Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

It's that time of year when we all look back and review what we loved about 2015. After much debate the team at Apple have shared their best of the best. What you see here made the cut—they’re the most visionary, inventive, and irresistible apps, as well as their favorite music, movies, and books of the year. Enjoy - what was your favourite? Best of 2015 TV Movies Books Podcasts Music (iTunes) Apps (iPhone) Apps (iPad) Tap links for the best of Apple Music 2015  Around the World USA Canada Great Britain / Ireland Mexico : Brazil France Germany / Austria Russia India: Japan: Australia  

Some albums are so seminal, they can't be missed. Posted by NME Magazine on  Friday, December 4, 2015

The latest sales update of Adele's 25 is major: Posted by Official UK Charts on  Thursday, November 26, 2015

Hailee Steinfeld will release her highly anticipated debut EP, “ HAIZ” , on November 13 th . In addition, the breakout pop phenomenon and Academy Award-nominated superstar personally unveiled the EP’s cover art and tracklisting today. Not only does “ HAIZ” feature her smash single “Love Myself , ” but it also includes three new unshakable anthems. Opener “Hell No’s and Headphones” cranks up an infectious chant, while “Rock Bottom” showcases her impressive vocal range, and “You’re Such A” shows her cheeky side. This month, she has been chosen as VEVO’s Lift Artist, placing her in good company amongst previous Lift alumni, including Sam Smith, Halsey, Lorde, Kendrick Lamar, and more. “Love Myself” hit #1 on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart and just last month, Hailee performed it on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . Watch the video for “Love Myself,” which has already amassed 30 Million views and counting, HERE . A true 21 st  century showstopper,...

"A powerful reminder of an incredible talent” Glamour Island Records will release “Amy”, the Original Soundtrack, on October 30th. The album features music from the universally acclaimed film, directed by BAFTA winning director Asif Kapadia, and now officially the highest grossing British documentary of all time at the UK box office. Indeed “Amy”, in the few months since its release, is a true global box office phenomenon and, officially the second highest grossing documentary of all time globally behind Fahrenheit 9/11. The track listing is as follows:  1. Opening - Antonio Pinto  2. Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse   3. Poetic Finale - Antonio Pinto   4. What Is It About Men [Live @ North Sea Jazz Festival] - Amy Winehouse   5. Walk – Antonio Pinto  6. Some Unholy War [Downtempo version] - Amy Winehouse  7. Holiday Texts - Antonio Pinto   8. Kidna...

Having spent the last four years away from the limelight, James Morrison makes a welcome return with his new single ‘Demons’, released on September 10th through Island Records. The rousing track, written about resisting the little voices in your head trying to take you down, has Morrison’s signature soulful vocal over a high pitched loop that altogether makes for a rich, uplifting and contemporary sound. ‘Demons’ is the first single from James Morrison’s forthcoming fourth album, details of which are due to be announced on Friday this week. James was recently given an amazing welcome back when he played his first live shows since 2011 - all of which sold out in a matter of seconds. Two nights at Wilton’s Music Hall and one night at the Tabernacle in London where he debuted some of his forthcoming new tracks. The Evening Standard agreed that James was back and at his best, calling his return the “uplifting comeback of a spirited soul man”. When James broke onto the scen...

All you #TroubleMakers listen up! Vintage Trouble's brand new album '#1HopefulRd' is out today! Get the album here... Posted by Island Records UK on  Friday, August 14, 2015

"I've got blisters on my fingers!" Posted by BBC Radio 4 on  Saturday, July 18, 2015

To mark the release of Amy Film, Abbey Road Studios are offering up a chance to win a tour of the legendary studio in which Amy recorded her final track with Tony Bennett - more details below Posted by Island Records UK on  Friday, July 17, 2015

Jonathan Rhys Meyers to play Joe Strummer in new The Clash-themed film Titled 'London Town', the film is being shot now in the British capital Read more at http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/jonathan-rhys-meyers-to-play-joe-strummer-in-new-t/382789?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=rhysmeyers#sOIfKX8uZMFdusP9.99 1970s-set drama 'London Town' is being shot now in the British capital. Posted by NME Magazine on  Thursday, July 9, 2015

NME News NME announces major brand transformation including free magazine | NME.COM

A year after entering the Top 40, Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud has achieved an Official Chart first... Posted by Official UK Charts on Monday, June 22, 2015

Florence + The Machine is storming ahead in the race for this week’s Number 1 album, while a slew of new entries from the likes of Collabro and Simply Red battle for a place in this week’s Top 10: Posted by Official UK Charts on Wednesday, June 3, 2015

