NME Radio to air British Council-funded show

A British Council music programme showcasing the best of UK music is to launch on digital radio station NME Radio. The Selector is syndicated to 20 countries around the world and has an audience of more than 1 million listeners every week. The show, which is made by the independent producer, Folded Wing, will join the NME schedule for its first show tonight, with a programme featuring the Libertines star Carl Barat. NME Radio executive chairman, Jason Bryant, said: "As a show funded by the British Council and now being produced by the brilliant team at Folded Wing, it's an important international showcase of the best new music from the UK. It's fantastic that listeners in the UK can now hear what we are proudly exporting to the world." The two-hour show was launched by the British Council in 2001. NME Radio is produced by Town & Country Broadcasting, which signed a deal with the music magazine's publisher in July this year. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".