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Tokyo (pte038/21.07.2005/15:00) - In an attempt to cash in on the renaissance of global interest in British bands, British music industry executives are making a high-profile visit to the world's second-largest music market, Japan.
The British Phonographic Industry group http://www.bpi.co.uk , the UK Trade and Investment - a government body - and HMV http://www.hmv.co.uk will unite to promote British artists.
Bands such as Jamiroquai, Coldplay and Gorillaz are already known by Japanese music enthusiasts but are competing with local talent which is promoted by top labels and talent agencies.
The mission has been described by BPI as the 'most serious bid to court Japanese record buyers for more than 10 years'.
"There's a massive demand for British music in Japan, but it can be a tough market to crack," said BPI's international manager, Matt Glover.
From now until Christmas HMV will promote British artists in all 50 of its Japanese outlets, handing out free magazines and will also make a CD compilation of the best of contemporary British music. The sale of the CD will coincide with the Fuji and Summer Sonic rock festivals, which organisers are expecting about 40,000 people to attend.
British bands such as Coldplay, Fatboy Slim, the Kaiser Chiefs and New Order will appear at the Fuji rock festival, while Kasabian and Oasis will perform at Summer Sonic.
The industry heads will meet with top Japanese heads and will discuss how to get their music into Japanese DVDs, films and TV, a more effective spring board than radio.
"This is a coordinated campaign to take the best of British music to one of the most exciting music markets in the world," said Glover.
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