PRIDES are an unstoppable force. Their highly anticipated debut album, THE WAY BACK UP , is to be released on July 10 on Island Records; with the lead single ‘Messiah’ coming on July 6. This coincides with the first new global release date for albums and will be available everywhere for eager fans who have been patiently waiting. The album is full of big tunes that match their enormous live performances.  PRIDES are a band that own every venue they play so it is not surprising that after a phenomenal performance at the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and hot off the back of a second sold out UK tour that they have been confirmed sets this summer at Reading and Leeds Festival (headlining the BBC Introducing stage), Latitude (headlining Huw Stephens stage) and will be breaking records on the day of the album release by being the first band to play the main stage at the new site for T in the Park . This all comes after their first headline US Tour this month a...

Fantastic opportunity for local musicians to put the perfect Soundtrack on this video and be in with a chance of winning £2000's worth of studio time. The music can be in whatever style you feel inspired to create – for example, electronic dance music (EDM), heavy metal or orchestral as long as it’s inspired by the video and fits its exact length. The competition ends on April 17. Travelsupermarket.com have filmed five road trips in five different locations around the UK, here is the one for the Atlantic Highway. Tap to view other location Road Trips . Good luck everyone...   Tap link for Soundtrack Competition Details when you view the video. Leave a comment if you like this

  Mumford & Sons are pleased to unveil the first single from their forthcoming new album, Wilder Mind.  Believe is released on the 27 th April, and precedes the band’s third album, released on 4 th May through Gentlemen of the Road/Island Records. Listen to Believe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW6SkvErFEE x  Wilder Mind was recorded at Air Studios, London and produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, HAIM, Florence & The Machine). It features twelve new tracks, written collaboratively by the band in London, Brooklyn, and Texas. A number of the new songs were written and demo'd at Aaron Dessner’s (The National) garage studios in Brooklyn. This new album marks a significant departure for the young British band from their previous records, 2009’s Sigh No More, and 2012’s Babel. The early sessions in New York and London witnessed a change in the band’s approach not just to writing and recording, but to texture and dynamics, too...

An amazing retrospective of their first 8 years BBC Introducing Vol. 1 is out today! Post by Island Records UK .

Now That’s What I Call Music 90 tracklisting revealed! The album features 45 tracks, including a six Official Singles Chart Number 1s from the likes of: Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars (Uptown Funk), Ed Sheeran (Thinking Out Loud) and more. Tap link to read post and find out more Post by Official UK Charts .

Paloma Faith and Royal Blood are among the acts to see a huge surge in album sales following last night's BRIT Awards : Post by Official UK Charts .

ITV 8pm 25 February The biggest night in the UK music calendar is here; The BRIT Awards 2015 , live from The O2, London. If you are outside the UK you can watch the live stream on YouTube Best British male solo artist is ... Ed Sheeran Best British Group are Royal Blood

Post by Island Records UK .

Post by Official UK Charts .

Reading and Leeds Festival 2015 tickets now live~ Metallica, Mumford & Sons, Bastille, Royal Blood, Jamie T TAP FOR MORE ARTISTS/BUY TICKETS NOW

Post by Official UK Charts .

This year's Brit Awards shortlist was announced at a ceremony in London, which will be screened at 22:40 GMT on ITV tonight. Leading the pack is Sam Smith  with five nominations followed by Ed Sheeran and George Ezra who both have four nominations. Rock duo Royal Blood has received three nominations. Jessie Ware, FKA Twigs and Clean Bandit, who played at the event, all walked away with nominations; whilst fellow performer James Bay, has already won the Critics' Choice award for emerging artists . I first saw James Bay online when he played "When we were on Fire" Live on the Runway at London Fashion Week SS 2015 last September at the Burberry Prorsum Show. The Brit Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday February 25th at London’s O2 Arena and will be broadcast exclusively on ITV. British Male Solo Artist nominations announced Damon Albarn Ed Sheeran George Ezra Paolo Nutini Sam Smith British Female Solo Artist nominations Ella Henderson FKA twi...

Paloma Faith, George Ezra and rock duo Royal Blood are the latest additions to the bill. They will join previously announced acts Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Sam Smith. The Brit Awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday February 25th at London’s O2 Arena and will be broadcast exclusively on ITV. Post by Official UK Charts .

Fleur East wowed X-Factor's Simon Cowell and the rest of the UK fans. She performed Uptown Funk on the X-Factor Final and pipped Mark Ronson to the post forcing him to release the original version five weeks early. Ironically it was Mark Ronson's first ever UK top single. I like Fleur East's version but I love this. Which version do you prefer?