Connect with us

Published

on

Musicians have told Sky News they are facing an existential career crisis due to low mental wellbeing caused by economic uncertainties within the industry.  

It comes as a new study of 6,000 musicians across the UK found that a third of them are experiencing low mental wellbeing, with one in four saying it is contributing to them being likely to leave the industry within five years.

The Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter survey showed that 43% of professional musicians earn less than £14,000 a year and suggested that low income is one of the causes of poor mental health among musicians.

Amid the report’s findings, the industry’s trade union is calling for the government to invest more in initiatives which boost grassroots music and help musicians break into international markets.

‘We need a root and branch look’

Chris Walters, national organiser at the Musicians’ Union, said: “We would ask the government to reflect on the immense value of the music industry to the UK, and then consider the lives of the musicians.

“How is it that musicians can keep producing this fantastic music? The UK is well-known for such low levels of pay and such precarious lifestyles. So we need a root and branch look.”

More on Music

Rebecca Toal, a freelance trumpet player who also teaches, said she finds it difficult to find enough paid opportunities in the industry to earn a sustainable living. The economic uncertainty is having a knock-on effect on her mental health.

‘Performing is sometimes impossible’

She told Sky News: “It’s pretty up and down. It’s very difficult to get opportunities, get paid work, if it’s paid work maybe it’s not enough.

“The anxiety also means that performing is sometimes impossible. Either you get shaky or your breathing – which is very important for the trumpet – just goes out of the window. Or you’re kind of disassociated from things.

“It’s really important when you’re performing to be in a good mind-head space. And if you’ve got problems with your mental health that’s going affect it.”

Read more from Sky News
Sir Keir Starmer tries to woo Tory voters
Who will England and Scotland face at Euro 2024?
Shane MacGowan’s wife reveals details of his last days

A UK government spokesperson said: “We are committed to maximising the potential of our world-class music industry so it can continue to grow and support jobs, and we are investing millions of pounds in initiatives to boost the grassroots music sector and help musicians break into international markets.

“We are also considering the findings of the Good Work Review, which sets out recommendations to support the creative industries’ workforce, including freelancers, and will respond in due course.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

YouTuber Jake Paul strikes defeat against former boxing champ Mike Tyson in Texas

Published

on

By

YouTuber Jake Paul beats Mike Tyson as boos heard during controversial fight

YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has defeated one of the greatest-ever fighters, former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson, who’s more than twice his age.

The bout was won on a unanimous points decision at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – home of the Dallas Cowboys and the biggest NFL stadium in the US.

The fight was already controversial but then arguably failed to live up to the hype. Boos were heard from the crowd in the final two rounds, after a perceived lack of action.

Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Image:
The heavyweight boxing match took place in Arlington, Texas. Pic: AP

Boxing careers compared

This was not Paul’s first professional fight. The 27-year-old American YouTube star made his debut in 2020 with his most high-profile clash against Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury last year, which he lost by a split decision.

The so-called “Problem Child” has since defeated former UFC contender Nate Diaz, professional boxer Andre August, former Gold Gloves champion Ryan Bourland and most recently MMA fighter Mike Perry.

In contrast, “Iron Mike” Tyson, 58, was ranked among the best heavyweight boxers of all time.

More on Jake Paul

During his career, he knocked out 44 opponents – retiring from professional boxing in 2005 after defeat against Kevin McBride.

He returned to the ring in 2020 for a bout against fellow boxing icon Roy Jones, which ended in an unofficial draw.

Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Image:
Mike Tyson struggled at times against Jake Paul, 31 years his junior. Pic: AP

‘Someone’s getting put to sleep’

Earlier this week, Paul said he believed the bout would not go the distance. “No, someone’s getting put to sleep,” he said. “It’s going to be a war, and we’re both heavy hitters. It’s not going the full 16 minutes.”

Tyson was more reflective: “I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride,” he said.

“I’ve been in rehab. I’ve been in prison, been locked up. Never in a million years did I believe I’d be doing this.”

