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My hobbies often get me knee-deep in trouble as I end up committing to doing things that take all my available time, with no return to me, as it's usually for someone else. However, in this instance, I am proud and humbled to have seen this particular aspect of an 'involvement' come to a credible fruition - something that bears the fruit of my labours and has my name in lights for being involved - wowness.

For the last 6 months, I have been one of a team of curators (deemed local new music expert - nice!) for a British Libraries Project, that has distilled down 100 of the best New Music Artists onto one site, showcasing the diversity of West Midlands music to the rest of the nation.I couldn't say much to anyone about it because it was quite hush-hush...

The website is http://www.pilot-project.co.uk/ - it is now open for your perusal!

This site is an early step towards the setting up of the abovementioned British Library initiative on a nationwide basis - it's called 'The New Music Network'. The long term goal of the 'New Music Network' is to systematically collect and document significant new music, in all its forms, across the UK. This part of the project, that was managed by Robin Valk (Radio To Go) for the British Library, has been in development for well over two years, however my involvement has been only in the last 6 months - and for this launch phase, the West Midlands was chosen as the launchpad. This is the first time something like this has ever been done, you could say history has been made. Hence why it's called 'The Pilot Project'.

I was asked to submit 100 artists/songs that for me represented the best that the Midlands had to offer in terms of New Music - that is, self-releasing, no-label/small label music that was digitally available online. Having been an Unsigned Bands DJ on my own show - Freshly Picked on 101.8WCRfm - for the last two years, means that I have been given the Audio Privilege of showcasing 1,000s of local artists on the show. So with a hard-drive archive of over 2,000 local new music artists' tracks to go at, I had a mean and discriminate feat to suggest my chosen 100 best local bands and songs  that represented the diversity, brevity and talent the whole of the West Midlands has to offer.

Amazing new music is emerging online everyday, as musicians have both taken control of their own production and distribution processes. This is a significant cultural development in the evolution of music as we know it. Extraordinary work can emerge one day, and then disappear the next - this project's heart is in ensuring that the *best* new music is kept for posterity, with the blessings of the people who created it... a bit like a digital time-capsule - your musical creation and being kept in archive FOREVER, accessible.

The website boasts artist profiles, and selections of the their music for you to listen to. This isn't a site where you can download the music from (thus protecting the artists intellectual property), but it is a place you can go listen, read a bit about the chosen artist and then make contact via their own sites that are listed on the page. A digital online library resource if you like.

So, congratulations to Robin Valk for a successful launch night for the website (thank you for the honour of having been involved in something this amazing), also thanks to Musoplex and Framework Studios for their ongoing support and access to music and artists that have totally inspired me along the way - and most of all ALL MY LOVE & CONGRATS to the following bands I proudly nominated, that have been chosen by Robin and the team from British Libraries to make the FINAL CUT of bands to be showcased on the launch site:

Aa'shiq Al Rasul

Babajack

Barricades Rise

Barry's Attic

Becky Rose

Ben Drummond

The Benwahs

Betty & The Id

Blak Can

Bombdog

Cantaloop

Chimps In Suits

The City Lightz

Clacka

Court Lane

Cracked Actors

The Cubans

Dan Whitehouse

Dirty Laws

Discotheque Wreck

Eat Y'Self Pretty

Elle Diablo

Emma McGann

Four Dead In Ohio

Graham Parsnip Liquidiser Torture Think Tank Revival

The Humdrum Express

Is I Cinema

The Jaayz

Jayne Powell

Jimm Zorn

Jo Hamilton

Joe Karchud

Johnny Normal

Kristy Gallacher

Little Sister

Lo-Fi Lung

Meatfeast

Mellow Peaches

Mickey Greaney

Miss Halliwell

Momentum

Mr Bones & The Dreamers

Pitseleh

Police Bastard

Rich Batsford

Richard Gears

Rue Royale

Seafields

Skull Fox

Squashed Cob

Strikes

The Audacity

The Concept MK

The Deafout

The E-Go's

The Ganders

The Rimes

The Yipes

Timothy Parkes

Totally Suspect

Telegramme

Varney & Sons

Vijay Kishore

Voodoo Johnson

Whalebone

Wretched Souls

Zanzibar

I am really excited to see what happens going forward for all concerned - you never know who will be listening to this music - major labels for example... anything is possible. I will keep you posted on any further developments and also PLEASE tell your friends about this site, go and check out our totally sumptuous musical diverse heritage we have here in the Midlands - and most of all, support and celebrate your local music scene.

Hugs...

Kate.xxx