Brexit Fears - More than three quarters of the arts and culture sector believe UK productions will be damaged if freedom of movement within Europe is reduced. The finding comes from a new Arts Council England report, which claims increased administration costs from any further restrictions on movement are "likely to damage" business models across the sector.

The survey asked 1,013 organisations how they thought leaving the European Union would affect the arts in the UK. It reveals that, of 267 applicable responses, 75.3% said this would affect their UK productions by having a negative impact on their ability to bring artists and organisations into the UK. A large number of those surveyed were worried that barriers on bringing artists into the UK would result in a dip in artistic quality. Threats highlighted by arts organisations included "less sharing of skills, ideas and practice, and a less convivial environment for artistic risk".

An Englishman in Paris - Sting is to reopen the Bataclan music venue in Paris the day before the first anniversary of the attack that killed 90 concertgoers. The former Police frontman will perform there on Saturday 12 November. He said he wanted to "remember and honour those who lost their lives" and "to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents".

The venue has been shut since Islamist gunmen stormed a gig by US rock band Eagles of Death Metal last November. Three heavily armed gunmen wearing suicide vests were part of co-ordinated attacks around Paris on 13 November that killed 130 people. Sting said all revenue from his show would be donated to Life For Paris and 13 Novembre: Fraternite Verite.

Promoting Diversity - The Brit Awards have announced an overhaul of their voting system in an attempt to promote diversity. This year's awards were criticised after BAME artists were excluded from all but the international categories. Laura Mvula threatened to boycott the ceremony, while Stormzy branded the Brits "embarrassing" in his song One Take Freestyle.

Now organisers have invited 718 potential new pundits to "refresh" the voting system following a major review. Voters from BAME backgrounds will make up 17% of the panel, up from 15% last year. The gender balance has also been reviewed, after a review discovered that 70% of the voting academy was male. Next year's winners will be chosen by a panel that is 52% male and 48% female. Hundreds of former voters will find they have been culled from the list, which includes about 1,200 artists, journalists and music industry insiders every year. Ged Doherty, chairman of the Brits, said the changes meant the awards were now "better equipped to reflect the diverse nature of Britain and British music".

Street Life - Sheena Easton is to make her West End debut in the new production of 42nd Street which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next year. Tom Lister has also been cast in the show, alongside Clare Halse, Jasna Ivir and Norman Bowman.

Harry's Game - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has extended its booking period in London to February 2018. A further 60,000 tickets for the production will go on sale on 22 November, for the period covering 13 December 2017 to 4 February 2018. In addition, the production has announced further access performances.

Fire Alert - Arcade Fire have been revealed as the Saturday night headliner for the Isle of Wight Festival next year. The Canadian indie band is the first act announced for the festival, which was under threat of being cancelled. The four-day festival at Seaclose Park, Newport will run from 8-11 June.

John Giddings, Isle of Wight Festival promoter, said, "I'm so happy to have secured Arcade Fire as our first headliner. David Bowie recommended them and I've been a fan ever since. Last year was incredible and I'm ready for us to come back even better."

In The Money - Taylor Swift is the highest-paid woman in music, smashing her competition with earnings of $170m (£138m). The 26 year-old earned more than double her nearest competitor Adele, according to Forbes' Highest-Paid Women in Music list for 2016. The British singer came second on the list with $80.5m (£65.2m) in earnings.

Swift made most of her gains from her 1989 World Tour, cashing in a quarter of a billion dollars worldwide. Forbes lists Swift's lucrative marketing deals with brands such as Diet Coke, Apple and Keds as the singer's other main sources of income. "Taylor has completely overtaken everyone on our list due to the phenomenal success of her 1989 World Tour," the magazine said.

(Jim Evans)


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