PRS for Music teamed up with BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens to showcase British music at SXSW
Huw Stephens in association with PRS for Music bring the ‘Best of British’ music to SXSW festival 2016. Hosting an exclusive, hand-picked showcase representing UK music at the British Music Embassy
As part of South by South West (SXSW) this week, PRS for Music together with BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens were in Austin, Texas representing the best of British music talent at the festival’s British Music Embassy.
The showcase was a huge success with astounding sets across the board from hip-hop artist Loyle Carner, soul-pop’s Clean Cut Kid, alt-pop artist OSCAR, indie-alt artist Declan McKenna, post-punk band Girls Names and dirty-pop band Get Inuit.
Huw Stephens, best known for bringing the best new music to his night sessions on BBC Radio 1, hand-picked the six acts for his ‘Best of British’ showcase in partnership with PRS for Music. The chosen artists are said to be on Huw’s list of “ones to watch” in the British up-and-coming music scene.
The showcase was a big success, thanks to all the great artists who played. It's so thrilling to see talented artists playing their first US shows at the world’s greatest new music festival. The talent from the UK here is phenomenal, with artists making new friends and contacts all week long. It's an amazing event and we're proud of all who played.
HUGE thanks to PRS for Music for helping me get to SXSW! To support British culture in America is to provide the path to a dream. To contribute to a rich history and to influence and inspire further reaches of the globe. Also endless LUV goes out to Huw Stephens who’s got my back in this crazy world! X
We are thrilled to be a part of SXSW again, being one of the biggest global music festivals in the business we are delighted to be here partnering with Huw Stephens and representing British songwriters. Austin is known for being the live music capital of the world and The British Embassy is a renowned platform and a fantastic opportunity to display the freshest PRS for Music members to the US and the wider world.
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a DJ on BBC Radio 1, reaching millions of listeners around the world. Every night he plays the best new music across a variety of genres, and hosts sessions at the Maida Vale Studios. H also hosts his long running live music night, and curates and DJ’s at festivals. Huw's passion for discovering and championing new music was spotted when at 17 he joined Radio 1 for its Nations output to reflect the music scene in Wales.
Huw ran his own record label and writes regularly for various publications. He became a national presenter on Radio 1 as frontman of the OneMusic show in 2005. Huw has presented several documentaries for Radio 1, as well as regularly standing in for Zane Lowe, Rob da Bank, Colin Murray and Jo Whiley for a bank holiday special.
OSCAR
Wichita signed British bedroom pop, destined for stadiums worldwide. His melancholic songs make heavy use of sample breakbeats from 90s East Coast rap records almost like he fell asleep listening to “Parklife”-era Blur, followed by Nas’ “Illamatic”, and woke up with a gangster melancholy synthesis boogie.
Loyle Carner
One of the most promising names in UK hip-hop, Loyle has enjoyed considerable support from Radio 1, Radio Xtra, and was A-listed at 6Music. Further afield he’s had love from Fader and Majestic Casual and has collaborated with the likes of Maverick Sabre and Kate Tempest as well as opening for Joey Bada$$ and Atmosphere.
Clean Cut Kid
Liverpool’s hottest new band describe their songs as “soulful pop ballads, washed in Mersey water.” They arrive in Austin on the back of a new single “Pick Me Up” on their own Babe Magnet imprint (via Polydor), a Radio 1 Live Lounge session two UK tours, opening for Fickle Friends then their own headline date in the run up to SXSW.
Declan McKenna
A young man who wears his political heart on his sleeve, Declan McKenna burst into the public consciousness with his 2014 viral hit “Brazil” about corruption in football. He was promptly signed to Columbia, booked to Glastonbury, picked up by QPrime and even made an appearance on Sky News to talk about the track.
www.declanmckenna.bandcamp.com
Girls Names
The third LP “My Arms Around A Vision” released in October via Tough Love, is a love letter to European elegance – Italian futurism, Russian constructivism, Germany’s Zero Group and both Neubaten and Bowie’s Berlin. Sometime discordant, sometime swaggering, always captivating.
Get Inuit
With plenty of love from Radio 1 for their previous single “Pro Procrastinator” (a single of the week for Huw Stephens) the band arrive at SXSW having recently released another belter “My Oh My”. The band have also been tipped by DIY, Line of Best Fit and CLASH to name but a few and are surely one of the key UK guitar bands for 2016.
About PRS for Music
PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 165,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, it works diligently on behalf of its members to grow and protect the value of their rights. With a focus on innovation and integrity, PRS for Music is redefining the global standard for music royalties to ensure creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2022, PRS for Music collected £964m and paid out £836.2m in royalties. prsformusic.com
