BBC LAUNCHES GLOBAL TALENT SEARCH !

BBC launches global talent search.

The contest is part of the World Service's Generation Next season. The BBC World Service has launched a competition to find the world's best young music act.
Called The Next Big Thing, the contest is open to groups and solo artists in any genre of music, as long as they are under 18 and perform their own songs.
Entrants will be played on the World Service throughout the autumn, before a winner is chosen by listeners and music industry experts in December.
"What we're looking for is brilliant new music," says producer Ben Williams.
"The quality of the recording isn't important."
'Helping hand'
Williams says the aim of the competition is to give a helping hand to young artists who may not have access to the music industry.
"There's fantastic musical talent all over the world but many people struggle to get that first break, and that's where we come in."
"It's something new and very exciting that we've never tried before."
The contest will be run with the help of the BBC's language services, which means the final shortlist of six acts could include songs in Swahili, Portuguese or Hindi.
Artists who are interested in entering the competition should send one track to the BBC World Service by 3 November, 2006.
CDs and tapes should be sent to The Next Big Thing, Bush House, London. MP3s can be emailed to the BBC using the address -

thenextbigthing@bbc.co.uk. .....................................................................................

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