Funding_British Music Abroad_About British Music Abroad

About British Music Abroad

Music is incredibly valuable to the British economy - calculated at £3.6 billion for 2008 (Adding up the Music Industry, Page/Carey.) And British Music is sought after the world over: in 2008, one in 10 artist albums sold in the USA was by a UK act (British Music in North America 2008, BPI). The British Music Abroad Scheme helps quality emerging British acts to access this international platform.

What British Music Abroad does

British Music Abroad is a funding programme which helps British acts to perform at international showcases and key international tastemaker festivals which have a strong industry presence, and hold a good track record of artists achieving success following appearing at the event.

British Music Abroad supports UK acts who are already making waves in the UK and are ready for an international stage.

Acts who have been selected for key overseas showcasing events and tastemaker festivals can apply for help to get them there. Since it was set up in 2006, over 165 acts have achieved success and international recognition through this scheme. They could not have done so without our support. 

Why British Music Abroad exists

A large part of the costs involved with international showcasing are travel and accommodation, which for an emerging act can be prohibitive. By providing financial support, the scheme enables those at this critical stage in their careers to take advantage of the benefits offered by international showcasing.

Examples of events that the scheme is here to support artists to attend are South By South West (SXSW), Eurosonic, One Movement, CMJ, Iceland Airwaves and Transmusicalis.

What you need to know about international showcases

For acts at the right stage of their careers, playing an international showcase or industry facing festival can raise their profile at home and abroad, strengthen key industry contacts, lead to recording, synchronisation and distribution deals, and further gigs and tours.

How can my act get a place at a showcase? Are we ready for it?

Knowing whether your act is at the right career stage for an international showcase is the important first step. UKTI often hold showcase briefings well before the events for anyone considering taking this step. You will need to apply directly to the showcase or tastemaker festival in question to secure a place (note that PRSF cannot help with this stage) but once you have a confirmed slot, you can apply through British Music Abroad for funding.

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