Resources

Funding support

International Showcase Fund (ISF)

The International Showcase Fund offers grants of up to £5,500 for international export opportunities for UK-based artists, bands, songwriters and producers who have been invited to perform or create new music at international industry facing showcasing festivals, song writing camps or conferences.

Find out more and apply

Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS)

The Music Export Growth Scheme is designed to make available grants ranging from £5,000 – £50,000 to UK-registered independent music companies to assist them with marketing campaigns when looking to introduce successful UK music projects overseas.

Find out more and apply

Residencies, performance and professional development opportunities, events and Selector Radio

The British Council’s Music team works to create trust and understanding between the UK and the rest of the world through the medium of music. Working in over 100 countries across the globe, they work Arts Councils, UK Govenement and fundeing organisations to develop and support music work in a variety of ways.

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BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation partnership

BBC Music Introducing and PRS Foundation bring emerging talent to showcases worldwide. At the launch of BBC Music, BBC Music Introducing announced that it would be forming a partnership with PRS Foundation as part of their commitment to offer the best new artists unrivalled opportunities to be seen and heard.  Additionally, with BBC Asian Network and BBC 1Xtra the partnership will support more UK artists to become export ready

Find out more and apply

Keychange

Keychange is a pioneering international initiative which transforms the future of music whilst encouraging festivals and music organisations to represent the underrepresented through the Keychange Pledge.

Find out more and apply

Showcase presenters

Wide Days

Wide Days is Scotland’s annual Music Industry Convention and showcase event in Edinburgh. Throughout the year they host Scottish showcases and receptions at international events  including ESNS, SXSW, The Great Escape, Future Echoes + more.

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FOCUS Wales

FOCUS Wales is an international showcase festival taking place in multiple venues across the city of Wrexham, North Wales. The festival places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world, alongside a selection of the best new acts from across the globe.

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Output Belfast

Output Belfast is Ireland’s biggest one-day music conference and live showcase which this year takes place in Belfast on November 12th at The MAC Theatre, Oh Yeah Centre and across venues in the Cathedral Quarter. Every year at SXSW, Output Belfast curates a showcase in association with the British Music Embassy in partnership with Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council.

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British Music Embassy

Official UK residency at SXSW, Austin Texas, USA.

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British Underground

British Underground showcases outstanding UK music, art and immersive technology to international industry audiences.

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Jazz re:freshed

Launched in 2003 Jazz re:freshed serves the underrepresented musicians on the jazz scene by offering them more performance opportunities in the UK and overseas.

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Everything R&B

DJ Ace’s Everything R&B organises a cohort of emerging artist to join him on the road to develop their knowledge and connections within the live music industry, enhance their performance skills, and be introduced to new UK audiences.  Everything R&B also holds showcases at SXSW, Austin Texas.

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Useful information

The Musicians’ Union

The Musicians’ Union represents 34,500 members working in all aspects of the music industry and is a proud partner of the PRS International Showcase Fund. The MU provides a suite of resources for members working overseas, whether it is US visastravelling with musical instruments  or  working in the EU post the UK departure from the EU.  

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Export Support Service

Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Business & Trade and HMRC held an event in February 2024 ‘Music Touring in the EU’ The event provided an overview of the Export Support Service, which is available for those who require support to tour or export products to Europe, as well as a presentation from HMRC. Government have provided the following presentations from the session, for dissemination to artists. They include guidance on:

  • A1 Forms
  • Importing and exporting goods
  • Musical artists and accompanying staff
  • Merchandise In Baggage

Find out more

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Use the UK Government’s to find out the latest entry requirements and restrictions for UK Citizens to enter another country

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#WelshMusicAbroad

Welsh Music Abroad is powered by a partnership between FOCUS Wales, TRAC, and Tŷ Cerdd. Creating opportunities for artists and industry to engage music markets across the globe.

With a shared wealth of experience of working internationally, and following many years of positive collaboration through multiple projects, in early 2023, our organisations joined together to form an ambitious plan which will see us working in partnership to enhance our international work moving forward, through the vehicle of Welsh Music Abroad.

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Tamizdat

Tamizdat is a nonprofit organization that facilitates and advocates for international cultural mobility and exchange. Driven by the conviction that the international mobility and exchange of culture is fundamental to a healthy and progressive civil society, Tamizdat seeks through its program activities to assist the international performing arts community in addressing problems presented by international borders, and U.S. immigration policy and procedure.

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SEWEM

SEWEM – Sino-European Women Entrepreneurs in Music – is a networking and mentoring programme to promote the skills of European and Chinese women in the music and export sector, aiming for equality.

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