BERLIN, Germany (Top40 Charts/ Deutsche Phono-Akademie) - A top-notch line-up: U2,
Katy Perry et al will be joined by other first-class acts at the ECHO awards ceremony. The Deutsche Phono-Akademie has also announced further nominees for Germany's foremost music award:
Peter Fox scored four nominations, while Udo Lindenberg, Ich + Ich, the Sohne Mannheims,
Duffy and Amy MacDonald are in the running with three nominations each.
Berlin, 29 January 2009 - The 18th ECHO Awards in Berlin's O2 World will feature Die Toten Hosen performing the first duet in the band's history. Frontman Campino will sing the poignant ballad "Auflosen" with the Austrian actress Birgit Minichmayr. Silbermond present their new single "Irgendwas bleibt", which streets one day before the ECHO. Sasha will present his new single "Please, Please, Please" (to be released on 13 February) to the ECHO audience, and Helene Fischer will perform her hit "Lass mich in dein Leben".
"Die Toten Hosen, Silbermond, Sasha and Helene Fischer will demonstrate just how diverse the German music landscape is," declares Prof. Dieter Gorny, Chairman of the German Music Industry Association (BVMI). "Only at ECHO will you find this many top stars in one place." Das Erste will broadcast the MME-produced award show, hosted by Barbara Schoneberger and Oliver Pocher, on 21 February at 8:15pm.
Die Toten Hosen from Dusseldorf are among the best bands in the history of German rock. Their latest album "In aller Stille" impressively sums up the secret to their success: incisive music throbbing with energy. Starting in May, the band will be on tour again in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland.
Sasha is one of the most creative minds in the German music industry. Over the course of his ten-year career, the singer from Soest has racked up a number of Top-Ten hits and great tours, including major successes under the pseudonym "Dick Brave". Sasha's new album "Good News On A Bad Day" hits stores on 27 February.
Silbermond have scored numerous hits since their first album "Verschwende deine Zeit" (2004), including such classics as "Symphonie" and the number-one song "Das Beste". The band from Bautzen release their third studio album "Nichts passiert" this spring, followed by a Germany, Austria and Switzerland tour in May.
Helene Fischer began her career on the musical stage. Today she is one of the top stars in the Schlager (German-language pop) scene. Her album "Zaubermond" soared to No.2 in the German charts in July 2008 and shipped platinum. She is currently on tour giving concerts in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland through May.
On 21 February the Deutsche Phono-Akademie will present Germany's ECHO music award in 24 Categories, including Best Artist (male and female) and Best Group.
Peter Fox, co-founder of the Berlin band Seeed, tops the list of nominees with four nominations. In the "Best HipHop/Urban Best Artist/Group/Collaboration (Domestic/International)" category, he is up against Bushido and Fettes Brot, each of whom scored two nominations, as well as Culcha Candela and Sido.
Fox is also listed as a contender for "Best Newcomer (Domestic)", "Best Producer" and "Best Video (Domestic)"; the latter category will be decided by online voting on the MTV and VIVA websites.
Udo Lindenberg, Ich + Ich, the Sohne Mannheins, the Welsh singer Duffy and the Scottish singer/songwriter Amy MacDonald scored three nominations each.
Udo Lindenberg is a contender in the categories "Rock/Pop Artist (Domestic)", "Album of the Year" and "Best Music DVD Production (Domestic)".
The Sohne Mannheims are in the running for Best German Group, Best Live Act and Best DVD Production. Duffy is up for an ECHO as "Best Female Rock/Pop Artist (International)", "Best Newcomer (International)" and for the "Hit of the Year (Domestic/International) presented by Musicload".
Amy MacDonald is nominated in exactly the same categories.
Fourteen acts garnered two nominations each, including Australian hard-rock legends AC/DC, the five tenors of Adoro, who are currently at No.1 in the German album charts, as well as Die Toten Hosen, the British soul star Amy Winehouse, "DSDS" (German Idol) winner Thomas Godoj, Kid Rock, LaFee and Schlager singer Helene Fischer.
Other nominees include the bands Coldplay, Metallica, R.E.M., Die Arzte and many others. Die Zisterziensischen Monche (The Cistercian Monks) from Heiligenkreuz Abbey in the Vienna Woods caused a commotion last year with their album "Chant" - and now it's earned them a nomination as "Best Newcomer (International)" alongside pop-stars like Leona Lewis and Gabriella Cilmi. In Jazz, too, first-rate soloists and bands have been given the nod. All of them have excellent chances: E.S.T. (the Esbjorn Svensson Trio) from Sweden, the American singer Melody Gardot, the Berlin band Lyambiko, the formation Jazzkantine from Braunschweig and last year's winner Till Bronner.
The ECHO for "Best Domestic Live Act" will be decided by public voting online via the ARD Popwelle and Jugendwelle websites. There will be an ECHO for Lifetime Achievement again this year. In the past, it has gone to music greats including Hildegard Knef, Fritz Rau, Reinhard Mey, Caterina Valente, Peter Kraus, Ralph Siegel and the band Can. Outstanding media and retail partners will again be honoured with an ECHO each, and a Critics' Prize makes its debut this year.
