Music conferences can break artists and change careers, but only if attendees are prepared for the event.
There is nothing like a great music conference. For one or more days, aspiring professionals and rising artists alike come together to discuss the latest trends and developments in the industry. There’s often a lot of live music as well, and the performances on display can attract the attention of gatekeepers from the world of entertainment.
That said, no conference attendance is guaranteed to change someone’s career. The factors that dictate the value of attending a music conference are many, but there are steps individuals can take to position themselves (or their group) for success. In this video, Music Biz host James Shotwell breaks down what music conferences are, how to prepare for them, and where you can catch him speaking in 2019.
The biggest music festival and conference in the world, SXSW, is happening right now in Texas, but you don’t have to be there to get ahead this week.
SXSW Music starts today, and if you’re reading this, I’m going to assume that you are not in attendance. Haulix has traveled to Austin for this amazing week of shows and networking before, but this year we are staying home and working hard to develop the next era of our company. It was a tough decision, as it is every year, but we saw this week of chaos in Texas as an opportunity for us to get ahead while the vast majority of the industry was distracted with the madness that is Sixth Street.
The same is true for you. Every year we hear from professionals and those looking for work about how they wish they could be attending SXSW. The event has done such a good job positioning itself as a cornerstone in the industry that anyone who isn’t attending can fall prey to thinking they are missing out on something that could be life-changing. Whether or not that is indeed the case is another point altogether, but you have to appreciate the power of good marketing.
If you did not go to SXSW, then you should consider this week a gift from the Gods of the music business. This industry never shuts down, but for the next few days things will be slower than usual, and that provides you with a rare opportunity to focus on self-improvement rather than the minute-to-minute developments of the music business as a whole. Once the event ends, promotion for summer kicks into high gear, and after that we will all be focused on the fall until things slow down once more in December.
With that in mind, here are some suggestions of things you should do while everyone else is away at SXSW:
1. Your brand needs work. No, seriously, It needs work.
Whether you’re searching for a job or trying to get the attention of an A&R rep, you currently have a set of tools and resources you use to distribute your information. No matter how good your brand is, it can always be better. Review your promotional materials, cut unnecessary fluff, your designs, and make sure every word represents you the way you want to appear to others.
2. While everyone is scrambling to make it to the next big name showcase or catch a specific panel, you are free to discover and learn at your own speed.
Austin has a dizzying amount of options at any hour of the day, leaving most to scramble from event to event, often while consuming alcohol and binging on food that is far from healthy. That is not the case for you. Time is on your side this week, and without the rigid scheduling of SXSW to hold you back there is no limit to what you can see, do, or otherwise accomplish. Dig into research for your next big interview, listen to that growing pile of promo invitations in your inbox, or catch a documentary you’ve been putting off for the last few weeks. Stay busy, but know you’re not under the same pressure to perform that you feel every other week.
3. All those projects and tasks you have been pushing off to the side? Now is the time. Clear your to-do list.
Trying to find a full time career or record deal is hard enough without also trying to handle all the other responsibilities that come with being a music industry professional, let alone being a fully-functional adult as well. Between things you need to do to survive, the things you need to do to get ahead, and the things you want to do before your far too limited amount of time on this planet is up, life can often be overwhelming. With a large portion of the industry at SXSW this week you should feel free to take a little time for yourself as well. Catch up on the stuff that really matters. Not just for work, but for your own happiness and well being. There will be another week of industry madness in just 9 sleeps.
4. There is ample entertainment to keep you going, and you don’t have to wait in any line to enjoy it.
The beauty of SXSW in 2019 is that the vast majority of important events that take place in Austin will be broadcast online or uploaded within hours of completion. There will be tweets, Facebook Live feeds, Instagram stories, and a wide array of similar social media content available in real time. You have the best seat in Texas, and you are not even there. Take in the panels, pausing as needed for notes, and don’t be afraid to kick back while streaming a set or two after your work is finished. Just because you’re trying to get ahead does not mean you cannot have a little fun after the work is done.
Not all music conferences are created equal. Some will change your life, but others are a waste of time.
Music conferences are an increasingly popular way to learn about the industry, network with peers, and gain access to business leaders who may otherwise be unavailable. No two events are the same, which can be a good and bad thing for consumers, but they all promise to help dreamers learn how to make their fantasies a reality.
The truth is that no one can make your dreams a reality other than you. The best any conference can do is offer the chance to learn how to best position yourself for success. Maybe the means attending panels featuring discussions between industry figures you admire or perhaps it means submitting to showcase at a place where movers and shakers in the business may be present, but success itself is still your responsibility.
