{"id":79641,"date":"2017-03-11T00:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-03-11T00:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=1328330c301d43a4ef70b718ee9f2688"},"modified":"2017-03-11T00:00:07","modified_gmt":"2017-03-11T00:00:07","slug":"press-release-brand-britannia-dominates-the-field-at-worlds-largest-music-film-and-interactive-media-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=79641","title":{"rendered":"Press release: \u2018Brand Britannia\u2019 dominates the field at world\u2019s largest music, film and interactive media festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Brit Award and Turner Prize winners, including Rag n\u2019 Bone Man, will join over 70 leading UK tech and digital businesses showcasing \u2018Brand UK\u2019 at the world\u2019s largest creative festival in Texas this weekend.<\/p>\n

Over 1,500 UK delegates are traveling to Austin, Texas, as the UK is set to have the biggest international presence at the South by Southwest (SXSW<\/abbr>) festival. Performers and businesses will look to break into lucrative US and international markets, supported by government and industry experts such as Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac.<\/p>\n

The Department for International Trade is supporting UK businesses to attend including virtual reality technology firms from Northern Ireland, companies from London developing smart cities solutions and delegates from Birmingham, Manchester and Wales. They will be helped by DIT<\/abbr> to build vital contacts with international investors, bringing in tens of millions of pounds to the UK economy.<\/p>\n

International Trade Minister Greg Hands, who will visit the event this weekend, said:<\/p>\n

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Our huge presence here at South by Southwest, the biggest of any country outside the US, shows the strength of \u2018Brand Britannia\u2019 internationally. From what we watch and listen to, to the new technologies making our cities better places to live \u2013 UK companies and individuals are here demonstrating ground-breaking ideas that are leading the world.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Last year we helped boost new export opportunities for our home-grown businesses by around \u00a310 million and with our biggest ever delegation, this year aims to be even bigger and better.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The festival, which last year welcomed 87,000 participants including former US President Barack Obama, is a huge opportunity for performers and businesses to attract investment into the UK\u2019s \u00a390 billion creative industries.<\/p>\n

Through government support in 2015 over 20 inward investment projects to the UK, and over \u00a310 million in new export business wins for UK companies, was generated from SXSW<\/abbr>. One company, Trackd, an app which allows musicians to record and share music studio-style, secured a \u00a31.25 million contract through DIT<\/abbr> support at SXSW<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

Also, successful artists such as Bastille, and The 1975 have used the festival to launch their US careers, selling millions of records in the country. DIT<\/abbr> is the lead partner of the British Music Embassy, a venue in Austin where for the tenth year the department and UK music industry will showcase the best new British music artists. The British Music Embassy will host over 50 performances from artists such as Rag n\u2019 Bone Man and Yorkshire-based punk newcomers Life, who are included in the BBC Introducing showcase.<\/p>\n

Throughout the week long event, DIT<\/abbr> will host performers, businesses and investors for three days at the Great Britain House \u2013 a national pavilion showcasing the very best the UK has to offer in the tech, creative and music industries.<\/p>\n

Events include:<\/p>\n