OHMYGOSSIP — Sugababes are said to be “furious” that their former bandmates are planning to tour – also using the band’s name.
The original line-up, Mutya Buena, Kiesha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy, reclaimed the group’s moniker in 2019 and have been touring successfully for the last few years, but their plans are set to be complicated as Amelle Berrabah and Heidi Range are planning some concerts too, and may even draft in final replacement member Jade Ewen to join them on the road.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Heidi and Amelle have been approached about doing a tour as alternative Sugababes and their first call would be fellow ex-member Jade Ewen.
“There’s a huge appetite for the Noughties and Heidi and Amelle can offer fans something very different to the original line-up.
“The original trio are furious that the others want to try and use the name as they feel it’s theirs.”
Last month, Heidi’s mother Karen branded the group “disrespectful” after the blonde beauty wasn’t part of a video montage when the trio were honoured with the MOBO Impact Award.
She wrote on Instagram: “I can’t believe the cheek of it. Sugababes didn’t have a hit till Heidi joined. It is so false and disrespectful the way they are carrying on.”
Mutya hit back: “When I wasn’t in the group and the girls was doing big things without me, do you think I was getting upset about not being mentioned?”
Shortly after Sugababes’ debut album ‘One Touch’ was released in 2000, Siobhan quit the group with Heidi taking her place.
In 2005, Mutya left stating she could no longer commit to the band after giving birth to daughter Tahlia Barrymore in March of that year. Mutya was replaced by Amelle, which meant Keisha was the only original Sugababe left.
However, she quit in 2009 to be replaced by Jade Ewen before the final incarnation of the pop group disbanded in 2011.
The original Sugababes later reunited in 2013 as MKS to release the song ‘Flatline’.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Big Special’s lead singer has declared the working classes are used as “nothing but a commodity”.
The UK punk duo – frontman Joe Hicklin and musician Callum Moloney – made the declaration to mark the release of their new single ‘Butcher’s Bin’, the latest track to be taken from the group’s upcoming debut album ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’, set for release on 10 May.
Joe told the NME: “‘Butcher’s Bin’ is about class awareness and the realisation that the working classes are used as nothing but a commodity and set against each other at every turn, their existence trivialised and struggles denied; the off cuts tossed to feed the rabid hounds of neoliberalism.
“The song is about all of this from the perspective of declining mental health whilst trying to make a living as an artist and to break through in a time and place where a life In art is seen as a luxury granted to those of a higher social class or a fruitless pursuit for idealistic fools.”
The alternative duo first announced details of their debut album last month, when they released the first single from the record ‘Dust Off / Start Again’.
Joe added: “‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’ is an album about depression. It’s about the different shapes it takes; personal, social, generational… and it’s about coming face to face with those ghosts and what we do or how we feel when that happens.
“The album offers no answers, it is just an honest expression of a working-class experience in modern England through the eyes of ill mental health, a pursuit of art and political disenchantment; a story of rumination, realisation and reaction.
“‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’ is about learning that we are connected by our common struggles and though dark and rageful, the album holds a quiet sentiment of love and hope. It’s about laughing at the face of the void, recognising its oppressive weight, holding hands and moving forward.”
Joe has previously said the group is “just on the side of the people” and “all of the music comes from a personal place and is about experience and everything around it”.
He also added in a past chat with the NME he hates the Tories and Sir Keir Starmer as they are both “all against the people”, leaving “nothing” to “look after the people”.
Joe added: “The working class might as well be completely invisible.
“I just wish it would all burn down so we could start again. At least it would be different. Every day there’s less and less hope to seek, and it breeds either ignorance, confusion or hatred.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Steve Harley has died at the age of 73.
The Cockney Rebel frontman “passed away peacefully” at his home in Suffolk on Sunday (17.03.24) morning, surrounded by his family, after battling cancer.
His daughter Greta wrote in a statement: “We know he will be desperately missed by people all over the world.
“Whoever you know him as, his heart exuded only core elements. Passion, kindness, generosity. And much more, in abundance.
“The birdsong from his woodland that he loved so much was singing for him. His home has been filled with the sounds and laughter of his four grandchildren.”
The sad news comes just a few weeks after the ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)’ hitmaker’s team revealed Steve was hoping to be back on the road next year.
