Around the World - Best of the Best 2015

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
 

101 Albums to hear before you die

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

Record Breaking news for Adele's 25

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

Hailee Steinfeld Announces Debut EP "HAIZ" - Out Friday

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, HAILEE STEINFELD captured the hearts of viewers with her breakout turn as Mattie Ross in The Coen Brothers’ critically 2010 opus, True Grit. At just 14-years-old, she garnered an Academy Award nomination for “Best Supporting Actress” and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role” as well as a BAFTA nomination in the category of “Best Actress in a Leading Role”. She went on to star in the 2013 sci-fi epic Ender’s Game  as well as Romeo and Juliet, Three Days to Kill, and Begin Again.

Fans first heard the Academy Award nominated actress perform in this year’s massive box office hit Pitch Perfect 2, where her powerhouse voice took centre stage in the film, illuminating her soaring range, style, and spirit.  In early 2015, Steinfeld signed with Republic Records. This fall, she will continue work on her forthcoming debut album and begin production in the lead role of the "Untitled Gracie Films Project" for STX.

HAIZ EP TRACKLISTING

1.       Love Myself

2.       You’re Such A

3.       Rock Bottom

4.       Hell Nos and Headphones

“HAIZ”

OUT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13

“…the Hailee Steinfeld single is amazing. More amazing than anybody could ever have expected. More amazing than 99% of everything released so far this year.” – Popjustice

“…an infectiously delicious self-empowerment anthem” – Wonderland

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‘Love Myself’ is available on iTunes here

"Amy" The Original Soundtrack

"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. Kidnapping Amy - Antonio Pinto 

9. Like Smoke [Demo] - Amy Winehouse 

10. Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse 

11. Seperacao Fotos – Antonio Pinto 

12. The Name Of The Wave – Strange Cargo 

13. Back To Black [Acapella / Album Medley] - Amy Winehouse

14. Cynthia - Antonio Pinto 

15. Rehab [Live on Jools Holland] - Amy Winehouse 

16. In the Studio - Antonio Pinto 

17. We’re Still Friends [Live @ Union Chapel] - Amy Winehouse 

18. Amy Lives - Antonio Pinto 

19. Love Is A Losing Game [Live @ Mercury Awards] - Amy Winehouse 

20. Arrested - Antonio Pinto 

21. Body and Soul - Amy Winehouse & Tony Bennett 

22. Amy Forever - Antonio Pinto 

23. Valerie [Live @ BBC] - Amy Winehouse 

AMY – THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

RELEASE DATE : 30^TH OCT 2015

The Movie - Amy - Asif Kapadia

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"Back and at his best". James Morrison unveils first new single in four years

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 scene as a soulful singer-songwriter in 2006, even he couldn’t have predicted that he would become the template that allowed a wave of likeminded musicians to enter the field. Now, almost a decade on, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and James Bay are all crowding the charts following the same format; one guy with an incredible voice and just a guitar.

Despite his self-deprecation and humble nature, he really was the first to take that format and not only make it work but also became an overnight success story. Pop gems like ‘You Give Me Something’ from his first record ‘Undiscovered’, made him anything but, and he won the 2007 BRIT Award for Best Male when he was still just 21 years old.

James has gone on to sell over 4.5 million copies of his three albums, performed four world

tours including sold-out shows to thousands at London’s Hyde Park, supporting both Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder and appeared on Herbie Hancock’s Grammy-winning album ‘The Imagination Project’.

2008’s ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’ brought with it a string of Top Ten singles, including the phenomenally catchy ‘Broken Strings’ with Nelly Furtado, with his last album, 2011’s ‘Awakening’ shooting straight to Number One, selling over one million copies worldwide.

‘I’ve got demons, I’ve got demons trying to get to me… but they’ll never get me down” (lyric taken from ‘Demons’ by James Morrison)

 Tap here to check out the "Demons" video

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jamesmorrisonmusic.com

www.facebook.com/jamesmorrison

@JamesMorrisonOK

Vintage Trouble's brand new album 'Hopeful Rd' out now

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

Forty Seven Years Ago Today!

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

Win a tour of the legendary Abbey Road Studios

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

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

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

Benjamin Booker - Violent Shiver (Glastonbury 2015)

Wolf Alice - Bros (Glastonbury 2015)

Ed Sheeran celebrates huge Chart Milestone

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 heading for their 3rd Number 1 album,

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 ANNOUNCE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, ‘THE WAY BACK UP’, OUT ON JULY 10

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 aptly named ‘Out of the Red White and Blue Tour’.