With this in mind, it’s important that aspiring professionals who want to attend music conferences select the right event to meet their needs and help their career. There are many conferences that offer little to no useful information, as well as many more who gladly take money from artists in exchange for showcase opportunities that have little to no likelihood of being attended by people who can actually boost a career. These events happen all over the country every year and will continue do so because the vast majority of aspiring professionals are so desperate for the keys to success that they will go anywhere and do anything to get ahead.
But that’s not you. The fact you’re reading this now says you’re only interested in making wise investments with your time and finances. You understand there are no shortcuts in this business, and that alone places you in rarified air in your peer group.
We’ve had the opportunity to attend music conferences from coast to coast, and though we have not been to them all, we do know several that have the potential to change your life and career. Don’t miss these events:
The largest gathering of dreamers and professionals in the world, SXSW is the go to destination for anyone trying to rise through the ranks of the music industry. There are hundreds of speakers, thousands of performers, and all the parties anyone could hope to attend. The street food is pretty good too.
We believe everyone should attend SXSW at least once in their lives. It’s a chaotic event unlike anything else that isn’t for everyone, but those determined to get their name or music in front of tastemakers can accomplish that on the streets of Austin as long as they have the confidence to step up and say something.
LAUNCH is the SXSW of Pennsylvania. In fact, it may be better than SXSW because those in attendance have more access to industry leaders and a better chance of seeing the next big band in music. The event welcomes thousands from around the US for four days of discussions and mentoring, all lead by some of the brightest minds in the music business. At night, the festival takes over the city of Lancaster with hundreds of live performances happening all over the historic downtown area.
Haulix has participated in LAUNCH several times and will return this April to appear on one of the many great panels curated by the event staff. We’d love to meet you, so please come out and say hello!
Music Biz 2019, powered by the Music Business Association, will return to Music City USA to unite leaders in the commerce, content and creative communities across the globe to discuss the future of the music business and to build relationships that will steer the industry for years to come. Here you can find representatives from the biggest names in music, as well as networking opportunities with peers in a city where anything can happen.
We collaborate with the Music Biz organization throughout the year on webinars and other educational opportunities. Their star power and location sure makes Music Biz an event worth attending, but it’s the fact that they care about making sure everyone gets something from their conference that places them on this list.
For its second year, ECMC is adding more nationally recognized speakers, such as Matt Starr; Tune Core founder, Jeff Price; and documentarian, John Rash; along with 30 other speakers and panelists. Additionally, for the live music showcases, ECMC will be adding several national acts to compliment approximately 75 international, national, and 20-30 local performers. ECMC 2019 is hosted and sponsored by a Who’s Who of innovative local companies, including O’Connor Brewing, Percolator, and Homemadesoul Music. So far, ECMC 2019 has artists booked from four nations including the U.K. and Japan. The growth has been spurred by overwhelmingly positive response of first year attendees and the successes of 2018 artists, such as being added to Warped Tour and other major events, widespread national media coverage, and the signing of licensing and other deals from the conference.
Every conference promises opportunities to get ahead, but ECMC backs their claims up with evidence of success that no one can deny. Also, it’s the only conference on this list to feature Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman AND rap icon Ice-T in the lineup. If that’s not enough to make you want to attend, we don’t know what to tell you.
Don’t let the name fool you. DIY Musician Conference has something to offer artists and aspiring professionals alike. The event itself is young, but the industry talent it attracts is seasoned. You will be face to face with movers and shakers of the industry who are still actively involved in shaping the business of music on a daily basis. You will also rub shoulders with peers who, like you, are ready to take their career to the next level.
Welcome to the second week March! Having survived the wintery tundra most of the world refers to as January and February, we have finally arrived at the third month of the new year. There is a good chance the cold that has our country in a stranglehold will largely remain in place during the weeks ahead, but for those of us in the industry we know that this month does provide a temporary escape for those able to afford a week in Texas. South By Southwest, otherwise known as the world’s largest music conference and festival, takes place the second and third week of this month. We’ll be on site from March 15 all the way until March 20, and we hope any of you planning to attend will make it a point to say hello. In order to do that however, you will likely have to find us as we move from panel to panel throughout each day.
Concerts and screenings always steal the spotlight during SXSW, but the panels (sometimes referred to as ‘sessions’) are where to real work is accomplished. It’s in these gatherings, which can range from one on one chats to one speaker addressing hundreds at a time, that the state of the industry is openly discussed, questioned, and (hopefully) made better. We will be conveying much of the information we gain through these sessions on the blog, but we’ll be the first to tell you that our secondhand advice is nothing compared to getting your information from its original source. With that in mind, we’ve settled on a list of 10 panels we feel everyone who wants a leg up in this industry should attend. This isn’t to say the rest of the panels offered are subpar, but these topics are one we feel passionately about, and we’re excited to see how some of the industry’s greatest minds hope to see the conversation around these ideas evolve moving forward.
