Latest news with #ArtistsoftheYear
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Faces Backlash Amid Claims They Won't Show Kneecap's Glastonbury Set
The BBC is facing criticism amid speculation that Kneecap's upcoming set at Glastonbury will not be shown on the national broadcaster. On Tuesday, the BBC unveiled a comprehensive guide to the Glastonbury sets that will be airing on BBC One and iPlayer when the annual festival gets underway later this week. However, Kneecap's Saturday set on the West Holts stage was noticeably absent from the guide, which was met with controversy on social media: BBC has released a big guide to who they are showing at Glastonbury across 4 channels, iplayer and about 40 radio which act isn't on it? — Ross McCafferty (@RossMcCaff) June 24, 2025 It can surely only be the BBC Radio 6 Music "Artists of the Year" 2024, Kneecap! — Kieran Hurley (@kieran_hurley) June 24, 2025 wait are the bbc actually not showing kneecap? — Tommy (@Tommy_Byrn) June 24, 2025 So the impartial #BBC@glastonbury@BBCR1@BBCiPlayerHave decided to be the music police and not show #kneecapWell the BBC can — Hillforter 🇵🇸 #RejoinEU (@LikeOldTat) June 24, 2025 BBC ARE CENORSING KNEECAP — Milo (@Milo_AFC) June 24, 2025 censoring political oppositionshame on the BBC and best of luck to kneecap — alexander (@goodbyeleninxcx) June 24, 2025 An absolute DISGRACE that @BBC isn't broadcasting @KNEECAPCEOL's performance at Glastonbury. Hoping Kneecap somehow broadcast it themselves. — jane.🌙👻🦇 (@poptarts_xx) June 24, 2025 Won't be watching If the BBC ban #Kneecap! Censorship is a cowards way of saying we don't want this because we don't like Hurty Words, #Glastonbury used to be about music & Politics, not playing it safe with the #BBC — Susan 🇵🇸 (@Susan60406426) June 24, 2025 OK, wow! After initially standing firm under intense political and Zionist lobby pressure, the BBC has made the unpardonable decision not to broadcast @KNEECAPCEOL's Glastonbury performance. I wrote about the campaign to deplatform the band here: — Kit Klarenberg 🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻 (@KitKlarenberg) June 24, 2025 Kneecap found themselves at the centre of scrutiny following their set at the Coachella music festival in April, where they voiced their support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This included projecting messages like 'fuck Israel, free Palestine' onto the screens behind them, and leading the crowd in a chant of 'free Palestine'. Days later, it was reported that counter-terrorism officers were assessing a resurfaced video that was recorded at a gig in London five months earlier, during which the group reportedly declared 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. It was subsequently confirmed that band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known to fans by his stage name Mo Chara – had been charged with a terror offence over this clip, for which he made his first appearance in court last week. Kneecap responded to the news of Ó hAnnaidh being charged in a group statement which said: 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.' Prior to that, the band said they had been made the subject of a smear campaign, while insisting: 'Let us be unequivocal. We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.' HuffPost UK has contacted the BBC for comment regarding the speculation that it will not be airing Kneecap's Glastonbury set. A spokesperson previously told The Standard: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. 'Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch recently called for the BBC not to broadcast Kneecap's Glastonbury set, suggesting that doing so is comparable with 'rewarding extremism'. Prime minister Keir Starmer, meanwhile, went one step further, claiming it was not 'appropriate' for Glastonbury to keep Kneecap on its line-up. Responding to Starmer, the West Belfast hip-hop trio wrote on Instagram: 'You know what's 'not appropriate' Keir?! Arming a fucking genocide…' Kneecap Hit Back After Keir Starmer Says They Should Be Pulled From Glastonbury Line-Up Kneecap Lay Into Kemi Badenoch On Newly-Released Single The Recap Kneecap Speak Out After Being 'Removed' From TRNSMT Festival Line-Up Due To Safety 'Concerns'
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
St Matthew's pupils showcase art in Harbour Arts Centre exhibition
