EU Public Affairs Monitor - 19/12/08

10 debut artists to receive 2009 European Border Breaker Awards (EBBAs) in Groningen, the Netherlands
“The winners of the 2009 European Union 'Border Breakers Awards' (EBBAs) have been chosen. Their awards will be presented in a show to be presented by British TV personality Jools Holland in Groningen on 15 January 2009. The show will be attended by Jan Figel', the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth and will be covered on television. In giving these awards the European Commission, in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) wishes to reward debut artists' and groups' success in crossing national borders. At the same time the prizes highlight and promote the richness and diversity of European music, its creativity and its contribution to innovation.

This years' winners of an European Border Breakers Award are:
* Adele (UK) - “19”
* Alphabeat (DK) – “Alphabeat”
* AaRON (FR) – “Artificial Animals Riding on Neverland”
* Cinema Bizarre (DE) – “Final Attraction”
* The Dø (FR) – “A Mouthfull”
* Kraak & Smaak (NL)– “Boogie Angst”
* Ida Corr (DK) – “One”
* Lykke Li (SE) – “Youth Novels”
* The Script (IRL) – “The Script”
* The Ting Tings (UK) – “We Started Nothing”” [Europa]

Audiovisual Media Services without Frontiers: Frequently Asked Questions
“One year ago, on 19 December the Audiovisual Media Services Directive came into force (IP/07/1809). It provides a modern set of rules for Europe's audiovisual industry that covers all audiovisual media services – traditional as well as online and on-demand audiovisual content. It also makes EU rules on TV advertising less detailed and more flexible and focused on future trends to make it easier for service providers to finance their programmes and for users to recognise commercial messages.” [Europa]