Pop - news archive

This is an archive of news about Pop. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Pop + Politics: Where does aggregation stop and plagiarism start?
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted August 14 2008, 8.14am
Journalists discuss the difference between good aggregation of news and when the practice becomes plagiarism. (more)

Stephen Armstrong on New Tricks, the most popular show on British TV
From Media Guardian. Posted August 11 2008, 11.15pm
Stephen Armstrong: New Tricks isn't just our most popular show - it's proper genre-mashing cutting-edge Brit TV (more)

ITV set to teach dance moves to the nation in Saturday night pop music show
From The Stage. Posted July 30 2008, 6.10pm
(more)

Telegraph.co.uk: Twitter popularity in UK soars by 631%
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 25 2008, 1.20pm
The number of UK users of the microblogging service Twitter has risen by 631 per cent in the last year, according to figures from the company. (more)

Radio 2 breakfast show is UK?s most popular
From UTalk Marketing. Posted July 24 2008, 8.39am
Wogan reaches 7.75m (more)

Pop band enters Dragons' Den in search of fame - and £75,000
From Media Guardian. Posted July 20 2008, 11.02pm
Manager hopes to establish 'social release' model, allowing artists greater control of rights (more)

Pope hits out at TV sex and violence
From Digital Spy. Posted July 18 2008, 10.15am
Pope Benedict XVI criticises TV and the internet for presenting sex and violence as "entertainment". (more)

Pope to launch Bible-reading marathon on TV
From Media Guardian. Posted July 9 2008, 11.08pm
An Italian Muslim association has signalled it too is keen to take part in the reading. By John Hooper (more)

Popular ex-editor lands new training role
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 25 2008, 7.00am
Murray Morse to be new editorial consultant to develop NCTJ's courses (more)

Lollopop gets 20k from Pudsey
From Radio Today. Posted June 22 2008, 11.17pm
Radio Lollipop Newcastle has received a donation of twenty thousand pounds from the Trustees of Children in Need, which will help towards funds for a new studio development. (more)

Lollipop gets 20k from Pudsey
From Radio Today. Posted June 22 2008, 11.17pm
Radio Lollipop Newcastle has received a donation of twenty thousand pounds from the Trustees of Children in Need, which will help towards funds for a new studio development. (more)

Mail Online becomes most popular UK newspaper site in ABCe figures
From Media Guardian. Posted June 19 2008, 11.59am
Mail Online overtook Telegraph.co.uk and guardian.co.uk in May to become the UK's most popular national newspaper website, with 18.7 million unique users. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Mail replaces Telegraph as the UK's most popular newspaper website
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted June 18 2008, 11.00pm
Independent debuts figures, record traffic for the Sun, Guardian holds most domestic users (more)

Guardian is most popular online newspaper
From UTalk Marketing. Posted May 29 2008, 10.22am
But Sun is most engaging (more)

Guardian most popular newspaper website in UK, according to Nielsen Online
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted May 28 2008, 4.43pm
Some significant differences between the figures for unique users visiting UK newspaper sites released by Nielsen Online today and those announced by the Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic (ABCe) last week. While both rank the Guardian as the most popular in the UK, Nielsen's figures suggest the site attracted 3 million unique users in the UK [...] (more)

Despite US popularity domestic users still the 'key metric' for Guardian online, says digital head
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted May 14 2008, 11.00pm
Unique users based in UK are key to attracting advertisers, despite plans to expand the Guardian internationally (more)

Video: Hoosiers scrap at pop festival
From Digital Spy. Posted May 13 2008, 10.56am
Pop three-piece The Hoosiers are filmed scrapping backstage at Radio 1's Big Weekend. (more)

Population explosion means oil at $100 a barrel is here for years
From Daily Telegraph. Posted April 27 2008, 12.01am
'A whole load of stuff could come apart here," warned Art Cashin last week on CNBC - the US business channel. "This oil thing - it's gettin' crazy". (more)

Reuters: China becomes world’s largest Internet population
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted April 25 2008, 9.37am
China has moved past the US as the country with the most internet users, it was reported by Chinese state media. According to Reuters, Xinhua news agency quoted the China Internet Network Information Centre, claiming that the number of internet users in the country had risen to 221 million by the end of February - surpassing the number of internet users in the US for the first time. (more)

Daily Mail group claims it now reaches 45 per cent of the British population
From Press Gazette. Posted April 15 2008, 12.00am
New research shows that Associated Newspapers' print and online titles have a combined reach of 45 per cent of the British population, the company's digital division claimed today. (more)

Radio Nepal told to ?enhance its popularity?
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 5 2008, 11.29am
Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Bhojraj Ghimire has stressed that Radio Nepal should enhance its popularity by upgrading its programmes. In a programme,organized on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the establishment of Radio Nepal, Chief Secretary Ghimire, said Radio Nepal has been losing its credibility in urban areas in comparison to rural [...] (more)

Satellite Radio in April Offers Jazz, Hockey, and the Pope
From radio.about.com. Posted April 4 2008, 1.00am
As XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio desperately await final approval of a proposed merger, programming continues in separate mode. XM is teaming up with EWTN Global Catholic Network to start the... (more)

TV ratings - March 31: Poppy Shakespeare makes healthy debut
From Media Guardian. Posted April 1 2008, 11.15am
Channel 4's gritty drama starring Naomi Harris as a woman diagnosed with mental health problems attracted 1.3 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Sam Wollaston on Brian Keenan: Back to Beirut | Poppy Shakespeare
From Media Guardian. Posted March 31 2008, 11.04pm
Sam Wollaston on Brian Keenan: Back to Beirut | Poppy Shakespeare (more)