An impactful art exhibition highlights the diverse talents of secondary school pupils. St Matthew's Academy pupils from S1 to S3 showcasing their work at Studio 1 of the Harbour Arts Centre at Irvine Harbourside. First opened at the start of June, the exhibition will be on display until Friday, June 20. The exhibition showcases the very best of the works completed by the local secondary school pupils during their Art and Design classes over the past academic year. In a mix of styles including, drawings, paintings, landscapes, paper mache jewellery, portraits, mixed media and sculptures, the exhibition has something for everyone to enjoy and is a feast for the eyes. An S1 pupil taking part shared: "I was really excited when I found out my painting had been shortlisted for the exhibition. I feel really proud seeing it up there on the wall of a real art gallery." Another pupil added: "I took inspiration from the nature around North Ayrshire, particularly bird life. Although I took this route, I feel really inspired by the different works that everyone else submitted. We are all really unique and talented in our own way. It's great to be a part of it all." The art exhibition follows on from the first St Matthew's Academy Art and Design awards ceremony for Artists of the Year where S1 pupil Grace Ryan, S2 pupil Danaleigh Howie and S3 pupil Sophie Blautenburg were crowned as the overall stars of the exhibition. Headteacher Stephen Colligan said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the work of our pupils at North Ayrshire's flagship arts and culture location. "The Harbour Arts Centre is an excellent venue and I am sure all visitors will be impressed at the quality of the artwork on display. The work reflects not only the depth of talent we have in Saint Matthew's Academy but also the commitment and hard work of our outstanding Art Department." Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People said: "Congratulations to the talented pupils who have been featured in this exciting art exhibition. "It is amazing to see such artistic prowess and potential being demonstrated so early by pupils in their academic journey. I have no doubt that many of the young artists will be back in HAC in the very near future if their current works are anything to go by. "If you're heading over to Irvine Harbourside over the weekend, please drop-in to see the work for yourself and show your support!" Viewing are available today, tomorrow afternoon and on Friday, June 20, please call the venue before visiting on 01294 274059.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Music Industry Moves: Nashville Vet Leslie Fram Launches FEMco Consulting; Joshua Simons, Dave Lory and Dick Wingate Announce Worldwide Entertainment Group
Veteran Nashville music executive Leslie Fram has officially announced her new business venture, FEMco (Fram Entertainment & Music), a consulting collective offering artist development, talent booking and production, and B2B connections to Nashville's entertainment community. FEMco will capitalize on Fram's 13-year tenure in Nashville as SVP of music and talent at CMT/Paramount, as well as her many years working in radio. While at CMT, Fram executive-produced the annual CMT Music Awards, booked CMT Crossroads, Storytellers and more. Most recently, she served as Talent Producer on CBS' 'Ringo & Friends at the Ryman.' More from Variety CMT's Longtime Music Chief Leslie Fram Pens Farewell to Staff as Country Industry Wonders About Channel's Future Lainey Wilson to Be Celebrated as Top Breakout Artist for CMT's Artists of the Year Special CMT's Leslie Fram Leads the Charge to Bring Women Back Out of Country Music's Margins: Strictly Business Podcast Fram says, 'I've always wanted to start my own company, one that was intentionally designed as a purpose-driven business that aligns with my personal and professional aspirations. Through my time in radio and television I've gained a wealth of knowledge, skills and insights from various roles, industries and projects that are not just a collection of past events but a foundation for this very kind of endeavor.' FEMco will also create multiple opportunities for female artists to increase their visibility and reach via events, sponsorships and more through its music-focused production arm, FEMco Presents. Its first franchise, FEMcountry is a continuation of Fram's work in creating critically-acclaimed programs like CMT's Next Women of Country and her passion for elevating female voices in country music. + Veteran entertainment execs Joshua Simons, Dave Lory and Dick Wingate have announced the formation of Worldwide Entertainment Group, a New York-based company providing musical artists with a 'holistic management experience.' The company offers a full spectrum of services including talent management, marketing, promotion, licensing, event management and career development. The first projects include Brian Fresco, whose first single 'Bad 4 You' features Chance the Rapper and Lil Xel and drops on June 6, and singer/songwriter Hannah Wicklund, who will be recording her new album this month. Other staffers include president Jeff Riccio as president of WEG Licensed Merchandise Group, Sandy Rizzo as executive VP of WEG Talent Management, Licensed Merchandise and Live Performance Groups, Brad Mooberry as chief marketing officer, and Jenn Federici as GM of artist development. Patrick Clifford will be the company's representative in Nashville and A&R. WEG has a distribution deal in place with Jeff Brody, owner of Brody Distribution Group through the Orchard and a merchandise deal with JSR/Forward Merch for the independent artists and projects