Spotify only spent 10 per cent of its $100million diversity fund in the past year

Youngsters in Johnstone are upping their green credentials as they pursue a green eco flag for their nursery.

Plaques have been unveiled to honour two firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Veteran Scots trade union activist Bob Gillespie has died.

Optical illusions can trick your brain, test your focus and generally just give your mind a bit of a work out.

The family of a Celtic fan who vanished in the Canary Islands have discovered CCTV footage showing him lying 'unconscious' outside a bar doorway.

Cypress Hill have announced that they’ll finally be making their orchestra mash-up joke from The Simpsons “a reality” after their popular cameo. In the 1996 Simpsons episode Homerpalooza, Homer took his family on a road trip to an alternative rock festival Hullabalooza in a bid to prove to his children, Bart and Lisa, that he was still the cool and in touch with popular culture. However, he soon embarrassed them when he became a sideshow who had cannonballs aimed at his stomach – before proving a hit with bands and festival-goers.Among the likes of Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth, Cypress Hill made a cameo in the show, during which they joked about performing with a classical orchestra.At one point, Homer and his family headed backstage when a roadie was looking to find out which of the acts on the bill had booked the London Symphony Orchestra. When no one replied, the man accused the rap group of ordering the orchestra while high, “Cypress Hill, I’m looking in your direction.”“I think we did,” Cypress Hill replied.

Wii Sports Bowling tournament in France, taking home the competition’s trophy on behalf of their retirement home.The pair were competing at a tournament held by Gamers Assembly, which took place over the weekend (April 8-11).Jeanine (96) and Gilbert (85) were representing their retirement home at the competition, and managed to take home the tournament’s first-place trophy thanks to a well-placed strike from Jeanine (via Eurogamer).In the final round, Jeanine takes a moment to line up her shot before swinging the Wii controller forward to land a perfect strike. When every pin is knocked down, the audience erupts in cheers, with Jeanine and Gilbert moving to the front of the stage to celebrate.You can watch the moment below:96 year old Jeanine and 85 year old Gilbert won a Wii Bowling LAN in France this weekendWe need more of this pic.twitter.com/NPtauo3xmz— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) April 11, 2023GILBERT !!!! pic.twitter.com/B61f05CtEz— Asso Silver Geek (@SilverGeekFr) April 8, 2023In a follow-up clip, Jeanine and Gilbert can be seen posing with their trophy — a shattered bowling pin with a Wii remote inside.Also shouts to @Elchocobo the main caster for the event.

Molly-Mae Hague has returned to her work at PrettyLittleThing and was photographed at the showroom launch where she posed with Gemma Owen.The new mum, 23, was seen attending the launch of PrettyLittleThing's new showroom in London on Wednesday, 12 April alongside a host of celebs. Molly-Mae was announced as PLT's Creative Director in 2021, when she was just 22 years old, cementing her as the biggest success story to come out of Love Island, which she was on in 2019.

Gemma Collins had the time of her life as she stunned in a black swimsuit while dancing on a speed boat in Siciliy.The former TOWIE star, 42, is currently enjoying a holiday on the sunny Italian island, staying in the picturesque Taormina – which famously featured in the latest season of The White Lotus. On Wednesday, Gemma shared an insight to her holiday as she posted a video on Instagram, featuring herself in a black swimsuit and a patterned silk floor-length coverup as she danced on top of the speed boat. She added the iconic White Lotus theme song to the post.

Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips has been praised by fans for sharing a candid snap to Instagram of 'the reality' of motherhood after giving birth last week. First-time mum Shaughna gave birth to her baby girl Lucia just last week and has been keeping it real with her fans ever since.

John Mayer has reflected upon his song ‘Paper Doll’, which is believed to have been written about Taylor Swift.The lyrics of the decade-old song were brought into the spotlight again after Mayer performed the track during a concert in Sacramento, California, on Saturday (April 8) — the same day that rumours emerged that Taylor Swift called it quits with boyfriend of six years, Joe Alwyn.When the track was first released, some fans criticised the singer and guitarist for his lyrics and speculated that they were written about Swift after the two split. However, Mayer has never stated that the song was aimed at the ‘Anti-Hero’ singer.In clips recorded at last week’s gig, Mayer explains that the “sarcastic” and “bitchy” lyrics in the song were misunderstood by fans, and that the track was written from a place of “hurt” rather than anger.“I wonder if people don’t like it because it sounds a little pissed off.

