DNCE, Vince Staples, The Strumbellas, Grace Mitchell, Banners and BJ The Chicago Kid among artists performing at artist showcases

Ryan Adams & The Shining and The Avett Brothers will headline Marriott Rewards and Universal Music Present "Music is Universal" at the SXSW Music Festival. 

The announcement was made today by Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, and Marriott Rewards, the loyalty program of Marriott International, Inc.

Ryan Adams (Blue Note/Capitol) and The Avett Brothers (American/Republic), two Americana superstars, will perform together for the first time at the JW Marriott Austin, where Universal Music and Marriott Rewards are converting the entire hotel into a music venue during the four-day festival. The show starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, and will be open to SXSW badge holders and Marriott Rewards members.

The headliners join more than 20 of UMG's brightest new artists at "Music is Universal" showcases. The artist showcases, also held at the JW Marriott Austin, start at noon on both March 17 and March 18. In addition to SXSW attendees, Marriott Rewards members will get access to showcases and other on-site exclusive opportunities, including artist meetings.

Thursday's showcase includes Beau (Kitsuné/INgrooves), DNCE (Republic), Grizfolk (Virgin), Gryffin (Interscope), Kacy Hill (Def Jam), Grace Mitchell (Republic) and The Strumbellas (Glassnote), with performances on Friday from Banners (Island), BJ The Chicago Kid (Motown), Cloves (Interscope), Niykee Heaton (Capitol), Joseph (ATO/Caroline), Snarky Puppy (GroundUp/UMC) and Vince Staples (Def Jam). 

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the global music leader, with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's premier music publishing operations worldwide.

Universal Music Group's labels include A&M Records, Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, EMI Records Nashville, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Harvest, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, Manhattan, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

Universal Music Group is a fully owned subsidiary of Vivendi.