When: Tuesday, March 15 (5-6PM) Where: Austin Hilton Downtown – Salon B
A few simple words can help draw attention to your music tech company. PR veteran Dmitri Vietze (CD Baby, Rumblefish, LyricFind, GigSalad) will give you an overview of press pitch development, the PR cycle, timelines, and higher level PR tactics and strategies. Emphasis will be placed on the types of story angles that generate positive press reactions. Dmitri will also discuss how PR fits with business development and overall strategy. Time will be allotted to help audience members brainstorm their best press angles. Whether you are handling your company PR yourself or considering hiring out, you won’t want to miss this information-filled practical presentation.
When: Wednesday, March 16 (2-3PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 10C
Media and industry executives discuss the trend of rock, hard rock and metal being sidelined as a genre, rock radio stations closing shop, market share down, big names getting old and tired, and nothing new on the horizon. What will happen when the old guard dies and we are left with Shinedown? The truly great eras of Rock and Roll have been defined by great change, birth of Metal, Hardcore and Punk, Grunge, Nu Metal and now? We have passed the decade bridge with nothing to catapult the genre forward, is rock music capable of breathing on its own? Or is it time to buy the headstone?
When: Wednesday, March 16 (3:30-4:30PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 8C
While a streaming future promises the possibility of unprecedented transparency in tracking and reporting revenue and statistics, massive industry-wide data challenges stand in the way. Ironically, the collaborative, interconnected nature of the music business is the both a root cause of these data challenges, as well as the key to their solutions. This panel will examine the progress and contributions companies and individuals are are making in the space, and discuss the challenges in building a networked, more transparent music ecosystem.
When: Thursday, March 18 (12:30-1:30PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Artist Central in Ballroom E
The dream scenario: you enlist a top-notch music PR firm to successfully pitch your band to all the best tastemaker blogs and magazines, catapulting you into a whole new level of musical success. The actual scenario: you’re borderline broke, so you need to master the art of pitching yourself to the press. But how do you get taken seriously without professional representation? How do you build up a press list? What’s the recipe for a pitch email that not only gets opened, but read and responded to? And finally, how do you determine when it’s time to bring on a publicist? This all-star panel of veteran journalists and publicists will answer all of your burning questions about getting press.
When: Thursday, March 18 (2-3PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 10B
Technological developments in the past 20 years have made it easy for bands and labels to succeed with little more than laptops and Dropbox. Unfortunately, very few people know how to prevent losing the work of their band, or their label. This presentation will focus on practical physical and digital preservation techniques for indie bands and record labels. Beginning with the results of a survey we conducted on how DIY record labels keep track of their work, we will present concrete solutions to preservation issues faced by labels and bands, whether their work lives on a hard drive or on a series of cassettes stashed in a closet.
When: Thursday, March 18 (3:30-4:30PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 17A
Technology-driven disruption – from piracy and digital downloads to YouTube and streaming – has created an endless supply of easily accessible digital music content. The good news, music has never been more popular. More people are consuming it in more ways than ever before. The not so good news, fans no longer see a need to own, so it’s becoming less and less viable to make a living from content alone. This value shift requires a fundamental rethink of music industry business models and how music media, in all its forms, is produced and used. This expert panel will debate and discuss this changing landscape, what these new models look like and what role content will play in this ‘new normal.’
When: Friday, March 19 (12:30-1:30PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Artist Central in Ballroom E
Touring is now the main income source for many artists, and also an important platform to develop and break artists. So one of the most important challenges for artists in furthering their careers is: how do you get your fans out to your shows? We’re going to put a contemporary spin on this age-old question. In the digital era, with a wealth of data available to artists, how do we best harness and use this data to get your fanbase to show up? We’ll be digging into our playbooks to share new techniques, addressing the question from different perspectives for artists at all stages in their careers: from DIY to developing to superstar.
When: Friday, March 19 (2-3PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 10C
In 2015, knowing how to securely share your new and unreleased music with industry professionals and journalists alike is one of the most important things you need to understand in order to succeed. There are a number of methods currently being used to share promotional music right now, from cloud storage services, to digital promotional platforms, streaming services like Soundcloud, and even file transfer sites. This panel will cover the status of the war on piracy and the best methods for promotional distribution today. We will also touch on which services allow for customization of presentation, as well as digital security (watermarking, automated takedowns, etc.).
