smiths members teamed up to perform a cover of Junior Walker & The Allstars' 60s hit '(I'm A) Roadrunner', and, while the two have shared the stage in the US a few times, this was their first joint stage appearance in the UK.
Johnny told NME magazine: "I played with [Paul's '80s band] The Style Council hundreds of years ago when we were both children and then a few years ago in America, but this is the first time over here."
Paul has previously revealed that he wants to work with Johnny, as well as Culture Club frontman Boy George.
He said: "I'd like to do something with Johnny Marr. We were talking about it for a couple of years. We always bump into each other in different places, but we've never actually worked together. I'm up for working with anyone, really, if they're good. I'd really like to do something with Boy George."

Blue have been dropped by their record label.
The 'All Rise' hitmakers released their fifth studio album 'Colours' last month, but have been released from their recording contract after the LP sold only 4,000 copies in its first week.
A source revealed: "Blue had a two-album deal but last week they were informed they'd been dropped after the performance of 'Colours'.
"It's a massive blow for them because it really was their last chance at commercial success.
"It's time for them to accept that their days of releasing hit singles and albums are over. No second single from the album."
The group - featuring Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Duncan James - announced their record deal last year, when they said it felt "great" to have signed to Sony.
At the time, they said: "It feels great to be joining the Sony family -- 2015 is set to be a brilliant year for us and we look forward to sharing our next chapter with the fans."
The group - who originally split in 2005 - made a comeback in 2011 when they competed in the Eurovision Song Contest, and later appeared on ITV2's 'The Big Reunion' and released their album 'Roulette' which charted at number 13.
However, the group could be set for one final album, as Sony suggested they might release a greatest hits collection to celebrate the band's 15-year anniversary.
The insider told The Sun newspaper: "There's some talk there might be a Greatest Hits or something to mark 15 years of Blue, but there won't be another whole new album with Sony."

Lana Del Rey is working with Mark Ronson.
The 'Summertime Sadness' singer has headed into the studio with the 'Uptown Funk' hitmaker to work on music for her upcoming third LP, tentatively titled 'Honeymoon'.
Speaking to Interview Magazine, Mark said: "I'm going to do some recording with Lana Del Rey today and tomorrow. I found this cool old studio out here [in Los Angeles].
"She has some songs and I said I had some demo ideas, and if they are any good, then maybe she'll like them and we'll go from there."
The record follows 2014's 'Ultraviolence' - which topped album charts in the UK and US - which the 29-year-old singer previously said is "very different" from the music she is working on for her next release.
Despite it being less than a year since she released her last collection, in January Lana revealed she already had nine songs ready for the album.
She said: "I'm looking for a few more songs to tie everything together.
"It's very different from the last one and similar to the first two, 'Born to Die' and 'Paradise'. I finished my last one in March and released it in June and I had a follow-up idea. It's growing into something I really like. I'm kind of enjoying sinking into this more noirish feel for this one. It's been good."

B.B. King has left hospital.
The blues legend has thanked his fans for their concern and insisted he is well again after he was admitted to a medical facility over the weekend, suffering with dehydration linked to his type II diabetes.
In a statement posted on his official website on Tuesday (07.04.15), he wrote: "I want to thank everyone for their concern and good wishes. I'm feeling much better & am leaving the hospital today."
The 89-year-old musician was taken to the facility near his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to health concerns although his daughter Claudette King soon admitted he was already feeling "much better" when asked about his condition on Monday (06.04.15).
The 'The Thrill Has Gone' hitmaker suffered a similar health scare last October leading to the cancellation of eight tour dates, although he joked about his hospital admission days later insisting he was busier while resting at home as people kept checking to see if he was all right.
B.B. - who was born Riley B. King and is often referred to as the King of Blues - has toured for more than 65 years, and would play more than 300 shows each year at the peak of his career.
However, his hectic schedule has slowed down in recent years, having not released a record since his Grammy Award-winning 42nd studio album 'One Kind Favor' in 2008.