Olympic Countdown - The London Olympics and Paralympics could boost West End box offices, according to a survey of theatre-goers. In the Whatsonstage.com poll of more than 32,000 theatre-goers, 70% said they would attend as much or more than usual during the Games. And two-thirds of respondents predicted the Olympics would help increase London theatre attendance.
In contrast, Andrew Lloyd Webber predicted the Olympics would force most London theatres to shut. "Nobody's going to go to the theatre at all," the composer told Radio 4's Today programme in December. "It's going to be very tough," he said, revealing advance bookings were "about 10%" of their normal level. The musical Sweeney Todd, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, opens in the West End later this month and will take a break during the Olympics.
Terri Paddock, managing and editorial editor of Whatsonstage.com, said the theatre website's survey demonstrated that "audiences themselves are much more optimistic and plan to vote with their wallets at the box office".
Fender Flotation - Fender Musical Instruments, the maker the Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars, has announced plans for an initial share flotation. Fender hopes the move will raise $200m (£126m), money that it will use to reduce current debts of $246m. The company was founded in 1946 and has had a number of owners over the years. Its current largest owner is private equity firm Weston Presidio, which has a 43% stake. Fender has not said what percentage of the business it intends to float nor when it intends to do so.
"The Fender brand in particular is closely associated with the birth of rock 'n' roll and has a strong legacy in music and in popular culture,'' the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the US financial watchdog.
Even Older News - Folk group the 'Buranovo Grannies' will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, after winning a televised contest in Moscow to represent Russia. The six grandmothers beat 24 other acts - including a duet between 2008 winner Dima Bilan and Tatu's Yulia Volkova - with the song Party For Everybody. Buranovskiye Babushki, from the Udmurt Republic, say they will use any cash raised to build a church in Buranovo. "Grandmothers do not need glory and wealth," a member told Vesti news. The UK will also be represented by a pensioner at the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan when 75-year-old singer Engelbert Humperdinck will perform the British entry.
Meanwhile, Eurovision organisers have announced that Armenia has pulled out amid tension with old rival Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani and Armenian forces fought a war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s which left at least 25,000 people dead. A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but no permanent peace deal has been reached.
Festival Focus - Foo Fighters, Kasabian and The Cure will headline this year's Reading and Leeds festivals. Other acts performing on the main stage throughout the weekend include Florence & The Machine, Paramore, The Vaccines, The Black Keys and Bombay Bicycle Club. The events take place at Reading's Little John's farm and Leeds' Bramham Park between 24-26 August.
Talent Clash - ITV's new
