Geneva, 4 January 2012 – More than 282 acts will feature at the 25th Eurosonic Festival from 11 - 13 January 2012 in Groningen, the Netherlands, with recorded live performances distributed to millions via the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Euroradio network.

Since 1999, the EBU network has acted as a lynchpin for the Eurosonic movement, providing valuable exposure for new and emerging talent across Europe. 

This year, 24 EBU Radio Members* have selected 27 acts to perform at the festival, which kicks-off with the European Border Breakers Awards Show (EBBA). The awards recognise musical acts that find success outside their homeland. The Show is available for all platforms (TV, radio, online).

Concert recordings will be provided to Eurosonic partners, enabling European radio stations to deliver coverage to a pan-continental audience. EBU selected acts can be listened to at www.eurosonic.net.

Five EBU Member organizations – NPB (Netherlands), VRT (Belgium), ARD-WDR (Germany), SR (Sweden) and BBC (UK) will collaborate to provide production and technical support for the Festival. A number of radio stations, including DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), RTBF and VRT (Belgium), RUV (Iceland), BBC (United Kingdom) and RTÉ (Ireland), will broadcast the event live from the purpose-built media compound in Groningen.

A seminar for music professionals, at which booking agents and managers discuss trends in pop music and strengthen their professional networks, coincides with the Festival.

In addition, radio broadcasters and festival organisers have joined forces on the European Talent Exchange Programme (ETEP). This unique EBU-backed initiative supports rising European acts by assuring them festival slots and radio airtime.

*ORF FM4 (Austria); VRT Studio Brussels (Belgium); RTBF Pure FM (Belgium); BNR Horizont (Bulgaria); Czech Radio Wave (Czech Republic); DR P6 Beat (Denmark); ER Raadio 2 (Estonia); YLEX (Finland); Radio France Le Mouv' (France); ARD (Germany); MR2 Petofi (Hungary); RUV Ras2 (Iceland); RTÉ 2FM (Ireland); RAI Radio 2 (Italy); ERSL 100.7 (Luxemburg); TRM (Moldova); NPB 3FM (Netherlands); NRK P3 (Norway); RTP Antena 3 (Portugal); SER Los 40 Principales (Spain); SR P3 (Sweden); SRF DRS3 (Switzerland); RTS Couleur3 (Switzerland); BBC Radio 1 (United Kingdom).

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Note to Editors:

About the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
The EBU serves 85 national media organizations in 56 countries in and around Europe. It represents its Members and promotes the values and distinctiveness of public service media in Europe and around the world. The Eurovision and Euroradio networks deliver news, sports, events and music to EBU Members and other media organizations. Services to Members range from legal advice, technical standardization and development to coproductions and exchange of quality European content.

Radio collaborations cover music, news, sports, youth programmes, local and regional stations. Each year the Euroradio network relays 3,700 concerts and operas. http://www.ebu.ch/en/radio/