Noorderslag, Netherlands (Top40 Charts/ European Broadcasting Union) - On January 15, 2009, ten European groups and artists will receive this year's European Border Breakers Awards during a show to take place on the opening night of the EuroSonic Noorderslag Festival in the Netherlands. The ceremony will be hosted by the music and BBC-television legend
Jools Holland and Jan Figel, the European Commissioner responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth.
In giving these awards the European Commission, in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) wishes to reward debut artists' and groups' success in crossing national borders. The prizes at the same time highlight and promote the richness and diversity of European music, its creativity and its contribution to innovation.
* Spectacular TV show to be broadcast throughout Europe *
10 debut acts will receive a European Border Breaker Award during a spectacular TV-show recorded live at Oosterpoort, Groningen and broadcasted throughout Europe.
The awards will be handed out by a fine selection of music industry representatives and the European Commissioner Jan Figel. Music legend Jools Holland will be in charge of the presentation of the show. The awards ceremony will be recorded by Dutch national television (NOS) and broadcast on Saturday January 17th from 20.15hrs onwards.
The show will receive European coverage through the EBU broadcasting network of European television and radio stations.
Former winners of an European Union Border Breaker Award include now established artists such as Carla Bruni, Tokio Hotel, Damien Rice, The Thrills, Gabriel Rios, The Fratellis, Basshunter, Dolores O' Riordan and many more.
* The European Border Breakers Awards *
This is the sixth edition of this European Union award, with which the European Commission - in close partnership with the European music industry - highlights the creative richness and diversity of European contemporary music.
The awards highlight the existing need to open up the European market to European creativity and to stimulate the mobility of artists and their work within Europe and beyond. The European Border Breakers Awards honour those debut artists, groups, the companies, composers and text writers who succeed in reaching audiences outside their own country.
The artists receiving this award are selected on the basis of statistics provided by the Billboard Information Group and the European Broadcasting Union according to the following criteria:
* Original debut album of artists or groups from a country participating in the EU Culture Programme
* Sales in EU Member states outside the country of production
* Sales during the last year (between September 2007 and 31 August 2008)
* Experience in touring outside the country of origin and ability to perform live
