The Sphere in Las Vegas is a 21,500 was first announced in 2018 by the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Group and would have been the largest arena by capacity in the UK. The plans for the venue would have had the Sphere lighting up the Stratford area adjacent to the Westfield Shopping Centre and the Olympic Park.

When plans were originally presented for the London site in 2018 it received the support of London Mayor, Sadiq Khan and then-Culture Secretary, Matt Hancock. Network Rail originally had an objection to the venue, but then withdrew the objection as the plans became clearer in 2019.

Plans were drawn up to include a smaller 1,500 capacity venue inside the sphere to support smaller grassroots. A complex including shops and restaurants were also drawn up within the plans. A 2019 application informed that thousands of jobs would be made available with the new project, however thousands of residents had objected to the venue’s construction and concerns were raised by the London Assembly Environment Committee about light levels.

The project gained planning approval on March 22nd 2022, with the next steps being a review from the Mayor of London as well as a legal planning agreement. However, it has now been revealed that the venue has not passed the review from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

A spokesperson for Khan said: “London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city. But as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents.”

Full statement from me as local councillor for Stratford Olympic Park as @SadiqKhan has today FINALLY rejected the MSG Sphere in his stage 2 decision. pic.twitter.com/4xGoeuqUeV

— Nate Higgins (@natehiggins) November 20, 2023

Local councillor Nate Higgins, who has been campaigning against the Sphere being built in Stratford said: “Absolutely delighted to share that our campaigning on behalf of residents in Stratford Olympic Park alongside Against the MSG Sphere London has paid off, and Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London has today rejected the MSG Sphere planning application in his stage 2 decision. London’s cultural venues are incredibly important, but this application was always inappropriate for the site and the 25-year advertising consent the applicants demanded shows they were not interested in contributing to our capital’s cultural scene – but bombarding the residents of Stratford with endless advertising,”.

“Labour” has quickly taken off on social media, with thousands of women being inspired by and relating to the feminist anthem. The track tackles the misogyny that women face in every day life, inspiring a wealth of TikToks of women sharing their fury with “Labour” as the soundtrack.

Being compared to the work of Hozier, Paloma’s new single is a folk anthem, with its Pagan vibes conjuring images of all the women that have gone before us in societies plagued with sexism and inequality.

Paloma discussed the meaning behind the track with The Big Issue, saying, “Women are just doing more and more, and men are not doing any more than they’ve ever done. There’s still expectation for women to have this very traditional archaic role as a caregiver and a servant and a wife and a mother and a homemaker, but women have had enough of existing to serve other people.”

The ‘female rage’ label has been attributed to Paloma’s song, but she states “it doesn’t need to be romanticised,” as social media can be wont to do.

“Labour” has incited passionate responses from its listeners, and Paloma herself says she’s “not at the centre of this song anymore.”

not now honey mummy’s listen to labour by paris paloma and crying over the horrific levels of misogyny women have faced for hundreds of years

— ًhades (@milfnyras) March 24, 2023

ok BUT LABOUR BY PARIS PALOMA IS THE SONG OF FEMALE RAGE AND EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW IT GOODBYE — specs (@aroamingspectre) March 23, 2023

Discussing female rage further, Paloma told The Big Issue, “It can be amazingly empowering, and I think so many women are relating to it as just this concept of just having had enough, and the refusal to be convenient anymore.”

She goes on to say, “It starts with holding men and boys accountable for this behaviour, and making it less normalised and making them sort of aware that their actions or lack thereof have consequences. You don’t get to be in a relationship and treat another person like less than a human being and then be blindsided when that person wants to end that relationship.”

Paloma says that she hasn’t experienced being “the put-upon wife but I’ve watched it happen. But I’ve seen what it does, and it’s what I think about and have thought about since I was becoming more conscious of my surroundings as a young teenage girl.”

Since its release, “Labour” has inspired over 27,000 video responses on TikTok, allowing a cathartic outlet for listeners and gracing Paris Paloma with an ever-growing platform.

Stream “Labour” here.

According to a recent report by The Times, Mr. Watson, a former Shadow Culture Secretary, will receive a salary of £60,000 for 40 days’ work a year. Doubt has also been raised as to the breadth of Mr. Watson’s knowledge of the music industry.

But, striving to validate the fairness and diplomacy of their decision, UK Music announced: All UK Music’s member organisations were actively involved in the … recruitment process for the new Chair which culminated in the appointment of Tom Watson.

Mr. Watson’s reputation has been mired, however, by his record of backing disproved claims of paedophilia, resulting in the persecution of innocent public figures. It is for his exertion of political influence over police enquiries, stoking a witch hunt against politicians and senior military officials, that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has led the charge against Watson being denied a peerage.

Some have taken to Twitter to express their distaste with UK Music’s decision.

Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of raping and murdering children in a witch hunt led by Tom Watson, has joined a string of politicians, music executives and performers urging UK Music to sack the former deputy Labour leader as its new chairman.
https://t.co/ZsIxPz7CP5

— Max Aitchison (@max_aitchison) April 26, 2020

Such connections do not put the former MP in good stead to be leading a major lobbying group such as UK Music. As to whether he is the right man for the job, Tom Watson is, by his own admission, principally a politician. According to his own website, tom-watson.com, he has served on the frontline of politics over four decades. He worked at the heart of 10 Downing Street as a Minister with Gordon Brown and served as a Defence Minister for Tony Blair. 

It does make one wonder what on earth any of this has to do with the UK music industry. But, spoken as a true politician, Mr. Watson made his intentions clear in a statement announcing his new appointment: Our urgent task is to work with our colleagues and partners in Government to support the national effort to defeat coronavirus, whilst protecting the jewel in the crown of British culture – commercial music.