Rock and pop concerts for Dubai after Live Nation buys Gulf promoter Mirage
From The Times. Posted March 24 2008, 12.00am
The world’s biggest live music companies are to take their battle for supremacy to the Gulf states after announcing plans to turn the region into the next lucrative staging post for rock’s biggest stars. Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which reinvented the Dome as a live music venue, plans to lure acts such as Prince and Bon Jovi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to perform in new, purpose-built arenas. Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter and AEG’s leading global rival, is beating a similar trail. It has acquired a controlling stake in Mirage, a leading Dubai-based promoter, which has hosted concerts by Aerosmith and Shakira. Madonna, who has signed an exclusive music and concert deal with Live Nation, is expected to add Dubai, the UAE’s main city, to her tour circuit. The race to bring rock and pop to the Gulf is part of a wider effort to develop the region as a centre of tourism. Emirates is intent on making itself the world’s airline of choice, for example, a world in which millions use it to fly to the area’s rapidly expanding resorts and developments. Those resorts are already among some of the most exclusive on the planet, The World, perhaps the best-known of them, and its peers built on so grand a scale that they can be seen from space. And some of music’s most famous names are allegedly buying their slices of these exclusive spots. Yet if the superstars are intent on spending money on seven-star hotel suites and private islands, the Gulf remains a source of untapped income. Despite a wealthy expatriate population, a young music-loving local audience and the fact that 15 million visitors are expected to visit Dubai in the next decade, the Gulf region has yet to establish a consistent infrastructure for live music. With live performances replacing record sales for artists’ pension plans, the region, overlooked so far by the likes of U2 and the Rolling Stones, is seen as the next frontier for promoters to conquer. AEG Live has hired Thomas Ovesen, the man behind some of Mirage’s biggest concerts, to oversee a new live promotions office in Dubai. AEG Live hopes to operate arenas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, seating 10,000 to 15,000 fans and styled after its own O2 in London, inside two years. Mr Oveson plans to draw young, wealthy music fans from neighbouring states by staging Las Vegas-style residencies featuring big names. Mr Ovesen said: “My vision is that the UAE will be the hub for entertainment for the entire region. We believe the O2 model, where Prince played 21 nights, could really work in the region. The right type of artist can expect to clear $1 million. But until now, the local live music scene has been fairly insignificant.$” AEG plans to host Broadway musicals as well as pop concerts in its new arenas, with the shows marketed at foreign expats living in Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The company has promised to balance ticket prices so that the local Asian population can attend. Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, said: “A presence in that region is very important to us in terms of growth and finance opportunities.” His Dubai-based rival Mirage Promotions, which secures acts such as Diana Ross and Bryan Adams for corporate clients in the region, will be rebranded as Live Nation after the US giant took a 65 per cent controlling stake. Elissa Murtaza, its managing director, said: “Whilst our current focus is to be on the burgeoning UAE, our position in the Middle East provides us with the opportunity to expand our operations. Our new partnership with Live Nation will help us to accelerate our growth by providing us better access to talent and resources.” The Gulf does have a flourishing local music scene, which is reflected in the recently launched MTV Arabia service and the arrival of a concert infrastructure, but it does present some logistical problems for touring international rock stars. Some artists have been unwilling to undertake a four-day round trip to Dubai for a one-off show. Promoters also have to make provision for an entirely car-bound audience. This month Celine Dion played her first Dubai concert, at the Four Seasons Golf Club, charging £135 for a platinum seat. Organisers had to promise the authorities smooth-flowing traffic and car-parking for 9,000 vehicles before the concert could take place. Western stars will have to respect local sensibilities. Last month, the Radio 1 DJ Grooverider was sentenced to a four-year prison term in Dubai after admitting to carrying cannabis into the country. “They can have the rock’n’roll but not the sex and drugs,” Mr Oveson said. He added: “Given the wealth of the country, the possibilities for charging for high-end, quality shows are endless. Frankly, if Elvis were alive, he’d consider a visit to Dubai in the next couple of years. I believe the future is here.” (more)

Rock and pop concerts for Dubai after AEG buys Gulf promoter Mirage
From The Times. Posted March 24 2008, 12.00am
The world’s biggest live music companies are to take their battle for supremacy to the Gulf states after announcing plans to turn the region into the next lucrative staging post for rock’s biggest stars. Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which reinvented the Dome as a live music venue, plans to lure acts such as Prince and Bon Jovi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to perform in new, purpose-built arenas. Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter and AEG’s leading global rival, is beating a similar trail. It has acquired a controlling stake in Mirage, a leading Dubai-based promoter, which has hosted concerts by Aerosmith and Shakira. Madonna, who has signed an exclusive music and concert deal with Live Nation, is expected to add Dubai, the UAE’s main city, to her tour circuit. The race to bring rock and pop to the Gulf is part of a wider effort to develop the region as a centre of tourism. Emirates is intent on making itself the world’s airline of choice, for example, a world in which millions use it to fly to the area’s rapidly expanding resorts and developments. Those resorts are already among some of the most exclusive on the planet, The World, perhaps the best-known of them, and its peers built on so grand a scale that they can be seen from space. And some of music’s most famous names are allegedly buying their slices of these exclusive spots. Yet if the superstars are intent on spending money on seven-star hotel suites and private islands, the Gulf remains a source of untapped income. Despite a wealthy expatriate population, a young music-loving local audience and the fact that 15 million visitors are expected to visit Dubai in the next decade, the Gulf region has yet to establish a consistent infrastructure for live music. With live performances replacing record sales for artists’ pension plans, the region, overlooked so far by the likes of U2 and the Rolling Stones, is seen as the next frontier for promoters to conquer. AEG Live has hired Thomas Ovesen, the man behind some of Mirage’s biggest concerts, to oversee a new live promotions office in Dubai. AEG Live hopes to operate arenas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, seating 10,000 to 15,000 fans and styled after its own O2 in London, inside two years. Mr Oveson plans to draw young, wealthy music fans from neighbouring states by staging Las Vegas-style residencies featuring big names. Mr Ovesen said: “My vision is that the UAE will be the hub for entertainment for the entire region. We believe the O2 model, where Prince played 21 nights, could really work in the region. The right type of artist can expect to clear $1 million. But until now, the local live music scene has been fairly insignificant.$” AEG plans to host Broadway musicals as well as pop concerts in its new arenas, with the shows marketed at foreign expats living in Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The company has promised to balance ticket prices so that the local Asian population can attend. Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, said: “A presence in that region is very important to us in terms of growth and finance opportunities.” His Dubai-based rival Mirage Promotions, which secures acts such as Diana Ross and Bryan Adams for corporate clients in the region, will be rebranded as Live Nation after the US giant took a 65 per cent controlling stake. Elissa Murtaza, its managing director, said: “Whilst our current focus is to be on the burgeoning UAE, our position in the Middle East provides us with the opportunity to expand our operations. Our new partnership with Live Nation will help us to accelerate our growth by providing us better access to talent and resources.” The Gulf does have a flourishing local music scene, which is reflected in the recently launched MTV Arabia service and the arrival of a concert infrastructure, but it does present some logistical problems for touring international rock stars. Some artists have been unwilling to undertake a four-day round trip to Dubai for a one-off show. Promoters also have to make provision for an entirely car-bound audience. This month Celine Dion played her first Dubai concert, at the Four Seasons Golf Club, charging £135 for a platinum seat. Organisers had to promise the authorities smooth-flowing traffic and car-parking for 9,000 vehicles before the concert could take place. Western stars will have to respect local sensibilities. Last month, the Radio 1 DJ Grooverider was sentenced to a four-year prison term in Dubai after admitting to carrying cannabis into the country. “They can have the rock’n’roll but not the sex and drugs,” Mr Oveson said. He added: “Given the wealth of the country, the possibilities for charging for high-end, quality shows are endless. Frankly, if Elvis were alive, he’d consider a visit to Dubai in the next couple of years. I believe the future is here.” (more)

