Starting this weekend, Austin, Texas will be teeming with techies and music fans, as the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) event kicks off on Friday, March 7. The Interactive and Film portions hit first, with the music festival running March 11-16. Numerous panel discussion will explore the topic of radio in some way, shape or form and many radio stations and radio-related companies will be on hand promoting their wares in conference rooms and on concert stages. SXSW also has its own online radio channel, SXSWfm, which includes features about many of the musicians performing this year. Additionally, I was surprised to see that several bands (RAMS’ Pocket Radio, Bronze Radio Return and Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio) performing this year have the word “radio” in their names. Could it be? Is radio attracting the attention of musician hipsters too?
Here’s an overview of some of the radio-themed happenings this year.
Saturday, March 8:
3:30-4:30pm: Notre Dame & Spotify: Our Playlist, Our Story. This panel will provide a case study of how Notre Dame Athletics used Spotify to boost its “social media content strategy” and in turn attracted more attention for its teams. (Driskill Hotel, Maximilian, 604 Brazos Street)
6:00-9:00pm: UT RTF @ SXSW Mixer. Alumni, Grad Students, & Friends of the University of Texas, Austin Department of Radio-TV-Film are invited to the annual SXSW mixer. More info on the mixer here. (Brew and Brew, 500 San Marcos Street)
Tuesday, March 11:
9:30-10:30am: Delivering Music Recommendations to Millions. Two Spotify software engineers will talk about “the scalability lessons…learned building Spotify’s Discover system. This system generates terabytes of music recommendations that need to be delivered to tens of millions of users every day.” (Austin Convention Center, Ballroom BC)
12:30-1:30pm: Good Music Club Meet Up. A discussion of the Good Music Club, a series showcasing Austin Bands and hosted by KUTX-FM DJ Laurie Gallardo. (Proof Annex, 711 E 6th Street)
9:30-11:00pm: The Imaginary Radio Program. This live, on-stage comedy show will present “songs and sketches” led by Drennon Davis from Last Comic Standing. (The Hideout, 617 Congress Avenue)
Wednesday, March 12:
11:00am-12:00noon: Compulsory Licenses and Online Music. Representatives from Public Knowledge, the Digital Media Association, and Pandora will discuss online music service royalties. (Austin Convention Center, Room 18D)
12:30-1:30pm: Create Your Own Mobile Radio Experience Meet Up. Avenue Live, “a new voice-powered mobile music platform” is hosting a Meet Up in order to talk about how its service allows music lovers (including college radio stations) to “curate” their own “mobile radio experience(s)” (Austin Convention Center, Meet Up Pavilion EH 3/4)
2:00-3:00pm: The Insights Evolution: Why Only Obsessing about Music Sales is Holding You Back. Panelists from Nielsen, KROQ, and Spotify will talk about how “sales, radio airplay and streaming activity are connected.” (Austin Convention Center, Room 12AB)
2:00-3:00pm: Internet Radio is on Top Again: Why? Panelists from Billboard, Samsung, Clear Channel, and Pandora will delve into the state of Internet radio. (Austin Convention Center, Room 17A)
5:00-6:00pm: Getting Your Music Heard in the Streaming Age. Panelists from Slacker, Beats Music, WPRB-FM, and Rovi discuss “the most effective strategies for developing artists to be heard in this streaming age.” (Austin Convention Center, Room 11AB)
Thursday, March 13:
12:30-1:30pm: The Death of Music Podcasting Has Been Exaggerated. “Podcasting vets share strategies they’ve used in growing their audiences, the best way for musicians to get their music featured in this modern version of radio, and how musicians can use podcasting themselves to develop their relationship with their audience.” Panelists include the host of the MetalSucks podcast. (Austin Convention Center, Room 10A)
12:30-1:30pm: Be Your Own Tastemaker: Music Discovery in 2014. Panelists from KCRW, Bandcamp, Rawkblog, and Angry Mob Music Group will talk about the state of music discovery amid all of the current music channels, from satellite radio to streaming services. (Austin Convention Center, Room 18D)
3:30-4:30: Adult Rock Music Meeting. Radio professionals from Songlines, WXRT, KCMP-The Current, WXPN, WRNR, WFUV (as well as audience members) will listen to and rate unreleased music and debate each song’s “potential for radio airplay.” (Austin Convention Center, Room 9ABC)
Friday, March 14:
12:30-1:30pm: College Buyers/College Radio Peer Meet Up. This is a networking event for “like-minded professionals to meet and exchange ideas and suggestions.” (Austin Convention Center, Austin Suite)
2:00-3:00pm: Satellite of Love (Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Radio). Mike Jacobs moderates a discussion about the “radio landscape of 2014 and beyond.” Panelists hail from Entercom, Cumulus, Milwaukee Radio Alliance, and Glassnote. (Austin Convention Center)
3:30-4:30: If TV is the New Radio, Brands are the New A&R… Although this panel is focused on brands, music licensing, and music partnerships, the reference to radio in the title might make for an intriguing discussion about how visual media is increasingly curating sound experiences too. (Austin Convention Center, Room 17B)
5:00-6:00pm: In-Store Radio: 200M Potential Fans. Panelists will “explore the impact of in-store radio on customer’s shopping experiences and how this exposure can lead to fan acquisition for emerging acts.” (Austin Convention Center, Room 15)
5:00-6:00pm: Women Who Conquered the Music Business. Execs from Beats Music, Island Def Jam, KROQ, Monotone, and Z100 New York will share stories and will talk about equality in the workplace. (Austin Convention Center, Room 11AB)