They shared on social media last month: “Due to on-going treatment for cancer, Steve cannot commit to any concerts in 2024.
“Steve is hoping next year will be altogether different. He appreciates all your kind words and good wishes. Team SH.”
The ‘Tumbling Down’ singer – who battled polio and was hospitalised as a result numerous times as a child – enjoyed success in the early 1970s as a member of Cockney Rebel.
The original line-up also included Jean-Paul Crocker, Stuart Elliott, Paul Jeffreys – who was killed with wife Rachael on the way to their honeymoon in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing – and Nick Jones.
When they disbanded, Steve enjoyed a brief stint as a solo artist before they reunited in April 1990.
From 1999 to 2008, the singer presented ‘Sounds of the 70s’ on BBC Radio 2 and in one of his final social media posts, Steve shared a tribute to Steve Wright following the passing of the legendary DJ.
He wrote: “The news of Steve Wright’s death has shattered me. We knew each other since the early Sixties.
“Steve managed to be both the guy down the street and a pro working on a higher plane at one and the same time. He made it all seem so easy. My loving best wishes and deepest sympathy go to his family.”
The singer had revealed in December he had been “fighting a nasty cancer” and found it “heartbreaking” having to cancel live shows.
He wrote on his website: “It’s tiresome, and tiring. But the fight is on. And thankfully the cursed intruder is not affecting the voice. I sing and play most evenings.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Ed Sheeran wowed fans by singing for the first time in Punjabi.
The ‘Bad Habits’ hitmaker, 33, was performing at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse on Saturday (16.03.24) when he was joined by musician Diljit Dosanjh, 40, to perform his song ‘Lover’.
Ed captioned a clip of the duet on his social media pages: “Got to bring out Diljit Dosanjh tonight in Mumbai and sing in Punjabi for the first time. I’ve had such an incredible time in India, more to come!”
Diljit – who became the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella last year – has also duetted with Australian pop star Sia.
Ed previously recorded an Italian version of his hit ‘Perfect’ with tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Meanwhile, Ed has penned Perrie Edwards’ upcoming debut solo single, ‘Forget About Us’.
The megastar has teamed up with the 30-year-old Little Mix star – who has dropped her last name – to work on her solo music and she has chosen one of his songs for her first release.
A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column that Ed was so confident about the track, he told Perrie: “This is your first single.”
Perrie made some minor changes to the lyrics before recording the song and filming the video in Cape Town last month.
Her album will also feature a collaboration with ‘Worth It’ hitmaker RAYE, 26.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Slash bonded with Brian Johnson over their shared love of Howlin’ Wolf.
The Guns N’ Roses rocker enlisted stars including Steven Tyler, Iggy Pop and Demi Lovato to make guest appearances on his new blues album ‘Orgy Of The Damned’ and he’s revealed it was easy to persuade Brian Johnson to sing on a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Killing Floor’ because they are both huge fans of the late singer/guitarist.
During an appearance on the ‘Audacy’s Check In’ podcast, Slash explained: “I had the song and I was trying to think who would be great to do it. And Brian came to mind.
“And I’ve known Brian for a pretty long time now. And he just has that great kind of grit to his voice. And I called him up and it turns out that he’s a huge … Howlin’ Wolf protégé.
“And also, he was telling me that he’s doing something at present where he’s putting together sort of a blues-orchestra thing. Don’t quote me on that, but something to that [effect]. Anyway, and so he was excited to do that particular song anyway.”
Slash went on to add: “That’s the key thing that you’re looking for, is that when you call any of these great artists up and you have a cover song that you want to attack and if they would be willing to participate, that the song speaks to them, that it has meaning to them too, not just me.
“And that’s how it was with Brian. He was, like, ‘Oh … great. Yeah, let’s do this’.”
The track also features Aerosmith star Tyler playing the harmonica and Slash said getting him to play on the song was “very spontaneous”.
He said: “[Tyler] came in to do the harmonica or he just happened to have a harmonica with him. I can’t remember, but I played him the track. It was, like, ‘This is great.’
“So it was very spontaneous. It was very just sort of inspired in the moment, which is a great thing to be able to capture, especially nowadays because people just, by and large, don’t make records like that now.
“Everything is very well thought out and cultivated and homogenized and produced, and this was just very, very off the cuff.”