Several states would not allow the bout to go ahead, and the Texas Athletic Commission only agreed to the fight if there were changes, due to Tyson’s age.

It limited the contest to eight rounds lasting a maximum of two minutes instead of three. Both boxers were also required to wear heavier gloves, designed to lessen the force of punches.

The fight was initially scheduled for 20 July, but was postponed when Tyson suffered an ulcer flareup.

Taylor defends title

Katie Taylor, center, celebrates after defeating Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Image:
Katie Taylor celebrates after defeating Amanda Serrano in Texas. Pic: AP

Meanwhile, among the undercard fights, Irish boxer Katie Taylor successfully defended her super lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.

But it was tight. Taylor claimed the rematch 95-94 for all three judges in an epic battle.

The bout came two and a half years after the pair fought at Madison Square Garden, which Taylor won on a split decision.

Bout suffered from buffering

Earlier in the evening thousands of Netflix users in the US reported problems seeing the coverage, with some posting on social media about buffering.

At one point, more than 98,000 people had reported issues according to Downdetector, which tracks outages.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Boy George on the price of fame: ‘There were moments when I lost my mind’

Published

on

By

Boy George on the price of fame: 'There were moments when I lost my mind'

Boy George is contemplating his relationship with fame. Intoxicating, often inescapable, he says he has not always found his decades in the spotlight easy

There has been a cost, he says. Much has been well documented. But in recent years he has been able to enjoy it all much more.

And it’s not real. “Fame is a figment of other people’s imaginations. You’re only famous because other people believe you are.”

Boy George is touring with Culture Club again
Image:
Boy George has created a new art collection, titled Fame

Most will know Boy George the avant garde musician, flamboyant frontman of Culture Club, one of the biggest music acts of the 1980s. Big hats, big songs, big personality. He has found new fans more recently through appearances on reality shows such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and as a judge on The Voice.

He is also an artist, and fame is the theme of his latest collection of portraits.

Vivid, bold, punk, they are exactly as you might expect. He has painted his hero David Bowie, fellow music icons Madonna and Prince, as well as a self-portrait.

Boy George has created a new art collection, titled Fame, featuring David Bowie, Madonna and Prince, as well as a self-portrait. Pic: Dave Parry/ PA
Image:
The collection features images of David Bowie, Madonna and Prince, as well as a self-portrait. Pic: Dave Parry/ PA

“I think of Boy George from the ’80s as a sort of cartoon character,” he says. “Because on the one hand, there was this public persona, which was one thing, and it was very recognisable. And then there was me behind it… I used to have a real problem with [fame] and I feel now I’m like, it’s just a job.”

The portrait of his younger self is a reminder of how his relationship with fame has changed.

“I never really took it that seriously,” he says. “There were moments when I lost my mind – we all know what they were. But I always kind of knew who I was.”

‘I was really lucky to have my family’

Culture Club on stage performing in 1982. Pic: Ron Wolfson/ Rock Negatives/ MediaPunch Boy George/ IPX/ AP
Image:
Culture Club on stage performing in 1982. Pic: Ron Wolfson/ Rock Negatives/ MediaPunch Boy George/ IPX/ AP


The star, whose real name is George O’Dowd, has spoken and written about his struggles with addiction in the past. In 2009, he was jailed for four months for false imprisonment.

In his last autobiography, he described it as a “stupid, aggressive and regrettable” incident that was over in “less than 30 seconds”. He disputes some of the details that came out in court, but called himself an “idiot who did too many drugs and made a massive mistake”.

George says his family helped him through the dark times. Despite there being more conversation than ever around mental health and the pressures on young stars today, he is not convinced the support is any better.

“I think in my case, I was really lucky to have my family… particularly my late mother. Whatever was going on, she was always there to kind of try and harness me into reality. And sometimes it took a bit of pulling and shoving, but I feel like my family have been so important to me in terms of, you know, keeping me sane. But it hasn’t always been an easy thing.”