When: Friday, March 19 (3:30-4:30PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 17B
With the ever changing model of the music industry, we will be talking to some of the biggest new music brands to come out of the new media industry. The Disrupt session will be with some of the UK’s biggest music brands who are responsible for 100 millions of hits on youtube, breaking new artists and creating and realising new products to their owned audiences. We will highlight their story when growing their brands, from bedroom to boardroom, their key learnings with case studies while gaining a better understanding on what they believe it takes to create a disruptive brand in music industry.
When: Saturday, March 20 (12:30-1:30PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 17B
In the last two years there have been several success stories of artists crossing over from YouTube, Vine, and other social platforms into the mainstream music industry. We have seen artists like Shawn Mendes and Lindsey Stirling debut in the Top 1 and 2 sales positions. Where is this trend going and how are labels really integrating social platforms, mobile apps, and data into their talent discovery and artist signing strategies? What are the best platforms and apps for new artists looking to get discovered? Our panel of experts will discuss the future of talent discovery and the integration of the mainstream music industry with the social music space.
When: Saturday, March 20 (2-3PM) Where: Austin Convention Center – Room 17A
Across countries, all around the world, small live music venues have been the backbone of the live touring circuit for bands & local music fans for decades. Now, venues are facing challenges from rising costs without rising revenues, artists touring less for the same reason & new residential neighbours bringing noise issues. How do these changes affect established venues & artists at all levels, local communities that want a place to see live music & what is being done to keep the independent spirit alive? We explore how venues are fighting back, how the industry & government should, could & is supporting them and be how artists feel about these venues in the past, present and future.
SXSW begins less than a month from today, and the music portion of the world’s largest festival is only a few day further away than that. We will be on site March 15-19, and we’ll be hosting a panel regarding the future of digital promotional distribution that Friday, March 18. We hope to see many of you there, but even if you go and we do not manage to connect we want you to be as prepared as possible for everything Austin has in store. SXSW can be the best time of your life, but it can also be a total waste of time. Preparation is everything for those hoping to cover the next big artist or get face-to-face with industry heavyweights, so we created the following guide to make sure you know exactly what to expect as you prepare to travel to Texas in the coming weeks.
Clothing
You never really know what to expect from the weather in Austin. There are years when skies are forever gray and it rains nearly every day, but other years it’s sunny and so hot people from the North end up sweating profusely everywhere they go. The best approach to making sure you have what you need to stay comfortable on Sixth Street is to plan for everything. Bring short sleeve shirts and shorts, as well as a pair of jeans or two and a hoodie. You might also want to bring a jacket, but make sure it is a light one as the weather in Texas can change pretty fast and you don’t want to be stuck in a hot space with a heavy jacket.
As for footwear, you really need to fight the urge to wear sandals and bring reliable sneakers. The days at SXSW are long and the nights are often even longer. You may be in one venue or space for several hours at a time, but while there you will almost certainly be on your feet. Aside from a few rides via Uber or Lyft you will likely be walking everywhere you go in Austin and standing at every show. Comfort is everything.
Backpack/Fanny pack/etc
Most major airlines (except Spirit) allow you to bring one carry-on item in addition to your traditional suitcase. We suggest using this opportunity to bring along a backpack, fanny pack, or similar item that you also do not mind carrying around downtown Austin. You may or may not need to bring your iPad, laptop, notebook, or whatever with you each day, but when you do you will want something to carry those materials in so that your hands can remain free. There is a lot happening in Austin during SXSW, so for the sake of simplifying travel, as well as keeping your belongings safe, we highly encourage bringing a something to help carry your stuff around.
Items you may want to ensure are inside your carry-on include:
sunscreen
charging wires
pens
pencils
business cards
promo items
the SXSW event guide you are given when picking up your badge/wristband.
Like the Boy Scouts say, “always be prepared.”
Phone stuff
Are you one of those people who believe themselves too cool to place a protective case on your smartphone? If so, it’s time to take a hard look in the mirror and realize you’re just like the rest of us because SXSW is going to test the strength of your device regardless of whatever protection you may have in place. Between weather, alcohol splashing from cups, and the ever-present chance of simply dropping your device on the same Sixth Street concrete that has claimed the lives of countless other phones, there is more reason than ever to put your phone in some kind of case ahead of your trip to Austin.
