The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has teamed up with British Underground, PPL and Trade Partners UK to stage a showcase of up-and-coming British bands at CMJ in New York on Saturday October 25. Clearlake, Kinesis and The Koreans will be performing as part of the College Music Journal (CMJ) Music Marathon (October 22-26), an annual festival attracting thousands of delegates from the US college radio circuit and international music industry.

The choice of bands for the CMJ line-up reflects the nature of the event, which is seen as a portal to US college radio for new and breaking bands. The acts have been booked by Metropolis, who put together this year’s successful UK showcase at SXSW in Austin featuring The Darkness and British Sea Power.

In addition to the showcase, BPI and British Underground have compiled a sampler CD of UK acts performing during the CMJ festival. Endorsed by NME, 7,000 samplers – tagged ‘sUK on this’ – will be produced for the CMJ delegate bags to profile the UK presence at the event.

The BPI represents the most influential record industry outside North America - the British recording industry. BPI members are responsible for artists such as Radiohead and Coldplay (both EMI), Craig David and Dido (BMG), David Gray (eastwest) and Travis (Sony) - in fact, hundreds of artists representing sounds at every point in the musical spectrum. The BPI helps its 350 member companies (who in turn represent over 90% of recorded output in the UK) protect their rights and promote their interests around the world.

Contacts
BPI: Sarah Roberts T: +44 (0)20 7851 4000

British Underground: British Underground is a gateway to the UK’s constantly evolving subterranean music scene and was set up with the support of the Arts Council of England to expose a broad and expanding collective of underground UK labels to a global audience (www.britishunderground.net).

Contact – Crispin Parry T: + 44 (0)20 7911 5901

Trade Partners UK: TPUK is the government organisation providing support services for UK companies trading overseas. For more info: www.tradepartners.gov.uk