Added 23/12/02

BBC Radio 1 asks listeners to decide shortlist for OneMusic Unsigned Week

From Friday 20^th December BBC Radio 1 will be putting online http://ww.bbc.co.uk/radio1 a shortlist of 40 artists and bands for OneMusic Unsigned Week. The station will be dedicating a week to playing tracks from bands, musicians and DJs who will be added to a specially created OneMusic Unsigned List to run alongside the usual A, B and C playlists .

 The 40 will come from those tracks that have already had the most positive reaction from listeners online. Radio 1 will be asking their audience to listen to the 40 tracks and put forward their opinions via the website on what they feel are the most exciting and relevant tunes. Listeners can leave their comments and reviews on the website Message Boards which will then feed into the decision making process. The final shortlist will then be discussed by the Radio 1 music team and producers during the weekly playlist meeting after which six acts will take their place on the OneMusic Unsigned List which will run from 10^th -17^th January 2003. The six acts will each receive at least five to six plays across the week.

Alex Jones Donelly, Editor Radio 1 Music Policy said "Not only do we want to play music made by our audience and other unsigned artists, we want them to help decide what they are going hear and this process does just that. Radio 1 has championed so many artists that have gone on to be massive and these unsigned acts will be played alongside artists of that stature."

Listeners can continue to submit demos of any genres to be considered for the Unsigned Playlist throughout the year.  There are several more Unsigned Weeks planned for next year.  All information about submitting demos is on http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic