Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the activity of the “World Music Day - Music in YouTube (300 seconds)” accepts applications from today, 1 June. Individual music lovers and bands are welcome to participate in the event of the “World Music Day”.

This year’s “World Music Day - Music in YouTube (300 seconds)” aims to provide a platform for professional or amateur musicians to share their own music for free in the easiest way and promote the spirit of music. Applications are open from 1 to 17 June. Participants will have a chance to win big prizes by uploading the video of their vocal or musical performances in all its forms with a length not longer than 300 seconds (5 minutes) before submitting the application forms. The three music videos with the highest click-rates will be awarded the “Popularity Award”; the organiser and local veteran musicians will select the winners of the “Creativity Award”, “Passion Award” and “Encouragement Award” based on their creativity and excellence. Winners of these awards, together with the first 30 participants, will be awarded souvenirs. The awards ceremony will be held on 19 June.

The “World Music Day” was created in Paris in 1982 by American musician Joel Cohen in Paris, who was then working as a DJ for a French broadcaster. He proposed an annual music celebration on 21 June, hoping to gather all musicians to present a complimentary music extravaganza for the public in the spirit of “music everywhere and concert nowhere”. Ever since, the festival has became an iconic event in France. Nowadays, the festival became a worldwide phenomenon in over 430 cities in 110 countries across the five continents. Details and application forms for “Music in YouTube (300 seconds)” are available at the World Music Day’s website (www.icm.gov.mo/worldmusicday). For enquiries, please call IC through tel. no. 2836 6866, during office hours.