Popbitch pays libel damages to Hotel Babylon actor
From Press Gazette. Posted March 17 2008, 12.00am
Hotel Babylon star Max Beesley today accepted a formal apology and "substantial" damages from gossip website Popbitch at London's High Court. (more)

Hunting a pop hit? Radio pluggers are the people to chase
From The Independent. Posted March 2 2008, 12.00am
The NME Awards usually attract plenty of headlines for the antics of their pop stars. A celebrity-studded event, they make bands look cool and their antics even cooler. A year ago Kate Moss was chucked out for getting overly amorous with Pete Doherty. Last Thursday it was the drunken behaviour of Agyness Deyn, the supermodel girlfriend of Josh Hubbard from The Paddingtons. (more)

Hungarian radio authority unhappy with ?popular? MR2
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 6 2008, 4.38pm
Hungary’s National Radio and Television Board (Országos Rádió és Televízió Testület, ORTT) has found that national radio station Pet?fi Rádió’s programming includes only 6% “public service” content, despite it being a “public service radio.” As a result, it ordered the station to change its schedules, writes stop.hu. Pet?fi Rádió reformed its programming structure in summer 2007 to [...] (more)

Official: Internet radio gains popularity
From Biz Asia. Posted January 28 2008, 11.05pm
A new survey out today has suggested that listening to radio online has become "mainstream". (more)

BBC Worldwide to relive the ages of pop
From Media Guardian. Posted January 28 2008, 7.04am
BBC Worldwide is to focus on developing the corporation's huge archive of music programming from Top of the Pops to The Old Grey Whistle Test as part of a five-year plan to boost profits. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Oasis, Blur for Britpop 'Weakest Link'?
From Digital Spy. Posted January 17 2008, 12.47pm
Oasis and Blur are reportedly being lined up for a Britpop special of The Weakest Link. (more)

TV's popular face of capitalism dies at 83
From Media Guardian. Posted January 10 2008, 11.43pm
Britain's first celebrity businessman, the chemical magnate turned TV troubleshooter Sir John Harvey-Jones, has died in Herefordshire aged 83 (more)

China?s blogger population reaches 47 million
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 1 2008, 11.23am
Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [”China’s Blogger Population Reaches 47 Million; More Than Half female” - Xinhua headline] BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) - A report on China’s blog development has found that the blogger population has reached 47 million, more than half of whom are women. “One fourth [...] (more)

9X & Bindaas begin eating into popular channels
From Biz Asia. Posted December 24 2007, 12.06pm
Newcomers into the Indian TV market - 9X and Bindass have begun eating to the shares of long-running channels like Sony Entertainment Television Asia, Sahara One, MTV and Channel V, according to latest data. Business Standard is reporting that while 9X, within a month of its launch, has managed to penetrate nearly 30 per cent of the 76 million cable homes, Bindass, the youth channel from UTV, is generating higher ratings than MTV and Channel V, the two established youth-centric television channels. According to online rating generated by Audience Measurement and Analytics Ltd for the 10th December (Monday)-16th December (Sunday) period for the prime-time television (8pm-11pm), 9X is generating comparatively similar ratings at various time bands as Sony TV, the general entertainment channel (GEC) running for nearly a decade. Similarly, UTV’s Bindass has managed to outdo MTV and Channel V on several of the weekdays at prime time shows. For example, on 14th December (Friday) between 9pm-10pm, Bindass generated a rating of 0.21, which is 10 times the ratings generated by Channel V and MTV. In the GEC space, 9X generated a rating of 0.41 in the 8:30pm-9pm slot, similar to Sony TV on December 15 (Saturday). Analysts feel that this is because of a high cable household penetration achieved by 9X within a month of its launch coupled with interesting shows like 'Missing Ustaad' and others. In the long-term, these new channels (including ZEE Next launched on 17th December) may eat into the ad revenue of the big three GECs — STAR Plus, ZEE TV and Sony TV, says an industry source. The higher ratings of these newly launched channels will have an adverse impact on channels like Sahara One, STAR Utsav and SAB TV among others in the short run. Among the big three GECs, Sony TV has been at the third place for a long time both in terms of ratings and channel share, with STAR Plus being the numero uno followed closely by ZEE TV. Both STAR Plus and ZEE TV generate average television ratings of 3.9-5 during weekdays in the prime time viewing band. While Star Plus on most occasions gets the highest viewership ratings, ZEE TV has started displacing STAR Plus shows on several occasions, says the source. Related links: ZEE Next confirmed for launch in India New channel 9X opens to a mixed response INX Network to launch channel in India this month (more)

Industrial Engineer Behind Popular Christmas Internet Radio Station
From radio.about.com. Posted December 17 2007, 12.00am
Rob Schroeder is an Industrial Engineer by day and a Program Director - well, by day as well. His "Christmas Broadband" Internet Radio station has been streaming since 1999 -... (more)

Radio Realidad: the popular voice in Honduras
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 11 2007, 10.03am
The website UpsideDownWorld carries a profile of Radio Realidad, an independent low-power FM station in Honduras set up in October by the Chicago-based groups La Voz de Los de Abajo and Radios Populares. Radios Populares (RaPo) is a small grassroots organization which trains communities in low-power FM radio and sets up radio stations in Latin America, [...] (more)

Getting the low down on popular media
From The Independent. Posted December 3 2007, 12.40am
It seems fitting that Lowculture.co.uk, the cult website which has become required reading for those obsessed with television and pop culture, was conceived during an episode of the ill-fated soap Crossroads in January 2003. (more)

Actor Max Beesley sues Popbitch for libel
From Press Gazette. Posted November 29 2007, 12.00am
Actor Max Beesley has launched a legal battle for libel damages from the message board and newsletter Popbitch. (more)

