SXSW is right in my backyard of Austin,
Texas and yet I miss it every year for whatever reason. I have heard about this
innovative and grassroots method of discovering new talent this organization
has embodied, but I did not know the depths of its success. SXSW has an
enormous impact on the music industry. A-list musicians and entertainers come
from far and wide to celebrate good music and witness break out talent.
Aside from having film categories, SXSW
has music, expos, parties and more. They also have a music and media
conference. The conference aims to educate and inspire musicians and those who
work with them. So not only is the conference for artists but managers can come
and be educated as well. SXSW’s Music and Media Conference and Festival are one of the largest, most influential sectors
of the entire SXSW experience.
SXSW is also an awesome avenue to
network through. Thousands of people from all over the world with various
industry backgrounds come for the SXSW experience. I particularly appreciate
the SXSWfm: The Sound of SXSW. It is their multi-channel online music service
that was debuted during SXSW last year by the same company that powers Pandora; DMX. The online music channel
airs showcasing artists for upcoming SXSW festivals. Although SXSWfm is only
one year young so it remains current with new content and features.
This creates a whole new way of
listening to music that the average music lover would not have the experience
of. Most radio stations today syndicate the same rotation day in and day out
leaving little room for independent or unsigned hypes. SXSWfm also allows
listeners to email the station to let them know what songs audiences would like
to hear. It seems to be the love child of Pandora (with it’s random grouping of
music) and YouTube (with it’s interactive nature). SXSWfm is a radio station for the people, by
the people.
