Berlin, 5 March 2007: British Music Week 2007 – taking place April 20-29 - is set to be the biggest coordinated promotion for British music ever seen in Germany.
British Music Week events will be held in four cities – Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich – and nearly 40 artists have been confirmed to participate, with many more still to come.
Latest acts to be confirmed include legendary Suede front man Brett Anderson, one of Scotland’s most-cherished bands Idlewild, Just Jack, The Pigeon Detectives and the hotly-tipped Ghosts.
They join a line-up of events which will include not just gigs, but club nights and music video screenings.
British Music Week is a cooperation between some of Germany’s most successful and influential live music promoters, agents, radio stations, music retailers and magazines and the British recorded music trade association the BPI.
British Music Week founder Steve Redmond said, “British Music Week would not be possible without the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of the German music industry. We are very grateful for their support.”
The concept
British Music Week took place for the first time in the city of Berlin in May 2006. More than 40 artists participated in a festival of British music which attracted 8,000 paying customers to clubs around the city and reached hundreds of thousands more through the media.
“British music is an important part of the landscape of popular music, “ said Redmond, “But British Music Week provides a focus for both new and established artists to reach new audiences.
“In an ever-more competitive music market, the UK must work harder for its share of the international market for Anglo-American music and we believe British Music Week is an ideal way to do just that.”
Following positive responses from the German music industry, the BPI decided to repeat the promotion in 2007 adding Hamburg and Cologne to the line-up. Following representations from companies in Munich, that city has also been added.
Artist line-up
The line-up for 2007’s British Music Week in Germany contains high profile names such as Sugababes, Brett Anderson, Lady Sovereign and Idlewild together with many breakthrough artists.
British Music Week project manager Matt Glover said, “British music is on a creative high right now, so there is no better time to be celebrating some of the great new music coming out of the UK.”
Event line-up
British Music Week is expected to generate a whole series of British music related events from club nights to screenings.
Already the British Council has announced a series of iconic British music video screenings entitled “Antenna UK” which will take place over the course of three days during British Music Week at the Babylon mitte.
British music on creative high
British Music Week takes place this year against the background of what is regarded as the most creative period in British music for at least 10 years.
From groups like Snow Patrol, Arctic Monkeys, The Feeling and Razorlight to solo artists such as Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, James Morrison and Lily Allen, British music is currently on a creative high.
Fourteen of the Top 100 best-selling albums in the UK in 2006 were debuts, and in late January for the first time in its 50 year history the UK album chart comprised entirely UK artists.
“Something very exciting is happening in British music, “ said Steve Redmond, “so this is a very good time to be holding a British Music Week. New British artists are succeeding at home. Now their challenge is to take that success around the world and from April 20-29 they will bring their music to Germany.”
British music in Germany
German music fans have long had a particular enthusiasm for British music and 2006 was no exception.
BPI analysis of Media Control data suggests UK artists had a 19.5% share of album sales in Germany in 2006, slightly up on 2005’s 19.1% share.
The biggest selling UK artist in Germany in 2006 was Katie Melua with her second album Piece By Piece.
The best-selling UK artist debut in Germany was Corinne Bailey Rae with her self-titled album.