Murdoch: Fox-esque Sky News "more popular"
From Digital Spy. Posted November 26 2007, 2.31pm
Rupert Murdoch says that Sky News would become more popular if it emulated Fox News in the US. (more)

‘Dave’ is popular bloke
From Rapid TV News. Posted November 20 2007, 9.25pm
UKTV’s revamped (and renamed) TV channel Dave has shown what fresh thinking can do in the tough world of multichannel TV. (more)

Dutch Classic FM to also play pop music tomorrow
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 15 2007, 2.38pm
Tomorrow between 7 am and 7 pm Dutch time (0600-1800 UTC) listeners to Classic FM, which normally plays light classical music, will instead hear both classics and pop music. The intention is to demonstrate how many pop music hits were inspired by classical music. Amongst the artists whose music will be featured are Donna Summer, [...] (more)

Mastering the art of the vox pop
From Press Gazette. Posted November 14 2007, 12.00am
There’s no surefire way to get a good clip, but it pays to follow a few golden rules, says Radio 1’s Newsbeat sports reporter David Garrido (more)

Zane claims 'Popworld' was too slow for TV
From Digital Spy. Posted November 1 2007, 12.50pm
Alex Zane claims Popworld was axed because it was too "slow" for today's audience. (more)

Doctor Who wins National TV Award for most popular drama
From The Stage. Posted November 1 2007, 11.50am
(more)

Digital radio platforms see upsurge in popularity
From Biz Asia. Posted October 26 2007, 9.07pm
Digital radio listening on DAB and television has seen an upsurge in popularity, according to recently released data by RAJAR. The majority of digital listening is done on DAB sets but digital TV is also on the rise as an outlet, although the Internet’s share of listening has fallen slightly in the last quarter. The survey showed 15% (6.1 million adults) of radio listeners now tune in through a digital radio, which is an increase of nearly 3% on the last quarter of this year. The results showed also that 3% of listening happens via digital cable, satellite and terrestrial television. Listening via a mobile phone has also witnessed a steady increase in popularity, now with an audience share of 9.2%. 2.76 million people now listen to podcasts. This signifies good news for digital only Asian radio stations such as Panjab Radio, Q Asia, Asian Gold, Asian Plus, Sukh Sagar, Akash Radio amongst many others. Related links: RAJAR Results: Kismat biggest winner in London Two new radio stations launch on Midlands DAB RAJAR Results: Digital platform proving a big hit (more)

BBC rapped over Iggy Pop Glasto comment
From Digital Spy. Posted October 22 2007, 2.25pm
Ofcom finds the BBC was wrong to show Iggy Pop saying "paki shop" in an interview. (more)

Six O'Clock News editor Mark Popescu takes voluntary redundancies
From Media Guardian. Posted October 18 2007, 1.00am
1.45pm update: The editor of the Six O'Clock News, Mark Popescu, has become one of the first senior executives to take voluntary redundancy as part of the BBC's new cost-cutting regime. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

'Dulha' Sharad to leave popular ZEE TV drama
From Biz Asia. Posted October 14 2007, 12.59am
Sharad Malhotra better known as Sagar in ZEE TV's ever popular series 'Dulhann Banoo Mein Teri' is quitting over several reasons. Reports in Indian press suggest Sharad was becoming quite demanding, which was causing rifts between him, the producers of the drama and the broadcaster ZEE TV. A production source the show told Mumbai Mirror, "It's surprising how Sharad has changed in the past one year. Sharad used to be so calm as a newcomer. But, as 'Dulhann...' started getting popular with the audiences, he also started showing his true colours. His transformation is too drastic. He is under the impression that now that he has become a star everyone must bear with him. In fact, he has been demanding huge sums of money too." The source further added, "When the channel could not tolerate his growing tantrums, they decided to chuck him. The creative team is planning to scrap his character by killing Sagar in the show. Obviously, it will be a shock for the viewers as the show is really doing well." Sagar's character will be killed off in days to come but what remains to be seen is how Divyanka Tripathi who plays the lead character Vidya in the soap reacts to this. It’s common knowledge that Divyanka and Sharad are really good pals and recently they refused to shoot for the soap because they were unhappy with the lack of communication in the production department of the soap. (more)

Maxwell Martin to star in Channel 4's Poppy Shakespeare
From The Stage. Posted October 12 2007, 6.50pm
(more)

Popularity of leading UK online newspapers increasing three times faster than overall UK internet audience growth
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 11 2007, 12.00am
Nielsen/NetRatings data suggests that domestic audience for UK national newspaper sites has increased by 30 per cent through the early part of 2007 (more)

Popular diary to continue despite journalist's retirement
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 11 2007, 12.00am
Press and Journal man begins new chapter in his career after 35 years at Scottish title (more)

Sky News to launch show looking at popular internet news
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted September 20 2007, 12.00am
Show will simultaneously air on Skynews.com and Sky News (more)

Lite most popular freesheet
From Brand Republic. Posted September 13 2007, 2.20pm
LONDON - Associated Newspapers’ London Lite has been named London’s most popular evening freesheet in the latest National Readership Survey – edging out rival thelondonpaper. (more)

Corrie, 'Who' popular at TV awards
From Digital Spy. Posted September 4 2007, 3.23pm
Coronation Street and Doctor Who are recognised at the TV Quick and TV Choice awards. (more)

ABU-UNESCO compact radio station project gaining popularity
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 10 2007, 1.03pm
An ABU-UNESCO initiative on building low-cost ‘broadcasting stations’ has been growing in popularity since its launch last year, with the UNESCO office in Burundi the latest to place an order for the compact device. The Burundi unit, a Compact Radio Station (CRS) with a 300W FM transmitter, is an extension of the radio-in-a-box developed by [...] (more)

Blogger says shortwave still popular in Ethiopia
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 2 2007, 9.45am
A blogger from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, writes about government censorship of information. He says that all the pro democracy internet sites are still blocked, despite denials by the Ministry of Information. The method which they use to block sites is quite primitive, so all blogspot.com sites are blocked - not only the ones that have information about Ethiopia [...] (more)

SMG hires 80s pop legend
From The Scotsman. Posted July 30 2007, 11.06am
MEDIA Group SMG has hired Spandau Ballet star Tony Hadley for Virgin Radio's Friday night show in a bid to boost ratings ahead of a planned �70 million to �80m float of the station. (more)