  

Singer, Stewart Brock says, ‘It’s been amazing working together on this album. We started writing demo’s close on two years ago, and the ride we’ve been on since then has been incredible. We’ve had the opportunity to do some great things and meet some awesome people, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve come up with.

Getting the chance to go out and play the new songs live over the summer is something we’ve all been excited for, never mind our release day falling on the day we play the MainStage at T in the Park, we can’t think of a much better way to celebrate. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s time to let this album lose on the world. We hope you love it’.

THE WAY BACK UP track list includes:

Standard:

1. I Should Know You Better


2. Messiah


3. Higher Love


4. Let It Go


5. It’s Not Gonna Change


6. Little Danger


7. Same Mistakes


8. Just Say It 

9. Out Of The Blue 


10. The Way Back Up 


11. The Kite String & The Anchor Rope 

Deluxe:

12. Linger On 

13. Avalanche 


14. Running Wild 


15. Father’s Son 


16. Try Again

Pre-order on iTunes now: http://po.st/HJIpks

For PRIDES stalking:

www.pridesband.com

www.facebook.com/PridesBand

www.instagram.com/Pridesband

@pridesband

Ed Sheeran & Rudimental - Bloodstream

MUSICIANS PLEASE NOTE. Win Studio Time competition "Soundtrack on Your Road Trip"

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 Unveil New Single, Believe.

 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

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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.

Pre-order Wilder Mind here: www.mumfordandsons.com

Following the recent announcement of the band’s headline performance at this year's Reading & Leeds Festivals, and appearances at Bonaroo, Open’er Festival, Bilbao BBK Live, Nos Alive Festival, and Squamish Festival, Mumford & Sons are very pleased to announce the first details and line-ups for their 2015 Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers.

Joining the band over the Stopovers will be the likes of The Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, Ben Howard, Primal Scream, The Vaccines, Simian Mobile Disco, The Maccabees, My Morning Jacket, Alabama Shakes, Dawes, and Jenny Lewis. For full line-up details, see below.

Tickets are on sale now from www.gentlemenoftheroad.com/tickets. Please visit the Gentlemen of the Road website for all ticket details.

Gentlemen of the Road presents…The Stopovers

Seaside Heights, New Jersey, USA

5th June + 6^th June – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes, The Vaccines, The Maccabees, Dawes, The Very Best, Jenny Lewis, Little May, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBC

Waverly, Iowa, USA

19th June + 20th June - Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, The Maccabees, The Very Best, Rubblebucket, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBC

Aviemore, Scotland, UK

31st July + 1^st August – Mumford & Sons, Ben Howard, Primal Scream, The Maccabees, Simian Mobile Disco DJs, Lianne La Havas, Jack Garratt, King Charles, Honeyblood + more TBC

Walla Walla, Washington, USA

14th August + 15^th August - Mumford & Sons, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, The Vaccines, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, TuneYards, James Vincent McMorrow, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBC

Salida, Colorado, USA

21st August + 22^nd August - Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, Dawes,

Jenny Lewis, The Vaccines, TuneYards, James Vincent McMorrow, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBC

BBC Introducing Vo. 1 is out today

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

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.

Album sales surge following last night's BRIT Awards:

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.

Worldwide Live Stream | The BRIT Awards 2015

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

Calling all musicians!

Post by Island Records UK.

New single from Ed Sheeran & Rudimental - Bloodstream

Big Night for Four Grammy Award Winner Sam Smith

Post by Official UK Charts.

Reading and Leeds Festival 2015

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

OneRepublic - Counting Stars

Meghan Trainor's debut album heads for No1. Spot

Post by Official UK Charts.

Sam Smith leads the Brit Awards 2015 Nominees

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 twigs
Jessie Ware
Lily Allen
Paloma Faith

British Group nominations
Alt-J
Clean Bandit
Coldplay
One Direction
Royal Blood

British Breakthrough Act
Chvrches
FKA twigs
George Ezra
Royal Blood
Sam Smith

British Single nominations
Calvin Harris - ‘Summer’
Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - 'Rather Be’
Duke Dumont ft. Jax Jones - 'I Got U'
Ed Sheeran - 'Thinking Out Loud'
Ella Henderson - ‘Ghost'
George Ezra - 'Budapest'
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - 'Uptown Funk'
Route 94 ft. Jess Glynne - 'My Love'
Sam Smith - 'Stay With Me'
Sigma - 'Nobody To Love'

BRIT Awards 2015: More live performers confirmed

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.

Vance Joy - 'Riptide' Official Video

Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars

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?