‘Orgy Of The Damned’ also features star turns from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Queen collaborator Paul Rodgers, blues star Gary Clark Jr and The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson.
Tracks featured on the album include covers of ‘Oh Well’ by Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Living for the City’ as well as ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’, ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ and ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’.
‘Orgy of the Damned’ is released on May 17.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Cardi B wants to present Rihanna with a “perfect record” before asking her to collaborate with her.
The ‘WAP’ hitmaker admits she “sounds stupid” trying to make music that sounds like the ‘We Found Love’ hitmaker, but she isn’t going to let it stop her coming up with a song that could work for a duet for the pair.
Speaking on the ‘Million Dollaz Worth Of Game’ podcast, she said: “I love Rihanna’s music.
“But, I don’t [make] music like that. I sound kinda stupid trying to sing like that. I sound stupid trying to make music like that.”
She added: “So, if I ever get that perfect record … I can not wait until I feel like, ‘This song…I know she’s going to like it.’
“I don’t want to send her nothing like, ‘What is this? Take this thing out of my face.’”
Cardi has already released duets with Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, GloRilla, Flo Milli, and many more.
However, the ‘Bodak Yellow’ hitmaker previously admitted she is “too shy” to ask male artists to collaborate with her.
The hip-hop star – who has appeared on songs with the likes of Bruno Mars and Maroon 5 – has admitted she doesn’t have the nerve to ask some of her favourite male counterparts to jump on a track with her because she gets “starstruck” easily and fears she will sound “corny”.
Speaking to Billboard in 2020, she admitted: “When female artists are rising, you don’t have to put one down because the others are rising. Every single time a female rapper comes out, people wanna start fake beef. Maybe because they don’t see me [with other women] as often as people want to. The thing is, I’m shy — and really shy to reach out to male artists, to be honest with you. That’s why a lot of collabs that I want, I haven’t gotten yet because I’m scared to reach out. I always get a little starstruck. I be thinking I’m corny, even though I’m funny.”
The 31-year-old star also admitted she gets embarrassed when she sings songs that show off her “lovey-dovey side”.
Asked if she was able to get more personal on her upcoming second studio album – the long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s critically acclaimed ‘Invasion of Privacy’ – she said: “Kinda sorta, but then again, when it comes to me writing or putting ideas of my personal life [in the music], I get really shy. When I perform songs like ‘Be Careful’ or ‘Ring’, I usually close my eyes because I get really shy about showing that lovey-dovey side. Even to my engineer, I start giggling. I be like, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t. This is so embarrassing.'”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Usher has announced his 10th show at The O2 due to phenomenal demand.
The ‘Yeah!’ hitmaker is bringing his ‘Usher: Past Present Future’ tour to the UK this April and May, and he’s now set to play 10 nights at the London arena, with the additional date set for March 29.
He said: “Y’all not playing games!! I’ve added a 10th and final show in London due to incredible demand – can’t wait to bring Usher: Past Present Future to The O2 on 29th March.”
Those wishing to nab tickets can sign up for the fan presale via UsherWorld.com, starting Wednesday (20.03.24) at 8am. General sale tickets go on sale at 10am Friday (22.03.24).
After wrapping his O2 run on April 11, the 45-year-old R’n’B superstar will then cross the Channel to play Paris’ Accor Arena on April 15 and April 16.
He will then head to Amsterdam for a mini residency at the Ziggo Dome, from April 22 and 28.
The North American leg also sold-out swiftly, leading to more dates being added due to phenomenal demand, before heading to Berlin for three nights on May 1, 2 and 4.
Usher – who headlined the Super Bowl VIII Halftime Show and released his latest album, ‘Coming Home, last month – initially said of the tour: “It’s been a minute, Europe! I’m as hyped as you are to be back. The love for these shows has been incredible, and I’m truly blessed and thankful for each and every one of you. Seven epic nights in London, four in Amsterdam, two in Paris and Berlin and counting… get ready for an A-TOWN takeover!”
The North American leg also sold-out swiftly, leading to more dates being added.

