Music Festival Showcase Application

Music Festival Showcase

March 7-15, 2025 in Austin, TX

$75.00

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SXSW Music Festival Showcasing Artists can take advantage of career-changing showcase opportunities and unprecedented access to the amazing mix of influential industry participants who attend SXSW every year.

Please take a minute to refer to the Music Showcase FAQ for answers to common questions, including the 2025 Artist Payment and Badge policy.

Note: After careful consideration of our offerings, we are revising our sponsorship model. As a result, the US Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025

Important details:

  • One official SXSW showcase performance is guaranteed per invited act
  • Showcase slots run an average of 40 minutes (some exceptions may apply)
  • Showcases will take place between March 10-15
  • SXSW does not cover artist travel or accommodation expenses
  • Some showcases may not provide backline
  • Official SXSW Artist Registration Packages include one additional SXSW Music Badge for the artist's manager

Music Showcase Applications are open to:

  • All music genres

  • Artists from around the world

  • Signed and unsigned artists

Additional Details:

  • If invited, showcasing artists will receive an Official SXSW Artist Registration Package, consisting of SXSW Artist Badges for each band member and one manager. The SXSW Artist Badge is a full SXSW Music Badge that provides each performer with the same access as a SXSW Music Badge, plus unique artist-only benefits. You will have primary access to official SXSW showcases, music industry-related conference programming, reserved hotel blocks, parties, artist-specific activations, networking opportunities, mentor sessions, and more (unless otherwise noted).
  • Domestic, U.S. acts can choose to receive monetary compensation ($400 total for full bands consisting of three or more performers or $175 total for a solo/duo act) in lieu of the Official SXSW Artist Registration Package. Payment is a one-time direct deposit for the act, not per member. Combinations are not permitted.
  • One official SXSW showcase performance is guaranteed per invited act.
  • Artists who are not U.S. residents are responsible for securing any necessary visas for entry into the United States. See our International Artists FAQ for more details.
  • All SXSW showcasing artists must agree to the SXSW Exclusivity Policy, which includes the following points:
    • As an Official SXSW Showcasing Artist, your official SXSW Showcase is your first performance priority.
    • Radius Clause: Most festivals have a radius clause that restricts an artist from performing within a certain radius of their event during a specific time frame (typically weeks to months) before and after it takes place. SXSW has a far more equitable exclusivity clause that allows for more opportunity to perform during the event, with one main exception: Official artists may not perform any unofficial/non-SXSW shows between the hours of 7pm and 2am CT (the “exclusivity window”) during festival dates. This requirement is in place specifically to protect official SXSW venues and artists, and to ensure the success of official showcases.
      • In-store performances at record stores and any radio and television performances under ten (10) minutes in length are not subject to this restriction.
      • While daytime/afterhours performances outside of the 7pm-2am showcase hours are generally not an issue, participation in events that SXSW deems to be a conflict and/or adversely affect SXSW is also not allowed.
      • Please note, artists who enter the U.S. with a non-work visa (such as a B Visa or via ESTA/Visa Waiver Program) are legally restricted to showcasing only at official SXSW events while in the country, whether the performance is paid or not.
    • Invited Artists will not take actions that undermine the success or inhibit attendance of their official SXSW showcase, including accepting invitations for an excessive number of non-SXSW shows. Such actions negatively impact SXSW artist performances, showcase attendance, and the overall quality of showcases.

Please note:

  • Important: The person listed as Primary Contact in the application should be someone authorized to respond on behalf of the applying artist and who frequently checks their email. Notifications from SXSW are sent to the Primary Contact's email address and require a timely response.
  • Invited artists do not need to purchase a SXSW credential to apply for, or take part in, a SXSW showcase. Artists who are not invited to showcase are able to purchase SXSW credentials at a discounted rate after notification of status, if they still wish to attend. There are no refunds if you've previously purchased a credential at a higher rate, or if you decide not to attend if you are not offered a showcase.
  • Within 48 hours of applying you will receive a confirmation email from SXSW. If you do not receive notification within 48 hours, please follow up by email to ensure your showcase application has been submitted properly and is under consideration.
  • To keep important SXSW emails from landing in your spam folder it's a good idea to add the following address to your contact list: musicfest@sxsw.com.

Please provide the information below to apply for a SXSW 2025 Music Festival Showcase. SXSW will review your application, and you will be notified of your invitation status on or before December 20, 2024.

Artist/Band Information
Performing Rights Affiliation (check as many as apply) *
Platforms where SXSW can hear your music
How to get your Spotify URL...
Apple Music Link Maker...
Social Media / Web
Recent and/or Notable Press
Submitter Contact Information

Your contact information is required. If you will also be the main point of contact, you will also need to duplicate this info in the Primary Contact section.

Primary Contact Information

Copy Submitter Info

This person will receive all communication from SXSW. Be sure they will be available to respond promptly via email and/or phone on behalf of the act.

