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FRIDAY 5TH MARCH

This week it's been hard to move for news and comment about the BBC's Strategy Review, and, in particular, the plans to close digital radio station 6music. And there have been a lot of emotionally charged calls for the BBC to save 6music. But I am a cold and unemotional creature. I was quite happy for Abbey Road to be turned into a kebab shop and I don't think any band should reform ever. If something's done with and served its purpose, it should be allowed to die. But 6music is not done with, and it's still very much in the process of serving its purpose. So, for that matter, is the Asian Network, which is also earmarked for closure.

The BBC tell us that it wants to make cuts in order to focus more on "high quality programming". Which sounds nice, but actually says very little. You might as well say you want to make programmes that feel more sticky. Plus, you could just as easily find money for more high quality programming by cutting the budgets and number of staff on things like Chris Moyles' Radio 1 show, which have far too much of both. It makes no sense to completely cut services that are both high quality and incredibly important to their listeners, who are underserved elsewhere in broadcast media. Also, we're told that the BBC needs to give its commercial rivals a chance. If that's the case, why aren't they closing down Radio 1? And since when is competition a bad thing? Yes, the BBC receives its funds in an unusual way, but that doesn't mean commercial services can't produce better material than they can. If the entire BBC shut down tomorrow, would Sky suddenly start making programmes that were actually watchable? Somehow, I don't think the BBC's existence is what's holding Sky back in that area. And who exactly are these rivals who would thrive if 6music closes? Xfm and NME Radio are cited by some, but these stations do not serve the same audience. Because they're funded by advertising, they have to go for the more lucrative youth market, with 6music's listeners more likely to be in the thirty-something bracket. In fact, even Xfm's Eddy Temple-Morris has called for 6 to be saved (see here). While it's true that the BBC could make significant savings in a variety of areas, and use the licence fee more efficiently, the cuts put forward just do not, er, cut it. But all is not lost, the BBC Trust still have to approve these proposals. You should tell them why they shouldn't, and you can do that right here. Okay, lengthy rant over, sorry. You can follow CMU's coverage of this story as it develops here. Meanwhile, to alleviate any tension, I suggest you have a listen to Alphabeat's immensely enjoyable (and incredibly pop) Spotify playlist below. Andy Malt Editor, CMU

		THOMPSON ANNOUNCES BBC CUT PROPOSALS BBC Director General Mark Thompson confirmed details of proposals to make cuts to the organisation's various outputs on Tuesday, announcing that both the 6music and Asian Network digital radio stations faced closure, and that there should be 25% less spent on the BBC's online operations by 2013. Also facing closure are teen services Switch and Blast, which Thompson said were more suited to the remit of Channel 4. He also pledged that in future, 90p of every £1 raised through the license fee would be spent on programming.

		BUENA APPLIES FOR SUGABABES TRADEMARK Mutya Buena has applied for ownership of the Sugababes name, her legal team has told the BBC. Buena, an original member of the group, of course, who quit in 2005, submitted an application to the European trademarks authority earlier this week. I've no idea why no one thought to register it before. The current Sugababes line-up (which, of course, features no original members) say that their record label, Universal, 'own' the name, though there is no record in the UK or Europe of anyone currently 'owning' the name.

		LIL WAYNE SENTENCING DELAYED AGAIN It seems that Lil Wayne just can't be sentenced. Last time they tried, it had to be postponed while he had emergency dental treatment, this time the New York court where they're trying to send him down for gun-related crimes caught fire. Next time I fully expect him to be abducted by aliens. He's now due to receive his sentence, expected to be a year in jail, on Monday. Martians take note.

		SNOOP DOGG UK BAN LIFTED Snoop Dogg is allowed to enter the UK again, having finally had the ban enacted by immigration officials in 2007 lifted. Snoop was arrested in April 2006 following a fracas in the first class lounge at Heathrow Airport. When he attempted to enter the country again for a tour a year later, he was banned from entering the country. After various attempts to have the ban lifted, the case was taken to the UK Asylum & Immigration Tribunal last Friday, who granted Snoop the right to once again come over here and do that rapping thing he seems to enjoy so much. The UK Border Agency has issued a statement saying that it is "disappointed" and may appeal the decision.

