PRS Foundation supports new music at Eurosonic

PRS Foundation is funding 13 artists to play at Eurosonic Noorderslag this week in Groningen via its International Showcase Fund.

It’s the highest number of artists that the Foundation has funded to play at the annual conference and live show that takes places from January 11th to 14th.

Names to have received funding include London band Teleman (pictured), composer Anna Meredith, singer/songwriter Azekel, pop artist Be Charlotte and Bedfordshire band CC Smugglers.

PRS has also helped pop singer Elle Exxe, five-piece Haus, young vocalist Holly Macve, duo Let’s Eat Grandma, synth band Moonlandingz (who are made up of two Fat White Family members), duo Otzeki, electronic musician Salute and rock band Shame.

In 2015, Europe accounted for £118.9m (61%) of PRS for Music’s international royalty collections. In the same year, international revenue generated the organisation’s largest source of income, making up 36% of all collections in 2015.

“Today’s announcement shows that our commitment to growing that market remains as strong as ever despite any changes to the political climate. Eurosonic is of particular importance because it provides an opportunity to showcase before thousands of delegates, as well as bookers from more than 400 international festivals.”

Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive of PRS Foundation said: “The UK is one of only three net exporters of musical repertoire in the world, and Europe remains far and away our biggest market – accounting for over 60% of PRS for Music’s international collections.  Today’s announcement shows that our commitment to growing that market remains as strong as ever despite any changes to the political climate. Eurosonic is of particular importance because it provides an opportunity to showcase before thousands of delegates, as well as bookers from more than 400 international festivals.”

The International Showcase Fund is run by PRS Foundation, in partnership with the Department for International Trade, Arts Council England, British Underground, Musicians’ Union, PPL, Wales Arts International, Creative Scotland and PledgeMusic. It offers support for UK artists to take their first steps into international territories by enabling them to perform at showcasing festivals and conferences such as Canadian Music Week, SXSW, CMJ, Womex, Eurosonic and Jazzahead  which attract thousands of people working in the music industry from every corner of the globe.

In the International Showcase Fund’s most recent report spanning 2013-16, 89% of supported artists returned with tangible business outcomes (such as record, publishing or touring deals) and every £1 invested by the fund generated an additional £8.90 in revenues for the supported artist.  Supported artists have included Kate Tempest, Little Simz, Everything Everything, The Square, and East India Youth.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.