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Building on its opportunities for under-the-radar talent, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing today announces that it is taking four artists to this year's A&R Worldwide's MUSEXPO event, one of the industry's most well-connected calendar dates.

In partnership with the Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation's British Music Abroad scheme, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing is giving four artists, who all uploaded their music at bbc.co.uk/introducing, the opportunity to perform to some of the music industry's biggest names at the event, which is held from 1-4 May 2011.

Hailing from Leicester, urban singer-songwriter Luke Bingham will join Liverpool alternative-acoustic artist, Luke Fenlon and Welsh electro-pop outfits Friends Electric and Man Without Country in Los Angeles next month.

The journey that these four artists experience will be captured for a special documentary, which will be broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 later this year. From their pre-trip preparations and their hopes and fears about the event, it will capture their first impressions of Hollywood and their final performances. It will also feature interviews with the panel that selected them, discussing their choices and also the current new music market.

Jason Carter, Editor, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing, says: "´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing International has enabled us to give another fantastic opportunity for new UK musicians. Our aim is to support new UK talent with unique exposure, and these acts have been selected to play by the cream of the US recording industry. It will be great for those artists selected and there will be a Radio 1 documentary about their experiences which will give useful insights to other new artists in the UK."

Luke Bingham adds: "I'm really excited about the opportunity to go to LA with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing and to perform in front of some of the biggest people in music. My ultimate dream has always been to be an international music artist and now I've got this chance to take my music over to America, alongside some of best of the UK's rising stars."

The four artists were selected via a panel of US music industry experts including Steve Schnur, Worldwide Head of Music & Marketing, EA Games; Kevin Weatherly, VP Programming KROQ/CBS Radio Los Angeles; Craig Kallman, Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records Group, and Troy Carter, Chairman/CEO of Atom Factory.

Troy Carter says: "´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 is one of the world's most respected and influential broadcasters. Their ability to break new music is unprecedented. I'm excited to have been asked to play a part in the exciting ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing process of selecting some of Britain's best new talent to share with the US and global music industry at MUSEXPO in Los Angeles."

This year has already proved a success for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing. The Musicians' Masterclass, which was held across Abbey Road and Maida Vale Studios on 3 February saw 250 musicians from across the UK connect with big UK artists (Mark Ronson, Tinchy Stryder, Calvin Harris) and top industry professionals from the ´óÏó´«Ã½, the media, live music and recording industries as well as a host of ´óÏó´«Ã½ DJs.

In addition, since January, Radio 1 has added a ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing artist to their daytime playlist, offering invaluable exposure. It will continue to highlight these artists each week this year. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Introducing has also been nominated at this year's Sony Awards in the Best Use of Multiplatform category.

SG