kaulitztwinstomundbill.MyForum.ro ~ Our boys have won the "European Border Breakers Award 2

'Border Breakers' Fourth Edition – A Prize To Encourage Mobility Of Artists In Europe To Take Place At MIDEM 2007

Europe's border breaking success stories in the field of music will be recognized and celebrated on 21 January 2007.

Ten European groups/artists will be awarded this year's European Border Breakers Awards, alongside their record company, author and publishers, thereby highlighting the whole process of musical creation.

With this highly symbolic award, the European Commission, in partnership with the European Music Industry and MTV, wishes to celebrate and promote the richness and diversity of European music.

It also aims to raise the awareness of young people as to the importance of breaking geographical and mental barriers in such fundamental matters as creativity and the dialogue between cultures.

This year again, the ceremony will take place on the opening day of the prestigious international music fair MIDEM, in Cannes, France.

On Sunday 21 January 2007, the European Commission will organize the European Border Breakers Ceremony in Cannes for the fourth consecutive year.

During the ceremony, European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) will be presented to ten European groups, based on statistics provided by the Billboard Information Group, according to the following criteria:

* Original debut album of artists or groups from an EU Member State;
* Sales in EU Member states outside the country of production
* Sales during the last year (between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006)

With these awards gaining in prominence, the European Commission is backing the European music industry's efforts to assert itself in both the European and international markets.

EBBA winners and labels can also qualify for EU support in the form of co-financing for the organization of a pan-European Tour, including at least four EU Member states.

Surveys show that over 60% of European citizens listen to music every day. Music is therefore a fundamental part of cultural life in Europe. The European Commission already plays a leading role in bringing the music industry closer to public authorities by supporting many collaborative projects in the field of music (festivals, concerts), mainly through the Culture programme.

The European Border Breakers Awards is therefore a testimony to this cooperative spirit between the Commission and the music industry represented by EMO, GESAC, ICMP/CIEM, IFPI, IMPALA, as well as with MTV Europe and Billboard Information Group.

This year's EBBA winners are…

Name Album Label Country
Corinne Bailey Rae Corinne Bailey Rae Good Groove/EMI GBR
Blog 27 LOL Magic Rec/Kontor POL
Celtic Woman Celtic Woman Angel IRL
José Gonzalez Veneer Imperial/Bonnier SWE
Vittorio Grigolo In the Hands of Love Polydor/Universal ITA
Beatriz Luengo Beatriz Luengo AZ/Universal ESP
Ilona Mitrecey Un monde parfait Scorpio/Universal FRA
Helena Paparizou My Number one Columbia/Sony BMG GRC
Gabriel Rios Ghostboy Megadisc Recordings BEL
Tokio Hotel Schrei Island/Universal DEU

Policy aspects will be debated on the same day during an informal meeting of the European Ministers of Culture, together with music professionals, which will be held on the Palais des Festivals premises, prior to the EBBA ceremony. This is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the French Ministry of Culture.

The European Commission will have a stand at the MIDEM to promote European music diversity. This will provide industry professionals present at the MIDEM with the opportunity to learn about the Culture programme, and the opportunities it offers to support European cultural cooperation.

All these are the faces of a same coin, as testified too by Gabriel Rios and José Gonzalez, two of this year's EBBA winners, who have benefited from the European Talent Exchange Program (ETEP) and the European Tour Support (ETS), which aim to encourage the circulation of European artists within Europe by touring selected festivals throughout Europe.