The 156 new artists signed by Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music was 26 more than in 2013, and just 12 fewer than the recent peak in 2009 of 164 new deals. Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI and Brit Awards, said, "It's no fluke that 2014 was such an outstanding year for British music. Alongside the artists themselves, the passion and commitment labels show in unearthing, nurturing and developing the next wave of talent is one of the main reasons our music is the envy of the world right now."
Top Dollar - With estimated earnings of $135m (£88m) in the last year alone, Katy Perry has been named the best-paid female musician by Forbes. She beats US rival Taylor Swift, whose earnings of $80m (£52m) put her in second place. Completing the top three is Fleetwood Mac. The return of Christine McVie and their On With The Show tour helped the band make $59.5m (£38.7m).Forbes makes the estimates based on industry information as well as interviews with managers and agents, along with data given by the artists themselves. It covers the period June 2014 to June 2015. Other artists in the top ten include: Jennifer Lopez ($28.5m, £18.5m), Mariah Carey ($27m, £17.5m) and Rihanna ($26m, £16.9m).
Desert Song - A feature-length profile of rock group Oasis is to be produced by the team behind the film about Amy Winehouse. The film will "document the journey from the moment in 1991 when Noel Gallagher joined his brother Liam's band" to their acrimonious split. According to a statement, the film-makers have been given "unprecedented access" to the band and their archives. Amy director Asif Kapadia has taken a production role on the film. Mat Whitecross will direct, having previously made the Stone Roses' film Spike Island - a fictional story about a wannabe rock band who tried to get their demo tape into the hands of their idols at their seminal outdoor show near Widnes.
Case for Culture - Culture minister Ed Vaizey and Arts Council England chair Peter Bazalgette have thrown their weight behind a campaign for cultural development in the North East, claiming the strategy should be used as a "template" for other regions. The North East Case for Culture - a 15-year plan for arts and heritage in the region - is being hailed as the first of its kind, bringing together the area's 12 local authorities, alongside arts and heritage organisations, development bodies and higher education institutions.
Highly Strung - An acoustic guitar played by John Lennon has been sold at auction in California for $2.4m (£1.5m). Lennon is thought to have recorded and written a number of hit songs, including Love Me Do and I Want to Hold Your Hand, on the Gibson J-160E. The guitar was put up for sale by Novice musician John McCaw bought it in the late 1960s without knowing it had been stolen from Lennon at a Christmas concert in 1963, auctioneer Darren Julien told Reuters.
On The Fringe - A new bursary has been launched to encourage theatre makers and artists to make their first appearances at the Brighton Fringe. Five recipients of the Brighton Fringe First Bursary Scheme will receive a free registration for the 2016 festival, which can otherwise cost performers up to £198. A statement from the producers said the grant was designed to reflect "the creative zeal of new performers to produce fantastic work on a limited budget".
Beyond The Fringe - The Coronet in Elephant and Castle has announced it will close in 2017 after a long
