APPLY TO PLAY

BIGSOUND 2024

3-6 September

#2024 Artist Showcase Applications Now Open

Australian artists have the rare chance to perform in front of some of the most influential figures in music by showcasing at BIGSOUND, the southern hemisphere's largest dedicated music showcase and conference.

Run across three game-changing days and three fun-filled nights, showcasing artists can connect with, listen to and play in front of some of the most influential players in music. Now in its 23rd year, BIGSOUND has grown to become the biggest A&R music event of its type in Australia. This year's event will welcome tastemakers from across the globe including media, A&R, agents, promoters, music supervisors, buyers and so much more.

In addition to having access to hundreds of influential music industry figures, BIGSOUND Showcase Artists are provided with the opportunity for excellent media exposure, with the event being covered by national and international media outlets and reaching an international audience of 24.6 million people.

Previous years’ showcases propelled the careers of some of the biggest names in Australian music, including G Flip, Flume, Rufus du Sol, Gang of Youths, The Temper Trap, Lime Cordiale, Tash Sultana, DMA’s, Courtney Barnett and many more.

Will you be next?

Artist Showcases take place from Tuesday 3 – Thursday 5 September.

Applications close: Tuesday 16 April, 11:59pm AEST

#Important Information

  • Acts must be available to be in Brisbane 3 - 5 September 2024
  • Artists are encouraged to apply for financial support from funding bodies. Please refer to your local state-based music development association for more info.
  • One complimentary BIGSOUND delegate pass will be made available to each successful showcase act (Note: additional passes will be available for band members at a discounted rate).

#Application FAQs

Key Dates

Wed 6 Mar: Applications open, 10am (AEST)

Tue 16 April: Applications close, 11:59pm (AEST)

Mid June: Successful applicants notified

Tue 3 – Thu 5 September: BIGSOUND - acts must be available to be in Brisbane.

Who should apply to play?

Queensland, Australian and New Zealand-based artists are encouraged to apply. Artists from outside of AU/NZ are welcome to apply but please be aware this is a showcasing event primarily focussed on the Australian and New Zealand industries and exporting those artists elsewhere in the world, and your application will be assessed on the strength of this.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, First Nations people from countries that are not Australia and those residing in regional and remote communities are strongly encouraged to apply to play, and to also apply for financial support from funding bodies to help facilitate your trip to BIGSOUND.

Is there an application fee to apply?

There is a small fee to apply to be a BIGSOUND showcasing artist. Non-QMusic members will be $30. QMusic members will be $20.

How will my application be assessed?

Our aim for BIGSOUND 2024 is to assist showcasing artists with achieving their goals and taking their career to the next level. Whether that be touring overseas, growing your team, showcasing in front of festival bookers from all over the world, or announcing your arrival, we want to foster these opportunities.

It is important for us to focus on outcomes for our showcasing artists. This means the BIGSOUND 2024 Showcase programming team will be assessing applications by gauging what potential outcomes artists may achieve from showcasing. We also want to ensure showcasing artists are capitalising on existing momentum. What have you achieved so far and what will you gain out of BIGSOUND 2024? This is important to keep in mind when applying.

If selected to showcase, will I be paid a performance fee?

The core purpose of the BIGSOUND Showcase program is to create business outcomes for showcasing artists. As a non-profit venture run to provide opportunities for artists, funds raised by the event are invested back into bringing national and international buyers to Brisbane and curating networking and one-on-one meetings tailored to each artists' needs of team expansion.

So while showcasing artists are not compensated monetarily, each selected showcase act receives a Delegate Pass, giving access to the full conference, industry events and official showcases and allocated performing members and crew receive a three-night Showcase Pass granting them access to all festival venues for official showcases.

Individuals under 18 will have access to their showcasing venue for their performance only. We are also working hard to provide added benefits for the BIGSOUND Showcasing Artists this year to hopefully subsidise your stay in Brisbane.

Will I get feedback on my application?

The BIGSOUND team is lucky to receive a large number of applications each year and are privileged to listen to an array of diverse and talented artists from across Australia and the world. We would love to be able to provide feedback on all applications, however, due to the capacity of the team, we can only provide feedback to successful applications. Unfortunately, the scope and diversity of applications means that it’s not practical or fair for the assessment panel to provide feedback on individual applications.

Will successful acts receive passes?

Each BIGSOUND Showcasing Act will receive ONE full BIGSOUND delegate pass, allowing them access to all parts of the conference, industry events and showcases.

Each performing individual will receive an artist wristband granting them access to all showcase venues for official showcases.

Individuals under 18 will have access to their showcasing venue for their performance only.

Can I get a refund if I purchase a delegate pass and am then announced as a showcasing artist?

Yes, the BIGSOUND team will assist in delivering refunds to showcasing artists if required.

Please fill out the BIGSOUND contact form.

Can I apply to Showcase if I am under 18?

People under the age of 18 are welcome to apply and perform in the showcase. If successful, underage performers will be wrist banded and must have a guardian present at all times.

Performers under 18 are only permitted access to their showcase event and will not have entry to the rest of the festival.

#Selection Process

The core purpose of the BIGSOUND Showcase program is to create business outcomes for showcasing artists by exposing them to the best of the Australian and international music industry.

The BIGSOUND 2024 Showcase programming team will assess applications by gauging what potential outcomes artists may achieve from showcasing and ensuring showcasing artists are capitalising on existing momentum. What have you achieved so far and what will you genuinely and realistically gain out of playing as part of the BIGSOUND 2024 showcasing lineup. This is important to keep in mind when applying.

BIGSOUND is unable to put every artist that applies on a stage, even though we wish we could! If you apply and you are unsuccessful, this is in no way a reflection of you or your music, it may just mean that we cannot provide you with the opportunities you are looking for.

When writing your application, reflect on the information above and make it the strongest it can be.

Good luck and we can’t wait to see you all in September at BIGSOUND 2024.

#Showcase Artist Benefits

  • Showcase in front of labels, booking agents, promoters, sync agents, managers, publicists and more brought to BIGSOUND from around the globe 
  • Tailored one-on-one meetings matching artists with industry based on their goals and current team structure 
  • Each showcasing act will receive 1 x delegate pass for full conference and showcase access

  • Each performing band member will receive wristband access to all showcase performances

  • Artist access to official Opening and Closing events

  • Artist-facing workshops, demos and sessions accessible to all showcasing artists 

  • Access to official networking events with music industry buyers 

  • Opportunity to coordinate your own meetings with many industry figures in attendance at the event

  • Use the delegate portal to build your network and form new relationships before, during and after BIGSOUND week

  • Recognised on a national level as being market-ready – instantly on the radar of the entire national industry

#BIGSOUND Conflict of Interest Statement

QMusic is committed to a fair assessment process for all artist applications and maintains a Conflict of Interest Register for all staff, contractors and board members. A conflict of interest is where an employee, contractor or board member has private interests that could improperly influence, or be seen to influence, their decisions or actions in the performance of their public duties.

All artist submissions are checked against the Conflict of Interest Register and in the event of a conflict, a firewall is placed around the submission to ensure it is not assessed by anyone who has a conflict. We engage multiple assessors to avoid conflicts of interest and to assist with selecting the best possible artists for BIGSOUND.

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