Roger Alton, the former editor of The Observer, was, it seemed, about to become editor of The Independent in place of Simon Kelner. Sadly, the story turned out to be too good to be true. “Simon's an old friend. I talk to him about lots of stuff, but, no, not this. I'm sitting in South London trying to write a piece about skiiing and I keep getting phone calls about something that's not the case.” With Alton still receiving severance from Guardian Media Group, The Observer's owner, he is not even able to join a rival.

Meanwhile, over at the Indy, Ivan Fallon, the UK chief executive, gives Mr Kelner a vote of confidence, saying that “the position of editor isn't even available”, although “some restructuring around the whole management team” is coming when Terry Grote, the paper's managing director, retires this year.

— Amy Winehouse did her bit for Universal Music's sales, but, on a like-for-like basis, even the world's largest music company saw sales ease 2.7 per cent last year, with greater-than-expected costs of integrating the wretched Sanctuary Music (remember that). That dragged down profits by €120million to €624million, although strip out the one-offs and the fall was €18million, or 2.4 per cent. It's tough at the top, too.

— John Quinn, the Scottish investor who has made a joint bid for Xfm alongside his fellow Scots Gordon Beattie and Adam Findlay, is stalking the The Local Radio Company. He bought 2 per cent for about £400,000 from Goldman Sachs and is poised to increase his stake further. A full bid is not ruled out.

— The Virgin Radio chairman Richard Huntingford was challenged on air this week by his 13-year-old son Charlie. Charlie called in to his dad's radio station for Christian O'Connell's Lads versus Dads competition. “This is the guy who hires and fires - my agent has already called and said you need to stop this, but it's too late. Richard, can I keep the job?” said O'Connell when Huntingford, who couldn't name the Arctic Monkeys' lead singer Alex Turner, was trailing behind. “Depends if I get this one right or not,” the chairman said. O'Connell's job was saved when the boss correctly described the colours of the Power Rangers.

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