‘Usher: Past Present Future’ UK and European tour dates:
Sat 29 March – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Tues 01 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Wed 02 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Sat 05 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Sun 06 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Tues 08 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Wed 09 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Fri 11 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Tues 15 April – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Wed 16 April – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Tues 22 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Wed 23 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Fri 25 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Sat 26 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Mon 28 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Thurs 01 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Fri 02 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Sun 04 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Tues 06 May – London, UK – The O2 Arena
Wed 07 May – London, UK – The O2 Arena

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OHMYGOSSIP — Wet Wet Wet have set dates for a tour with Heather Small of M People fame in 2025.
The ‘Love Is All Around’ hitmakers will hit the road again with former Liberty X star Kevin Simm, 43, on lead vocals in the place of original frontman Marti Pellow, 58, next year after a sold-out run in 2023.
The group – completed by Graeme Clark, 58, and Graeme Duffin, 68 – are thrilled soul star Heather, 59, agreed to join them for the lengthy jaunt across the UK.
Founding member Graeme Clark said: “To be back playing live, in the band I love, playing the songs I love, to people I love, completely fills my heart and soul. We can’t wait to see everybody again throughout 2025 in a venue close by! We were headlining a festival in Dubai recently where we bumped into the wonderful Heather Small and we are absolutely delighted that she’s accepted our invitation to join us as special guest on all of our tour dates next year. Simply put, these shows are not to be missed!”
Kevin said: “It’s so exciting to be going back out on tour throughout 2025! Our recent concerts created some fantastic memories for us all and it was an incredible experience that I will never ever forget! With Heather Small joining us as special guest on this tour it is going to be a great night of hits, energy and fun – I can’t wait!”
Graeme Duffin commented: “The sold out 2024 tour was the most joyful and celebratory tour I’ve been on. I am eagerly looking forward to these dates in 2025. It is such a pleasure and privilege to have the opportunity to play to such lovely appreciative audiences, and I can’t wait to do it all over again, see you soon!”
Heather added: “I’m so excited to join Wet Wet Wet on their extensive tour in 2025. I’m a fan of their music, so to be able to share these stages with them will be a real pleasure, it’s going to be one big party!”
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 22 at 10am from Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Wet Wet Wet’s 2025 tour dates:
28 January Cambridge Corn Exchange
29 January Basingstoke The Anvil
30 January Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
31 January Stoke Victoria Hall
1 February Hull Connexin Live
3 February Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
4 February Bradford St. George’s Hall
5 February Stockton The Globe
7 February Dunfermline Alhambra Theatre
8 February Aberdeen P and J Live
9 February Dundee Caird Hall

10 October Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
11 October Edinburgh Usher Hall
12 October Gateshead Glasshouse, Sage One
13 October York Barbican
14 October Sheffield City Hall
16 October Leicester De Montfort Hall
17 October Birmingham Symphony Hall
18 October Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
19 October Salford Lowry
20 October Bath The Forum
22 October Swansea Arena
23 October Truro Hall For Cornwall
24 October Portsmouth Guildhall
25 October Southend Cliffs Pavilion
26 October London Indigo at the O2

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OHMYGOSSIP — ABBA footage previously thought to be lost will be aired as part of the BBC’s celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Swedish pop icons’ Eurovision win.
Fans will be able to tune in for an hour-long documentary, ‘When Abba Came to Britain’, as part of a Saturday night full of ABBA specials on BBC Two.
Another special is called ‘More ABBA at the BBC’, and there will be further programming across the BBC, including BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
The ‘Dancing Queen’ hitmakers – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – made the UK their home from 1974 to 1982, and the film “examines their ground-breaking legacy”, from winning Eurovision with ‘Waterloo’ to ABBA Voyage, their record-breaking, first-of-its-kind avatar show in London.
Viewers can expect “previously un-transmitted interviews with ABBA.”
A press release continues: “It’s the tale of a relationship that started with the band’s fascination with British music, including The Beatles in the 1960s. After winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo in 1974, the band would eventually find global stardom, but their relationship with the UK remains unique.”
There will also be “long forgotten news footage, which all show how ABBAmania took hold in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s.”
It will include interviews with the likes of Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and indie pop group Blossoms, who cite ABBA as an influence.
Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop Music TV, said: “When Abba came to Britain is a love letter from this country to the beloved Swedish super-group, celebrating the special relationship we have as a nation with Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. We focus on the stories of individuals who were lucky to be caught up in their world. A must watch for pop fans of all ages.”