Protect your ears
There will be numerous companies handing out promotional items at SXSX, including several brands offering ear plugs. Whether you choose to accept those freebies or not is up to you, but we highly advise you to make arrangement to protect your ears during your time in Austin. The venues for most shows are incredibly small and the sound is usually as big as can be without causing distortion. This is truly an awesome thing, but too much greatness can and more than likely will do longterm damage to your hearing. Come prepared to rock, of course, but also take precautions to ensure you are able to rock well into old age.
Arrange for interviews now. Expect those plans to change.
Everyone is short on time at SXSW, and the only way to ensure you have a chance to speak with the musician or industry professional you hope to meet is by making plans now. Publicists around the globe are waiting for emails from journalists, and as the beginning of SXSW nears the number of inquiries they receive day-to-day will continue to grow. Your best bet at getting face time with anyone important in Austin is to make plans to do so right now. Some may say they need to wait a week or two for confirmation, but at least your name will be added to the list, and that is farther than many will ever get.
Even if you receive confirmation we would advise against counting your interview or meet-up as a sure thing until the encounter actually occurs. SXSW is notorious for undoing the best laid plans, so it’s very likely your scheduled interview will be pushed or cancelled altogether by the time its scheduled occurrence arrives. Don’t take it personally, as it happens to everyone, but do make alternate plans in case such moment come to pass. Speaking of that….
Create a schedule. In fact, create two.
We’ve already told you that planning is everything, but it’s worth emphasizing further because that fact is never more true than when it comes to devising you SXSW schedule. Between now and the March 15 start of SXSW there will be literally dozens of performances announced featuring hundreds of musicians from around the globe. Some of them you may know, but most you probably will not, and we want to urge you to try and discover as much as possible during your time in Austin. Seeing the bands you know and love perform in small spaces can be fun, but there is nothing quite like the rush of seeing someone relatively unknown absolutely crush a SXSW crowd. Who knows? You could see the next big star just months before they become international sensations?
With this in mind, use the time between now and SXSW to explore the various pitches you receive for coverage at the festival. When you find something you like, be it a performance or a panel, add it to your calendar. When you fill up your week, open a new calendar and build an alternate schedule for yourself. If there are events you absolutely do not want to miss you should include them on both schedules, but also try to add alternate choices in case something prevents you from attending that particular happening.
We will feature more tips and tricks for making the most of SXSW in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!
This is my fifth time visiting Austin. You would think by now that I have adjusted to fifteen hours days on my feet, followed by five to six hours of sleep, but waking up seems harder than ever this time around. Maybe it’s the meds from my recent emergency root canal, or maybe I’m just getting older. I hope it’s the former and not the latter.
Anyways, my second day in Austin was a weird one. Due to a few schedule changes many of my plans ended up falling apart, but those I was able to make happen turned into memorable occasions and great opportunities for content generation.
It all began as every day should with three breakfast tacos from one of the (probably) hundreds of food trucks in the greater Austin area. I love chorizo almost as I love tacos in general, but being from New England a good breakfast taco is nearly impossible to find, so whenever I find myself this far South I indulge until my heart and stomach are both content. You might not care about my meals, but it was only because of choosing this random truck I met three reps from Billboard who also happened to be searching for early morning chorizo. We swapped stories of bands good and bad, then told each other we’d try to meet up at Migos later in the week. I doubt we will see one another again, but it’s amazing to be in a place where such conversations can happen before 11AM on a Wednesday.
My first big event of the day was a panel on content curation and the way music discovery is changing, which you can find a summary/review of right here on the Haulix blog. The panel featured guests from Shazam, Rdio, 8Tracks, and Pandora, which one might think would lead to very different answers when hoping to learn about the future of discovery, but truth be told they were pretty much in agreement from the first five minutes onward. As far as everyone in that room was concerned, the future of discovery is all about data. If we can harness the information gathered from a music fan’s previous listening experiences we can service them with similar artists and songs that should play well with their interests. Again, if you want to learn more about all this, click here.
Following the panel I spent lunch with our clients and friends SideOneDummy Records. We chatted about their recent Jeff Rosenstock release, as well as the artists they plan to see while here in Austin. They promised me not to reveal those performers names for fear someone else may try to pick them up, so just know if you see someone from the S1D staff at a venue this week there is probably a buzz band playing in the near future.
After lunch I met with Nick Thomas, frontman for The Spill Canvas, and conducted a thirty minute interview which will soon be live here on the blog. We discussed the transition from The Spill Canvas to his current work as a solo artists, as well as his perspective on the industry after spending over a decade navigating its often treacherous waters. I had never spoken to Nick prior to this meeting, but I am really pleased with the results. Look for that piece to run here in the near future.
