Lack of Funds - The BBC Performing Arts Fund will close after 13 years in March next year. Its funding, by revenue from phone voting in shows like Strictly Come Dancing and The Voice, has significantly diminished. "More and more people are voting for free with a touch of the button," said BBC arts director Jonty Claypole. Since it was set up in 2003 the fund has distributed £5m in grants to emerging talent. Launching as the Fame Academy Bursary, it supported more than 1200 individuals in the performing arts. Beneficiaries have included Adele, composer Mark Simpson and the Bristol Old Vic. Claypole insisted that, despite the closure, "the BBC's commitment to the arts and nurturing talent remains as strong as ever".
Prince Plays Baltimore - Prince performed before thousands of people in Baltimore as part of a concert organised in response to the death of a black man who was injured while in police custody. During the Rally 4 Peace show, Prince sang hits including When Doves Cry and Raspberry Beret. "We are here for you tonight," the artist said. "It's going to be all right. We're going to figure this thing out. It's going to take the young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas."
Happy Birthday Billy - The hit musical Billy Elliot is celebrating its 10th birthday. Based on the 2000 film starring Jamie Bell, the show opened at London's Victoria Palace Theatre on 12 May 2005, and has since been seen by 10m people worldwide. Written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, it includes a score by Elton John. A gala anniversary performance is scheduled for tonight (Tuesday).
Who's Next - The Who have been confirmed as Glastonbury's final night headliners - a repeat of their appearance in the same slot eight years ago. Organisers had already said Kanye West and Foo Fighters would be two of the three headline acts at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Roger Daltrey said, "It's great to be ending this part of a 50-year career at the most prestigious and respected music festival in the world."We'll do our best to close this year's event with a bang, unless of course the fireworks get wet."
Shows Off - Sam Smith has been forced to call off more shows due to a haemorrhage on his vocal cords. The singer has cancelled a series of shows in Australia, Japan and Manila and is heading to the US to see a specialist.
Going Green - A new series of The Muppet Show has been commissioned by US TV network ABC, promising a "more adult" take on much-loved characters such as Kermit and Miss Piggy. The prime-time show will be filmed in a "contemporary, documentary-style" and will explore their personal lives, relationships and even disappointments.The Big Bang Theory's producer Bill Prady is behind the series.
Farewell - Hot Chocolate lead singer Errol Brown has died aged 71. Brown had liver cancer and died at his home in the Bahamas, said manager Phil Dale. Hot Chocolate had hits in more than 50 countries worldwide, including You Sexy Thing - which Brown co-wrote - It Started with a Kiss and Every 1's a Winner. Brown was made an MBE by the Queen in 2003 and received an Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British music in 2004.
Brown embarked on