Clive Owen has spoken out to defend his ex-wife Amanda as he opened up about their split for the first time. The Our Yorkshire Farm star appeared on ITV's Lorraine on Thursday (April 13) where he told stand-in host Christine Lampard that he has a "massive part to play" in his relationship with Amanda coming to an end.

Love Island star Shaughna Phillips was excited by the arrival of her daughter's placenta after welcoming her first child. The birthday girl, who turned 29 yesterday (Tuesday April 11), told her Instagram follower she was feeling emotional to have received the delivery after giving birth to Lucia on April 4.

Brits heading to Cyprus on holiday have been warned that a new law banning the use of laughing gas has been imposed. The Foreign Office has updated its advice for the country following the change.

Coronation Street fans have wondered if they have spotted the key to Stephen Reid being caught as they believe he is responsible for the ITV soap's latest death. Viewers have watched the bogus businessman's patience be tested by Underworld client Rufus Donahue.

The Scottish Government’s legal challenge against the blocking of their gender recognition reforms will be “very difficult”, a former Supreme Court justice has said.

One of Scotland's hottest DJs is coming back to Ayrshire this weekend.

A bold family stole four people's theatre seats while they were buying drinks - but karma swiftly kicked in. Spotting their opportunity, they were caught slyly removing the strangers' coats and settling themselves in before things became heated, the Mirror reports.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that energy suppliers can resume requesting new deductions or increases to existing deductions for Fuel Direct ongoing consumption payments, however, they must have the claimant’s consent before any changes can be made. For new requests, suppliers must also get a claimant’s consent before the request can be sent to the DWP.

Gemma Atkinson has been applauded after sharing an inspirational post from her recent family trip.

A new Covid-19 variant that has forced India to reinstate mask rules has been found in the UK.

Amanda Owen's husband Clive has taken full responsibility for the breakdown in their marriage of 22 years.

Foo Fighters appear to be teasing their first new music since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins last year.The band posted a short snippet of music on social media yesterday, in a video overlaid with the words “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I’m thinking that’s the title of a new song soon to be released, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.Hawkins died while on tour with the band in South America just over a year ago, aged 50. The band’s other members then returned to the stage with a variety of guests for two tribute shows in London and LA in September.On New Year’s Eve, they posted an update announcing that they had decided to continue as a band.“Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were”, they said.

Universal Music’s Decca Records has signed Damian Lewis of being-an-actor fame so that he can release an album of “rootsy, rock and jazz-tinged songs” that, we are told, reveal “a deep love of music and a deep need to communicate”.Apparently that album, called ‘Mission Creep’ and out on 16 Jun, is in part inspired by the time when, shortly after leaving school, Lewis busked his way around Europe. Though the idea to actually make a record came about much more recently during lockdown.Says the man himself: “I suddenly had a lot to say.

Ditto Music has settled a legal dispute with Lil Yachty which related to the promotion of Opulous, the music NFT start-up and sister company to the DIY distributor.The rapper – real name Miles McCollum – went legal in January last year via the courts in California, claiming that Opulous had used his name and brand as part of its launch communications in 2021, even though he had never agreed to get involved in the new venture.Ditto was also named as a defendant – as was Ditto and Opulous founder Lee Parsons – on the basis that they had both posted about those launch communications on their respective social media channels.McCollum’s lawsuit conceded that he and his management team had met with Parsons to discuss Opulous, which encourages fans to invest in new music in return for a royalty right linked to any tracks they support, all secured via NFTs on the blockchain.However, said lawsuit insisted, they never agreed to work with the NFT start-up, or for Lil Yachty’s name to be linked to it in formal communications.In a media statement responding to the lawsuit, Opulous insisted that it had, in fact, secured the necessary approvals before linking Lil Yachty to its NFTs platform. However, it was Ditto and Parsons that formally responded through the courts.They both tried to get the case dismissed on jurisdiction grounds, arguing that Ditto is a UK-based company and Parsons is a British citizen with no formal connections to California.However, the judge ruled that Ditto – with US addresses on its website, employees recruited in the US and American events promoted on its social media – fell under the jurisdiction of the Californian courts.

