Beijing, Berlin among music hot spots in 2007

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Sick of the music scene in New York or London? It may be time to savor the delights of five unlikely cities spawning exciting new sounds.

BEIJING

Population: 14 million

Main Language: Mandarin Chinese

Shanghai may have become China's business heart, but Beijing remains its political and cultural capital -- and home to a burgeoning modern music scene eager to reach audiences outside the People's Republic.

In the past, domestically successful rock bands like Tang Dynasty, Spring Autumn and AK-47 have emerged from Beijing, as did the "godfather" of Chinese rock, Cui Jian. Now a new generation of alternative acts is appearing.

"Beijing has solidified its place as the locus of modern music on the mainland," says Shen Lihui, CEO of leading Beijing independent label Modern Sky.

The healthy live scene is also starting to attract international acts such as U.S.-based banjo star Bela Fleck and U.K. alt-rockers Maximo Park.

"At the moment it's uncharted territory," says Maximo Park manager Colin Schaverien. "But in five years it will be a natural routing point stop-off on the way to, or back from, Japan."

The current crop of home-grown Beijing talent includes Modern Sky's goth-influenced "post-rock" act the Retros, who will appear at the South by Southwest confab in Austin, while ambient/electronic rock duo FM3 -- which has been picked up internationally after it was championed by Brian Eno -- has scheduled 30 European dates for 2007.

BERLIN

Population: 3.5 million

Main Language: German

Berlin's central role in the international dance music scene has been well-known since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. But now the relocated likes of electro artist Peaches; her fellow Canadian, techno pioneer Richie Hawtin (a.k.a. Plastikman); and U.S. DJ/producers Jay Haze and Stewart Walker are rubbing up against a burgeoning rock and pop scene as well.

Metal act Rammstein blazed the trail, selling 10 million albums worldwide. Now, with support from a network of 16 local radio stations, a new generation of local acts is following in Rammstein's footsteps. Berlin boy band Tokio Hotel is the latest Pan-European pop sensation, with global sales of more than 2.4 million albums.

Alt-rock act Virginia Jetzt has sold 20,000 copies of its debut album, while rock bands El*ke and Superleutnaant and pop outfit Naomi are all hot 2007 tips.