According to the BPI's Music Market 2015 report, Taylor Swift topped the list of global recording artists, after shifting six million copies of her album 1989. The figures, which take into account album sales, track sales and streams, put One Direction in second place and Sheeran in third. The BPI also found that streaming had doubled in the UK during 2014.
Royal Ruler - Dame Helen Mirren was named best actress in a play at the Tony theatre awards in New York. She took home the prize for her portrayal of the Queen in The Audience. Other British wins included Alex Sharp for best actor and Marianne Elliott for best directing of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which was also named best play. The stage adaptation of the hit novel started life at the National Theatre in London before transferring to Broadway. An American in Paris won four technical awards, while Fun Home won for best score, book and direction.
Pay Settlement - Backstage workers have agreed a 6% pay increase over the course of two years, following talks between union BECTU and UK Theatre. The deal, which was voted through by a 94% majority of BECTU members, means backstage workers' pay at UK Theatre venues will increase by 3% backdated to April, with a further 3% rise to follow in April 2016. UK Theatre has also committed to establishing a working group, which will meet over the next 18 months, to examine how the living wage can be implemented.
BECTU national official Noel McClean said the approval by members was "a huge endorsement" of both the two-year pay offer and also "of the wider strategy of improving wage levels in the industry underpinned by the living wage".
Politicians Panned - Peter Bazalgette, chair of Arts Council England, has criticised politicians for not being strong enough advocates of the arts, labelling their attitudes as "pathetic". Bazalgette, who recently called on the government to help double the size of the creative industries, told the Soho Create festival there was still a reluctance within parliament to speak out in support of the cultural sector. "[There is] still quite a strong idea in the House of Commons that you get votes by saying you're a football fan but not by saying you're a theatre fan. Actually more people attend arts and cultural events than go to the football... It's the faux man or woman of the people act which is just pathetic. I think it is lessening but it's still there," he said.
He also criticised the government for using the arts to promote the UK abroad but failing to nurture it at home. "It's facile thoughtlessness. Our arts and culture is a brilliant ambassadorial thing for this country, so they take that when they need it but thoughtlessly forget it the moment they get home. They're using it in a way that is effective but forgetting where it comes from," he added.
Africa Campaign - After more than 30 years of campaigning for aid in Africa, Bob Geldof has said now is the time not for charity but investment to improve life in Africa. The Band Aid activist's comments come as a major report says investment in renewable energy networks should be the priority to help the world's poorest continent. The Africa Progress Panel report calls for a ten-fold increase in power generation to provide all Africans with access to electricity by 2030 and urges African governments, investors, and international financial institutions to scale up their eff
