The sights and the sounds of the East Coast Music Awards are going on line. The Government of Prince Edward Island is cooperating with the East Coast Music Association to provide selected video and audio coverage over the Internet. Using the Islandcam camera, some of the action at the Awards Headquarters of the ECMA at the Delta Prince Edward will be displayed to the world. In addition, an Internet broadcast will be produced of the Radio freECMA low power radio station. Without this, the station would only be accessible in downtown Charlottetown.

"The ECMA's are going to be an exciting time for Islanders," said Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology. "We've been able to provide a lot of support for the event and for Island musicians - now, we'll be able to show the world what we've accomplished."

"This is really a boost for our visibility. The broadcast will now reach a national and international audience which would not be possible without the Government's assistance," said Campbell Webster, chair of the 2001 ECMA.

The Radio freECMA programming will feature only Atlantic Canada artists, interviews with the artists and EMCA event information. This is the first time that Government has worked with the ECMA to provide both video and audio coverage in addition to the coverage of the local and national radio and television stations.

Internet coverage of the East Coast Music Awards will begin at 9:00 am on Thursday, February 8th, 2001. Internet users can visit www.gov.pe.ca/ecma to listen and to watch.

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