Secondary/Backup Contact Information
Production Contact Information
Label Contact Information
Terms and Conditions Print Terms and Conditions

By entering this application to SXSW, LLC (“SXSW”) for the 2025 SXSW Music Festival (the “Event”), I (referred to as “I”, “you”, “me”, “my” or “Applicant”) acknowledge and agree to the following Terms and Conditions:

  1. I have read and agree to the SXSW Terms of Use, SXSW Privacy Policy and SXSW Code of Conduct.
  2. I reviewed the terms of this application, which application terms, including, without limitation, the eligibility criteria and entry deadlines, are incorporated into these Terms and Conditions, and I agree to those application terms.
  3. If I am selected to participate in SXSW 2025, then I agree that on my behalf, and on behalf of the other participants, to be bound by the Participation and Credentials Terms and Conditions. Applicant shall be referred to interchangeably as Participant throughout.
  4. Entering this application does not guarantee my selection to participate in SXSW. SXSW will only review and consider completed applications for inclusion in SXSW 2025. SXSW’s selection decisions are based on the criteria set forth in the application and these Terms and Conditions, and its decisions are made in SXSW’s sole discretion. SXSW is under no obligation to provide feedback to applicants.
  5. The application fee is for SXSW receiving, handling, reviewing, and processing my application, and is not refundable for any reason, including, without limitation, if my application is not accepted or if I am no longer able to participate in SXSW 2025 for any reason. If I am accepted to participate in SXSW, and the activity I am accepted for does not take place as part of SXSW 2025 for any reason, I may request an application fee waiver to apply to the next scheduled SXSW event. SXSW can be contacted with questions about fees at musicfest@sxsw.com prior to entering this application.
  6. As the Applicant, I am solely responsible for protecting any intellectual property rights (including, without limitation, patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc.) in my application, participation, product, service and/or idea, and consulting legal counsel before participating in the Event. I understand that sharing proprietary information on the internet carries inherent risks, including piracy, and I assume those risks.
  7. I hereby grant SXSW a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, license in any copyright, trademark, right of personality or publicity or other proprietary rights in and to the following for use in connection with the Event, it’s affiliated services, media, or press to: (i) photograph, film, and record my participation in the Event, if I’m selected to participate in SXSW 2025 (“Recordings”); (ii) use my name, image, likeness, headshot, bio and voice, all as provided by me, in connection with the advertisement and promotion of the Event (“My Likeness”); and (iii) display, distribute, reproduce, publicly perform, edit, translate, advertise, promote and exhibit the Recordings by any method or device now known or hereafter devised. I understand and agree that there will be no financial or other monetary compensation to me for such use of My Likeness in the Recordings and no material incorporating My Likeness need be submitted to me for any further approval and SXSW shall be without liability to me for any use of My Likeness.
  8. SXSW is the owner of all right, title and interest in and to the trademarks SXSW, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, SOUTH BY, and SXSW EDU, along with other trademarks, and the corresponding logos, social media and promotional images, or other materials embodying the same provided by SXSW to Applicant (collectively, the “SXSW Marks”). SXSW hereby grants Applicant a non-transferable, non-sublicensable, limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, revocable license (“License”) to use, reproduce, and display the SXSW Marks until March 16, 2025 (the “Term”) to promote Applicant’s participation, solely as they are embodied and contained within the SXSW provided social media images and promotional materials. Any additional use of the SXSW Marks, including hashtags, requires SXSW’s prior written approval. All use of the SXSW Marks by Applicant and all goodwill will inure to the exclusive benefit of SXSW. All rights not licensed herein are explicitly reserved by SXSW. Applicant further agrees to strictly comply with the terms of the Participant’s Supplemental Trademark License Terms available here: https://www.sxsw.com/participants-supplemental-trademark-license-terms/. (“Supplemental Trademark License Terms”). In the Supplemental Trademark License Terms, Applicant is referred to as Participant, which terms are intended by SXSW and Applicant to be synonymous.
  9. I represent and warrant that the information I provided in this application is accurate, I have the rights necessary to enter this application, all aspects of the work underlying this application are my own and do not infringe on the rights of any third party or otherwise violate any laws, my application and work underlying the application does not violate any agreement(s) or understanding by which I’m bound, nor would my participation in SXSW violate any such agreement(s) and I will not hereafter enter into any agreements or understandings with any person or entity that might conflict with my warranties and representations made in these Terms and Conditions.
  10. I hereby indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SXSW, its parents, subsidiaries, owners, and affiliates, and each of their respective shareholders, officers, directors, agents, and employees from any and all responsibility or liability arising out of or in connection with: (a) any breach of my representations or warranties contained herein; and (b) my violation of these Terms and Conditions and/or any guidelines, policies and terms provided by SXSW.
  11. I consent to SXSW collecting, processing and using the personal data I supplied in this application in order to review my materials and communicate with me about the application.
  12. These Terms and Conditions will be interpreted by, and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas regardless of applicable choice of law rules. I agree that the exclusive venue for any dispute between me and SXSW related to my application will be in a court of competent jurisdiction in Travis County, Texas.

Applicant acknowledges and agrees that Applicant has read and understands the Terms and Conditions and intends to be legally bound by its terms. Applicant acknowledges that the information contained in the application is accurate, that they have the rights necessary to share the materials contained herein and that the application will not violate any third-party rights or laws of any kind. By clicking the box below or by using any other electronic mechanism presented to signify acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, Applicant agrees to and accepts these Terms and Conditions.