by Zjakki Willems

The World Music Charts Europe is a monthly top-20 compiled by radio programmers from Europe. We started it in 1991 at the annual EBU World Music Workshop, of which I was the chairman at that time (the EBU is the European Broadcasting Union, the umbrella of public radios in Europe). Johannes Theurer from Berlin organised the World Music Charts Europe and has run them since then. Currently Johannes is also the chairman of the Workshop. Over the years the World Music Charts Europe became a useful tool for both musicians / records companies on one side and radio editors / programme makers on the other side. The particularity is that they are an airplay and taste charts, not a sales charts, which is an advantage for musicians who are not backed by a major record company. With only about 45 CD’s they can reach all the relevant radio broadcasts in Europe. Some Brazilian artists, record companies and institutions already use the World Music Charts Europe as a distribution and promotion tool, with good results: The New Brazilian Music 4 was on number 8 in April; CéU enters the May charts with Caravana Sereia Bloom. All you have to do is to send a parcel with 45 CD’s to Johannes Theurer. For more information have a look at www.wmce.de