signed to WEG. WEG also has a partnership in place with Tom Linden, whose company CMMN PPL will be assisting with artist bookings as needed and sourcing touring support opportunities. + Billboard has promoted Mike Van to the role of the publication's first-ever CEO.. In this position, Van will oversee Billboard's global brand footprint in 15 countries, along with all aspects of strategy, revenue, business operations, live experiences, international licensing, and brand partnerships; he will also oversee both the business and editorial teams, with Billboard's editor-in-chief Hannah Karp now reporting to him directly, according to the announcement. Van, who was Billboard's president since 2022, will report to Jay Penske, Chairman and CEO, Penske Media Corporation. He previously held leadership roles at Pandora, Electronic Arts, and Complex. 'Mike is a one-of-a-kind leader, visionary and partner,' said Penske. 'His passion for the Billboard brand and clear vision for its future has always set him apart. Mike has fostered a collaborative environment with a team committed to building a formidable global business – innovating and trailblazing at every level. It has been inspiring to watch Billboard's seismic growth over the last several years and I look forward to seeing the brand continue to thrive under Mike's leadership.' + Splice has announced the acquisition of Spitfire Audio, a major U.K.-based developer of high-end virtual instrument libraries. The acquisition marks Splice's entry into the fast-growing plugin space, adding to the company's Splice Sounds subscriptions and rent-to-own businesses. The companies are set to start work on new products that blend Spitfire Audio's cinematic and orchestral expertise with Splice's sample catalog and AI-powered discovery engine. 'The teams at Spitfire Audio and Splice have deep respect for composers, musicians and producers and are committed to celebrating and supporting their work', said Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice. 'We're both sound-first, creator-led companies who believe great software and technology can supercharge the creative experience. Our shared vision is to develop tools that expand—not replace—human creativity.' Srivastava added. 'With Spitfire's expressive instruments and Splice's AI-powered platform, we're just beginning to explore what's possible.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in May 2025
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
In pictures: BBC 6 Music festival takes over Greater Manchester
The BBC 6 Music Festival returned to Greater Manchester this week, attracting thousands to sold-out shows across the city. The event, which was broadcast live on the Radio 6 Music station, featured a line-up of acts from across the UK, as well as abroad, including Ezra Collective, Mogwai and Perfume Genius. The festival kicked off on Wednesday with BBC Introducing, a showcase of local and emerging acts jasmine.4.t, Renee Stormz and Adult DVD. Speaking ahead of the event, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: "Our music scene has always been strong, but right now, there's an incredible amount of new talent coming through, alongside a thriving independent scene." Thursday's line-up featured post punk outfit Fat Dog, named one of BBC 6's Artists of the Year for 2024, who were joined on stage at Victoria Warehouse by surprise guest Jessica Winter for a rendition of Satisfaction by Benny Benassi and The Biz. Jazz quintet Ezra Collective then graced the stage, joined by members of London youth organisation Kinteka Bloco for a performance which celebrated the importance of youth clubs across the UK. Speaking on stage, Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective said: "If you want to make something last forever, you need to create a legacy."He added: "And the legacy comes from giving it away to other people and the other people we choose to give it to are our youth clubs and schools." On Friday, English Teacher, who won the Mercury prize last year for their debut album This Could Be Texas, were joined on stage by surprise guest Richard Hawley to play Transmission by Joy Division. Of the performance at Victoria Warehouse, Hawley said: "[English Teacher are] from Leeds, I'm from Sheffield and we've played a Manchester classic.""Some people might say sacrilege, but I think it's respectful and honourable." Scottish post-rock band Mogwai then played, including two songs in collaboration with local brass ensemble KNDS Fairey Acid Brass. The final night of the festival saw Seattle art pop act Perfume Genius take to the stage at Victoria Warehouse, the day after the release of his new album Glory. Poet and musician Kae Tempest closed the festival, treating the crowd to never-before-heard material. Tempest told 6 Music's Cerys Matthews earlier this week: "I've been lucky enough to be welcomed by 6 Music since the very it just feels like the perfect place to be starting a new campaign." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to
