The growing popularity of domestic broadband is fueling the internet as a significant source of new music. The number of music-related links in the Arts & Entertainment section on aboutmalta.com has risen considerably over the past year.

This weekend the Maltese music pop scene will descend on Ta' Qali for the annual appointment with the Malta Song for Europe festival. Late on Saturday night we'll know who will be representing Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in Finland next May. I only bring this up because this event remains the one that gives Malta the largest live TV audience every year.

If you prefer to listen to something other than pop music, I recommend you look into a series of music podcasts the MaltaMedia Online Network started publishing in November 2005. The music featured on that podcast is the sort you rarely hear on the radio in Malta...and even a special edition on the Malta Song for Europe has an alternative spin to it.

Over the coming weeks, aboutmalta.com will continue to look into bringing you the best of Maltese music on the Internet. All suggestions are welcome, of course.

Toni Sant
Consulting Editor, aboutmalta.com

P.S. To subscribe to this newsletter just contact us.

1. Last Month's Daily News from MaltaMedia
2. Top Picks:
     a. Malta Song for Europe 2007
     b. Valentine's Day e-Cards
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 First accident of the year puts youth on danger list
02 Preview Malta Song for Europe 2007 clips
03 Unemployment rate at 6.8% in third quarter 2006
04 Malta wants legal assurance on divorce proposal
05 Diving Master Plan for Gozo, Comino presented
06 Runway issue halts Air Malta flight to Bristol
07 PM Gonzi to invite Pope to visit Malta
08 Businesses enjoy high sales during Notte Magica
09 Public accounts report for 2005 published
10 Final miracle for Dun Ġorġ Preca's sainthood
11 Malta Song for Europe running order revealed
12 Contractors in court over illegal waste dumping
13 MTA, NSO deny tourism data alterations
14 Two robberies foiled in Naxxar and Mosta
15 Malta losing more than half of its doctors, says MAM
16 Malta-Gozo air link to be restored with seaplane
17 Tender evaluation halted for Police investigation
18 Archbishop Mercieca celebrates his farewell mass
19 Abandoned factory ablaze in Ricasoli
20 MLP presents another three policies
21 Archbishop saddened by "divorce propaganda"
22 Successful conclusion to talks on SmartCity Malta
23 Drunk crew runs Malta-registered ship aground
24 CBM contract for minting of Malta euro coins signed
25 Prayer vigil for Archbishop-elect
26 Archbishop Paul Cremona ordained
27 NSO General Director resigns; Government reacts
28 Toxic fumes during archbishop's consecration investigated
29 Malta ranked as fastest-growing producer of garbage
30 Maltapost employees to follow industrial actions
31 Archbishop Cremona visits prison inmates

Read and/or listen to the latest daily news from MaltaMedia.com.

a. 2007 Malta Song for Europe

Preparations for Malta's chance to shine in front of the largest television audience start with the annual Malta Song for Europe contest. This year's hopefuls will once again sing their hearts out during the first weekend of February, mesmerized by the grand prize: representing Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Finalnd this May. Song clips and all the latest information available at EurovisionMalta.com.
 

b. Valentine's Day e-Cards

You're never too old to express your appreciation for someone you love or admire. Maltese-born creative Gattaldo created a series of free animated e-cards just for this occassion. Macromedia's Flash Player is required to view these e-cards, but you can download it through the page where the cards are displayed. Other Valentine e-cards are available too. And remember that it doesn't have to be the 14th of February to let someone you treasure know how much you appreciate them!

30 YEARS AGO (20 February 1977 )
Guido DeMarco is elected Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party defeating and succeeding Censu Tabone who had served in that capacity for several years.

20 YEARS AGO (4 February 1987)
An agreement is signed between Bank of Valletta and Għaqda Kaccaturi, Nassaba u Konservazzjonisti (Association for Hunters, Trappers and Conservationist) at the Hotel Metropole in Sliema, providing for sponsorship of the Association to the extent of Lm5,000 over a span of two years.

10 YEARS AGO (28 February 1997)
An accidental fire breaks out in the underground chambers and corridors of the President's Palace in Valletta.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
4 February 1936: Joe Grima, Broadcaster
7 February 1934: Eddie Fenech Adami, President of Malta
8 February 1968: Claudette Pace, entertainer
28 February 1948: Alfred Sant, MLP leader

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
4 February 2002: Agatha Barbara, 3rd President of the Republic of Malta, dies at 78
16 February 2003: Sonny Monte, Singer, dies in car crash at 55
22 February 1963: Ruzar Briffa, Poet, dies at 57
25 February 1988: Marianus Vella, Priest/Poet, dies at 61

See aboutmalta.com's daily full list of birthdays, deaths, and events in Maltese history.

Today in Maltese History is produced exclusively for aboutmalta.com by Mario Axiaq.

1 + 3 February 2007
Malta Song For Europe
This year's selection for Malta's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest takes place at the new conference centre in Ta' Qali. The semi-final will be decided by 50% televoting and 50% from an invited panel of judges while the final winner on Saturday will be based on 100% televoting.

2 - 4 + 9 - 11 February 2007
Audacity
MADC's first production at St James Cavalier for 2007 is Simon Maudsley's black comedy directed by Coryse Borg.

9 - 20 February 2007
Carnival in Malta & Gozo
Undoubtedly one of the most colourful events in the Maltese calendar. Carnival usually provides five days of revelry with many dressing up in colourful costumes. This year, Carnival in Gozo will be spread over two weekends with the Nadur Carnival starting on February 11 in the afternoon.

17 February 2007
International Day of Native Languages: Vers Agħtini
An evening of Maltese poems and prose read by children; a UNESCO organised by FrannyJo Publications in collaboration with Heritage Malta at the National Museum of the Social History of the Maltese Language (Auberge de France), Vittoriosa, starting at 18:30.

View aboutmalta.com's full calendar for this month's events in Malta and Gozo, or to submit a future event to our calendar.