13 January 2010 - 0 Comments

Over 10,000 global artists from 49 countries applied for the coveted 1800 performance slots at the world's largest and most prestigious music industry showcase event --South by Southwest Music & Media Festival in Austin Texas March 17-21-- but it's the Kiwi contingent that scored the most hits with 15 out of 35 submitting artists invited to play. It's the highest ratio of success to submissions of any country, just over 40%, and all of the NZ artists have accepted their invitations to play.

Over the past eight years, the number of New Zealand artists
performing at SxSW has rocketed from only one in 2002 and the successful outcomes of record deals, publishing contracts, agency signings and management agreements as well as global media exposure has been huge. This is due in no small part to the consistent government support and canny strategies of the New Zealand Music Commission which has an annual concert of homegrown talent, a consistent stand presence in the SxSW Trade Fair and a swag of promotion from samplers and media to NZ 42Below cocktails at the
concert party.

The bands invited and accepted are

* Bachelorette
* Bang Bang Eche
* David Dallas
* Die! Die! Die!
* Gin Wigmore
* Kidz In Space
* Kingston
* Lawrence Arabia
* Miho Wada
* Mr Sicc
* Steriogram
* Surf City
* The Brunettes
* The Ruby Suns
* Young Sid

As NZ Music Commission Outward Sound Export Manager Gary Fortune states, "SxSW is a key annual event for bands from New Zealand aspiring to take their music overseas. It provides a great opportunity to network and play showcases in front of key members of the world wide music & media industries. The past few years has seen a sharp increase in applications and interest for bands to play in Austin reflecting the importance of the NZ Music Commission being involved in supporting our artists at one of the biggest music conferences in the world. We are proud of the high quality of our NZ musicians and are looking forward to helping them make the most of their SxSW opportunities."

SxSW AustralAsian rep Phil Tripp, based in Sydney, agrees. "Kiwi acts punch well above their weight in this global battle of bands. The proof is not only in the high number of invitations but also the success over the past eight years that the NZ Music Commission has attained. They make their artists' presences felt, elevate their profiles over competing artists from around the world and extend enhanced on-the-ground logistical support year after year."

From across the ditch, 35 Australian bands have so far accepted their showcase invitations out of 62 who were accepted from just over 200 submissions for a hit rate of 30%. Like New Zealand's trade export support, Australia also has a major stand, side events, publicity and promotion plotted well in advance every year and the number of artists invited has soared 15-fold since four were invited in 2002.

SxSW Music & Media Festival and Conference in its 24th year attracts over 15,000 music industry professional delegates to a set of over 1800 showcases in five nights at 90 venues in the 'Live Music Capital of the World', Austin Texas. Through these evening showcases, where each band has one hour to perform, SxSW registrants have a first-look at tomorrow's stars and the 'Next New Things'. By day, there are special parties where managers, labels, promoters, press, internet
media outlets, artists and other business professionals also conduct business in the SxSW Trade Show. Conference registrants partake in a full agenda of provocative, informative panel discussions and celebrity interviews featuring hundreds of speakers of international stature.

SxSW Official Site -- http://www.sxsw.com/
SxSW AustralAsian Site -- http://www.themusic.com.au/sxsw
NZ Music Commission Site -- http://nzmusic.org.nz/

Thanks to www.sxsw.com for this story.

Next: Jazz festival promises treats for music – and food lovers

Prev: The countdown is on to the 2010 S3 Pacific Music Awards!

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