The Week in Light & Sound
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That puts her ahead of 2017's previous biggest-seller, Ed Sheeran's ÷, which has shifted 919,000 copies to date. Reputation also becomes Swift's fourth album to sell a million copies in the space of a week, following 1989, Red and Speak Now. In fact, only she and Adele have sold a million copies of any album in a seven-day frame since 2012.
Extended Role - Edinburgh International Festival has extended director Fergus Linehan's contract for an extra three years, meaning that he will run the festival until at least August 2022. Linehan joined EIF in 2013, directing his first festival in 2015. The EIF said that so far during his tenure it has had record sales and extended to new audiences.
One of Linehan's first moves was to bring the dates of the EIF forward a week to run at the same time as the Edinburgh Fringe. Other innovations include a free public event to open the festival season in Edinburgh and developing its theatre programme, notably in its revival of existing Scottish work. In a statement, Linehan said: "The commitment and creativity of the festival team has made the past three years the most professionally exhilarating period of my career."
Royal Visit - The Tony award-winning Broadway production of The King and I will transfer to the West End next year. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, which stars Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe, opens at the London Palladium in June. The production originated at the Lincoln Centre Theatre in New York in 2015, winning four Tony awards, and is directed by Bartlett Sher.
Festive TV - Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa will be among the performers on this year's Christmas Top of the Pops special. They will be joined by Clean Bandit, Rita Ora and The Script. Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates will present the show, along with a New Year special featuring artists including James Arthur and Paloma Faith.
Farewell - AC/DC co-founder and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young has died aged 64 after a long battle with dementia. He died peacefully on Saturday with his family nearby, a statement said. Young will be remembered for his powerful rhythm guitar riffs that were instrumental in propelling the Sydney heavy rock group to stardom.
"Renowned for his musical prowess, Malcolm was a songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer and visionary who inspired many," the statement read. "From the outset, he knew what he wanted to achieve and, along with his younger brother, took to the world stage giving their all at every show. Nothing less would do for their fans."
(Jim Evans)
21 November 2017
