CHART TOPPERS
Welcome to the first Music Box of 2013. Surprisingly, the chart topper hasn't changed since the last column in 2012. 'The X Factor' champion James Arthur has retained his crown after a neck-to-neck contest with Will.i.am and Britney Spears.
Despite stiff mid-week competition, the 24-year-old singer from Middlesbrough saw his debut single 'Impossible' stay ahead of the American duo's offering for another week.
James Arthur has done it again
It means that Will.i.am is still looking for his second number one as lead artist - and Britney will have to wait to score her highest-charting UK single since 'Every Time' in 2004.
'Impossible' became the fastest-selling 'X Factor' winner's single ever when it debuted at number one on December 16 and is now nearing a million sales. It missed out on the Christmas top slot to the Justice Collective's cover of 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', but returned to number one last week.
In the album charts, Calvin Harris' '18 Months' returned to number one. Since debuting at number one in October, '18 Months' has given the Scottish DJ seven top 20 singles, including 'We Found Love' with Rihanna and 'Sweet Nothing' with Florence Welch.
GIGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Bestival organisers have announced a charity gig in honour of the people killed and injured in a coach crash on the way back from the 2012 festival.
The event, called Bestival Benefit, will be held in Liverpool, the hometown of Kerry Lynne Ogden, 23, Michael Molloy, 18 who died in the accident.
Driver Colin Daulby, 63, of Merseyside, also died when the coach hit a tree and fifty people were hurt in the crash in Surrey on 10 September.
Bestival organiser and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank said: "We've been working to get an event set up to show some love and hopefully raise lots of money for those affected and their families and we're pleased it's in the home town of many of those involved; Liverpool."
It will take place on Saturday 30 March at Nation and will feature the Cuban Brothers.
Further line-up details will be announced soon and tickets will cost £16.25, including booking fees, with proceeds going to charities chosen by the families of those who died.
OPEN YOUR EARS
New year, new music. Here's a voice that will instantly relax you: underground folk sensation Jess Morgan.
She's just announced a new EP ‘Richer Thinner Smarter’, a collection of songs recorded live through a single microphone, in a series of one-take sessions in locations around East Norfolk, close to Morgan's home city of Norwich.
The EP, out on 4 March, follows the release of Morgan’s fan-funded second album ‘Aye Me’ in 2012.
'Richer Thinner Smarter' also features four new tracks and three special recordings of favourite tracks from 'Aye Me'. It comes ahead of Morgan’s third album, for which she is currently writing new material.
For a taste of Morgan live, watch her new live video collection below:
For tour dates visit: jessmorgan.co.uk/tour-dates.