PRS Foundation the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development announces today its new collaborative initiative, UK Sounds, to offer support, amplify and champion music export from the UK.

Set up in collaboration with several music export organisations and partners, UK Sounds is an online hub (https://uksounds.prsfoundation.com) offering a national umbrella brand to highlight various stakeholders and strengthen UK music’s visibility and presence compared to activity undertaken currently in isolation.

The core objective of UK Sounds is to offer:

A comprehensive industry-wide solution to facilitate networking, performances, and business connections for UK-based artists and music businesses, who are considering export or who are export ready so that they are prepared for internationalisation

The place for vital information for UK-based music creators looking for information, resources and support to reach audiences and expand their careers overseas

This vital platform highlights and represents the broad range of exciting music from across the UK and acts as an easy to navigate directory for music industry professionals or organisations outside of the UK looking to connect with export ready UK talent.

Becci Scotcher, Senior Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation said, “Music export is an incredibly important part of UK-based music creators’ careers and UK music exports generated £4 billion in 2022.We recognise that for artists international support and information around exporting into different territories, while out there, could be easier to find if under one roof. Additionally, the brilliant activities of UK showcase presenters and organisations deserve this collaborative approach to amplify efforts. In this increasingly competitive global space, it has become more essential to promote our artists and partner events and to bring together resources to facilitate connections and international business.”

The UK Sounds website is live now and will be piloted with the UK presence at SXSW 2024 in Austin, Texas. With support from PRS for Music, UK Sounds partners will host a number of launch events at the festival to amplify the strong presence at SXSW which includes 28 artists being supported by International Showcase Fund partners, 4 artists being supported through PRS Foundation’s partnership with BBC Introducing, and showcases being presented by 28 UK-based organisations. To find out more please sign up to the UK Sounds mailing list.

Joe Frankland, CEO at PRS Foundation said, “We’re delighted to be able to pilot UK Sounds at SXSW to amplify the UK’s presence at the festival and help connect international delegates with artists and showcase organisers. This collaborative initiative has been made possible at this year’s SXSW thanks to PRS for Music, our International Showcase Fund partners PPL, The Department for Business and Trade, The Musicians Union, British Underground, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and British Council as well as the British Music Embassy and organisations and individuals across the music industry. We’re excited to grow and build this platform for the benefit of artists, those promoting UK music overseas and fundamentally the UK music industry.”