I caught a couple sets after speaking with Nick, including listening to Leon Bridges perform while waiting in line to see him at the Spotify House (which was better than not hearing him at all). Then I got a text from Jesse Richman of PropertyOfZack asking me if I had any interest in seeing the new Kurt Cobain documentary, ‘Montage Of Heck.’ I told him I definitely did and they two of us spent the next 90-minutes waiting in line for a 530 screening. I’m not allowed to talk too much about what we saw, but I will say that any fan of Nirvana owes it to themselves to see this film as soon as possible. It’s gorgeous, thought-provoking, and executed in such a way that you will want to see it again almost as soon as it comes to an end.
At this point I was pretty much ready to call it a night, but then my friends in the Atlanta band Microwave texted to say they were added to a house show several miles from downtown Austin. I hailed an uber and rushed to the southside of Austin where I found the band, as well as several industry professionals, hanging out in what was literally someone’s backyard. Microwave sounded great though, and less than fifteen minutes after they finished the cops came to shut the place down. The show was over already though, so their arrival was a little too late to make anyone all that nervous.
By the time I made it back to downtown Austin I was ready to collapse. I was walking back to my hotel from where the cab had dropped me off and encountered a poster promoting a new film with Jeremy Sisto called ‘Hangman.’ There was a screening starting at midnight, the last of the week for the film, and I told myself I would try to make it for Sisto. I made it, but the film was a mess, and I ended up going to bed disappointed.
It’s now 11am on Thursday and it’s time to begin another round of SXSW madness. Check back tomorrow for another blog and feel free to tweet me if you have any requests for future SXSW content.
This morning I attended a SXSW panel filled with leaders from Shazam, Sirius XM, and other digital music platforms that hoped to tackle the tough subject of music discovery and where it may be headed in the future. It was a continuation of a panel from 2014, but the content shared was wholly unique to this session.
The first topic was the rise in demand for professional curators. Apple is hiring some right now, but there is an argument to be made for whether or not machines can do they job just as well. The team from Sirius XM commented that this trend is good, but they have always made it a point to use both man and machine for their curation needs. Shazam seconded this notion, and added that their path to discovery begins with user generated questions. Users hear a song they like, then engage in discovery by opening Shazam to figure out who is responsible for the track. To help make a connection between personal discovery and more large scale music discovery the company recently added charts, which shows every user the songs most often being sought on the Shazam platform.
Other panelists had variations on the comments above, but almost everyone agreed the most difficult part of the curation and discovery process right now is how to expose people to talent they may enjoy without doing a hard sell. For Rdio, one of Spotify’s biggest competitors, the changes being made to better facilitate discovery began with the launch of their own radio tool. Users can choose the song or artist they like, turn on radio, and the service will attempt to serve users with artists and songs they believe to be similar to the user’s initial choice. Who makes this cut is based on cumulative data from all users, which is fed through an algorithm to find what artists/songs are most often played together.
When asked how they plan to take this idea and develop it further, Rdio mentioned personalized radio stations for users that take into consideration everything they listen to, as well as how often each song/artist/genre is enjoyed. Other panelists agreed that this idea was the way of the future, though each has their own take on how it should work. Again, everything comes back to data, and it seems that will be a constant theme throughout SXSW this week.
If we accept that data is the key to curation and digital discovery, which the panel in this session did, then we next need to discuss what parameters need to be placed on the data being used. People who use applications like Shazam or Rdio have possibly compiled years worth of data about their music interest, so how far back should these companies dig through that data when trying to determine new talent to show that user? No one seems to have an answer quite yet, but almost everyone agrees there needs to be some kind of cut off point. People’s tastes change over time, so it doesn’t make sense to use the entirety of your time with a service to generate new recommendations.
8Tracks founder David Porter was quick to reply to this conversation by adding that having too little data about a user is just as problematic as too much. He used Twitter’s ‘People You May Know’ service as an example, citing how the company did a poor job of recommending people you may actually know early on, but over time they refined their tools through the use of more and more data.
At this point the panel was asked whether or not users would feel comfortable with constant data mining being made in the name of content curation and future music discovery. The panelists were quick to comment that the answer will always be dependent on the way the discovery tools are presented to users. General recommendations like Prince or Madonna are only going to push people away, as most users will already know of these artists. The key is to find a way to show users lesser known artists who relate to the talent they already know without coming across and pushing a hard sell or otherwise being intrusive.
Building on this idea, Shazam commented that they have learned bad and/or poor recommendations tend to drive away users. If people get push notifications or emails that attempt to connect them with music they already are aware of they are far more likely to turn off notifications and unsubscribe from email chains than if no recommendations were serviced at all. Other panelists commented that they have seem similar trends with their various attempts to change or innovate discovery.
