2011 Music Showcases

Artist showcase submissions started August 2 and it's expected more than 10,500 bands will apply from over 50 countries before the final deadline of November 5. It's been the launchpad in recent years for Australian and New Zealand bands and labels in 'The Live Music Capital Of The World' where 'Tomorrow Happens Here' in terms of presenting the next new things in contemporary music.

With artist submissions for showcasing among close to 2000 global bands in front of 15,000 music industry professionals and executives from 55 countries, the 25th annual South by Southwest Music & Media Festival in Austin, Texas March 16-20 2011 has opened for both applications to play and delegate registration.

A set of Frequently Asked Questions on how to make artist submissions is at http://www.sxsw.com/music/shows/apply/faq

So you know the numbers and competition, in 2010 over 10,500 artists applied with over 2500 outside of North America, including 250+ Australians, 40+ from NZ and 34 from Hawaii--our territories that IMMEDIA! handle. Over 70 from these three territories were invited.

Of the 1,978 artists that played over five nights in 89 stages, 29 were Australian, 11 Kiwis and six Hawaiian.

It is highly competitive, and not being from the US, you MUST have a US visa (approximately US$2500-$3500 per band), you must arrange all your own transport, accommodation and instruments and you get one hour to set up and play before the next band in the night's lineup at that venue takes over the stage.

An excellent article on the state of play with US visas was published in the Boston Phoenix June 23 2008 at http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/63473-Immigrant-song which I urge you to read if you are not familiar with the labyrinth of visa applications.

It is not for the unprepared, nor for frivolous submissions. You should only apply to showcase at SxSW if you already have the funds necessary (Figure $20,000 for a four piece) and if you are at the right point in your career to benefit from playing there. Going up against 1900 other artists means you must have resources to be heard above the noise, have recordings, airplay and market recognition in your home country to be appropriate and also have the backup of management and other support to take advantage of the opportunity.

Generally we suggest either the manager or a key band member go to SxSW the year before applying to understand how it works, how competitive it is and how the Australian and New Zealand artists, managers and labels work the event from the showcases to the national stands in the trade fairs and through publicity or promotion.

Here is a lengthy primer with tips on how to apply and increase your chances for success.

SXSW 2011 SHOWCASE APPLICATION PRIMER

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC AND MEDIA CONFERENCE
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA
MARCH 16-20, 2011

INTRODUCTION
The following document offers a concise primer for non-USA artists on the South by Southwest Music Festival showcase application process. Please read this carefully and share with members of your team.

FOR INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, ALL ROADS LEAD TO SXSW
South by Southwest is one of the largest and most prestigious music industry events in the world. The list of talented artists and industry luminaries who attend SXSW each year speaks for itself. In 2010, over 1900 artists, including over 548 international artists from 49 nations - representing every imaginable style of music - played before more than 13,000 registrants from around the world at 89 of Austin's premier stages ranging from the most intimate clubs to the outdoor stage located at Auditorium Shores.

What you may not realise is that SXSW Music showcases offer artists unique opportunities to make their musical vision a reality. The people who write about music and the people who can put it in a film, play it on the radio or television, or produce a CD are all at SXSW. You know it's one thing to hear about how talented an act is, or how great someone's new material is, but it's another thing altogether to see and hear it for yourself. The opportunities for media exposure have never been better with SXSW being covered by hundreds of national and international media outlets. Television crews, film makers, radio programmers, music magazine journalists, newspaper writers, podcasters and hundreds of independent bloggers will be in Austin reporting on every facet of SXSW and laying claim to having heard the next big act before anyone else.

WHO SHOWCASES?
SXSW prides itself on presenting a music festival program that is hip, adventurous, eclectic, and challenging to the musical tastes of the 13,000 professional music delegates and more than 19,000 consumers in attendance. Delegates (and consumers) take gig-going very seriously and everyone criss-crosses downtown Austin each night to check out as many bands as they can. Musical genres represented include Alt Country, Avant/Experimental, Bluegrass, Blues, Conjunto, Country, DJ, Electronic, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz, Latin Rock, Latin, Metal, Pop, Punk, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Ska, Tejano, World, and other styles not easily defined!

TIPS BEFORE YOU APPLY:
* The international artists that get the most out of SXSW are those that have prepared a marketing strategy for the US and are using SXSW to achieve very specific goals. They are also generally the ones who are poised and ready to translate domestic success into international success. Don't apply frivolously just to see if you get accepted if you can't go.
* SXSW recommends that you consider whether you are at the right point in your career to benefit from a showcase. Going up against 1,900 other artists means you must have resources to be heard above the noise, have recordings, airplay and market recognition in your home country and also have the backup of management and other support to take advantage of the opportunity.
* Depending on many different factors, a showcase at SXSW could cost an act upwards of US5,000 per person in travel, accommodation, visa application fees and other costs, so take time before you apply to research potential sources of funding. This does not include marketing or promotion costs. Budget at least A$20,000 or NZ$25,000 to have available if you are accepted as this is typically what the exercise costs.
* You may find opportunities to apply for local funding to help defray a small amount of costs but in general grant aid opportunities are limited, demand outstrips supply and strict eligibility criteria apply. With the current economy, government grants are tightening.
* SXSW recommends that any artist applying to showcase intends to have in place a business representative who will register for SXSW in their own right to work on the artist's behalf. There are no free registrations for band managers, label staff or crew and band members who play get only limited access to SxSW events such as the trade fair and conference.
* Read the showcase FAQs at http://www.sxsw.com/music/shows/apply/faq

THE SHOWCASE APPLICATION PROCESS

Please note, you do not apply through this site. SxSW's official submission partner is Sonicbids. Read below for more information.