		GURU OUT OF COMA, ISSUES STATEMENT Gang Starr rapper Guru is now out of the coma he fell into after suffering a heart attack last week. He also underwent surgery earlier this week, which seems to have been successful. He issued a statement on Wednesday saying: "I am doing fine and I am recovering!" However, his nephew has also claimed that Guru's current production partner Solar was "manipulating" him and withholding information about his health from his family.

		KISS CHOKE ON STAGE SHOW Kiss were forced to cut short their gig at London's Islington Academy, the smallest venue the band have played in nearly 25 years, on Tuesday night after a number of confetti cannons set off as the band performed the final song in the main set, 'Rock And Roll All Nite', flooded the stage with carbon dioxide. Gene Simmons reportedly almost collapsed, while Paul Stanley said that he was finding it difficult to breathe. The band returned for an encore but cut it from four songs down to just one.

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Anders SG, Alphabeat
Alphabeat shot to fame in 2008 with the release of their single 'Fascination', which reached number six in the charts. It was followed by the band's debut album, 'This Is Alphabeat', which went to number two in the UK album chart.

Receiving high critical acclaim, the album launched Alphabeat as a band loved by mainstream pop fans and more discerning music fans alike, although those in the latter group were sometimes a little less quick to admit it.

Signing a new deal with Universal's Polydor label in February 2009, the band set about writing and recording their second album, 'The Beat Is...', which was released this week. Bringing in influence from 90s mainstream dance acts, it's a sharp turn away from the 80s pop of their debut.

Currently on tour with Lady Gaga, we asked Alphabeat vocalist Anders SG to put together a Powers Of Ten playlist featuring some of his favourite tracks and a few key influences. The result is by far the most pop any of these playlists have been, or are likely to be.

ANDERS SG'S TEN
01	Junior Senior	Take My Time
	This is two Danish guys who had a worldwide hit called 'Move Your Feet', but this track is from their absolutely brilliant second album and features Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson from B-52's.
02	Gossip	Heavy Cross (Fred Falke Remix)
	The best remix of 2009. Total synth heaven. Maybe the track was meant for Mini Viva before Fred decided to use it as part of this remix? Just saying.
03	Hercules And Love Affair	You Belong
	I pressed the play count thing in my iTunes and this was the winner with 80 plays, so I guess it deserves a place in this larger-than-life playlist. Heard the record to pieces when we moved to London two years ago.
04	Familjen	Det Snurrar I Min Skalle
	Don't worry if you don't get a word of what he's singing, I don't either. It's hard to pick one song off this fantastic album because everything is too good to be true. Even though it's called Familjen ('the family') it is a one-man-band. A perfect blend of techno-house-dance-mania and soft, ambient and passionate vocals. Get this album now! Or just this song. It's up to you, really.
05	Britney Spears	Hot As Ice
	I love this song. The production, the drums, the backing vocals, the lyric, Britney... Everything!
06	Dan Hartman	Relight My Fire
	The original. This also belongs in the too good to be true genre/file/whatever. Wonderful.
07	*NSync**	Tearin' Up My Heart
	I can't really make a list without a classic boyband. (One of) The best boyband song(s) ever. Max Martin wrote it, who also wrote most of the hits of Britney, Backstreet Boys and later on Kelly Clarkson and Pink and so on, and so on, and so on.
08	Black Box	I Don't Know Anybody Else
	A huge influence on our new album 'The Beat Is...' Dance perfection. Aww!
09	The Tough Alliance	First Class Riot
	I've been slightly obsessed with these two Swedish guys for a couple of years now. I will always love these guys no matter how too-cool-for-school they try to be. It's all a part of it. Make sure to watch some of the videos.
10	Basement Jaxx feat Sam Sparro	Feelings Gone
	Love Basement Jaxx. Love Sam Sparro. Love this song. Sam-goes-Prince.