Before closing the panelists were asked to summarize their thoughts. There were some variations, as well as plenty of pitches for their various companies, but as a whole everyone seemed to agree that the future of music discovery and content curation is not about man versus machine, but rather man and machine finding a way to work together while leveraging the vast pools of data each business has collected. No one knows exactly what the next phase of discovery will be or what it will look like, but everyone is interested in seeing it brought to the public sooner than later. In order for these companies to thrive they need users who are constantly consuming content, and the only way to guarantee that happens is by consistently providing them with good recommendations, or at least giving them the tools to find artists they may enjoy. Once someone cracks that code, everything about content curation will change.
For the first time in our history, Haulix is headed to SXSW! We are not hosting a party or participating in any panels, but Marketing Coordinator and blog editor (aka the guy writing this) James Shotwell will be on the streets of Austin beginning Tuesday, March 17th. While there he will be attending panels, writing about the latest trends in music business, and chatting with a number of industry professionals. We’ll be running all that content right here on the blog, so make sure you check back regularly for updates. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Speaking of social medial, James will be sharing his view of Sixth street and the surrounding areas through our Twitter account. If you’re in town and want to meet up, be it to catch a show or chat about the business over tacos, feel free to send us a tweet!
Need ideas for how to spend your time at SXSW? We can help. Use this list to preview our favorite panels, then head over to this list to see the artists we hope to see perform.
If you are not going to SXSW, don’t worry. Making the trip to Austin is an expensive one, even if you have press passes and the help of your employer to make it happen. There are many in the business who have never gone, as well as plenty who went once or twice and decided it wasn’t for them. Just because you are not there does not mean you are missing out on anything that will change the industry forever (most likely, there is a .000000001% someone stumbles upon a game-changing miracle, but it’s so unlikely that you needn’t lose sleep thinking about it further). Follow social media, read the updates from writers you trust on the street, and maybe next year you too can join the crazy, fun, tiring, and enjoyable experience that is SXSW.
Hello! We are packing in preparation for our first-ever appearance at SXSW, and though we will be spending a lot of time attending panels and developing content we will also be watching a number promising young musicians showcase their talent. We know you have probably seen other sites and blogs post their list of essential sets and showcases to catch, but until today we have not offered a single music recommendation. Why? We could try and say it’s because we wanted to build anticipation, but the truth is that we haven’t had much time to think about concerts as of late. Between figuring out our panels, as well as scheduling press opportunities, the performances more or less took a back seat on our priority list.
Today we are making a change. Instead of focusing on panels or the many ways one can successfully market themselves while at SXSW, today we are going to highlight several performers we feel will be gaining a lot of attention in the months to come. You might not like every act we choose, but we can promise that if you approach the following list with an open mind you will certainly someone or some group who may soon be your new musical addiction.
Leon Bridges
Hailing from Dallas with a sound straight out of Motown’s golden era, Leon Bridges has been building a lot of hype for his throwback sound and style over the last several months. The young musician recently announced his first US tour, which found many cities selling out within minutes, and will soon be headed overseas for his second set of European shows in less than a year. We have no idea when Bridges plans to release a proper album, but for now the three singles he has available on iTunes are more than enough to set the mood for an unforgettable night with the person you love.
Migos
Not exactly an up and coming group in the classic sense, Migos have been cutting a path entirely their own through the urban music landscape for the last several years. Through mixtape and live performances the men of Migos have made their names known, and later this year they hope to take things to the next level when their debut album arrives in stores. You may remember their Drake-assisted hit “Versace,” but that is only one of many catchy, high energy tracks we expect the trio to perform while in Austin.
Nick Thomas
For years we thought Nick Thomas would eventually be held in the same regard as Dashboard Confessional or Third Eye Blind. Both catchy and heartfelt, the music Thomas made with his band The Spill Canvas remains one of the alternative scene’s go-to soundtracks for young love (as well as young heartache). Now with a solo album in stores and a new band at his side, Thomas is reintroducing music fans to his vision of the world, and so far the results are nothing short of stellar.
Dustin Kensrue
There was a time when Dustin Kensrue was only known as the frontman for the rock band Thrice, but that point in history is starting to become a distant memory as Censure prepares to release his sophomore solo release. We don’t know what exactly to expect when Dustin arrives in Austin, but we do know his legion of fans will be lining up extra early to hear his latest material. We’ll be there as well, and we hope to see you too.
