GCap Media's Xfm is hoping to score with the launch of a new music award and subsiquent ceremony to acknowledge the best of 2007’s new music. The awards will be based around one major prize, "The Xfm British Debut Album of the Year", and will take place at Koko in Camden next year.
On the evening of the ceremony, 16th January 2008, the bands in the running for the award will perform live at Koko in front of Xfm listeners, music industry VIP’s and the Xfm judging panel who will decide who walks away with the main title.
Xfm’s managing director Nick Davidson said, "Xfm have been thinking of holding an awards ceremony for a while now but wanted to make sure we got it right, ensure it has real meaning and a focus point — we have chosen ‘The Xfm British Debut Album of the Year’ because we know new music, inside and out. This award isn’t for the industry but for our listeners and the bands to acknowledge the passion and hard work that goes into a debut album. We hope that it will be a great evening for everyone that attends and that the bands in the running for the award are genuinely excited by the prospect of winning it."
Maximo Park’s Paul Smith said, "I'm looking forward to debating the merits of whichever albums get nominated. I'll be listening out for something that sounds genuinely fresh but which has strong songs that will continue to resonate in the future. Who doesn't love a good argument about music?"