On Sunday 21st January, Helena Paparizou received the European Border Breaker Award for her debut album Protereotita-Euro edition. Helena is the first Greek artist to receive such a distinction. My number one, the European edition of her Greek cd Protereotita, was the best selling album by a Greek debutant throughout Europe.
The European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA's) is an initiative of the European Comission in cooperation with EMO, GESAC, ICMP/CIEM, IFPI, IMPALA, MTV Europe and Billboard Information Group. The Awards are given to young European artists, together with their record companies, authors and publishers, that achieve the best continental exportsfrom their country with a debut album.They are based on statistics provided by the Billboard Information Group and according to the following criteria:
· Original debut album of an artist or a band from an EU Member State;
· Sales in EU Member states outside the country of production;
· Sales between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006.
Helena received her award from Ján Figel, European Comissioner of Education, Training, Culture and Youth. The 4th edition of the EBBA's took place during the MIDEM, an important yearly conference for members of the music industry, at the Palais des Festivals, in Cannes, France. It was attended by Odile Quintin, Director General, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and many European Ministers of Culture.
The show was broadcast live by MTV Europe and Helena performed her latest hit Teardrops for the European audience.
This year's winners were:
– Corinne Bailey Rae, "Corinne Bailey Rae" (Good Groove/EMI, UK)
– Blog 27, "LOL" (Magic Rec/Kontor, Poland)
– Celtic Woman, "Celtic Woman" (Angel, Ireland)
– José Gonzalez, "Veneer" (Imperial/Bonnier, Sweden)
– Vittorio Grigolo "In the Hands of Love" (Polydor/Universal, Italy)
– Beatriz Luengo, "Beatriz Luengo" (AZ/Universal, Spain)
– Ilona Mitrecey, "Un monde parfait" (Scorpio/Universal, France)
– Helena Paparizou, "My Number One" (Columbia/Sony BMG, Greece)
– Gabriel Rios, "Ghostboy" (Megadisc Recordings, Belgium)
– Tokio Hotel, "Schrei" (Island/Universal, Germany)
Helena Paparizou won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 for Greece with My number one.
