Please find below:

(1) A letter from the American Hellenic Media Project as published in the December 11th issue of Billboard magazine. "Billboard is the music industry's top trade publication" (Seattle Times, 2/21/99); and

(2) The original letter as submitted to Billboard.

(1)

BILLBOARD

December 11, 1999

Letters, p. 3

'GREECE' IS THE WORD

Your "Sound Of The Cities" feature in your Oct. 23 issue on Athens and Greece was exceptional. Billboard presented a well-versed insider's survey of a dynamic environment that is both traditional and contemporary and offered readers an accurate portrayal of a rich culture that is often neglected or misunderstood by many. One of Europe's best-kept secrets is that Greek performers have become Europe's cultural ambassadors to the Balkans and Middle East, particularly to Israel, as attested to by Yiorgos (George) Dalaras' and Glykeria's enormous followings there.

What has placed them at the vanguard of the area's indigenous musical renaissance is their morphing of European, Balkan, Greek, and Mideast traditions with contemporary ones.

P.D. Spyropoulos
Executive Director
American Hellenic Media Project
New York

(2) The original letter as submitted to Billboard:

October 20, 1999

RE: Description of Greek musical renaissance right on the money

Dear Billboard:

Your "Sound of the Cities" segment and related items in your October 23rd issue were exceptional, offering a balanced and diverse mix of Athens' unique and intoxicating music scene.

Your feature gave a comprehensive perspective of Greece's exploding and multi-faceted music industry, yet one detailed enough to be informative, current and insightful. Billboard presented a well-versed, insider's survey of a dynamic environment that is both traditional and contemporary, and through this musical porthole offered your readers an accurate portrayal of a rich culture that is often neglected or misunderstood by many, and that is still largely viewed through the stinted looking glass of long-outdated conventions and cliches.

One of Europe's best-kept secrets is that Greek performers have become Europe's cultural ambassadors to the Balkans and developed Middle East, and particularly to Israel as is attested to by Dalaras' and Glykeria's enormous following there.

While their popularity has much to do with a shared cultural vocabulary, what has placed them at the vanguard of the area's indigenous musical renaissance is their innovative morphing of European, Balkan, Greek and Mideast traditions with contemporary ones.

Thank you for giving your readership the opportunity to read such a quality feature and please keep up the good work.

Very truly yours,

P. D. Spyropoulos, Esq.
Executive Director
American Hellenic Media Project
PO Box 1150
New York, NY 10028-0008
ahmp@hri.org
www.ahmp.org