The B-Sides

Hootie & The Blowfish have been named as an inspiration to new artists by the American Society of Young Musicians. It's certainly inspiring to know that you can be dull as dishwater and still sell millions of albums.

Janet Jackson and The Lighthouse family have been credited for boosting UK record sales in the first quarter of 1998. How about thanking those poor British punters who tossed their dough away on such dross?

Smashing Pumpkins, who play Dublin's Olympia Theatre on Sunday, have had their offer of a free hometown gig in Chicago turned down by city officials, because there isn't a site big enough to take the expected 100,000 fans who might show up.