A multi-room operation, O2 Academy Birmingham will have an overall building capacity of 3,859. The three venues can operate independently as well as simultaneously and will feature "state of the art in-house production". The main auditorium has a capacity of 3,009 and artists already confirmed to play this autumn include Bloc Party, The Maccabees and Dizzee Rascal.
Commenting on progress to date, AMG operations director Richard Maides says: "O2 Academy Birmingham is our most ambitious project to date, creating three unique spaces, each very different, but all dynamic, creative and most importantly, to the highest specification. We always say we will 'up the bar' with every venue we open and this time I can honestly say this is no exception."
Dawn Chorus Cancelled - A digital radio station which became unexpectedly popular with listeners by playing just birdsong is to go off the air on Monday morning. It is being replaced by an interactive radio station which will play a mix of indie, urban, rock and jazz music by unsigned artists. The Birdsong channel had been broadcasting for almost 18 months. It was aimed as a temporary filler after the DAB OneWord station closed, but attracted thousands of listeners.
The recording was made 20 years ago in the Wiltshire garden of Quentin Howard, who is now the chief executive of a number of radio stations. He decided to broadcast it to fill the empty radio space, and since then nearly half a million people tuned in. Author Sir Terry Pratchett said he found it relaxing, fans set up Facebook sites, and a separate Birdsong Radio began online, selling CDs. Its replacement, Amazing Radio, features songs from artists who have uploaded their music to website amazingtunes.com over the past four years.
Metal Wars - Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne is suing the band's guitarist Tony Iommi over royalty payments. The 60-year-old has accused Iommi of falsely claiming to have sole rights to the band's name which has cost him royalties from merchandise sales. Osbourne is seeking unspecified damages, lost profits and a declaration he is a half-owner of the trademark. Iommi claims Osbourne legally relinquished rights to the band's name in the 1980s. The guitarist registered the Black Sabbath trademark in the US in 2000.
Osbourne issued a statement on Friday asking Iommi to "do the right thing". "Tony, I am so sorry it's had to get to this point by me having to take this action against you," he said. "We've all worked too hard and long in our careers to allow you to sell merchandise that features all our faces, old Black Sabbath album covers and band logos, and then you tell us that you own the copyright." Osbourne said he believed all four original members of the band should share Black Sabbath's name equally adding: "I hope that by me taking this first step that it will ultimately end up that way."
(Jim Evans)