Arts Council England chair Sir Peter Bazalgette admitted an imbalance existed, adding: "More should be done." He told the the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "There is an imbalance, there's no question. I've only been at the Arts Council for a few months. I'm absolutely passionate about funding arts and culture in the regions... We need to do more...I would say judge us in two years time. The trend is towards more spending in the regions and that's what we'll be doing."
Net News - The first YouTube awards have been held in New York. The event featured Eminem, Lady Gaga and M.I.A making live music videos directed by the awards' creator, Spike Jonze, and others. Eminem won Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift's I Knew You Were Trouble took the YouTube Phenomenon award. The ceremony was streamed live online. Nominees were chosen by taking into account the YouTube views, likes, comments and subscription figures for different artists.
Takeaway Live - Ant and Dec have unveiled dates for a UK arena tour of their Saturday Night Takeaway show. It will see the presenters bring their TV show live to the stage. The show will be a co-production between James Grant Live/Ant & Dec and ITV Studios. Rob Ballantine, from the tour's promoter SJM, said, "After being entertained in their living rooms by Ant and Dec for many years the public can now enjoy a fully live stage show in one of the many arenas around the UK."
(Jim Evans)