Popular DJ Portrayed in "Talk to Me"
From radio.about.com. Posted July 29 2007, 4.35pm
At his website, Roger Ebert gives "Talk to Me" 3 1/2 stars. Ebert writes, "The story of Petey Greene was a movie waiting to be made. Greene came out of... (more)

Armenian Public Radio refuses to re-sign contract for popular RFE/RL programmes
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 24 2007, 8.54pm
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) have expressed dismay at Armenian Public Radio’s rejection of a new contract to continue carrying programmes of RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. RFE/RL Armenian programmes have been aired on Armenian Public Radio - Armenia’s top radio network - since 1998, where they have earned the trust of a [...] (more)

Popbitch backs reality TV betting website
From Media Guardian. Posted July 17 2007, 1.00am
8am: Celebrity gossip website Popbitch is co-launching a site offering betting on reality TV shows. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Miquita shocked by demise of 'Popworld'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 16 2007, 4.29pm
Former Popworld presenter Miquita Oliver admits that she was shocked by the show's demise. (more)

'The joke was that success would mean we'd become unpopular for doubling workloads'
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 10 2007, 12.44pm
Q&A: Ben Hammersley on the BBC's multi-media reporting experiment and consumer level technology in news (more)

German 'Sun' publishes bible for the Pope
From Media Guardian. Posted July 9 2007, 1.00am
Germany's best-selling newspaper, a tabloid which often publishes pictures of naked women on its front page, has joined forces with the Pope to produce a 'Benedict bible'. (more)

Friends and colleagues gather for funeral of popular sports editor
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 29 2007, 12.00am
Tributes are paid to Chichester Observer sports editor Ben Steppel (more)

The Sun takes place of the Times as UK's second most popular newspaper website
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted June 28 2007, 2.35pm
Guardian still streaks ahead, according to ABCe figures (more)

Radio Kashmir Srinagar regaining popularity among listeners
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 27 2007, 2.45pm
Radio Kashmir has regained popularity among masses with the increased number of its listeners across the state. The news and commercial broadcasting (FM) section of its Srinagar Station have once again attracted the people by providing them the best news and entertainment round the clock, reports the Kashmir News Agency. The Urdu News from Radio Kashmir [...] (more)

BBC apologises over Iggy Pop comments
From Digital Spy. Posted June 26 2007, 12.50pm
The BBC is forced to apologise over comments made by Iggy Pop. (more)

Apology over Iggy Pop comment
From Media Guardian. Posted June 25 2007, 1.00am
The BBC has apologised to viewers after rock artist Iggy Pop referred to a 'paki shop' in a live Glastonbury broadcast. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Iggy Pop comment prompts apology
From Media Guardian. Posted June 25 2007, 1.00am
5.15pm: The BBC has apologised to viewers after rock artist Iggy Pop referred to a 'paki shop' in a live Glastonbury broadcast. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Metric used to measure popularity of newspaper websites likely to change
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted June 22 2007, 3.51pm
Monthly unique user figure could by scrapped in favour of a daily rate, says ABCe heademail this article digg this del.icio.us (more)

Rock and pop for Classic FM
From Radio Today. Posted June 19 2007, 8.30am
Classic FM is introducing a new weekly series of programmes entitled "When Classic Meets..", which will feature a look at popular music tracks influenced by classical music. From jazz to rock and pop music, the 10 programmes will be sponsored by Lexus Hybrid in a six figure deal. (more)

Voxpop: Will the Independent on Sunday's new look woo younger readers?
From Press Gazette. Posted June 11 2007, 12.00am
Voxpops by Catherine Airlie (more)

Survey finds regional press is most popular source for local news
From Press Gazette. Posted May 10 2007, 8.00am
A Press Gazette/YouGov survey has revealed that regional newspapers remain by far the most popular source of local information. (more)

Douglas appointed BBC controller of pop music
From The Stage. Posted May 8 2007, 5.30pm
(more)

New Controller of BBC Popular Music
From Merry Media. Posted May 8 2007, 3.24pm
Lesley Douglas has been appointed Controller, BBC Popular Music in addition to her current post as Controller, BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.. (more)

BBC Radio gets new popular music controller
From Digital Spy. Posted May 8 2007, 10.37am
Controller of BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, Lesley Douglas, will now also oversee popular music output across all BBC platforms. (more)

Channel 4 axes Popworld music show
From Media Guardian. Posted April 27 2007, 1.00am
Channel 4 has axed T4's flagship music show Popworld after six and a half years. By Tara Conlan. (more)

Popular production journalist has died, aged 60
From Hold the Front Page. Posted April 25 2007, 12.00am
Well-liked and respected journalist began newspaper career as a compositor (more)

Pop mag axed after one week
From BBC News. Posted April 19 2007, 12.45pm
New music magazine Popworld Pulp closes after just one week because the publishers said its sales "bombed". (more)

Popworld Pulp bombs after just two issues
From Press Gazette. Posted April 18 2007, 3.20pm
Popworld Pulp, the Brooklands Group launch into the weekly music market, has closed after just two issues. (more)

Music magazine goes pop - after two issues
From Media Guardian. Posted April 18 2007, 1.00am
5.30pm: Channel 4's Popworld Pulp magazine has closed after two issues. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Sunday popular sales tumble
From Media Guardian. Posted April 13 2007, 1.00am
March ABCs: Every national Sunday popular newspaper suffered a year-on-year circulation decline in March's ABC figures. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Catholic hierarchy 'disgraced' itself by ignoring Pope's exhortation
From Press Gazette. Posted March 30 2007, 5.46pm
The Catholic Herald has lodged a formal complaint with the Vatican’s worldwide head of communications in protest at the failure of UK bishops to issue a public response to Pope Benedict’s first Apostolic Exhortation. (more)

Channel 4 launches Popworld magazine
From Media Guardian. Posted March 23 2007, 12.00am
8am: Channel 4 is launching a weekly magazine as a spin-off from its Popworld show. By Jason Deans. (more)

Channel 4's Popworld revamps website
From Media Guardian. Posted March 12 2007, 12.00am
8am: Channel 4's Popworld is chasing young music fans with a MySpace-style overhaul of its website. By Jemima Kiss. (more)

Clyde 1 presenter sorry for 'racist' pop star remark
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted March 10 2007, 11.30am
(more)

Brush with the law for media student vox-popping the locals
From Hold the Front Page. Posted March 7 2007, 12.00am
Trainee managed to turn the situation around after his credentials were called into question (more)

