HISTORY
Founded in 2008 at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, the British Music Embassy (BME) was created with a clear mission: to give the UK’s most exciting musical talent a world-class launchpad into international markets. What began as a dedicated showcase house has evolved into the ultimate global embassy for British music.
Over nearly two decades, the BME has expanded its global footprint across global creative capitals – from Austin to Los Angeles, Sydney and beyond – and has showcased hundreds of artists who represent the incredible diversity that British music has to offer.
Far more than just a venue, the BME pairs festival-grade stage production and expert technical execution with high-impact networking, industry panels, trade delegations and much more. For emerging artists looking to reach international audiences, the BME is a crucial rite of passage. For international music fans, industry decision-makers and press, it’s the premier destination to discover the next big thing in British music.
Artists and Milestones
Where underground talent becomes world-class success
The British Music Embassy has hosted over 770 UK artists, serving as a launchpad across every genre – from indie, post-punk, and jazz to hip-hop, pop, electronic and everything in between. The British Music Embassy has introduced international audiences to some of the UK’s most beloved and fastest-rising acts – with over 200 BRIT Awards, GRAMMY Awards, Mercury Prize and MOBO wins and nominations between them.
BME alumni:
- …And many more
The British Music Embassy at SXSW was a huge deal for IDLES, it marked a turning point where we went from being entirely underground, entirely unheard of. People started to take notice. SXSW is a whirlwind of anxious, eager, thrilling energy and the British Music Embassy shows always bring that energy by the bucketload. It meant a lot for us to be there.
STEERING PARTNERS
Backed by the best in the business
The BME is powered by a coalition of UK cultural institutions, music industry organisations, government bodies and trade associations, all dedicated to providing artists with world-class showcasing, international exposure, and fresh opportunities. Steering partners for the BME include:
For many BME artists, our showcases represent their first time performing to international audiences – so they need to sound their best. The BME’s production partners are some of the best the UK has to offer, and work to ensure that artists benefit from world-class stage production and design.
