Are you one of the best new bands or artists living in Wales? How do you fancy getting to play loads of festivals, get advice on the music industry, and a radio campaign all wrapped up in a nice tidy bundle? The Horizons project is just that and much more.
Today on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru I’ve been busy shouting about a new scheme called Horizons. The idea is simple, let’s find 12 new artists (one for each month of the year) performing in either Welsh or English and help them develop and play as much as we possibly can.
Gorwelion Horizons
This is a programme of events geared at building a new audience here in Wales and seeing if we can really help spread the message of new music a little wider. Horizons really is a new challenge for BBC Wales and the Arts Council of Wales - by highlighting a few artists as part of the scheme, can we help export Welsh music, or help elevate the best to the next level? What can happen to a talented musician with the right connections, opportunities, and promotion?
Why are we launching Horizons? Well, what do bands here in Wales need to help them get on in the music business? We’ve often heard about the lack of heavyweight record labels, managers, booking agents, and specialist PR – all very key elements of the music industry. True talent will, of course, find a way of reaching out, getting heard, get influential backing and make a name for themselves. But we’ve got more to offer from this small country and, fingers crossed, through this scheme we’ll equip musicians to learn about the business as well as offering unique opportunities to become the faces of new music in Wales in 2014.
So I ask again, are you the best unsigned Welsh band or solo artist? We’d love to hear from you, and a small panel of radio producers, the Arts Council of Wales and myself as producer of this two-year project will make a decision in April.
What does it involve, what will you be doing during the 12 months?
The Horizons acts of 2014 will benefit from:
- specially programmed BBC Radio events, sessions and playlists
- direct contact with a BBC producer overseeing the project
- a BBC Maida Vale recording session
- promotional tools including a produced video and a professional photoshoot
- bespoke mentoring via tailored courses
- national and international musical opportunities
- opportunities to play BBC Cymru Wales events through the year
- nominations through BBC
Introducing to play at major events across the UK
We’re looking for artists who are hard-working, happy to jump in feet first and take this opportunity for all its worth.
Feel free to get in touch with more questions, but essentially make sure you send a short email talking about yourselves, and why you’d like to take part and a photo, to horizons@bbc.co.uk and upload your music to BBC Introducing.
Visit the Horizons website to find out more about the scheme and read the terms and conditions.
The closing date for entries is March 31. Good luck, and we’ll announce the 12 successful artists at Focus Wales Festival, and on air, on April 25.
