18 Music Week 21.11.14 REPORT EBBAs BREAKING BORDERS
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For nearly six years, Eurosonic Noorderslag showcase festival in the Netherlands has been celebrating ten European artists who’ve managed cross-border success at its European Border Breakers Awards (EBBAs). Ahead of the ceremony on January 14, we get the inside track on the selection process and find out what it takes to reach an international audience
EVENTS n BY RHIAN JONES
I
n a music industry too often accused of favouring a samey sound, artists that gain traction outside of their home country in 2014 deserve applause.
And in January 2015, the European Border Breakers Awards (EBBAs) will honour ten more newcomers that have done just that. Existing to celebrate up-and-coming European
talent, the EU Commission-backed event is tied in with the annual four-day music conference and showcase Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen. To be eligible, artists must have achieved border-breaking success with their first international release in Europe between August 1, 2013 and July 31, 2014. Winners are selected through a combination of radio airplay, record sales and quality of live performance. The European music market saw 0.6% growth
to total $5.38 billion in 2013, a figure that’s up for the first time in 12 years. Its top six markets - the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden - all posted a rise in trade revenues. And despite Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity, it seems good music knows
ABOVE
Award Winning: Pictured clockwise from bottom left corner are 2015’s EBBA winners, Milky Chance, Klangkarussell, Hozier, Indila, John Newman, MØ, Tove Lo, Todd Terje and Melanie De Biasio; pictured centre are The Common Linnets
“The EBBAs are the only awards for artists on a European level. It’s extremely important to have visibility for young artists that are breaking borders. We’re working on getting the ceremony as well known and recognised as possible” PETER SMIDT, EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG CREATIVE DIRECTOR
no boundaries, as proven by the 2015 EBBA winners Klangkarussell (Austria), Melanie De Biasio (Belgium), MØ (Denmark), Indila (France), Milky Chance (Germany), Hozier (Ireland), The Common Linnets (Netherlands), Todd Terje (Norway), Tove Lo (Sweden) and John Newman (United Kingdom). Thanks to tweaks to the selection process,
this year’s list is the best yet, according to the guy who crunches the data that decides the winners - international journalist Emmanuel Legrand. “We had a couple of winners in the past that I am not too proud of today,” he says. “Las Ketchup, for
example, were indeed the most successful Spanish act in 2004 but it was a one-hit wonder, I’m not really sure that they had the ability to play live. They probably wouldn’t have been picked [now]. We’ve got a stronger line-up of artists simply because they have to play live.” The winners will receive their awards in a
ceremony hosted by TV personality and musician Jools Holland on January 14. All or most of the winning acts perform and the event is streamed live via YouTube, as well as being broadcast by European TV channels and radio stations. Additionally, a Public Choice Award will be based on votes cast on the EBBA website from October 21 to December 19. Previous honourees include Adele, Anna Calvi,
Kodaline, Swedish House Mafia, Mumford & Sons, The Ting Tings, The Script and James Vincent McMorrow. Released in March, singer-songwriter MØ’s
debut album, No Mythologies To Follow, reached No.2 on the Danish chart. She toured extensively this year across Europe together with summer festival appearances. Specialist radio plays in the UK, France and Germany also helped the case
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