Dutch public TV not popular with Turks, Moroccans, Surinamers and Antilleans
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 28 2007, 1.28pm
The Dutch public TV channels are not popular with some of the largest immigrant groups in the Netherlands. 39% of Turks, Moroccans, Surinamers and Antilleans don’t watch any public TV channel. That’s a big contrast with the commercial stations. 45% of the same groups watch them for more than one hour a day, compared with just [...] (more)

News and media websites growing in popularity in UK
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted February 27 2007, 4.19pm
Social news and media aggregation site Digg.com fastest growing news and media websiteemail this article digg this del.icio.us (more)

News and media websites gain in popularity in UK
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted February 27 2007, 4.19pm
Social news and media aggregation site Digg.com becomes fastest-growing news and media websiteemail this article digg this del.icio.us (more)

Top of the Pops is Wanted Back
From Merry Media. Posted February 6 2007, 12.26am
Merry Media held a poll to see what axed tv show visitors to the site would like to see back on our tv screens with Top of the Pops coming out on top.. (more)

PopCatcher Records Songs Off Radio, Deletes Commercials and Speech
From radio.about.com. Posted January 27 2007, 2.57pm
A Swedish company has created a device called PopCatcher and describes it this way: "PopCatcher captures individual songs from a radio broadcast, without commercials or speech. It thus addresses the... (more)

ITV gets new head of popular factual
From Media Guardian. Posted January 26 2007, 12.00am
ITV has hired UKTV's Jo Clinton-Davis to fill the newly created role of controller of popular factual commissioning. By Jason Deans. (more)

Popular Moldovan radio station still off the air; CPJ deplores shutdown
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 21 2007, 8.47am
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it deplores the suspension of the popular Chisinau-based public radio station Antena C. The station, which frequently aired reports critical of the government, has been off the air for more than a month, and local sources said they fear it is part of an official clampdown on news [...] (more)

Pop stars and DJ?s unite to save the Ross Revenge
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 18 2007, 6.54pm
A group of disc jockeys and pop stars from the 1970s have joined forces to preserve one of Grimsby’s best known deep sea trawlers. The Ross Revenge was a top earner out of Grimsby for many years and was at one time the longest sidewinder in the world, but after the Cod War in the 1970s [...] (more)

Popescu appointed BBC daytime news editor
From Media Guardian. Posted December 19 2006, 12.00am
1.15pm: Mark Popescu, who relaunched BBC1's Six O'Clock News, is to rejoin the show as daytime news editor. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Top of the Pops Xmas Special
From Merry Media. Posted November 29 2006, 4.27pm
Not long after being dropped, Top of the Pops is returning to BBC One for a Christmas special and will feature the Christmas No.1 and the biggest songs of the year.. (more)

Radio stars: Fabulous 208 - the station that made Alan Freeman (and a host of other pop-pickers)
From The Independent. Posted November 29 2006, 12.00am
So farewell then, pop-pickers. The veteran DJ Alan "Fluff" Freeman, inventor of the catch-phrases "all right", "stay bright" and "not 'arf" has gone to the great radio studio in the sky. (more)

Vatican Radio broadcasts special programmes during Pope?s visit to Turkey
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 28 2006, 4.19pm
Vatican Radio has a number of special live broadcasts on mediumwave, shortwave and satellite during the visit of Pope’s historic visit to Turkey, which started today and continues until Friday 1 December. Full details of these broadcasts can be found on the Vatican Radio website. (more)

CBS Letterman clips prove most popular on YouTube
From Brand Republic. Posted November 23 2006, 12.11pm
LONDON - YouTube is helping US TV network CBS boost its TV ratings as clips from its shows on the video-sharing site pull almost 30m views. (more)

'Top Of The Pops' makes Xmas comeback
From Digital Spy. Posted November 22 2006, 10.30am
Chart music show Top Of The Pops will return to television for an hour-long Christmas Day special. (more)

Stuff unveils revamped site to back growing popularity
From Brand Republic. Posted November 13 2006, 3.11pm
LONDON - Best-selling gadget magazine Stuff is set to launch a new website to complement the title's growing popularity in the UK. (more)

Snow accuses critics of 'poppy fascism'
From Media Guardian. Posted November 10 2006, 12.00am
Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow has accused his critics of 'poppy fascism' after provoking controversy over his decision not to wear a poppy on air. By Dan Bell. (more)

Pay and sex bias rows hit Pope's TV station
From Media Guardian. Posted November 2 2006, 12.00am
An unholy row has broken out at the Pope's TV station, with accusations flying that it paid derisory salaries and even tried to hold a staff meeting to find out if some were virgins. By John Hooper. (more)

Popular BBC presenter, Solomon Mugera, promoted to Head of BBC Swahili
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 30 2006, 3.44pm
The BBC has appointed one of its most popular presenters in Africa as the head of its BBC Swahili language service. Solomon Mugera starts his new job today. He is now responsible for all BBC Swahili managerial and editorial direction, for its staff located in London, Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, and for [...] (more)

Popular Afghan station to broadcast for global audience
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 26 2006, 5.50pm
Text of report by Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency website Kabul, 26 October: Ariana radio will broadcast to a global audience next month via satellite and viewers will be able to watch Ariana TV on the internet in three months time, Engineer Ehsanollah Bayat, the director-general of Arian Radio/TV, told Pajhwok today. He said that presently, [...] (more)

Songs by Subject: U.S Population Hits 300 Million
From radio.about.com. Posted October 20 2006, 1.00am
Radio stations, programmers, and deejays have used The Green Book of Songs By Subject for years. This week it's back with a fantasy playlist addressing the recent change in the... (more)

FT and Eurosport most popular with Europe's business elite
From Brand Republic. Posted October 11 2006, 2.10pm
LONDON - Europe's elite businessmen and women are spending more time consuming business media than ever before, with the Financial Times featuring prominently, according to the Europe 2006 report from Ipsos Mori. (more)

Pop's Grand wins publishing and journalism gong
From Press Gazette. Posted October 4 2006, 1.17pm
Fashion director Katie Grand has won the award for publishing and journalism at The Hospital Awards – founded by media hub The Hospital to honour the most creative individuals working in the media and arts in the UK. (more)

Time called on Alcopop ads
From Media Guardian. Posted September 27 2006, 1.00am
8am: TV campaigns for Smirnoff Ice and WKD have been banned by watchdogs. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Alcopop adverts banned from TV
From The Independent. Posted September 27 2006, 12.00am
Two alcopop advertisements have been banned after falling foul of rules designed to protect under-18s. (more)

