Apple has just announced their iTunes Festival dates for 2010, plus their headline acts. The fourth annual month-long event where artists play in the name of music and the iTunes Store.
Like iTunes Festival 2007, 2008, and 2009, Apple has lined up more than 60 bands, one or two of which will play intimate shows each night at Camden’s Roundhouse in London. The performances will be recorded and sold in iTunes Stores all over the world once all is said and… sung.
This time around, however, Apple is playing coy with the artist lineup. For now, only the first three dates are announced: Scissor Sisters play July 1, Tony Bennett on July 2, and Ozzy Osbourne on July 3. The rest of the dates and artists will be announced over time via Apple’s iTunes Festival accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
The shows are free, but the only way to grab one of 25 tickets for each night is to win them. Contests will be launched from the iTunes Festival Tickets page, so you have to apply to participate in each one. Good luck, music lovers.
So U2, Muse and Stevie Wonder top the Bill, and Dizzee Rascal moves up to the second slot having rocked the Pyramid hard in the daytime last year. Good old LCD Soundsystem share the Other stage with humourous rockers We Are Scientists, and waaay down the bill on the Croissant Neuf stage are our Cornish countrymen the People’s String Foundation. If you’re lucky enough to be going, you should definitely check them out.
Of course, this isn’t the whole list – you’ll need to click here for that
Record industry trade Hits Daily Double has gone through the numbers for Q1 of 2010 to see how the major label marketshare is shaping up. Sony has been gaining some great marketshare from Universal, Im guessing that is mainly because of the huge success of Simon Cowell’s record label. Hits has more analysis. Free registration is required.
Feel 
like going out, but only got your dark, intense face with you? Fear not! Massive Attack have announced a Spring tour, playing big venues in the States, Australia and Belgium (but not in the UK for some reason). The tour supports their new album Heligoland 
, their 5th studio album.Hopefully we can look forward to some gigs nearer to Bristol once they’ve come home after this lot:
03-12 Perth, Australia – Kings Park
03-15 Sydney, Australia – Opera House Forecourt
03-19 Canberra, Australia – Royal Theatre
03-20 Melbourne, Australia – Sidney Myer Music Bowl
03-23 Brisbane, Australia – Riverstage
03-25 Auckland, New Zealand – Vector Arena
05-07 Toronto, Ontario – Sound Academy
05-09 Toronto, Ontario – Sound Academy
05-11 New York, NY – Terminal 5
05-12 New York, NY – Terminal 5
05-18 Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theater
05-19 Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theater
05-25 San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theater
05-27 San Francisco, CA – Warfiled Theater
05-30 George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
09-03 Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis
Pop music did the predicatable thing at the Brit Awards last night, with Lady Gaga making three trips up to the stage, but then the Brits are more about patting industry winners and safe bets on the back than exposing new musical talent. A slight nod to creativity in the critics’ choice award (which went to vodcoder fan Ellie Goulding and not Laura Marling like it should have) and some of the old guard coming back for a cry and a reminisce. Favourite quote of the evening – Peter Kay introducing Lady Gaga as ‘New York’s answer to Sue Pollard’.
Here’s the list:
International Album – Lady Gaga ‘The Fame’
International Female Solo Artist – Lady Gaga
International Breakthrough Act – Lady Gaga
International Male Solo Artist – Jay-Z
British Album – Florence And The Machine ‘Lungs’
British Single – JLS Beat Again
British Female Solo Artist – Lily Allen
British Breakthrough Act – JLS
British Male Solo Artist – Dizzee Rascal
British Group – Kasabian
Brits Performance Of 30 Years – The Spice Girls ‘Wannabe / Who Do You Think You Are’ (1997)
Critics Choice – Ellie Goulding
British Album Of 30 Years – Oasis ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’
Outstanding Contribution To Music – Robbie Williams
Sometimes getting bogged down in the mud at Glastonbury isn’t a bad thing! This year many revelers will be doing exactly that but the only difference is that they will be watching soul legend Stevie Wonder headline.
Stevie is bound to bring the house down (or at least the cowsheds) as he takes to the piano to close the festival’s 40th anniversary spectacular on the Sunday night.
Additionally, Muse have just been signed up for Glastonbury to feature in the Saturday night slot.
