Together Again? - Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has said the rock band may get back together to play concerts for charity. The group, who have sold 200 million albums, last performed at the Live 8 concert in London in 2005. "I think all of us would like the idea of repeating the Live 8 concept," Mason said. Speaking at the In The City music conference in Manchester, Mason said Live 8 could provide a "template for something we would do again". He added, "I think it would be a very nice way for a band to gently move towards retirement, by doing shows absolutely for charity rather than for more income."
Lost & Found - An unperformed choral work composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams more than 100 years ago will be premiered next year. The 45-minute piece, called A Cambridge Mass, was discovered during an exhibition at the Cambridge University Library. Conductor Alan Tongue, who found the piece, said: "I knew immediately that here was a significant work." Mr Tongue will conduct the concert, which will take place in March.
100 Not Out - Stars gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of the London Palladium. Speaking at the event, Andrew Lloyd Webber - whose Really Useful Group owns and operates the venue - said: "Today's celebration is about recognising the rich history of this wonderful theatre and the fantastic performers who have graced its stage. It is also about the beginning of the biggest programme of refurbishment and change in the Palladium's history and I'm delighted to announce the restoration of the iconic revolving stage and plans for the complete refurbishment of the front of house areas."
Sale Time - The price of music albums should be slashed to around £1, a former major record label boss has suggested. Rob Dickins, who ran Warner Music in the UK for 15 years, said "radically" lowering prices would help beat piracy and lead to an exponential sales rise. Dickins was in charge of the label from 1983-98, working with acts like Madonna, REM and Simply Red. But his 'revolution in album prices has been met with scepticism from many in the music business.
Speaking at In The City, Dickins said album prices had already been pushed down by price wars and declining demand, and were likely to fall further. "What we need is a revolution. What we've got is an erosion. When I was running Warners, a chart CD could be £12.99. A chart CD now can be £6.99, maybe even £5.99."
(Jim Evans)