John Lydon has sued photographer and designer Dennis Morris in a dispute over the Public Image Ltd logo. So that’s fun.According to Law360, the dispute has kicked off because Lydon did a deal with streetwear brand Supreme to create clothing that contains his band’s logo.Lawyers for Morris – whose links with Lydon go back to the Sex Pistols in the 1970s – then issued a cease and desist notice earlier this year claiming that the Supreme garments feature his original artwork and therefore infringe his copyright.However, Lydon’s lawsuit claims, while he and Morris collaborated on creating the PIL logo back in the day, it was agreed that Lydon would be the sole owner of the copyright in the artwork.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” will screen out-of-competition on May 20, while James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the final installment in the franchise begun in 1982 by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, will also screen in an out-of-competition slot.French director and actress Maïwenn will have the opening-night film with “Jeanne du Barry,” which stars Johnny Depp in his first film since his court battle with Amber Heard. And Pedro Almodovar’s short film “Strange Way of Life,” which stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, was also confirmed in advance of Thursday’s announcement.Other films screening out of competition include “The Idol,” directed by Sam Levinson and starring The Weeknd, and “Occupied City,” a film about Amsterdam from British director Steve McQueen.The Un Certain Regard section, which is typically devoted to films from less established directors, includes Australian director Warwick Thornton’s “The New Boy,” starring Cate Blanchett.Additional films are typically added to the Cannes lineup in the weeks leading up to the festival.

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Three bin lorries that can be powered by a form of vegetable oil will be delivered to Renfrewshire after councillors gave the green light.

Hotspots like Magaluf, Benidorm and Amsterdam are those usually chosen by holidaymakers seeking cheap booze and sun. But as countries like clamp down on problem tourism - many Scots are turning to a new party destination.

Rod Stewart has shared an iconic throwback photo with pop legend Cyndi Lauper as the rock legend joked she's been pinching his famous hairstyle since 1988.

The search operation for a missing woman who failed to return home after walking her dog in Wales has continued today (Thursday April 13).

As Brits up and down the country prepare to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III next month, the official maker of UK coins The Royal Mint have revealed a range of commemorative coins to mark the momentous event.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has confirmed he is working hard with the club's physios to get back to full fitness ahead of the run-in.

Spotify after a licensing dispute with a top label.As The Independent report, fans have been sharing their anger after hundreds of songs from the Indian label Zee Music Company have been disappearing from playlists.The label, which purports to be India’s second most popular, claims it is home to more than 50 per cent of new Bollywood music.Now, hugely popular soundtracks to films including Bajirao Mastani, Ram-Leela and Gully Boy have all been removed from the service, while the song ‘Apna Bana Le’, from new film Bhediya, has also been removed despite being the most-streamed song in India on Spotify in recent weeks.In a statement toBillboard, Spotify said: “Spotify and Zee Music have been unable to reach a licensing agreement.“Throughout these negotiations, Spotify has tried to find creative ways to strike a deal with Zee Music and will continue our good faith negotiations in hopes of finding a mutually agreeable solution soon.”Elsewhere, it was recently revealed that Spotify executives have only spent 10 per cent of their $100million (£81.75million) budget on a new fund to promote music and audio content by members of “historically marginalised groups”.The Creator Equity Fund was launched last year in the wake of controversy surrounding Joe Rogan’s Spotify-exclusive podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, due to uses of the N-word and COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.Just over a year on, however, Bloomberg has found that the initiative has got off to a slow start.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor In February of last year, as controversy broiled around Joe Rogan’s racially charged language and COVID-related misinformation on multiple editions of his Spotify podcast, the streaming giant’s CEO attempted to defuse the situation by apologizing to his aggrieved staff and pledging $100 million “for the licensing, development, and marketing of music (artists and songwriters) and audio content from historically marginalized groups.” Nearly 14 months later, that $100 million “Creator Equity Fund” has spent less than 10% of its funding on that work,” according to a report in Bloomberg. The initiative was behind schedule in hiring an eight-person staff to oversee the project and “has suffered from shifting priorities,” the report said, citing unnamed people familiar with the effort. At the beginning of this year, the fund had not completed its 2023 budget and had not determined its priority projects, according to a memo the publication said it had obtained, and another fund intended to promote diversity in podcasts suffered after that business was hit by layoffs last year, a union representing workers said.