NI’s Winnie Ama, JC Stewart and Wynona Bleach set to receive support to attend SXSW 2025 through PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund

The artists selected for International Showcase Fund support to attend SXSW represent some of the most exciting talent from across the UK making waves and in different genres, such as Northern Ireland’s Wynona Bleach (alternative/shoegaze/pop) whose latest album has been co-produced by Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh (Björk, The XX, Manic Street Preachers, Bryan Adams) and are about to embark on an 11-date headline tour of the UK.

International Showcase Fund supported Winnie Ama said,

“The PRS Foundation International Showcase Fund is a game-changer! It’s providing the resources I need to build a team and reach new audiences to take my music to the next level.''

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added,

“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted that three musical acts from Northern Ireland will be showcased at this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas thanks to game-changing funding from The National Lottery players. We are committed to providing valuable, meaningful opportunities for our artists to develop and this opportunity does just that by giving artists the chance to connect with industry leaders whilst shining a light on the tremendous talent that is inherent to Northern Ireland. We are proud to partner with PRS Foundation in this important initiative which is enabling export ready artists vital access to a global stage.”

Becci Scotcher, Senior Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation said,

“We’re delighted to be supporting 29 exceptional music creators from across the UK to travel to the United States, and showcase to the international music industry and be part of the international songwriting camp at this year’s SXSW. At a time when competition and investment in music export from other countries has increased, the opportunity to showcase at overseas festivals and conferences and take those first steps in a new territory is more important than ever. A huge thanks to all the partners on the International Showcase Fund (ISF) as their vital partnership and collaboration enables this key stepping stone for so many UK music creators to showcase and export their music, which as last year’s ISF impact report shows has huge benefits and growth for the artists, the industry and the UK economy.  Additionally, our collaborative initiative UK Sounds will amplify the UK’s collective presence at SXSW this year, promoting UK artists and showcase presenters and encouraging and facilitating connections with the international industry at the festival. Make sure to check out uksounds.prsfoundation.com and sign up for the UK Sounds SXSW Daily Email for all the top tips for each day!”

The full schedule of official showcases for artists supported by the International Showcase Fund will be available on PRS Foundation’s website in the coming weeks.

All International Showcase Fund artists will additionally be listed on UK Sounds, the collaborative initiative led by PRS Foundation in partnership with several music export organisations and partners in the UK. UK Sounds acts as an online hub offering a national umbrella brand to highlight various stakeholders and strengthen UK music’s visibility and presence at overseas festivals and conferences. Find out more about UK Sounds and the UK artists and UK showcase presenters at this year’s SXSW: https://uksounds.prsfoundation...

The International Showcase Fund is run by PRS Foundation in partnership with Department for Business and Trade, Arts Council England, British Underground, Musicians' Union, Creative Scotland, PPL, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and British Council. It offers vital and timely support for artists to take their first steps into international territories by enabling them to perform at key showcasing festivals and conferences such as SXSW, Reeperbahn Festival, Zandari Festa, Womex, Africa Rising, Eurosonic, Jazzahead! and MUTEK which attract thousands of people working in the music industry from every corner of the globe.

In the fund’s 5-year report spanning 2019-2024 the International Showcase Fund helped generate £6.7 million for the UK music industry and UK economy and for every £1 of the UK Government’s contribution to the fund, music creators generated £26.90 in total revenues.

Listen to the International Showcase Fund and all the UK artists performing at SXSW 2025 on the UK Sounds playlist on Spotify.

All the artists receiving support to showcase are:

• ADJUA (Wales)
• BIG SPECIAL (England)
• Big Zeeks (England)
• BLACK FONDU (England)
• BLACKGOLD (England)
• Cloth (Scotland)
• corto.alto (Scotland)
• CVC (Wales)
• Dilettante (England)
• Ellur (England)
• Essii (England)
• Fourth Daughter (Scotland)
• Freak Slug (England)
• Haile (England)
• Honeyglaze (England)
• INSXGHT (England)
• jasmine.4.t (England)
• JC Stewart (Northern Ireland)
• mary in the junkyard (England)
• Milkweed (England)
• Morgan Munroe (England)
• Shao Dow (England)
• Summer Pearl (England)
• T Mulla (England)
• twst (Wales)
• Vraell (England)
• Winnie Ama (Northern Ireland)
• Wynona Bleach (Northern Ireland)
• Additionally, Ruby Duff (England) is being supported to attend the SXSW Songs Writing Camp.

About International Showcase Fund

Since 2006 PRS Foundation has been running the International Showcase Fund, in partnership with Department for Business and Trade, Arts Council England, British Underground, Musicians’ Union, and since 2016 Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales and PPL and in 2018 Wales Arts International and Arts Council of Northern Ireland and most recently British Council in 2024. This fund supports UK artists to take their first steps into international territories at industry showcases in Europe and around the world.

The International Showcase Fund impact report launched in Parliament in 2016 highlighted the importance of showcasing and exporting overseas: 89% of supported artists returned with tangible business outcomes (whether recording publishing, touring deals etc). In the 2016-2019 report, the International Showcase Fund demonstrated 91% of grantees reported clear business outcomes and in last year’s latest impact report, International Showcase Fund demonstrated it helped generate £6.7 million for the UK music industry and UK economy between 2019-2024.