The "Tokyo Pop" body suit with replica shoes, designed by Kansai Yamamoto from the "Aladdin Sane" tour are on display during the media preview of the "David Bowie is" exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in New York. The exhibit opens to the public on March 2 and runs through July 15. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Image:
The Bowie portrait features the star in his famous Tokyo Pop body suit from the Aladdin Sane tour, designed by Kansai Yamamoto, pictured here during an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum in 2018. Pic: Mary Altaffer/ AP

Now in his 60s, as well as Boy George, he is plain old “George from Eltham”, southeast London; although plain is not really an adjective you would ascribe to him.

“As I’ve got older, I’ve kind of accepted I created this Boy George person, and I can either have as much fun with it as I can, or I can make it full of anxiety,” he says.

For his Fame collection, he chose Bowie because the artist “shaped my whole career, my whole childhood”. His relationship with Madonna, whom he has captured in her Madame X era from 2019 rather than one of her more famous earlier incarnations, “because artists continue to evolve”, is more complex.

They first met after he saw her in concert in New York, with fellow ’80s star Marilyn and two friends. They went backstage and he asked for a picture.

‘There’s never been warmth… on either side’

Madonna opens her first concert "Virgin Tour" at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington, April 11, 1985. (AP Photo/NewsBase)
Image:
George first met Madonna during her The Virgin tour in the mid-1980s. Pic: AP/ NewsBase

“She grabbed the boys and just sat them on her lap, which is kind of major,” he says. “She took control immediately. And I’ve got this great picture of Madonna and this guy that I kind of lost contact with.”

But he and the Queen of Pop never became friends. “Over the years we sort of met each other, but there’s never been any kind of warmth necessarily on either side,” he says. “But I am a fan… with me, if I like the music, I don’t necessarily have to be best friends with the person… I can like things without being petty.”

It was perhaps part and parcel of fame in the 1980s, he says.

“When you’re young, everything’s a competition. As you get older, you get a bit more confident about who you are and more secure and therefore you’re able to enjoy things without feeling threatened. So I think in the ’80s, all of us were in competition with each other… nowadays I’m kind of able to enjoy a lot of bands that I hissed at in the past, you know.”

Boy George is touring with Culture Club again
Image:
Culture Club are touring later in the year, along with Tony Hadley and Heaven 17

Earlier this year, George made his Broadway debut, performing in Moulin Rouge. Now, he is getting ready for gigs with Culture Club again, alongside Tony Hadley and Heaven 17.

They will play their first two albums, Kissing To Be Clever and Colour By Numbers, in full. “[It’s] one of the reasons I agreed to this tour,” he says. “I knew we wouldn’t argue about what we were playing.”

There is also a biopic in the works. George has long said he would like Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner to play him and the campaign continues, he says. “In this day and age, why can’t have a woman playing a man? Why not break the rules? It’s kind of what I was doing 30, 40 years ago.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

And he is still releasing solo music. His latest track, Let The Flowers Grow, is a collaboration with Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy.

“A lot of stuff I release, no one really hears of it unless they’re like a mad hardcore fan,” he says. “I’ve released 54 tracks in the last year, probably more than any other artist. And I will continue to keep putting stuff out and being creative because it feels like breathing, you know, it feels really enjoyable and I feel lucky that I get to do the thing I love.”

He takes a beat. “I mean that. I really enjoy it now in a way that I just didn’t know how to 10 years ago, 20 years ago, because I was so busy worrying about what other people thought about this, that and the other.

“Now I’m like, I want to tell people how I feel more. I mean, I’ve always done that, but I feel like, when you start to understand yourself more and realise what makes you actually happy, then you are able to express yourself in a better way.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Davina McCall out of surgery after operation to remove brain tumour

Published

on

By

Davina McCall out of surgery after operation to remove brain tumour

Davina McCall’s partner has said she is out of surgery after undergoing an operation to remove a brain tumour.

