Your Music Channel Television (YMCtv) announced the launch of "City Sessions," a show in which music industry veterans showcase the vibrant local music scenes of cities across the nation. YMCtv is a division of Dallas-based World Digital Media Group, L.L.C. (WDMG), founded in 2005 by RadioShack Corporation, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, EchoStar Communications, and CC Entertainment. City Sessions spotlights the hottest indie bands in each city by producing high-definition shows of each artist in a recording studio session. The result is a new and unique format combining the best of both a live recording in a real studio and high-definition video which works on platforms globally. YMCtv is breaking new ground with City Sessions because it will distribute the video content through multiple channels ranging from TV to handheld wireless devices, and via an IPTV-based channel for YMCtv programming.

City Sessions, which has already shot more than 500 individual video performances, was created by Brad M. Smith, senior producer, and by former consultant Larry Namer, who is no longer involved with City Sessions.

City Sessions travels from city to city, seeking out indie bands and artists who are close to breaking into the national music scene.

"In every major city in America, there is a vibrant music scene that can be examined by looking at bands that have a huge local following, yet relatively few people are familiar with artists beyond their own city," said Smith, co-creator and senior producer for City Sessions. "City Sessions uncovers incredibly talented performers, and we give them a global stage where fans get an intimate look at the artists and their music. Our mission at City Sessions is to celebrate the music that defines our cities."

Bands can submit audio and video samples via City Sessions' Web site (www.citysessionstv.com). In each city they visit, the City Sessions crew spends roughly five days recording and filming local bands, working with three artists per day. Grammy Award winner Eddie Kramer, famous for his extensive engineering work for Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and KISS, stopped by the studio during the recent L.A. taping to lend his expertise to the Philip Sayce session. YMCtv will repurpose City Sessions for all forms of digital distribution including IPTV and wireless downloads to cell phones and other mobile devices.

City Sessions has already recorded artists in Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, including Celena Rae of "American Idol: Season Four;" Philip Sayce, who currently is touring with Melissa Etheridge; and Alice Peacock, whose album "Who I Am" was released on July 4. Pictures and video clips from these sessions can be viewed on the City Sessions Web site.

"Artists with a large local following benefit from City Sessions because it gives them the opportunity to increase their exposure on national and global platforms, and they receive a high-definition TV show and Grammy-engineered recording that in most cases they would never be able to afford on their own," said City Sessions Producer Darren Fair. "Several artists featured in L.A.'s City Sessions are already seeing their careers picking up. Alice Peacock's daily record sales on Amazon.com are on par with Daniel Powter and Bo Bice, both of whom have received considerable radio exposure. Philip Sayce recently saw his album 'Peace Machine' become the second-most downloaded album on iTunes UK. We're very excited to be a part of bringing musicians like Alice and Philip into the mainstream, and we are looking forward to discovering more fresh talent in each city we visit."

The next City Sessions stop will be Nashville, Tenn., this fall, with details to follow soon. Bands interested in being featured on City Sessions should contact Darren Fair via the City Sessions Web site or by e-mail to sessions@ymctv.com.