Canadian Blast @ SXSW 2014
SXSW Music, Film & Interactive Festival, Austin Texas, March 2014
The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) brings the compelling story of Canada’s best music to festivals and markets around the world with its Canadian Blast project. SXSW is among the most influential of them all, drawing culture and lifestyle media in the thousands and key opinion leaders in the tens of thousands. Exposure at SXSW can lead to breakthroughs in the international scene; partnerships forged in Texas can open doors around the world.
CIMA and its Canadian Blast have driven the high-profile Canadian presence during the music portion of the festival for the past nine years, minimising the cost and the risks for Canadian music entrepreneurs while maximising reach and results.
CIMA is reaching out to Canadian artists, companies and associations with an exciting opportunity to raise their brand profile at SXSW. The Canadian Blast is a made-to-measure solution for the challenges of doing business at SXSW, but also the opportunity to take advantage of the brand recognition that CIMA has built at SXSW.
Canadian Blast includes:
- Brand awareness and a dynamic presence at SXSW in front of more than 60,000 delegates from the US and around the world and 3500+ media reps from trend-setting lifestyle media outlets.
- Targeted business development in the form of B2B match-making meetings with international delegates looking for business leads, partners and content.
- Media outreach – aggressive media outreach to domestic trade and general media
- Social media outreach – Canadian Blast has very-well subscribed website, Facebook page, twitter feed and blog. Our social media experts run focussed campaigns during SXSW.
- A high visibility marketing campaign which involves signage, SXSW magazine ads, a media relations consultant, social media, music and video streaming, and on-the-ground marketing campaign with posters, laminates and handouts.
- The Canada Stand at 4-day film/interactive/music combined trade show.
- A kick-off event for thousands of delegates to the SXSW festival as well as hundreds of VIPs including media: Canadian Blast BBQ on March 12
- A SXSW “residency” for 3 days and 3 nights, Canadian Blast establishes Canada House at Friends Bar on 6th Street, March 13-15.
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2014
A partnership with the Canadian interactive industry at the SXSW Trade Show which straddles the Film, Interactive and Music conference segments. The resulting Canada Stand will be our largest footprint yet
Join Canadian Blast at SXSW 2014: Cost: $300/company CIMA member rate ($400 non-members)
Benefits:
Discounted Registration at SXSW
- The price of SXSW registration goes up every month., but we can hold back the clock! Canadian Blast participants can register with our code and receive the discount from the earlier period. For example, this means you can still pay $650 for your music badge vs $695, effectively freezing the pre-Oct. 18 rates until Nov. 22.
The Canada Stand at the trade show (Sunday, March 9 – Wednesday, March 12)
A convenient business platform in the Convention Centre for messages, meetings, displays and a spot to recharge your batteries.
- Canada Stand enjoys a 20″ X 50″ foot display and meeting space on an end cap in the international corridor.
- CIMA discount on each SXSW music badge registration for individual participants
- Turnkey operation with manager and greeters on hand at the Stand.
- Access to more than 60,000 delegates from the US and around the world and 3500+ media reps from trend-setting lifestyle media outlets.
- Representing top Canadian companies in film, interactive and music.
- Join the Canada Stand and:
- Let our team take messages for you and hand out your promo material.
- Book the Stand meeting space.
- Show your music videos, film trailers or interactive content at the Stand.
- Host a hospitality event at the Canada Stand, for example, morning coffee break, happy hour or the SXSW Block Party (additional costs required).
- Stage demos, giveaways etc. in the stand.
Marketing and PR
Placement for your SXSW showcases (official showcases, Canadian artists only) in Canadian Blast promo material:- Canadian Blast posters (1000s to be posted around SXSW throughout Austin)
- Gig Guide on Canadian Blast website along with artist profiles and interviews
- SoundCloud streamed music playlists
- Your company Canadian Blast web profile page – with capabilities for streaming (music and video).
VIP Treatment
- Send 2 company reps to the VIP International Reception at the Canadian Blast BBQ (March 12, Brush Square); VIP pass for Canada House day-time shows.
Business Development
- Participate in exclusive one-on-one meetings with hand-picked delegates from key markets.
- Invite 5 key international contacts in your network to the VIP Reception at the Canadian Blast BBQ.
For more info, email Donna Murphy or Jennifer Price at SXSW@CanadianBlast.com
CIMA gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our Canadian partners and sponsors: Canadian Music Week (CMW), the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), the Government of Canada (through GOA/DFATD and MEC/Canadian Heritage), Harvard Broadcasting, the Music Managers Forum (Canada), Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), the Radio Starmaker Fund, and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). CIMA also acknowledges the support of our Canadian Blast BBQ media partner, AUX.