There has been lots of talk over the past two weeks about Tidal - Jay Z’s recently acquired high quality audio music streaming service owned by the top tier of the world’s stars (Jay Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Daft Punk, Madonna, Arcade Fire).

With Jay Z himself taking to Twitter on 26 April writing a series of messages defending Tidal and its turbulent beginnings.

"We are here for the long haul. Please give us a chance to grow & get better," he said.

It has been widely criticised since its launch, for being too expensive and for making the already rich musicians richer.

The idea is that the artists will release exclusive content via Tidal first, driving people to that service, which the artists control.  Their goal is to “create a better service and experience for the user and the artist”.

It’s fair to say it’s been a bit of a shaky start, last week it was revealed it had dropped out of the top 700 apps downloaded from the iTunes store while Spotify, Beats Music and Pandora has seen the number of downloads increase.

There were reports of Jay Z personally calling new subscribers.  It parted ways with its chief executive Andy Chen, who was the CEO of Tidal’s parent company Aspiro when it was purchased in March.
 
Lily Allen and Mumford and Sons were amongst the artists which made comments about it, with Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard saying it was a “wonderful opportunity squandered” and instead of highlighing emerging or struggling musicians saw a “bunch of millionaires and billionaires” onstage “complaining about not being paid”.
 
‘Tidal Rising’ was then put in place to promote the newer artists.

Arcade Fire’s Will Butler was in at 6 Music last week and while he was here I sat down with him to ask him his thoughts.

Win and Regine were the representatives of the band at the launch…but the rest of them are involved too…

The BBC Proms have revealed their 2015 season and BBC 6 Music will be broadcasting a special Late Night Prom from the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 5 August.  Mary Anne Hobbs will present a let's face it SPECTACULAR evening exploring the borderlands of classical music, with the pioneers of a new generation of musicians who draw on contemporary electronic influences. Berlin-based piano virtuoso Nils Frahm and atmospheric duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen will be joining forces creating an exclusive collaboration as the centre piece of the concert, and it will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and 6 Music.  I took the opportunity to speak to the artists about this and was charged with the task of making some pieces for BBC 6 Music News.  Here we have weekend breakfast presenter Mary Anne Hobbs, Nils Frahm, Adam Wiltzie and Dustin O'Halloran of A Winged Victory For The Sullen discussing what's in store for this one-off performance.  Tickets go on sale via the Royal Albert Hall box office at 9am on Saturday 16 May.  To find out more visit the BBC Proms website at bbc.co.uk/proms.

Muse have premiered Dead Inside the first official single from their new album Drones. 

Speaking about the album, singer Matt Bellamy has said: "The world is run by Drones utilizing Drones to turn us all into Drones.  Drones explores the journey of a human, from their abandonment and loss of hope, to their indoctrination by the system to be a human drone, to their eventual defection from their oppressors."  

Concept album much?!

The band has been playing a handful of low key shows finishing with a gig at the Brighton Dome on March 23rd.  I've been speaking to drummer Dom Howard about the album's storyline, its first single and the mini-tour.

Everything Everything have returned to the live scene to showcase their third album.  April shows took place in Exeter, Tunbridge Wells, London and Manchester and they have also been filling the summer diary with festivals Liverpool Sound City, Parklife Weekender, T In The Park, Longitude, Reading and Leeds and Festival No 6.  

Get Me To Heaven comes out on June 15th and follows a whole year off the road.

They recently introduced fans to the album with the track Distant Past which is a dancier take on what they do and was produced by three-time Grammy winning musician and producer Stuart Price, known for his work with New Order, The Killers, Madonna and Pet Shop Boys.  

BBC 6 Music reporter Georgie Rogers been speaking to Jeremy from the band about how they found the process, their new producer, what we can expect from the LP and their one gig of the year they were off the road.

Insert caption here... 'What was that you said Georgie? You're so funny. Should we elope, just get out of here and go some place?!' Ryan Gosling (IN MY DREAMS) 09.04.15

Anyways...

Mmm so this happened this week...

Movie star, musician and now film-maker Ryan Gosling has written and directed his first feature Lost River.  For the soundtrack he worked with the man behind the Drive soundtrack, Johnny Jewel, who is member of quiet a few bands (Glass Candy, Chromatics and Desire).  

Lost River stars Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, Dr Who actor Matt Smith and Eva Mendes and it's a fantasy noir modern day fairy tale.  In 2007 Ryan started a musical project called Dead Man's Bones and two years later put out an album with the Silverlake Conservatory Children's Choir.  

In recent years his music has taken a back seat to films like Blue Valentine, Crazy Stupid Love, The Ides of March, Gangster Squad, The Place Beyond The Pines and Only God Forgives. But I was the lucky lady sent from BBC 6 Music to meet the man himself to discuss this new film, its soundtrack and whether he might record another album.

Listen below.

I'm a huge fan of his acting, his music and him (who isn't!?) so this was a very good day!