The first act from the BBC's Sound of 2009 list has been revealed, with electro-pop duo La Roux at number five.
The list is intended to highlight the best new music talent for the new year.
It is based on tips from 134 leading UK tastemakers, who named their favourite three new acts. A longlist of 15 artists was published last month.
One act from the top five will now be revealed every day this week, until the number one is announced on Friday. Last year, Adele and Duffy topped the list.
The Sound of 2008 top five also included The Ting Tings, Glasvegas and Foals.
Showing posts with label Artist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Artist. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
£100m appeal to keep Titian works
Two galleries are hoping to raise £100m to buy a pair of paintings by Italian Renaissance artist Titian.
The Duke of Sutherland is offering the works to the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery in London for £50m each.
If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then the second painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.
The figure represents one third of their estimated open market value.
The paintings were created as part of a cycle of works for King Philip II of Spain from 1556 to 1559.
They form part of the historic Bridgewater collection owned by the duke and on display at the National Gallery of Scotland.
The collection also includes three paintings by Raphael, a Rembrandt, a Van Dyck, a Tintoretto and two more Titians.
'Most important'
The 7th Duke of Sutherland has decided to sell some of the collection to raise £100m.
His offer comes with the added incentive that, should the two galleries manage to raise the necessary funds, the entire collection will remain on long-term loan to the Scottish gallery.
"The Bridgewater Loan ... is the most important Old Master paintings loan to any public museum in the world," said the gallery's director, John Leighton.
Losing Diana and Actaeon, he added, "would be like the Mona Lisa being taking out of the Louvre".
Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Leighton maintained the investment was essential, despite current pressure on public spending.
"We would never argue that expenditure should be diverted from all those important areas - whether it's health, defence, or whatever - but we do have to keep spending on culture," he said.
"Every so often you just have to make a major investment in the quality of our National Collections.
"Not every year, not every ten years, [but] once or twice a century and that moment is now."
Under the deal, the galleries will be offered each painting in turn. They have until the end of this year to commit to buying the first.
Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) is acknowledged as one of the greatest colourists of all time, who pioneered the use of oil paints, and paved the way for generations of artists to come.
The Duke of Sutherland is offering the works to the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery in London for £50m each.
If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then the second painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.
The figure represents one third of their estimated open market value.
The paintings were created as part of a cycle of works for King Philip II of Spain from 1556 to 1559.
They form part of the historic Bridgewater collection owned by the duke and on display at the National Gallery of Scotland.
The collection also includes three paintings by Raphael, a Rembrandt, a Van Dyck, a Tintoretto and two more Titians.
'Most important'
The 7th Duke of Sutherland has decided to sell some of the collection to raise £100m.
His offer comes with the added incentive that, should the two galleries manage to raise the necessary funds, the entire collection will remain on long-term loan to the Scottish gallery.
"The Bridgewater Loan ... is the most important Old Master paintings loan to any public museum in the world," said the gallery's director, John Leighton.
Losing Diana and Actaeon, he added, "would be like the Mona Lisa being taking out of the Louvre".
Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Leighton maintained the investment was essential, despite current pressure on public spending.
"We would never argue that expenditure should be diverted from all those important areas - whether it's health, defence, or whatever - but we do have to keep spending on culture," he said.
"Every so often you just have to make a major investment in the quality of our National Collections.
"Not every year, not every ten years, [but] once or twice a century and that moment is now."
Under the deal, the galleries will be offered each painting in turn. They have until the end of this year to commit to buying the first.
Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) is acknowledged as one of the greatest colourists of all time, who pioneered the use of oil paints, and paved the way for generations of artists to come.
Titian announcement expected soon
The National Gallery of Scotland and London's National Gallery are poised to reveal whether Titian's Diana and Actaeon has been saved for the nation.
The two institutions are hoping to raise £50m to jointly buy the painting before a deadline of 31 December.
But a spokeswoman for the National Gallery said an announcement would "ideally" be made this week.
The campaign, launched in August, was recently boosted by a £10m pledge from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
At the time, the galleries said it took them "significantly" closer to their target.
A statement for the National Gallery of Scotland said: "The campaign to save Diana and Actaeon is ongoing. The target has not yet been met. We will make an announcement when we are in a position to do so."
The Scottish Government is also expected to reveal a "significant" pledge to the fund soon.
Private buyer
The painting has been on public display at the National Galleries of Scotland and London for more than 200 years but it is now being sold by its private owner, the Duke of Sutherland.
If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then a second Titian painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.
If they fail to raise the required £50m then Diana and Actaeon could be sold to a private buyer.
