Talking of searches for new music talent, the BBC World Service's Next Big Thing venture, which is mounting a global search for young talent (under 18), has reached shortlist stage.
Thousands of musicians from 35 countries - from Azerbaijan to Armenia to Ukraine to Uruguay, apparently - entered the competition, and now a final shortlist of twenty has been announced. Pundits and punters are now both invited to vote to help get that down to a final six, who will take part in a recording on 9 Dec where judges William Orbit, Angelique Kidjo, Geoff Travis and Peter Gabriel will pick an overall winner. You can vote at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/thenextbigthing
Commenting on the competition, judge and Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis told CMU: "There are too few routes for a young musician to get their music heard - the gatekeepers who are interested are too few in number. The project is great as it throws the challenge open to the whole world and it encourages the very young to step up to the plate".
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