BOOST FOR TRAD MUSIC AWARDS AS MG ALBA AGREES TWO YEAR SPONSORSHIP

MG ALBA (The Gaelic Media Service) has announced today (Thursday 3 June) that it is to continue its sponsorship of the Scots Trad Music Awards with a new two-year agreement covering the event in 2010 and also 2011. The announcement was made by Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA at the Òran Sang conference being staged at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye.

The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2010 will take place in the Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 4 December with BBC ALBA broadcasting coverage of the event and also a concert featuring a number of prize winners. MG ALBA is the partner with the BBC in BBC ALBA.

News of the sponsorship and the continuing television coverage has been warmly welcomed by Hands Up For Trad which organises the awards. Simon Thoumire, Director of Hands Up for Trad and the Producer of the Trad Awards said “The sponsorship of the Scots Trad Music Awards by MG ALBA since 2008 has helped greatly to raise the profile of the awards and also the profile of Traditional music in Scotland. The television coverage from BBC ALBA has also brought the music to a wider audience and I am delighted that this will continue for another two years.”

Speaking at the conference Alasdair Morrison said “MG ALBA is pleased to once again be sponsoring the Scots Trad Music Awards which recognise the best of Scottish Traditional and Gaelic music and song. Since coming on air in September 2008, BBC ALBA has achieved wide acclaim and an excellent reputation for its coverage of the Traditional and Gaelic music scene in Scotland and our audiences greatly appreciate seeing their favourite kind of music on BBC ALBA.”

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal said: “The Trad Music Awards are a great showcase for, and celebration of, Scottish Traditional Music - even more so now with the support of MG ALBA and the fact that the awards are broadcast on BBC ALBA. We also support the event as it is presented bilingually and Gaelic language and traditional music are linked within our work and we welcome the continued support of MG ALBA and also the continuing coverage provided by BBC ALBA.”