London Olympics to boost UK music scene

As the newly reformed British act Blur is set to take the stage at this summer's London Olympic Games, not much else is known about what to expect at the opening and closing ceremonies -- but whatever it is, experts say that the event will put UK musicians (at least some of them) on the map for the rest of the world.

The Olympic Games, July 27 through August 12, will be watched by an estimated 4 billion viewers worldwide, according to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As a result, the UK's music industry can expect a bump in sales, according to a Billboard.biz report. Plus with more than 16 million people involved in the events of the Cultural Olympiad, the event has a total funding of £97.6 million ($155 million) to play with -- of course, how much of that goes to musical artists is yet to be determined.

For those in the UK or traveling for the event, planned programs include the River of Music, taking place July 21-22 on six stages along the River Thames. So far the lineup features a few international artists, including pop band Scissor Sisters, trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, and Grammy Award-winning Beninoise singer Angelique Kidjo, with more to be announced.

Also in the works is a free music event as part of Music Nation, on March 3-4 in 45 UK locations with more than 65,000 tickets available.

For those enjoying the event from the couch, Billboard.biz reports that the exposure could be "great news" for British singer-songwriter and Elbow frontman Guy Garvey. The band has written the BBC's theme music, a six-minute track to be played across the channel's coverage throughout the Games, stated Billboard.biz.

Also British producer Mark Ronson recorded the theme for Coca-Cola's international television ads, featuring a variety of British artists, including pop singer Jesse J.