SXSW are now accepting international showcase applications until November 5, 2010. Sonicbids is the official online music submission partner of the 2011 SXSW Music Conference and Festival. To apply online via Sonicbids, log in to your Sonicbids account (or create one - you'll receive a 2 week free trial when you apply for SXSW) and choose SXSW in the "Top Opportunities" listing. We'll use your Sonicbids Electronic Press Kit to listen to your music and review your press materials. You won't need to upload any additional materials.
http://www.sonicbids.com/sxsw

The application cost is US $30 until October 7. On October 8, 2010, the rate rises to $40. To be considered for a showcase, you must have your application and Sonicbids EPK completed with your music and press materials uploaded by the appropriate deadline. We strongly recommend you complete your application and upload materials sooner rather than later. We cannot evaluate your music to consider you for a showcase until you upload it.

TIPS
* Make sure the audio material you send accurately reflects how you intend to present yourself. If you are going to play solo acoustic, then don't send a big band recording. If you need to submit a demo recording make sure to label it as such.
* Do include a photo, as photos of showcase artists are included on the festival website and can promote your visual image.
* Do nominate a "primary" track when you apply online, as MP3s of showcase artists are included on the festival website and can give listeners a sense of your musical style.
* Please upload at least 3 songs.
* Be careful what person you list as your primary contact on the form as this is the person to whom all correspondence from SXSW will be directed. Ideally, your primary contact should be a member of the act or someone with regular contact with your act.
* If your company wishes to apply as a showcase presenter (i.e. a special label showcase or private party), please email tripp@sxsw.com for guidelines and procedures on how to submit a proposal

ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Unlike in the past, this year there will not be a separate international and domestic deadline. The absolute deadline is November 5, 2010. This will be the absolute last date for international artists to complete their application for a showcase.

TIPS
* SXSW receives over 10,000 showcase applications every year. Your application will be acknowledged by email but due to the volume of applications received, SXSW asks that you please do not call the office to enquire about the status of your application
* SXSW has to turn down the majority of applications to perform at SXSW. But know that all applicants are carefully evaluated
* Ensure your Primary Contact has any email spam filters set to receive mail from @sxsw.com addresses.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2010
SXSW makes an enormous effort to get all invitations out to international artists during the months of November and December. They make this effort to give artists the opportunity to start applying immediately for work visas within the required 90-100 day turnaround time.

IN CONCLUSION:
From unsigned bands to indie and major label headliners, SXSW continues to be the premier music conference and festival that sets the tone and direction of the industry by introducing the hottest new talent, and showcasing the new directions and sounds of the most important musical acts in the world, while providing an ideal environment for bands to learn from and meet the music industry professionals that can help them further their careers.

For further information on SXSW Music & Media Conference and Festival 2010: Phil Tripp-SxSW Representative for Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii E: tripp@sxsw.com P: (61) 2 9557 7766 OZ/NZ Site: http://www.sxsw.com.au "During the frenzy of the festival known as SXSW, the potential audience includes deal makers and gatekeepers across the music business and a successful appearance, even it it's in a small club, can ripple across old and new media." New York Times, Monday, March 23, 2009

How To Apply to Showcase at SxSW From A Foreign Country

To register as a delegate, we urge you to do this early so that you get a hotel close in the CBD and pay the lowest, early bird registration price. Registrations are open now at http://www.sxsw.com. To see the sort of delegates who go from our territories go to http://www.sxsw.com.au/who_goes.php

For any inquiries on stands, advertising in the Festival Guides or the magazine SxSWorld, showbag inserts, media accreditation or other marketing programs, please email Phil Tripp tripp@sxsw.com or call (02) 9557 7766 in Sydney during weekdays.

About Visas & South by Southwest

Musician’s South by Southwest Survival Guide

2010 Music Showcases

The following performed at SxSW 2010.

29 AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS

11 NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS

Bachelorette - http://www.myspace.com/bachelorettepop
Bang Bang Eche - http://www.myspace.com/bangbangeche
David Dallas - http://www.daviddallas.co.nz
Die! Die! Die! - http://www.myspace.com/diediedienz
Gin Wigmore - http://www.ginewigmore.com
Kerretta - http://www.myspace.com/kerretta
Mr Sicc - http://www.myspace.com/mrsicc
The Ruby Suns - http://www.therubysuns.com
Surf City - http://www.myspace.com/killsurfcitygo
Miho Wada - http://www.mihowada.com
Young Sid - http://www.myspace.com/youngsidmtc

6 HAWAIIAN ARTISTS

Anuhea - http://www.myspace.com/anuheajams
Tavana - http://www.myspace.com/tavanamusic
Pimpbot - http://www.myspace.com/pimpbot
Sabrina - http://www.myspace.com/sabrinamusic
Kona - http://www.myspace.com/kona
Yahiowa - http://www.yahowha13.com

View Previous SXSW Showcasing Artists