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MUMBAI: BBC has announced the five finalists from thousands of musicians from 88 countries who had entered the BBC World Service`s competition, The Next Big Thing. TNBT is a global search for the world`s best young band. After sifting through a mountain of mp3s, a shortlist of the top 20 acts has just been released, says a BBC release.The BBC scoured the globe, with roadshows in India, Jamaica, Tanzania and Turkey attracting hundreds of budding artists to add to those submitted through the website.
The five finalists are:Hraun – IcelandJeremie Johnson – United Arab Emirates Maya McCallum et La Toy Factory – FranceVrelo – SerbiaYunasi – Kenya
The five are expected to fly into the UK next week to perform at the BBC`s famous Maida Vale studios. The final will be broadcast on BBC World Service on 13 December and on BBC World TV on Saturday and Sunday 22 and 23 December. A winner will be chosen by a panel of music industry experts, including Talvin Singh (singer/producer), Tahita Bulmer (New Young Pony Club), Nile Rodgers (producer/Chic founder) and William Orbit (Madonna, Robbie Williams, Sugababes producer). The competition was open to groups and solo artists in any genre of music as long as they performed their own songs and were not signed to a major label. Anoushka Shankar, one of the panelists, said of the entries: “I am absolutely blown away by the songs you`ve sent! They have knocked my socks off.”The winner gets massive international exposure and will be invited to perform live to an audience of 2000 people at London`s indigO2 venue to celebrate BBC World Service`s 75th Anniversary in December, alongside some of the most exciting names in music.
Simon Pitts, Next Big Thing executive producer, said, “It`s a massive opportunity for international exposure. Millions of people around the world will hear the track and it could be the big break someone is looking for.” One can listen to the bands at www.bbcworldservice.com/nextbigthing2007
