More than five months away, and we’ve already got our talking points. South By Southwest announced its panel lineup for the conference’s Music component this morning. Grab your iPads, and dust off your tie-dyed shirts.
Forty-four panels run Tuesday, March 11, through Saturday, March 16, including a pair that focus on the Grateful Dead (Night of the Living Dead: the Grateful Dead & EDM and Stronger than a Seance: Resurrecting Jerry Garcia), and one scheduled to include founding band member Mickey Hart (Rhythm and the Brain).
Also present: Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons, who’s been vocal about the creation of his All Def Digital YouTube network of late. He’ll be speaking on a panel called YouTube: New Breeding Ground for Music’s Future alongside Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind and two others.
YouTube’s a topic you’ll find in both panel titles and panel descriptions. The year’s seen the site become more and more of a player within the music industry, breaking careers like Psy and Baauer; entering into the music subscription service, as it’s rumored; and pushing its way into the formula for Billboard’s Hot 100 rankings. Thus, DIY Digital: A Guide to Organic Online Marketing, Internet Radio Is on Top Again, Why?, and Build the Perfect YouTube Presence with Channels have all reserved prime seating at SXSW.
Elsewhere, a panel on the role songwriters might play in enforcing America’s homeland security looks provocative, and we’re interested in the Rab Bakari-led talk on the future of African music, and this Upsetting Rock Stars panel on the history of British ‘zine culture.
Or maybe there’s something else. Panels have taken an unsexy back seat to day parties and unofficial shows happening in every corner of every establishment in every neighborhood around town. Yet panels reflect today’s music industry dialog and often demonstrate an intrigue equal to the music. Maybe Russell Simmons shows up, or maybe you play a part in Jerry Garcia’s unlikely resurrection.
Full rundown below, with full descriptions and panelist citings available through SXSW.com. Considering the timing, word of a keynote speaker’s sure to show up soon.
SXSW 2014 Music Panels
Album Recording: When Do You Hire a Pro?
Artists’ Role in Homeland Security
Back 2 School Special: Truth behind College Buying
Build the Perfect YouTube Presence with Channels
Can Music Libraries Pay Your Bills?
Crossing Over: Secrets of Performing Arts Centers
Converse Rubber Tracks: No Strings Attached
Direct to Fan: Showing the Love Brings the Love
DIY Digital: A Guide to Organic Online Marketing
Don’t Let Your Music Become Anti-Social Media
From Art to Commerce & Artists to Entrepreneurs
Get Yourself Working With Music Houses on Ads Now
How Do Independent Content Creators Get Paid?
Human vs. Machine: The Music Curation Formula
Internet Radio Is On Top Again. Why?
Is Loyalty Dead in a Soul-Starved Industry?
It Takes a Village to Score a Show
James Williamson: From Riffs to Bits
Letting Your Fandoms Build Your Kingdoms
Local Approaches in the International Music Market
Love the Art, Fuck the Artist: The re-emerging artist rights movement?
Marketing/Branding in Live Music Business Today
Maximizing International Performance Royalties
Music Curation: The Balance of Man vs. Machine
Music Festivals: Advice From The Experts Part 2
Night of the Living Dead: The Grateful Dead + EDM
Packed With Electronic Beats: Africa’s Next Music
Revolution Remix: Using Music To Start A Movement
Still Can’t Find Your Way Home?
Stronger Than A Seance: Resurrecting Jerry Garcia
Sync to Success: How to Get Placed & Get Paid
The 7 Hottest Topics in Web Music Tech in 2014
Death of Podcasting Has Been Exaggerated
Transform a One Night Stand Into a Long Relationship
Upsetting Rock Stars: The Story Of A UK Indie Zine
Writing for Music Libraries is Now Officially Cool
You Got Music, You Got Tech, Now Build Me Products
YouTube: New Breeding Ground for Music’s Future
Your Music. Their Video. Your Money
This article appears in October 25 • 2013.