The two Titians were created as part of a cycle of works for King Philip II of Spain from 1556 to 1559 and form part of the Bridgewater collection, which has been on loan to the National Galleries of Scotland since 1945.
The collection also includes three paintings by Raphael, a Rembrandt, a Van Dyck, and a Tintoretto.
Government pledge
Some newspaper reports have suggested the Scottish Government will give a further £10m to the fund.
A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government recognises the national importance of the Bridgewater Collection to Scotland as the greatest private collection of old masters on loan to a public gallery anywhere in the world.
"That is why we acted decisively, giving the National Galleries a significant funding pledge which was essential to get its fundraising campaign off the ground. We will make a further announcement soon.
"We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that this world-class collection remains on view for visitors and for the enjoyment of the people of Scotland."
Should the two galleries manage to raise the necessary funds, the entire Bridgewater collection will remain on long-term loan to the Scottish gallery.
The two institutions are hoping to raise £50m to jointly buy the painting before a deadline of 31 December.
But a spokeswoman for the National Gallery said an announcement would "ideally" be made this week.
The campaign, launched in August, was recently boosted by a £10m pledge from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
At the time, the galleries said it took them "significantly" closer to their target.
A statement for the National Gallery of Scotland said: "The campaign to save Diana and Actaeon is ongoing. The target has not yet been met. We will make an announcement when we are in a position to do so."
The Scottish Government is also expected to reveal a "significant" pledge to the fund soon.
Private buyer
The painting has been on public display at the National Galleries of Scotland and London for more than 200 years but it is now being sold by its private owner, the Duke of Sutherland.
If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then a second Titian painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.
If they fail to raise the required £50m then Diana and Actaeon could be sold to a private buyer.
The two Titians were created as part of a cycle of works for King Philip II of Spain from 1556 to 1559 and form part of the Bridgewater collection, which has been on loan to the National Galleries of Scotland since 1945.
The collection also includes three paintings by Raphael, a Rembrandt, a Van Dyck, and a Tintoretto.
Government pledge
Some newspaper reports have suggested the Scottish Government will give a further £10m to the fund.
A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government recognises the national importance of the Bridgewater Collection to Scotland as the greatest private collection of old masters on loan to a public gallery anywhere in the world.
"That is why we acted decisively, giving the National Galleries a significant funding pledge which was essential to get its fundraising campaign off the ground. We will make a further announcement soon.
"We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that this world-class collection remains on view for visitors and for the enjoyment of the people of Scotland."
Should the two galleries manage to raise the necessary funds, the entire Bridgewater collection will remain on long-term loan to the Scottish gallery.
Brown is named artist of the year
R&B singer Chris Brown has been named Billboard magazine's artist of the year for the second time.
The 19-year-old also won the accolade in 2006.
Rapper Lil' Wayne, whose hits this year include Lollipop, was the number two artist with Brown's girlfriend Rihanna at three.
Billboard's artist rankings are determined by album sales as well as digital downloads, radio airplay and internet streams.
Rounding out the top five were Alicia Keys and country singer Taylor Swift.
'Unexpected'
Brown has had a successful 2008 with solo hits With You, Forever and No Air, a collaboration with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.
Last month, he also won three awards at the American Music Awards, including artist of the year.
But the star says he's still not used to all the honours.
"It's bigger than what I can ever imagine. It's unexpected totally, so it's a surprise," he said.
Billboard named Low, by Flo Rida, as the year's top song, followed by Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love.
Rockers Bon Jovi were also named 2008's top touring act in the world, based on data reported to Billboard Boxscore.
More than two million fans attended the 100 sold-out dates on the band's Lost Highway World Tour.
The 19-year-old also won the accolade in 2006.
Rapper Lil' Wayne, whose hits this year include Lollipop, was the number two artist with Brown's girlfriend Rihanna at three.
Billboard's artist rankings are determined by album sales as well as digital downloads, radio airplay and internet streams.
Rounding out the top five were Alicia Keys and country singer Taylor Swift.
'Unexpected'
Brown has had a successful 2008 with solo hits With You, Forever and No Air, a collaboration with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.
Last month, he also won three awards at the American Music Awards, including artist of the year.
But the star says he's still not used to all the honours.
"It's bigger than what I can ever imagine. It's unexpected totally, so it's a surprise," he said.
Billboard named Low, by Flo Rida, as the year's top song, followed by Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love.
Rockers Bon Jovi were also named 2008's top touring act in the world, based on data reported to Billboard Boxscore.
More than two million fans attended the 100 sold-out dates on the band's Lost Highway World Tour.
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