Twelve hundred people in six countries make a push-button vote to pick the best European Pops.
David Gell introduces the programme from London and meets:
Leif H. Anderson in Stockholm
Vidar Lonn Arnesen in Oslo
Manne Schulman in Helsinki
Mario Saladin in Lugano
Jan Theys in Brussels
Jillian Comber keeps the score
Jan Theys (Brussels)
To the non-fan one pop disc may sound very like another. To the fans, who know the difference, how do British discs compare with those from other parts of Europe? This afternoon, a Swedish device called the mentometer will be installed in Belgium, Britain, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland to measure the response of 1200 jurors to two records from each of those countries. The programme will be broadcast simultaneously in the countries taking part, and the six juries will vote, giving scores to each record played. The one that is awarded the most votes will become the top pop of Europe for this week.
In Sweden the mentometer has been used for four years to pick the regular hit parade, and it was from that idea that our own Top Ten Game was devised. The European Pop Jury was suggested by Swedish Radio as part of the European Broadcasting Union's Radio in Europe Week. Since English is understood in the participating countries, it was decided to direct the proceedings from London, and Klas Burling will be coming from Sweden to produce the programme with me. David Gell will link the other comperes, who will supply local scores and translations into their own languages where necessary.
(Johnny Beerling)