Ellie Goulding on the inevitable backlash that comes with a sharp rise to fame: "You go from no assurance, to not believing it when it comes, and on to criticism. I think that's why I'm probably particularly sensitive to it. I didn't do this in order to be able to say, 'Come on, then, bring it on, give me some fucking criticism'. The album is innocent. I am going to get criticism, and I have to deal with it"

Those of you holding out for another Velvet Underground reunion, John Cale reckons you shouldn't hold your breath: "It's not something that I can see happening. Whatever the Velvet Underground did they've done, and it's in the past. I respect that people admire what we did, that's gratifying, but I'm in such a different place with what I think songwriting is these days"

Foals' Yannis Philippakis reckons that bands are slowly becoming a thing of the past: "It's too early to say, but there's a feeling that everything is going to start heading towards solo musicians that can make music cheaply and of a high quality on their own. You don't need to get five friends. Or rehearsal rooms. You can just record and put it out without people disturbing your vision"

Jessica Simpson refuses to accept an apology from ex-boyfriend John Mayer after he described her as "sexual napalm" in his now infamous interview with Playboy: "I don't accept it. I don't resent him. I'm just gonna let that go. I couldn't read the article. I heard about it. I was so disappointed in him. It made me so sad and it was really discouraging because that's not the John that I knew"

Phil Daniels recalls his audition for The Who's rock opera 'Quadrophenia': "There were three of us that did a screen test and I got the part in the end. I know Johnny Rotten was one of them. He could have been Jimmy in 'Quadrophenia'. I think they maybe couldn't insure him. That was one of the stories. It would have been a bit of a different film [if he'd got the part]"

Keith Richards: "The rumours of my sobriety are greatly exaggerated"

		Shane Macgowan & Friends - I Put A Spell On You. It's one thing to be able to get a load of musicians into a studio to record a collaborative charity single, but it's quite another to come up with something good. And Lord alone knows how difficult it must be to do all that and be Shane MacGowan at the same time. But, my, has he risen to the challenge and come up with something quite brilliant - www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf69vIQL_u8

		Foals - Spanish Sahara. Foals will head out on a UK tour starting next month in support of their second album 'Total Life Forever', which is due out on 10 May. They will also be releasing a new single, 'This Orient', on 3 May. Ahead of that, you can download, 'Spanish Sahara', another track from the album for free. Clocking in at just under seven minutes, it gives you plenty of time to get excited about that new album - www.foals.co.uk

		Efterklang - 4AD Session. We could be accused of banging on about Efterklang a little too much. And I would apologise for that, but if you don't want to know about every single thing they do ever, then I'm afraid you're not the kind of person I want to speak to. So, with that, let's get on and have a look at this new live session they've recorded in the very lovely-looking VEGA venue in Copenhagen - www.4ad.com/sessions/

		Recoil. Former Depeche Mode man Alan Wilder has announced that his solo project, Recoil, will release a compilation of tracks from across its five albums, as well as an extra disc of remixes. 'Selected' will be released on 19 Apr, and to coincide with the release Wilder will be performing with a selection of special guests for Recoil's first ever live show on 25 Apr at the Islington Academy in London - selected.recoil.co.uk

		Daniel Johnston plus orchestra. Daniel will be giving his material a unique twist by performing with backing from the eleven-piece Dutch orchestra, BEAM, at The Troxy in London on 2 Apr. Feraltone Records and promoters Platforms:live have teamed up for a special deal, which will get you a ticket for the show, plus a copy of Daniel's latest album 'Is And Always Was'. Here's a trailer - www.youtube.com/watch?v=auf5ERUPLzc