Mark Robinson of production company Wise Owl Films added: “There can be fewer bands, if any, who have straddled generations of British music fans in a more impressive way than ABBA. Their original fans might now be in their fifties and sixties, but their children, and even their grandchildren, will be just as familiar with their biggest hits thanks to the likes of Mamma Mia! and Voyage. This film shows the enduring and often emotional impact that ABBA have left on British fans and musicians across the decades, but we will also chart the key role that Britain played in the band’s history – from the music of groups like The Beatles to playing host to defining moments in their career.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Yungblud has founded a “genre-diverse” music festival he’ll also be headlining.
The 26-year-old singer, born Dominic Richard Harrison, announced on Monday (18.03.24) he had created ‘Bludfest’, which is being billed as an “experiential music, arts and lifestyle festival”.
He said about the event, which is taking place on 11 August at the Milton Keynes Bowl: “Five years ago we imagined a world of our own. In Bludfest we have physically built one.
“It feels like the next logical step for me. I want to create a physical safe space where people can come and celebrate the ideologies of this community – where unity, individuality and love is the main focus and we bring the world of Yungblud to life right before your eyes.
“I wanted to build an experience where anybody can be completely themselves, with their friends, their family or completely on their own.
“Bludfest will blur the lines of genre and destroy the limitation of imagination. It will be a festival that cuts the corporate (rubbish) and is all about the people.
“My plan is to take it worldwide but this summer is the first one and it’s gonna be something no one has ever seen before in the UK.”
Joining Yungblud on the festival line-up is Grammy-nominated Atlanta rapper Lil Yachty, following the pair’s collaboration on Yungblud’s latest single ‘When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)’.
British rock duo Soft Play are also joining the bill, as well as punk outfit The Damned in the festival’s icon slot.
Rising US star Nessa Barrett is also set to perform alongside pop singer Lola Young and Jazmin Bean.
A press release for the event said: The uniquely eclectic line-up of artists that join the Bludfest bill has been exceptionally curated by Yungblud himself to appeal to a new generation of gig-goers and a younger generation of music fans who don’t necessitate their taste with genre categorisation, with a live setup that facilitates maximum crossover and collaboration, to forge an unforgettable celebration of music.
“Yungblud’s own manifesto as an artist encompasses three core values of community, authenticity and creating a place for self-expression, and these three values act as pillars for Bludfest.
“More than just a music festival, Bludfest gives fans a chance to step into the Yungblud world.”
The day-long festival will be home to “activations” throughout the venue to “encourage community and connection”, including a ‘Make A Friend’ tent that encourages fans to connect and make new friends, free photobooths to document their Bludfest experience and a Yungblud museum that will showcase artefacts from across the singer’s career.
It will also include “designated safe spaces” as well as “mental health welfare areas”.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on 22 March and will be priced at £49.50 plus fees.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Raye has blasted record labels for underpaying songwriters.
The 26-year-old singer – who quit her own label when they wouldn’t release her debut album – has rallied behind “broke” songwriters she claims are left “fighting over scraps of publishing” with labels focusing on profit.
She’s quoted by the Daily Star newspaper’s Wired column as saying: “For an industry that profits off songs, you got these CEOs and big label execs living in their fat huge Chelsea mansions, living a beautiful life, meanwhile songwriters you are profiting off are broke, can’t afford rent and fighting over scraps of publishing that is sat in bank accounts for two years before they receive a penny, because publishers have kept it in there so they can collect interest and make a whole separate business.”
The ‘Escapism’ hitmaker – who made history by winning six BRIT Awards earlier this year after going independent – also reflected on the breakdown of how singers and songwriters are paid.
She added: “Every single song that’s released in the world, there are 100 royalty points.
“The label will take, say, 80 points. The artist, in a good deal, will take maybe 20, 15, or maybe 12 and then producers get four points, but it has to come out of the artist’s points.
“And the songwriter doesn’t even get one point. It’s disgusting, the whole industry is disgusting. That’s one little example of what goes on behind closed doors where there is no accountability.
Raye – who has written songs for the likes of Beyonce, Little Mix, John Legend and Rihanna in the past – admitted the situation “makes [her] very angry”.
Meanwhile, the pop star is reportedly in line for a huge slot at Glastonbury Festival this year, with fans still eagerly awaiting news on a lineup ahead of the legendary event in June.