The Tube pops back up as a Channel 4 radio show
From Media Guardian. Posted August 7 2006, 1.00am
Just a week after Top of the Pops bowed out, Channel 4 has unveiled plans to ressurrect its own fondly remembered music show The Tube. By Owen Gibson. (more)

Popular culture: Internet killed the video star?
From The Independent. Posted August 2 2006, 12.00am
"In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind, we've gone too far," sang The Buggles in their hit "Video Killed The Radio Star", the 1981 track that launched a phenomenon known as music television. A quarter of a century later, MTV is an enterprise that reaches 400 million viewers in 167 countries through a roster of presenters who collectively speak 22 languages. (more)

Top of the Pops bows out with 3.9m viewers
From Brand Republic. Posted July 31 2006, 11.07am
LONDON - Long-standing BBC music show 'Top of the Pops' bid a fond farewell to 3.9m viewers last night after 42 years, according to unofficial overnight figures. (more)

Record industry urges BBC to save Top of the Pops
From Brand Republic. Posted July 12 2006, 11.07am
LONDON - The BPI has called on the BBC to reverse its decision to cancel 'Top of the Pops' at the end of the month, in an open letter to director-general Mark Thompson. (more)

Ageing population set to hit commercial radio, warns veteran researcher
From Brand Republic. Posted July 5 2006, 9.07am
LONDON - The radio industry is being squeezed by the changing demographics of the UK population, Sir Robert Worcester, chairman of the Ipsos Mori Public Affairs Advisory board, will tell The Radio Academy's Radio Festival today. (more)

Commercial radio faces challenge of ageing population
From Brand Republic. Posted July 5 2006, 9.07am
LONDON - The radio industry is being squeezed by the changing demographics of the UK population, Sir Robert Worcester, chairman of the Ipsos Mori Public Affairs Advisory board, will tell The Radio Academy's Radio Festival today. (more)

So popular Manuel is Top of the… Fridge
From Press Gazette. Posted June 29 2006, 12.49am
A big band song composed by the staff on a specialist magazine, to mark the departure of a colleague, is flying up the online music charts. (more)

Contrary to popular opinion...
From Press Gazette. Posted June 22 2006, 12.29am
Indy chief exec Ivan Fallon explains why free content is madness, online publishing trends are financially flawed, and why Google’s number should be up (more)

Top of the Pops will continue in Dutch
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 21 2006, 3.12pm
Although the BBC yesterday announced that Top of the Pops, the world’s longest-running TV music show, will end next month after 42 years on the air, the programme will continue elsewhere, including the Netherlands. Public broadcaster BNN, which began producing a Dutch version of the show in 2000 under licence from the BBC, says it’s satisfied with the [...] (more)

Top of the Pops Axed - TOTP2 Stays
From Merry Media. Posted June 21 2006, 1.54pm
Top of the Pops, the world's longest running weekly music show, will end its run on 30th July 2006 the BBC announced yesterday. The decision to bring the show to an end after 42 years has not been taken lightly and over the past few years every effort has been made to maintain the quality and distinctiveness of the show. For fans of the show, the spinoff programme TOTP2 will remain as well as the magazine the BBC publish.. (more)

BBC to call time on Top of the Pops after 42 years
From Brand Republic. Posted June 21 2006, 9.06am
LONDON - 'Top of The Pops', the world's longest running weekly music show and the programme that made a household name of former presenters Jimmy Savile and Noel Edmonds, is to be axed next month following the BBC's admission that in the world of 24-hour music programming and digital downloads, its format had become outdated. (more)

Rest in peace, Top of The Pops: 42 years on, BBC announces the demise of an institution
From The Independent. Posted June 21 2006, 12.03am
It has entertained generations of young pop fans with performances from such illustrious acts as the Rolling Stones, The Who, Nirvana and Oasis, but last night the BBC confirmed that after 42 years Top of the Pops will finally be laid to rest. (more)

Top of the Pops dropped after 42 years
From The Stage. Posted June 20 2006, 6.45pm
The BBC is cancelling Top of the Pops, the world's longest running weekly music show, after 42 years, making it the latest show to come under the axe as terrestrial broadcasters try and cut out deadwood programmes that no longer pull in viewers. (more)

Show's over for Top of the Pops
From Media Guardian. Posted June 20 2006, 5.44pm
4.45pm: The BBC is to axe Top of the Pops, the music chart show that made household names out of Jimmy Savile and Noel Edmonds, after 42 years on air. By John Plunkett. (more)

BBC online launches 'most popular news' page
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted June 14 2006, 10.15am
Site users now able to see which stories are most popular around the globe (more)

Kampfner names his 'eye popping' new signings
From Press Gazette. Posted June 5 2006, 3.47pm
The New Statesman has unveiled its “eye popping” news columnists, who include former BBC correspondent Rageh Omaar, the economist Noreena Hertz and TV comedian Julian Clary. (more)

Ratings show a dip in popularity for BBC's 'Doctor Who'
From The Independent. Posted May 31 2006, 12.00am
The BBC's revival of Doctor Who has been hailed as the return of family viewing, attracting more than 10 million viewers at its height. (more)

Comment is popular for newspaper's blog portal
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted May 28 2006, 9.00pm
Guardian opinion site is growing more quickly than the Huffington Post, editors claim (more)

Kampfner’s ‘eye-popping’ relaunch for Statesman
From Press Gazette. Posted May 25 2006, 12.49am
New Statesman editor John Kampfner has described his magazine’s imminent redesign as “the biggest thing to happen to the current affairs market in many years”. (more)

Hoodies, football, polo and pop ... princes open up
From Media Guardian. Posted May 22 2006, 9.20am
Prince Charles has risked criticism by launching a heartfelt defence of 'hoodies' in a TV interview with Ant and Dec. By David Smith. (more)

ITV1 missed the revolution, admits boss as he drops popular shows
From Media Guardian. Posted May 12 2006, 8.08am
ITV director of TV Simon Shaps last night admitted the broadcaster had neglected its main channel, arguing it needed to axe a string of popular but stale programmes to reinvigorate the schedule. By Owen Gibson. (more)

BBC asks staff to step in after 'Top of the Pops' audience crisis
From The Independent. Posted May 12 2006, 12.00am
If the studio audience greeting this week's Top of the Pops acts sound somewhat muted and suspiciously mature, the BBC admits it is entirely to blame. (more)

