The Government Information Office (GIO) announced Wednesday the first batch of eight local music groups that will receive its subsidies for taking part in international popular music activities. The GIO said that the local music groups, including Tizzy Bac, which is very popular among the youngsters, will take part in international music activities in the United States, Lithuania, and Germany. To upgrade the level of and help raise the international prominence of Taiwan's pop music groups, the GIO has since last year begun to subsidize local music groups to take part in international music events. This year, the subsidies have also been expanded to include participation at international music seminars, invitations extended to international music figures to travel to Taiwan for seminars, or those in Taiwan's music sector to take part in short-term courses overseas. The subsidies also will be raised from NT$600,000 to NT$1 million per case. 