A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “[Organiser Emily Eavis] is a huge fan of Raye.
“She loves her story of grafting for years and taking on the music industry and record labels and winning.
“It was a no-brainer to have her back at the farm but after her six BRITs last month Emily now wants to give her as big a slot as possible.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Kate Nash’s new single centres on losing her “spark” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 36-year-old singer is launching a new single called ‘Millions Of Heartbeats’, and Kate has explained the inspiration behind the track.
She said: “‘Millions of Heartbeats’ is a song about losing your spark. It can be difficult to find hope in a world that’s constantly bombarding you with bad news, chaos and capitalism.
“It’s scary when you lose that spark and can’t lift yourself out of a pit. It can feel like that light you once had might never come back.
“The button to the song is that there’s millions of heartbeats on this planet and that’s the reason we have to try. All we have right now is earth and each other. And that’s actually a lot. So just keep trying.”
Kate admits that she struggled to deal with the stresses and strains of the pandemic.
And her new song touches on her struggles amid the global health crisis.
Kate said: “It’s about that point in the pandemic where I had lost my spark for life. And I’m a pretty sparky person, so it was really sad to me.”
‘Millions Of Heartbeats’ features on her upcoming new album, ‘9 Sad Symphonies’, and Kate has revealed that she relished working with producer Frederick Thaae on the record, having previously worked with him on her musical.
She said: “We were in this completely different landscape for writing songs [on the musical], which was completely freeing.
“I was writing for a story, I was writing about a King and a Queen and a proper story arc. In that world you need the audience to understand the songs immediately, it’s very direct, and it has lots of editing which I’d never done. It changed my outlook on songwriting.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Jessie Ware will be handed the best female gong at this year’s Nordoff and Robbins’ O2 Silver Clef Awards.
The 39-year-old ‘Tough Love’ singer is set to be honoured alongside The 1975 – who are getting best group – and the band Texas, who will receive the outstanding achievement trophy at the event on Friday 5 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel, central London.
Jessie said about the award, announced on Wednesday (13.03.24): “It’s a total honour to have been selected to receive the best female award at this year’s ceremony.”
She added about the music therapy charity behind the awards: “Nordoff and Robbins do such important work. Music therapy is a real necessity for those who receive it and there is more demand for it now than ever before.
“I’ve also seen music as a fantastic form of self-expression, and so can understand the life changing nature of music therapy. I’m so pleased to be a part of an event that supports Nordoff and Robbins’ important work so thank you so, so much.”
The 1975 said: “We’re so grateful to have been chosen to receive the Best Group award and thankful to be able to play our part in celebrating the valuable work Nordoff and Robbins’ music therapists do.”
And Texas’ lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, 56, said: “The band and I are absolutely thrilled to receive the award for outstanding achievement.
“We’ve been lucky enough to share our music with fans for over 30 years, and we’re looking forward to celebrating the past, present, and future of British and International music at this year’s O2 Silver Clef Awards.
“I’ve been a supporter of this amazing charity for years now, words can’t begin to say how much their work impacts people of all ages through the power of music.”
Singer Cat Burns, 23, is set to receive the new music award at the event, while the Ezra Collective will win the contemporary music award.
Winners of the O2 silver clef, icon, best male, best live act, innovation and global impact awards will be announced ahead of the ceremony.
Since 1976 the Silver Clefs have raised nearly £13 million for Nordoff and Robbins’ transformative music therapy services and honoured some of the greatest names in music including David Bowie, Ed Sheeran, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Dame Shirley Bassey, The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Coldplay.
Tables are on sale now at nordoff-robbins.org.uk/events/o2-silver-clefs-lunch/, and more about supporting Nordoff and Robbins can be found at nordoff-robbins.org.uk.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Roger Daltrey fears AI has the power to “destroy” the music industry.
The Who frontman, 80, who has already said he believes smartphones and TV are “brainwashing” and killing humanity, added he is reassured artificially intelligent bots don’t have our “empathy”.
He told broadcaster Shaun Keaveny, 51, on the ‘Shaun Keaveny’s Daily Grind’ podcast: “The one thing I totally believe AI will never have, and it will be its downfall – it will never have empathy.
“It’s going to destroy the music industry if we’re not careful… music is a different language, and we shouldn’t let AI control that.
