13 Could Be Lucky For Europe

The initiative was announced at a press conference at the Ancienne Belgique in Belgium Oct. 10, by European venues including the Brussels venue Amsterdam Milkweg (The Netherlands), Copenhagen Vega (Denmark), Paris Nouveau Casino (France) and the UK’s Village Underground in London.

“The development of emerging artists has always been a priority for AB,” explained Ancienne Belgique managing director Dirk de Clippeleir. “We can do more and better if we work hand in hand with our European colleagues.”

“This project is innovative, very much in line with our priorities,” Karel Bartak, head of the Creative Europe Unit at the European Union Commission, told the press conference. “Not only does it encourage genuinely European programming within the members, but it also supports emerging artists in their careers and brings music across borders to new audiences. I hope it becomes a true European success story.”

The initiative is being part-funded by the European Union, which is providing euro 1.5 million ($1.9 million) for an initial three-year period.

The venues will be financially encouraged to carry out a sustained collective effort to increase the share of emerging European music acts. The acts being targeted will typically have less than five years of professional experience, have recorded less than three albums, but are “committed to achieving a professional music career beyond their national borders.”