ITV pop show Done and Dusted
From Media Guardian. Posted May 10 2006, 12.04pm
11am: The maker of Channel 4's Carling Live 24 is to make the replacement show for ITV's CD:UK. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Could wacky inventions be the next Pop Idol?
From Media Guardian. Posted April 5 2006, 8.15am
Mip TV: A TV show that is the brainchild of Simon Cowell was last night at the centre of a multimillion pound bidding war. By Ben Dowell in Cannes and Owen Gibson. (more)

Lloyd Webber Pop Idol show 'humiliating' say professionals
From The Stage. Posted March 21 2006, 1.05pm
Andrew Lloyd Webber's proposals to make a Pop Idol-style television show out of his forthcoming production of The Sound of Music have come under fire from professional performers angry he has potentially opened the lead role to amateurs. (more)

Internet more popular than TV in the UK - study
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 13 2006, 11.58am
British people now spend longer online than they do watching TV, according to a new study. Electricnews.net quoted the research, which was conducted by TNS on behalf of Google, as saying the average Internet user in the UK now spends 164 minutes online each day, equivalent to 41 days each year. This compares to 148 minutes spent watching TV, the equivalent of over 37 days each year. As many as (more)

Traditional media still very popular with Dutch young people
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 6 2006, 5.03pm
Young people in the Netherlands are surprisingly traditional in their evaluation of the different forms of communication and media platforms available today. They rate Internet the highest as an information platform, but traditional media such as radio and TV are still very popular. That's according to a report published today based on the response of 520 young people aged between 15 and 34. (more)

Pope Benedict XVI visits Vatican Radio on its 75th birthday
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 4 2006, 10.57am
Pope Benedict XVI visited Vatican Radio yesterday on its 75th anniversary, describing it as a voice at the service of the truth and reconciliation. The Pope greeted listeners live on a programme in Italian. The Pope then toured the station, which broadcasts in 45 languages. He greeted the staff personally and had photographs taken with them: 384 people of 59 nationalities. A group of staff members (more)

China launches TV channel for most populous Tibetan dialect speakers
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 28 2006, 2.04pm
On the first day of the Tibetan New Year today, a satellite TV channel in the Amdo dialect has been officially launched in Tibet, which has some some 2.6 million Amdo language speakers. The service, prepared by the Qinghai provincial TV station, is the first Amdo language satellite TV station. According to Bai Jubi, director of Qinghai TV Station, the channel will broadcast 17.5 hours of programs (more)

Popular British DJ Johnnie Walker collects his MBE
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 25 2006, 11.29am
Yesterday was a special day for popular British DJ Johnnie Walker, 60, as he went to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE from Prince Charles. The MBE was awarded for his services to radio over a period of 40 years. Johnnie said that the Prince asked him about his time on Radio Caroline, to which he replied "I was a bit naughty, I disobeyed the law. It would seem I've been forgiven." Johnnie says (more)

Pope Benedict XVI notes a milestone for Vatican Radio
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 13 2006, 12.11pm
Benedict XVI says that Vatican Radio has helped the voice of Popes to reach "all peoples," as he noted the station's 75th anniversary. In comments made yesterday after praying the Angelus from the window of his study, the Holy Father recalled that it was Pope Pius XI who asked radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) to build the Vatican's broadcasting station. "With radio, and later (more)

Could Smash crash pick up the Pops?
From Press Gazette. Posted February 9 2006, 12.00am
The beat goes on: the death of Smash Hits! could well be a lifeline for struggling rival TOTP magazine (more)

Cheesy pop king to record UK Theme
From Media Guardian. Posted February 3 2006, 1.55pm
1.45pm: The row over axing of Radio 4's UK Theme has taken an unexpected turn, with a new recording by cheesy pop king Mike Flowers. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Eighties pop star Astley set to join BBC One celebrity talent show
From Brand Republic. Posted February 3 2006, 8.02am
LONDON - Rick Astley, the singer of a number of hits in the 80s such as 'Never Gonna Give You Up', is to appear in a new BBC One celebrity talent show called 'Just the Two of Us'. (more)

BBC strike could pull the plug on popular radio shows
From Brand Republic. Posted February 2 2006, 11.02am
LONDON - Top BBC radio shows such as the Radio 4 'Today' programme and Chris Moyles' Radio 1 breakfast show could be taken off air as radio staff prepare to strike over the proposed job cuts planned by director-general Mark Thompson. (more)

BBC radio strike dates revealed as popular shows threatened
From Brand Republic. Posted February 2 2006, 11.02am
LONDON - BBC radio staff are gearing up for strike action on February 15 and 22, which could mean producers pulling the plug on top BBC radio shows such as the Radio 4 'Today' programme and Chris Moyles' Radio 1 breakfast show on those dates. (more)

30m Arabs get a chance to vote - for a pop idol
From Media Guardian. Posted January 31 2006, 7.06am
Sunday will witness the finals of Superstar, the hit Arabic version of Pop Idol, with millions of people voting in the most authoritarian societies of the Arab world. By Rory McCarthy. (more)

BBC to modernise Easter pageant and crucifixion with pop opera
From Brand Republic. Posted January 27 2006, 11.01am
LONDON - The BBC is commemorating the crucifixion of Christ this Easter by broadcasting a live pop-opera procession through the streets of Manchester, featuring stars from The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. (more)

Top of the Pops heads for America
From Media Guardian. Posted January 24 2006, 10.34am
The BBC is in negotiations to take Top of the Pops to the US in a joint venture with music impresario Lou Pearlman, the man behind N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys. By Julia Day. (more)

ITV mulls music show to rival Top of the Pops
From Brand Republic. Posted January 23 2006, 11.01am
LONDON - ITV is mulling a rival to the BBC's 'Top of the Pops' and has hired its former executive producer, Chris Cowey, to develop the format. (more)

ITV sounds out rival to Top of the Pops
From Media Guardian. Posted January 23 2006, 7.19am
A former Top of the Pops executive producer is developing a rival for ITV and has berated the BBC for neglecting the music show. (more)

Portugal protects home-grown pop with radio quotas
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 18 2006, 4.34pm
Portugal is trying to boost home-grown music by forcing radio stations to ensure at least a quarter of their playlist is by Portuguese talent.Stations flouting the law, if it is passed by parliament tomorrow, would be fined up to 50,000 euros. Foreign pop and rock dominate the airwaves in Portugal, where the music scene is best known for its traditional fad

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