Apple posts quarterly revenue of $50.6 billion
Apple has posted its financial results for its fiscal 2016 second quarter ended March 26, 2016. The company posted quarterly revenue of $50.6 billion and quarterly net income of $10.5 billion, or $1.90 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $58 billion and net income of $13.6 billion, or $2.33 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 39.4 percent compared to 40.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 67% of the quarter’s revenue. “Our team executed extremely well in the face of strong macroeconomic headwinds,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are very happy with the continued strong growth in revenue from Services, thanks to the incredible strength of the Apple ecosystem and our growing base of over one billion active devices.”
Stars line up for Jazz FM Awards
The highest achievers from the worlds of jazz, blues, soul and beyond have been honoured at the third annual Jazz FM Awards, which took place last night at a star-studded ceremony at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London. Hosted by writer, actor and broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli, the ceremony featured performances from some of the hottest acts across the genre and was attended by a host of well-known faces including Jon Snow, Cerys Matthews, Nitin Sahwney, Soweto Kinch, The Brand New Heavies and others. Highlights this year included awards for Gregory Porter and Quincy Jones. Multi-platinum-selling Porter picked up the Impact Award, presented to a jazz artist who’s made an outstanding impression on the wider global music scene. Porter thanked Jazz FM for their unwavering support and credited the station with initiating his chart-topping collaboration with Disclosure.
Rosie Lowe, Izzy Bizu, Declan McKenna added to BBC Introducing Stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend
BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Huw Stephens tonight announced the line-up for the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Exeter, revealing that acts including The Hunna, Emmi, Black Foxxes and Declan McKenna, will perform alongside returning acts Rosie Lowe, Blossoms, Spring King and Izzy Bizu at Europe’s biggest free ticketed event at Powderham Castle on May 28 and 29. The two-day event that is hosted by Radio 1 DJs will feature three stages - the Main Stage, In New Music We Trust Stage and BBC Introducing Stage - and will host performances from over 50 of the biggest and freshest UK and international acts, bringing the nation together for a shared live music moment. The line-up for the Main Stage and In New Music We Trust Stage includes Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Ellie Goulding, The Weeknd, Iggy Azalea, The 1975, Nick Jonas and Jess Glynne.
US Congress to look for areas of consensus on copyright law
Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, said that the country’s copyright review process, started three years ago, will move into a more decisive phase "in the weeks ahead." Goodlatte was speaking via a video recording at an event organised April 26 by the US Copyright Office and the Copyright Alliance on the occasion of the 16th World IP Day. He said that the Committee will, "in the weeks ahead, identify areas where there is a likelihood of potential consensus and circulate outlines of potential reforms in those areas.” He added that once this process is done, the Committee will “convene stakeholders for further work on these potential reforms.”
Debbie Harry writes open letter to YouTube
Debbie Harry has joined other artists in their call for YouTube to compensate artists fairly: "As a singer-songwriter with over 40 years of experience in the music industry, I have been witness to large shifts in the economics of the business. The most extensive of these shifts has taken place in the past decade, with the digital music world continuing to move largely towards streaming. In this era of streaming platforms, I feel compelled to speak out on behalf of a new generation of artists who are not being treated or compensated fairly. In a world when few people are paying for music, it is imperative for companies that generate enormous revenues, such as YouTube, to support these musicians and artists who have made that platform what it is today."
Inaugural Neighbourhood Festival to take place in Manchester in October
70 new artists from all around the world will be performing across nine of Manchester’s best and most iconic music venues for one day only. This includes The Albert Hall, O2 Ritz, Sound Control, Dog Bowl, Deaf Institute, XOLO and Gorilla. At the helm of Neighbourhood Festival is SJM Concerts. Promoter Luke Temple said: “Over the next few years we plan to establish Neighbourhood Festival as one of the biggest and best metropolitan festival’s in the UK. The inaugural event is already shaping up to have an exciting and eclectic line up and is not to be missed.”
Jess Glynne & Florence Welch to be honoured at Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2016
Music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins today has revealed the first winners of its annual O2 Silver Clef Awards 2016, which honours the brightest stars in music at the charity’s biggest event of the year. Jess Glynne and Florence Welch will pick up prizes at the annual event, which will take place on July 1 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Florence Welch will be presented with the Best Female Award, previously won in its inaugural year by Rita Ora.
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