Sting took home a lifetime achievement award and his acceptance speech seemed to make reference to current affairs. Rock music is "perhaps America's greatest and most influential export," he said, before saying the genre has been "always open to all colours in the spirit of welcome and inclusion". He added, "A mixing of culture, of rhythm and passion is what made this country the greatest country in the world."
The AMA hosts - model Gigi Hadid and Saturday Night Live comedian Jay Pharoah - made multiple jokes and comments at Donald Trump's expense. Bruno Mars, who was born in Hawaii and has roots in Puerto Rica and the Philippines, performed at the ceremony in Los Angeles. "I love Bruno Mars. I don't know what colour he is, so I can't deport him," Pharoah said, imitating Trump's distinctive voice.
Bristol Fashion - Bristol is to be branded a national centre of arts technology after a new deal was struck between Arts Council England and the University of the West of England. The two bodies will work together across the next five years to give the city a reputation as a leader in new technology in theatre, dance, music and art. They will also both work to form new partnerships with local organisations to encourage the sharing of new practices.
Phil Hindson, theatre relationship manager for the Arts Council's South West office, told The Stage that Bristol was "already nationally significant" in the world of arts technology. Citing Watershed and Knowle West Media Centre as examples where innovative new techniques were being developed, he continued, "We're looking at how we might support that in a more strategic way, so that Bristol becomes known - even more than it already is - as a national centre of arts technology...This isn't about a shiny new building that will be 'the centre', it's about building on the exciting work that's already happening."
Nightclubbing - The owners of Fabric nightclub have reached a settlement with Islington Council to reopen. The new licensing deal includes pledges to boost security and introduce stricter anti-drug rules. Under-19s will be banned from entering and anyone found with drugs, or who tries to deal drugs, will be banned for life. The venue was shut in September after the council revoked its licence following the deaths of two clubbers. It said Fabric had a "culture of drug use" which staff were "incapable of controlling".
Islington Council has released a joint statement with Fabric about the settlement and says the club won't reopen until all the new conditions are met.
Dance and Drama - The government has announced a raft of arts education funding initiatives, which total almost £350m and include the maintenance of Dance and Drama Awards. Announcing its new multimillion-pound spend, the Department for Education pledged to "help hundreds of thousands of young people from all backgrounds enjoy potentially life-changing cultural activities". It comes amid ongoing concerns about the future of arts provision for children and in schools, and has been described as "good news" by campaigners.
The DaDA scheme, which offers income-assessed support for tuition fees and living costs to 16 to 23-year-olds studying dance and drama, has been given £13.5 million for 2017/18. This is a continuation of the amount it currently receives, and will ensure the initiative is protected until 2018.
Mr Angry - A furious letter from John Lennon to Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, written after The Beatles' break-up has sold for nearly $30,000 (£24,200). In the two-page typed draft with handwritten notes, Lennon criticises the couple for their treatment of him and his wife, Yoko Ono. The attack is said to be in response to Linda's criticism of him not publicly announcing his departure from the band. The letter was sold at a US auction to an anonymous collector in Dallas.
(Jim Evans)
