Double whammy for music.

National Music Week pushing music to kids is joined by charts' Fantasy Music Manager move

by Martin Talbot & Paul Williams

The UK music industry is set to enter an unprecedented period of cross- industry promotion over the coming fortnight.

As the market enters the single most important quarter in the annual calendar, the profile of music is to be boosted first by next week's National Music Week (which starts next Monday) and then by a new national competition being launched by the Official UK Charts Company.

National Music Week - incorporating its MyMusic initiative, which is designed to engage school kids with music - will be followed just over a week later by the launch of Fantasy Music Manager (FMM), a new initiative designed to promote the UK charts.

The eight-week game, which is being managed by the company behind the Daily Telegraph's successful Fantasy Football League, allows consumers to sign a roster of artists and match them against others' selections.

Points are awarded based on the artists' performance in the Hit 40 UK chart and the official albums chart, as well as through a series of other measures. The first points will be earned in the week beginning October 30, climaxing with the Christmas chart.