“That will always contain empathy, and AI can’t do that. I won’t ever believe, if AI  can ever do empathy, then we are (done for.)”
Roger has previously warned: “Once AI controls the Internet, we’ll be in trouble. People addicted to their iPhones will be brainwashed.”
He was also quoted in the Daily Star saying he is terrified armies of “robots” will rampage through the world like in James Cameron’s ‘Terminator’ films.
The ‘My Generation’ singer added: “There’s enough people looking at their iPhone for eight hours a day, you don’t need machines to kill them.
“You turn them round another way.”
Roger also claimed sitting is the “new cancer” and urged humanity to stop watching TV as he believes it “sucks up your life”.
He added: “I watch people losing their lives down this thing a phone.
“Life isn’t looking down – it’s about looking up.”
‘Shaun Keaveny’s Daily Grind’ is available on Global Player and all other available podcast platforms.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Smokey Robinson is being lined up for his first Glastonbury headline slot.
Big name acts are said to have dropped out of spots on the Pyramid Stage ahead of this summer’s festival on Worthy Farm, Somerset, and it’s now emerged organiser Emily Eavis, 44, has been in talks about having the 84-year-old soul icon perform.
Smokey told The Sun at Sir Elton John’s Oscars party in Los Angeles about being approached: “We’ve been talking about that for the past two weeks – probably soon.
“(Glastonbury is) one of the things we’ve been talking about.”
Smokey added he would “absolutely” love to take to the stage at the festival, saying: “I love the UK, man. We’ve had some of our greatest times in the UK.”
Smokey has never played Glastonbury in his 70-year career, but in 2007, festival founder Michael Eavis, 88, said he was “set to confirm an appearance” by the singer, though it never transpired.
Smokey kicked off his career as a songwriter for Motown before racking up hits with The Miracles including ‘The Tears of a Clown’ ‘The Tracks of my Tears’ before he went solo.
He still performs regularly, but if he is confirmed for Glasto, it will mark his first UK gig since 2013’s Radio 2 Live in London’s Hyde Park.
Coldplay and 28-year-old Dua Lipa are said to be topping the 2024 festival bill, and country phenomenon Shania Twain, 58, is due to play the traditional Sunday afternoon legends’ spot – last year filled by Cat Stevens, 75, as well as Kylie Minogue, 55, the Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb, 77, and 76-year-old Jeff Lynne with his ELO group.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Drake is fighting to be dismissed from the web of lawsuits linked to the fatal crowd crush horror at Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld festival.
The rapper, 37, was a surprise guest at the Houston festival was questioned for hours in a deposition tied to the hundreds of cases that have been filed in Harris County after the fan rush that caused the deaths of 10 people and left hundreds of others injured.
Drake was named in the lawsuits despite him stressing he had no involvement in the planning or the organisation and, according to Billboard, a new motion filed in Houston shows attorneys for the singer – born Aubrey Drake Graham – are arguing he should never have been involved in the cases.
The lawyers say Drake he had no involvement beyond being asking to join Travis, 32, on stage, and stated festival bosses had “confirmed under oath that Mr Graham was not involved in any planning”.
Attorneys also argued Drake was unaware of any safety problems before taking to the stage, stating: “Mr Graham did not receive any security briefings, was not informed of any crowd control issues, injuries or deaths in the crowd, or any stop show orders at any time either before or during his 14-minute performance.”
They added Drake instead “arrived at the venue at approximately 7.30pm and remained largely secluded backstage in a trailer until approximately 9.54pm”, before he was “informed to take the stage”.
Drake was then said to have “immediately” taken the stage “as requested”, performing for “approximately 14 minutes” before exiting the stage at 10.08pm.
Lawyers also said “hundreds of hours” of depositions and “hundreds of thousands of pages” had found no evidence Drake could be held liable for negligence.
They said: “Plaintiffs produce no evidence that Mr. Graham actually knew of any risk in the Festival site design and layout, competence or adequacy of Festival staffing and personnel, or emergency procedures such as show stop authority.”
The alleged victims will reportedly have a chance to respond to Drake’s motion in the weeks ahead.
Travis has said he was “absolutely devastated” by the festival tragedy, saying he will “always think about it”.

Source: IconInsider.com