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Press Office - Press Releases
NME TAKES 2009 AWARDS TO BRIXTON
September 30, 2008
NME today announces Brixton Academy as the venue for the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. Fifty-five years since the first NME Awards took place, the Awards ceremony makes a welcome return to the historic London venue.
Taking place on Wednesday, February 25, the Awards will honour some of the biggest names in rock and celebrate the best in new music from 2008, as well as firmly setting the agenda for the year to come.
The Awards have had a connection to Brixton Academy for many years with the NME Awards Tours and Shows regularly stopping there, but this will be only the second time in their history that the Academy will have hosted the Awards.
With a musical heritage almost as rich as that of NME, having played host to the likes of The Clash, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Killers, Kings Of Leon and Coldplay, Brixton Academy was a natural choice for this year's event. And the move will create an opportunity for NME to invite even more music fans along to the hugely popular annual awards ceremony.
NME then returns to the O2 Arena for the second consecutive year to host the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig which will take place the following evening, Thursday, February 26.
Introduced as a new element to the event in 2008, the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig celebrates the best of the NME Awards. Last year's hugely successful gig saw 15,000 music fans pack the Arena to see The Cribs, Klaxons, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, and Manic Street Preachers – who took home the NME Godlike Genius Award 2008.
Paul Cheal, publishing director of NME, says: “With the Awards night at Brixton Academy, the Big Gig at the O2 and an extensive range of Awards Shows across the country, we're confident that the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 will be the most exciting yet. Voted for by fans and with more opportunities for fans to take part than ever before, the NME Awards will be the most accurate barometer of the best in new music.”
John Northcote, CEO, Academy Music Group, says: “Having won NME's Best Venue Award twelve times in recent years, Brixton Academy is the natural choice as the host venue and we're delighted to be working with NME to present one the biggest events in the music industry Awards calendar. With a capacity of almost 5,000, incredible capabilities for production and a magnificent art deco interior, Brixton Academy is one of a kind, combining the feeling of an electrifying arena size atmosphere with great views and a unique, intimate vibe.”
This will be the fifth year the internationally renowned Awards are sponsored by hair styling giant Shockwaves.
In addition to the headline sponsorship, NME also announces a deal with Red Stripe to be the official beer sponsor for this year's Awards, Tours and Shows.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NME PLEASE CONTACT:
Anna Gawan, press officer, IPC Media on 020 3148 5405 or email anna_gawan@ipcmedia.com
Notes to editors:
About NME:
NME is the longest published and most respected music weekly in the world. Every week it gives its readers the most exciting, most authoritative coverage of the very best in contemporary music.
www.nme.com
About the NME Awards:
Dating back to 1953 (a year after the launch of NME), the NME Awards has remained one of the most important and prestigious events for British music fans. NME has been responsible for bringing together some of the biggest names in rock 'n' roll history, including: Ronnie Scott ('53), The Beatles ('63/4), Rolling Stones ('66), The Who ('66), Noel Gallagher ('03), New Order ('05), Ian Brown ('06) and Manic Street Preachers ('08).
About Brixton Academy:
Brixton Academy has long been hailed London's flagship venue, and has scooped the NME “Best Venue” award on an incredible twelve occasions between 1994 and 2007, proving its popularity with music fans and the media alike and also won 'Best Live Music Venue' at the Vodafone Live Music Awards 2006 (nominated in 2007). In 2004, Brixton received the Time Out Award for Live Venue of the Year and in January 2006, once again became the production industry's “Favourite Venue” as voted for by readers of Total Production Magazine and again nominated in 2008. Brixton Academy is owned and operated by Academy Music Group, whose shareholders include Metropolis Music, SJM Concerts and Live Nation.
www.brixton-academy.co.uk
About AEG & The O2:
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. It owns or operates some of the world's best arenas and theatres, numerous sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) and The David Beckham Academy, and a collection of companies dedicated to producing, promoting and presenting world-class live entertainment.
In May 2005, AEG announced that it had joined forces with O2 to help transform the former Millennium Dome and the surrounding area into the UK's most exciting and technically advanced music, sport and entertainment destination. It has been renamed The O2 and opened in June 2007.
About Shockwaves:
Shockwaves, UK's favourite range of hair stylers, has 33 fantastic products that create workable, wearable looks for guys and girls. The easy solution to getting the latest trends, the line up of creams, mousses, waxes, gels and sprays guarantee striking styles to attract. RRP from £2.79. Style. Attract. Play.
For further information about Shockwaves please visit www.shockwaves.com or contact Louise or Lorraince at EHPR on 01753 859596. louise.gallacher@ehpr.co.uk Lorraine.clough@ehpr.co.uk
