German Music @ SXSW

Initiative Musik has been coordinating the German joint presentation at the South by Southwest (SXSW) creative conference in Austin, Texas, for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs since 2010.
The presentation of German Music @ SXSW and the performances of the German artists and bands are supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

It is a duty of the state to protect the freedom of artistic expression and to create the conditions required for cultural life to flourish. Germany’s Federal Government supports cultural institutions and projects that are of national importance and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), Minister of State Claudia Roth, is responsible for promoting culture for the government. The BKM has been promoting institutions and projects within the framework of cultural federalism since 1999 and has been the main sponsor of Initiative Musik since 2007. The BKM has also assumed a portion of the costs for Initiative Musik’s administrative offices, which are co-financed by the GVL and GEMA.

The German Consulate General in Houston includes the states of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma in its jurisdiction and represents Germany, German trade and industries, and German citizens living in those states.

The Consulate General strives to strengthen and expand the multifold economic, political, and cultural relations between Germany and the United States.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Digital Hub Initiative promotes digital innovation in Germany. In different digital hubs, entrepreneurs, founders and researchers develop digital solutions for services, trade and production. Their respective core areas range from artificial intelligence to digital health and smart systems.

Initiative Musik is the central funding institution and music export office for the German music industry. Its programs, projects and awards focus on supporting professional newcomers, musicians, live music clubs and music businesses, as well as developing sustainable structures for rock, pop and jazz.

As a division of Initiative Musik, GERMAN MUSIC EXPORT aims to strengthen the presence of German music abroad and supports the international activities of German-based musicians, music professionals and companies in order to build up and expand their visibility abroad and create new opportunities for them in the international music market.
To achieve this goal, Initiative Musik offers several funding programs, including the International Tour Funding, through which some of the German acts at SXSW were able to apply for financial support for their appearance at SXSW this year.

Initiative Musik ist supported by the German Society for the Administration of Neighboring Rights (GVL), the German Music Authors’s Society (GEMA) and the German Music Council (Deutscher Musikrat). The institution’s funding is provided by the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).