The 57-year-old television presenter had revealed in a video posted on Instagram earlier today she had a benign brain tumour, a colloid cyst, which she described as “very rare”.

She said the chances of having it were “three in a million,” and she had discovered it a few months ago, after a company offered her a health scan in return for giving a menopause talk.

She also announced she would be having the surgery this evening.

Now her partner – hairdresser Michael Douglas – has posted on social media to say the operation went well.

He said: “Hey all. Davina is out of surgery and according to the surgeon it was textbook! She’s currently recovering in ICU as a precaution, as you can imagine she’s utterly exhausted.

“Thanks so much for all the love from everyone on here… it’s powerful stuff, we are super grateful.”

Davina McCall arrives for the National Television Awards at the O2 Arena, London. Picture date: Wednesday September 11, 2024.
Image:
McCall at the National Television Awards this year. Pic: PA


McCall earlier said the tumour’s discovery came as a shock.

She said: “I slightly put my head in the sand for a while, and then I saw quite a few neurosurgeons, I got lots of opinions. I realised that I have to get it taken out.”

McCall described it as “big”, 14mm wide, adding: “It needs to come out, because if it grows it would be bad.”

She explained that she would have it removed via a craniotomy, describing the procedure: “They go through the top of my head here and through the two halves of my brain to the middle.

“They get the cyst, take it out, empty it, and Bob’s your uncle.”

She added before the surgery: “Say a prayer for me, I am in good spirits.”

She said she would be in hospital “for around nine days”, but during her recovery, she would be “off my phone for a while”.

Joking and smiling, she urged fans “not to worry about me”, admitting, “I’m doing that enough!”

She went on to counter that, explaining: “I’m not worrying too much, and I am in a good space, and I have all the faith in the world in my surgeon and his team, and I’m handing the reins over to him. He knows what he’s doing, and I’m going to do the getting better bit after.”

She signed off saying, “see you on the other side”.

What is a benign brain tumour?

According to the NHS website, a benign (non-cancerous) brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows relatively slowly in the brain.

They are unlikely to spread, but are still serious and can be life-threatening.

When successfully removed, a tumour will not usually return at all, but if it cannot be completely removed it may grow back, and so will be monitored using scans or treated with radiotherapy.

Many people return to normal activities following successful surgery, but some are left with persistent problems, such as seizures and difficulties with speech and walking.

Non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, blackouts, behavioural changes and loss of consciousness.

Davina McCall says her tumour is a colloid cyst – which is made up of a gelatinous material. Symptoms can include headache, vertigo, memory deficits, diplopia, behavioural disturbances, and in extreme cases, sudden death.

Celebrity friends were quick to send their support, with stars including Rylan, Alan Carr and Holly Willoughby sending love.

According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are slow-growing and unlikely to spread, but are still serious and can be life-threatening.

McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.

She’s gone on to present programmes across the networks, and currently presents ITV dating show My Mum, Your Dad.

McCall with the first UK Big Brother winner Craig Phillips in 2000. Pic: PA
Image:
McCall with the first UK Big Brother winner Craig Phillips in 2000. Pic: PA

Last year, McCall was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.

In recent years, McCall has spoken regularly on women’s health and the effects of menopause in a bid to break taboos around the subject. Her 2022 book, Menopausing, won book of the year at the British Book Awards.

Read more:
Gary Lineker discusses split from Match Of The Day
First Glastonbury tickets sell out in 30 minutes

The same year, McCall fronted the Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall: Sex, Mind And The Menopause, and told the BBC that the perimenopausal symptoms caused her difficulties multi-tasking and she considered that she had a brain tumour or Alzheimer’s disease at the time.

The presenter has previously raised money for Cancer Research UK by running for Race For Life in honour of her late sister, Caroline Baday, who died from lung cancer in 2012 at the age of 50.

Married twice, McCall has three children, two daughters and a son, with her second husband, presenter Matthew Robertson.

She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and they present a weekly lifestyle podcast together, Making The Cut.

Continue Reading

Trending