A SPRINGBOARD for struggling musicians to get their voices heard has become a hit with overseas record producers.

And on Sunday representatives from US hip-hop label Def Jam Records will be flying into the island to attend the first awards show of promotional web site theunderground.net

The Underground site was created by local producer Jonathan Talbot last year to promote the island's musical talent.

And in the last 12 months the site, which features about 50 Bermudian artists and producers, has received 25,000 hits, many of them from overseas.

"It started in October 2004 as a word-of-mouth thing," Mr. Talbot said.

"At first it was just for local artists who were looking to sign a record deal and wanted to get their work out there. But then artists from Canada, California and New York started gravitating towards it. Now it's started a bond between local and foreign artists."

Although the site focuses on hip-hop and R&B music, the service is open "to anyone within the music industry who has something to offer", Mr. Talbot said.

And he believes the site has played a crucial role in drawing Bermudian artists to the attention of big-name producers overseas.

"It's like a distributorship network," Mr. Talbot said.

"It's enabling local artists to make connections with the outside world.

"The plan was to test run the site and see the overall interest that a site of this nature would attract, with a plan to advertise gradually but concentrate mainly on artists utilising the site. Artists each have their own page and can upload their tracks, pictures, video clips and other information on their experience and music projects that they want to get promotion on. There are sites on the Internet that charge more than $200 annually for this service but The Underground runs it for free.

"However, due to the influx of interest this site has produced, we are now having to rethink the plan and we are ready to launch the UG to the public in a full-on advertising campaign."

Sunday's awards ceremony, which takes place at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts, will feature special guests Young Guru of Def Jam Records and rap artist Phenzwaan from the UK.

"They'll be here to observe the awards ceremony and check out the local talent," Mr. Talbot, who runs J Rock Communications, said.

"Phenzwaan is an independent artist and a real fan of the site. Hopefully, we can make this an annual event and they're here to see what they can do next year."

The ceremony, which kicks off with a red carpet arrival reception at 6.30 p.m., will also feature a hip-hop fashion show and guest performance by Loctight. Awards to be presented include best rap artist, female artist, producer, vocalist and lyricist.

Tickets cost $35 and are available from Music World, Mary's Fashion and Hose's Fashion.