• The Top 40 countdown will be coming to an MTV near you. The Official Charts Company has struck a long-term deal with MTV that will see the television channel air the Singles Chart countdown across it’s channels for UK and European viewers.

• A local Cambridge band Hamfatter have secured a deal unlike any other by appearing on Dragon’s Den and winning the favours of judge Peter Jones. Selling 30% of their royalties on their next two album in exchange for a £75,000 investment the band have completed what they call “the deal of the century”.

• A study by the Chichester and Gloucestershire Universities has concluded that drumming in a rock concert can be just as demanding as playing in a major football match. The study found that the heart rate of a drummer would, on paper, be practically indistinguishable to that of say Cristiano Ronaldo after a league match.

...amazingtunes.com

As we move towards the back end 2008 – a year that some have hailed as the new 2007 – we’ve been met with the rather pleasant news that Britain can claim responsibility for 4 of the 5 biggest selling albums of the year to date. Is this the reemergence of a Brit invasion, or just a slow 6 months for state-side pop?

Here’s the low down:

1> Amy Winehouse – Back to Black—3.67m (9.78m total)

2> Coldplay – Viva la Vida—2.6m

3> Leona Lewis – Spirit—2.4m

4> Jack Johnson – Sleep through the Static—2.4m

5> Duffy – Rockferry—2.25m

• Independents Day – Tomorrow, the 4th July, will mark the first of what will hopefully become a well held tradition in raising a glass to the independent labels worldwide. The occasion, aimed at celebrating the big job undertaken by the little guys working in the thousands of independent labels, is a chance for the industry to recognise the industrious folk whose work keeps the music coming.

• Shakira joins Live Nation – The Daily Star has reported that Shakira has signed a deal worth around £35 million to join a growing A-list at the events and promotion company Live Nation. Now neighboring the likes of Madonna and Jay-Z, Shakira has signed a 360-degree deal meaning Live Nation will be involved in her future tours, recordings, sponsorship and merchandise.

• A great blog at the blogs.guardian.co.uk this week looks into the endorsements from big companies and their possibly detrimental effect to the creative side of the industry, against the obvious monetary benefits. Bebo are promoting their next online drama following the “real-life workings of Universal Music UK’s west London headquarters”, ran in conjunction with a mobile phone sponsor. A new income stream or a tightening strangle-hold?

...amazingtunes.com

Sarah Russell

With simple but effective guitar lines complimenting a perfectly pure voice, Sarah’s soft, melancholic stroll through this introspective acoustic piece is a thoroughly enjoyable listen. This is certainly one for fans of Katie Melua or Norah Jones.

Drunk Dead Gorgeous – Cherries

This is a unique track on amazingtunes for the strong, but not outdated feel of the 80s it successfully conveys throughout. Airy, synthesized pads sit behind clean, strong guitars and a straight-ahead beat while the lead vocal style shifts between Robert Smith of The Cure and the great Jeff Buckley; a brilliant likening in any act.

Don’t Leave Me Hangin’ – The Roots

It could be an album track by The Coral, but it’s not. Instead it’s a rather decent turn by Scottish janglemeisters The Roots. What’s the song about, lads? What’s the hidden message? “It about about the girls that ‘left us hanging on’. It’s self explanatory as a song.” Oh. Well now you know.