The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Nokia launched Independent Artists Club (IAC), a programme that will promote the discovery of the country's home-grown music and talent from Bangladesh.

IAC will not only provide opportunities for new artists from around the country to be heard by people from across the world, but also give music fans a new platform to discover new music that will be available in countries across the Asia Pacific region.

This was disclosed at a press conference held at a city cafe on Thursday.

Prem Chand, Managing Director of Nokia Emerging Asia, said, "The IAC website for Bangladesh opened on January 15, which is www.nokia-asia.com/iac .

Through this site artists will be able to upload their songs and have those songs rated, consumed and downloaded by music lovers. Artists have to register as members to the site to be able to upload their songs along with their pictures and profile. Once the artists upload the songs they will be published on the site after a screening.

"Music is an important pillar of our consumer internet services strategy, so it is important for us to nurture the local music industry, which will ultimately be the catalyst for great local content to be discovered and appreciated by consumers," said Prem Chand.

Sajid Matin, Category Manager of Nokia Emerging Asia, presented the registration process and the future of IAC in detail.

Shabnam Huq, Communications Manager of Nokia, representatives from the invited bands and record labels and popular artistes of the music industry were also present on the occasion.