MOBO Awards live line-up revealed
Craig David, Laura Mvula, Tinie Tempah, Clean Bandit with Anne-Marie and Chase & Status have all been confirmed to perform at this year’s MOBO Awards ceremony. The annual event takes place at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow on Friday, November 4. It will be broadcast live on ITV2 and repeated later on ITV. 2016 marks the 21st anniversary of the MOBO Awards, which recognises and celebrates urban music and culture. To view the full list of nominees for this year’s event, click here.
Amazon set to launch two streaming services?
Amazon could be about to launch two new streaming services to rival market leader Spotify. Rumour has it that an on-demand streaming service for £10 per month is set for launch, along with a cheaper £5 per month service for owners of Amazon’s Echo speaker systems. Each service will offer access to Amazon’s complete music library, but subscribers to the cheaper service will only be able to access music via the Echo speakers. It is thought that the Echo-only version could launch within weeks, although the premium £10 version may not arrive until nearer Christmas. (Tech Radar)
Adele and Ed Sheeran among UK acts shortlisted for BMI Song of the Year
The Song of the Year Award goes to the most played track on radio and TV in the US in 2015. And just over half of the nominated songs are from British artists. Among the nominees are Adele’s Hello, Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, Ellie Goulding’s On My Mind and George Ezra’s Budapest. Last year’s winner was Sam Smith’s Stay With Me. The gala event, which takes place on October 10, will also honour Sting as a BMI Icon. Previous recipients include John Lydon, Ray Davies, Van Morrison and Brian Ferry.
Red Bull Academy presents Dizzee Rascal
London’s Copper Box Arena is hosting the Red Bull Music Academy tour on Saturday, October 22, where Dizzee Rascal will be performing his 2003 debut album Boy In Da Corner in full. The album has been heralded as milestone in the development of grime, which has achieved its most significant mainstream breakthrough in 2016. Last month say Skepta scoop the Mercury Prize for his album Konnichiwa, while Spotify UK senior editor and former BBC Radio 1Xtra music manager Austin Daboh hailed grime as “the most potent genre since Britpop”.
Japan’s first dance culture conference announced
Japan’s first ever conference for the electronic music industry has been announced in the form of Tokyo Dance Music Event (TDME). Taking place from December 1-3, the inaugural event will discuss the ‘emergent Asian component of the global dance community’. TDME will play host to a host of key artists and execs from both the Japanese and international dance music community. Held in Shibuya, a schedule of seminars and live showcases will be complemented by curated experiences in some of the district’s most iconic venues.
