AUSTIN, TEXAS RETURNS TO THE UK AS THE CITY SPONSORS THE NME AWARDS 2015

13 August 2014 - Press release

DATE AND VENUE FOR THE 2015 AWARDS CONFIRMED: WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY – LONDON’S O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

FOUR ADDITIONAL LIVE EVENTS ADDED TO 2015 AWARDS SEASON

NME is bringing Austin, Texas – Live Music Capital of the World® – to the UK once again as the city is confirmed as headline sponsor of the NME Awards for a second year.  

The partnership between NME and Austin, Texas is a unique alliance built on a shared belief in the power of live music, and one of the most exciting collaborations in NME’s six-decade history. 

Home to some of the world’s greatest music festivals including Austin City Limits, SXSW, and Fun, Fun, Fun Fest, Austin, Texas boasts an estimated 20,000 performing musicians, more than 250 thriving live music venues, and has become a vibrant and diverse musical mecca.

The partnership will run throughout NME Awards season, taking in the regional NME Awards Tour, which celebrates its 20^th anniversary in 2015, the London NME Awards Shows – showcasing the best in new and current music at the hottest venues in the capital – and the NME Awards ceremony itself which takes place at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on February 18, 2015.  Austin, Texas will also sponsor the prestigious Best International Band category at the awards.

New to the NME Awards campaign 2015 will be an official launch party in November this year hosted by NME and Austin, Texas, along with three additional Austin Showcases next year. These showcases will give music fans an opportunity to experience the best in Austin music, food and vibe at venues here in the UK.

The NME Awards with Austin, Texas is the most exciting, credible and all-out rock’n’roll live music event of the year. The 6-month awards campaign gives music fans the opportunity to support their favourite acts and get close to the action. Austin, Texas, will bring to the NME Awards its unique music heritage to give those in the UK a chance to experience what the Live Music Capital of the World ® is all about.

Mike Williams, NME editor says: “It’s testament to the massive success of the NME Awards 2014 that we’re able to confirm Austin, Texas as the most rock’n’roll of partners for a second year running. Live music remains the heartbeat of NME and of Austin, Texas, and together we aim to make this year’s campaign bigger, better – and in the true Austin tradition, weirder – than ever.”

Bob Lander, president & CEO of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau adds: “Following the huge success of the 2014 Awards partnership and positive feedback, we are delighted to be able to build on the awareness and interest achieved and this coming year showcase even more of our Live Music Capital of the World®.

“With visitors from the UK representing our number one overseas market and the daily non-stop British Airways flight which launched this year, we have our sights firmly set on harnessing the current excitement around our destination and growing the UK market. Our partnership with NME is definitely helping us achieve that objective, with a 56% increase in the likelihood of readers polled visiting Austin, versus those questioned before the campaign launched last year.”

The NME Awards with Austin, Texas 2015 will take place on Wednesday 18 February at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.

Also on board for the 2015 campaign are Dead Crow, who have signed up as the official beer partner for the NME Awards 2015 with Austin, Texas.

Highlights from the 2014 NME Awards ceremony included live performances by Metronomy, The Horrors, Drenge, Belle & Sebastian and a show-stopping finale from 2014 Godlike Genius Blondie who closed the night with an epic eight-song set. There were also some very special awards on the night – Damon Albarn was in attendance to receive the NME Award For Innovation whilst Paul McCartney was on hand to pick up the one-off Songwriters’ Songwriter Award. And big winners, Arctic Monkeys, collected five gongs including the Best Live Band award, presented to them on the night by Pulp legend Jarvis Cocker. 

As part of the NME Awards 2014 campaign, one new band were offered the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform live at Austin City Limits Music Festival. Winners of the competition, Moats, will take to the stage in Austin this October.