		Grafton Primary. Currently in the studio working on album number two, Australian synth duo Grafton Primary's songs are punchy with the kind of hooks that reach out and firmly take hold of your head. Sonic references include Depeche Mode, Sneaky Sound System and Shy Child. As far as I can tell, they've never made it over to the UK. Hopefully that's something they'll fix this year - www.myspace.com/graftonprimary

		Q1 How did you start out making music? LIARS: "By diving in head first. We met at art-school and began working with sound. We'd throw instruments in our studio and document them. That led to making noise on breaks between classes. Eventually, when we got hold of a four-track recorder everything changed. We began writing songs and really understanding the potential of the medium" Read more of Liar's answers

		Q2 What inspired your latest album? POLAR BEAR: "People I know, all the amazing music in London (too many artists to mention) like grime, dubstep, funky house, jazz, plus rock and soul music from the sixties and seventies like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. London is musically a very inspiring place to be at the moment" Read more of Polar Bear's answers

		Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track? DAG FÖR DAG: "Most happens in our rehearsal space. In general, one of us starts playing something and the other joins in, while we each write our own lyrics quite separately from one another. We are always amazed that they work when we put them together! We have quite specific rhythmical ideas, and direct the drummer initially, but definitely do allow him to write his own parts once the basic structure of the song has been established by us two. Songwriting is fortunately a rather effortless process for Jacob and me together... some sort of sibling witchcraft must certainly be involved" Read more of Dag för Dag's answers

		Q4 Which artists influence your work? JOANNA MACGREGOR: "Classical pianists from the 1930s, like the wild, windswept Edwin Fisher, Wilhelm Kempff, blues artists from the Mississippi Delta, like Skip James and Lead Belly and jazz warriors such as Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus. I love Nina Simone, every complex molecule of her. I admire artists who make their own way" Read more of Joanna MacGregor's answers

		Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time? JON SPENCER: "Open your mind, jackass!" Read more of Jon Spencer's answers

		Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future? FAR: "Somebody smarter than me said: 'Ambition is the last refuge of the failure'. I agree. I'm just up for whatever's next. I love this record, and that's all I need to know as an artist" Read more of Far's answers

#09: Courtney Love v Lily Allen (again)
Yes, eagle-eyed readers, this week's top pop fight is exactly the same one we featured last week. But, trust me, there has not been a better one in the last fourteen days. And by "better", I of course mean "hilarious".

So, to recap, things kicked off ahead of the BRIT Awards, after Courtney complained that Lily had made a deal with fashion house Chanel which stopped the Hole frontwoman from wearing the dress she wanted to. The feud continued onto last week's NME Awards, and then spilled onto Twitter, where it has continued to escalate.

Lily insisted that there had been no argument at the NME bash, saying that "as a rule I don't pick on crazy old ladies". Courtney then hit back, describing Lily as an "oversteroid very nasty girl version of me when I was 30", before things descended into the two women posting unflattering pictures of each other.

Courtney went with this.
And here's Lily's choice.

Courtney also suggested that Lily (who had already referred to her as a "paranoid drug addled lunatic") had a bit of a cocaine problem. Something the Hole frontwoman had apparently witnessed first hand when Lily turned up at her house, or something. Courtney tweeted: "I'm not the one on gak every night dear, you are ... The night you did all the blow on earth? The night you home invaded me did all the blow I've ever seen in my home, wouldn't leave and blamed ME for your shit show?"

Lily then tried, as she has several times, to put an end to the whole ordeal. However, she's not yet realised that the best way to end it would be to stop responding. Pretending to be concerned for Courtney's mental health probably isn't going to work. Here's what she said: "Don't want to drag this thing out but, for the record, I thought Courtney Love was attacking me, hence my response. In retrospect, having read her Twitter updates and found them quite hard to decipher, I think she is in trouble and in need of help. I hope she has people looking out for her".

This, I suspect, will rumble on for some time.

Andy Malt Editor	Chris Cooke Business Editor & Co-Publisher	Caro Moses Co-Publisher

Georgina Stone Editorial Assistant	Owen Smith Approval Officer	Paul Vig Club Tipper

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