RIP Amy Winehouse

Top Ten Rain Songs

With the Met Office’s rather depressing announcement that rain will lash Britain until the end of August (at least), PRS for Music has today revealed the top ten most played rain-themed songs – the perfect soundtrack to the British Summertime.

The unique chart reveals that Bill Wither’s 1979 song, Ain’t No Sunshine, which has been covered by artists including Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond and Van Morrison, is the most played rain-themed song in the past five years

Top 10 Rain Songs

1. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
2. It’s Raining Men – The Weathergirls
3. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
4. November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
5. Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution
6. Rain On Your Parade – Duffy
7. I Can’t Stand The Rain – Tina Turner
8. Rain On Me – Ashanti
9. Sunshine On A Rainy Day – Zoë
10. Rain Down On Me – Kane

Source: PRS for Music

The results are based on the data compiled by boffins at PRS for Music. This data is used to to pay accurate royalties to its 80,000 songwriting and composing members whenever their music is broadcast or publicly performed. To create the Rain Songs Top Ten, PRS for Music identified rain themed songs and checked these against its database to identify the songs with the most plays in the past five years.

Commenting on the results, Barney Hooper, Head of PR at PRS for Music, said: ‘Rain has a tendency to make us all feel a bit down in the dumps especially when it happens over the summer. However a good well written piece of music can lift spirits and make you feel happier.’

Mojo magazine Awards 2011

Despite missing out on a Mercury nomination this week, Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys walked away with Best Album for Suck It And See at the Mojo Awards which took place in London last night. Among the other stars turning up to collect honours were a Beatle and a Beach Boy. Ringo Starr was named an Icon while Brian Wilson flew in from the US especially as he was Inducted into the Mojo Hall of Fame.

The Winners:
MOJO Breakthrough Award - Rumer

MOJO Song of the Year Award - Grinderman 'Heathen Child'

MOJO Best Album Award - Arctic Monkeys 'Suck it and See'

MOJO Classic Album Award - Primal Scream 'Screamadelica'

MOJO Best Live Act Award - John Grant

MOJO Les Paul Award - Steve Cropper

MOJO Compilation of the Year Award - Sweet Inspiration: Songs of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham

MOJO Catalogue Release of the Year Award - Orange Juice 'Coals to Newcastle'

MOJO Merit Award - Martha and the Vandellas

MOJO Medal Award - Bob Harris

MOJO Hero Award - Eddie Floyd

MOJO Maverick Award - Donovan

MOJO Inspiration Award - Gary Numan

MOJO Classic Songwriter Award - Squeeze

MOJO Vision Award - Upside Down Outstanding Contribution to Music - Public Image Ltd

MOJO Icon Award - Ringo Starr

MOJO Hall of Fame Award - Brian Wilson

MOJO MAGAZINE

Pizza Express Big Audition

To celebrate “The Big Audition”, a nationwide search for real music talent, Jamie Cullum will play an intimate gig at the Pizza Express Jazz Club – the venue that gave him his own big break. Ten years ago, Jamie was singing for his supper and paying his rent by performing three or four times a week for £50 and a pizza at Pizza Express restaurants all over London. The performer’s big break came when he was spotted at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, landing a major record deal, which launched his incredible music career.


Jamie is famous for having ripped up the rule book for live performances. As well as his explosive energy on the piano and his occasional foray into beat boxing, Jamie never does a gig with a prepared set list and this will be no exception, as the song selecting power is transferred into the hands of the twitterati.


In an industry first, fans will be able to tweet song requests to #TWEETBOX, which Jamie will pick up as he plays. As well as fulfilling as many requests as possible, Jamie will personally dedicate the song to the twitter users who have put his improvising skills to the test.





Imagesound and Jamie Cullum have collaborated in producing a soundtrack to run along with the event. Consisting of some of Jamies favourites and a fair chunk of his own material, it will run over the next six weeks in Pizza Expresses around the country.

Mercury Prize 2011

The nominations for this year’s Mercury Prize have been announced in London today.

As predicted Adele and PJ Harvey were amongst those making the grade.

Those two acts are the bookies favourite at 4/1.

After the announcement there was a live performance by Anna Calvi and Gwilym Simcock, whose album, Good Days At Schloss Elmau was nominated.

Elbow, who were winners in 2008 have been nominated for a third time this year, Guy Gavey described the experience as hugely rewarding.

"There's nothing like it for raising your profile, and making you feel settled in your job, things like this allow you to relax a little bit."

Many critics will point to those acts which were left off the list - Wild Beasts and Arctic Monkeys being two of this year's big hitters that missed out.

The Mercury Prize is awarded to the year's best album by a British or Irish artist, as chosen by a panel of musicians, producers, and media representatives.

The final winner will be announced at the ceremony on Tuesday 6 September.



The 12 Nominated Artists:


Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi


Elbow: Build A Rocket Boys!


James Blake: James Blake


Katy B: On A Mission


Metronomy: The English Riviera


PJ Harvey: Let England Shake


Gwilym Simcock: Good Days At Schloss Elmau


Everything Everything: Man Alive


Ghostpoet: Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam


Tinie Tempah: Disc-Overy


King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: Diamond Mine


Adele: 21

Tesco Virtual Supermarket

In a campaign designed by the seoul branch of advertising agency cheil, tesco homeplus supermarket opened last winter, a virtual grocery store in a south korea subway station, permitting users to shop using their smartphones.

A large, wall-length billboard was installed in the station, designed to look like a series of supermarket shelves and displaying images and prices of a range of common products. each sign also includes a QR code. Users scan the code of any product they would like to purchase, thereby adding it to their online shopping cart. After the web transaction is completed, the products are delivered to the user’s home within the day. The strategy makes productive use of commuters’ waiting time, while simultaneously saving shoppers time spent going to the supermarket.

I remember when i was all trees round 'ere .....

Bench 'Real Scenes' documentary; Bristol

Bench launched the first part of their “Real Scenes” documentary’s (Bristol) with RA on Monday.

It is exclusive to resident advisor for a week, then it will be shown in stores and on bench.co.uk if you get a spare 15 mins have a look.

Real Scenes: Bristol from Resident Advisor on Vimeo.

Resident Advisor

BENCH CLOTHING

Juan Zelada Breakfast in Spitalfields New Single Out Now

Released this week is 'Breakfast in Spitalfields' from Juan Zelada on Insomnia Music Records.

Not only was it selected last week for BBC Radio 2 record of the week but it has also made B-List on Radio2 this week.

The single was launched yesterday on itunes and last night peaked on the itunes singer songwriter chart at no 23!

Well worth 79p of anybodys money!!

available on i-tunes now!!