The Last Bison
Mumford and Sons may have chosen to dispose of their Americana sound, but for those who still believe in the power of harmony, banjo, and acoustic guitar will soon realize The Last Bison are likely to become their new favorite band. Their sound is not too distant from the hipster-tinged folk that has been big at radio in recent years, but it does pack an extra dash of emotion we never heard in those other projects. We have never seen the group live, but given the strong word of mouth currently helping them along we believe those able to catch them in Austin will be in for something special.
Microwave
This may be the set we are looking forward to the most, but to be completely honest part of the reason for my excitement is the fact this band is also part of blog editor James Shotwell’s record label. We would still love them if anyone else had signed them, but for the sake of transparency we felt that detail needed to be shared. ANYWAYS. Microwave hail from Georgia with a pop-laden take on modern alternative rock that you won’t be able to shake anytime soon. The hooks are big, the melodies are infectious, and the lyricism is unlike anything you have heard before. Don’t dig deeper, just give them a chance to impress. We promise they won’t let you down.
Rae Sremmurd
This time last year Rae Sremmurd were just another hip-hop duo looking for a hit song. They attended SXSW, but not as showcasing talent. This time around, they have a slew of hits under their belt, as well as a Billboard charting debut album. With producer Mike Will Made It slated to appear as well, possibly even during one of the duo’s sets, we think it’s safe to say Rae Sremmurd have become THE need to see urban act of the festival.
Dej Loaf
Rae Sremmurd and Migos a bit too mainstream for you? No worries. Detroit emcee Dej Loaf is poised to be one of the hottest solo acts in hip-hop this year. She has received praise from every corner of the industry, and now with a series of successful digital singles under her belt there seems to be no stopping this twenty-something from achieving her dreams. Our favorite song in her catalog is “I Got It,” but truth be told any track on her recent mixtape is sure to impress.
Hippo Campus
Best band name at SXSW? We think so. Hippo Campus have been on our radar for several months now, but Austin will be the first opportunity we have had to see them live. The band will soon be opening for My Morning Jacket on tour, so we believe this is one of the last chances anyone will have to see this band before they become a household name. Don’t miss out!
In preparation of South By Southwest (SXSW), the music industry’s most epic and grueling music festival, I felt inclined to make a list of advice and suggestions that I wish that someone had told me in 2009, as I headed into the event. So to all of you SXSW rookies out there, read the following:
1. Drink water, not whiskey.
Since SXSW is unlike any other festival in the fact that it is a marathon, not a sprint, pacing yourself is key. With schedules spanning six days and shows popping up from breakfast to bar close, bracing your body is absolutely vital. With Texas heat and expecting to be able to push yourself to unrealistic limits, SXSW can break down even the toughest of ironmen. Therefore, logistically speaking, drinking your lunch might not be the best plan for success. Picture the festival as a week-long season of Survivor. You have to be smart to stay alive, stay on top of the scene and maximize the shows you attend. Otherwise, you’re just another piss-stained pair of skinny jeans passed out on the sidewalk of Sixth Street that Nick Cave has to step over on the way to his next gig. Don’t be that guy.
2. RSVP for everything.
Sure, it seems like a waste of time now as you sit on your couch eating corn chips and watching Scrubs. Also, I understand that you have no intention of attending all of the 650 parties that I am currently asking you to plop your email address into. “It won’t hurt to skip just this one,” you tell yourself as you make a b-line for the events featuring your favorite new band. Yet, if you fast forward to the festival’s third day of bands, you’ll find yourself having drinks with a beautiful redhead named Zooey, who happens to work for Columbia Records. She has chatted you up through the whole of the last set, flirting and charming you into a state of complete smitten and butterflies. You stop for Tito Tequila shots on the way to her next assignment as a talent scout. She is on her way to analyze the talent at the “Next Big Thing” party at Emo’s in 20 minutes. She asks you to join, claiming ‘she doesn’t want the conversation to end.’ You’re in, man, hardcore. You, however, didn’t RSVP for that party because you didn’t know any of the bands on the list.
Long story short, don’t cock block yourself personally or professionally by being lazy.
3. Bring a power strip.
We live in a time where it is impossible to exist without our cellphones. I mean, how the hell do you expect to check into every bar on 4square, keep in the SXSW know through Twitter and update your Facebook status if your iPhone runs out of juice? Obviously at some point during the course of your 18-hour day, you will need a jump. You will also quickly discover that as everyone in the modern world (and some bands from the dark-age countries) descends into the Texas state capitol, power outlets become scarce. You’re doing everyone a favor by packing a power strip. You’ll be a hero at the convention center when you add five new ports to the mix. Additionally, you be forced to socialize as people ask you permission to plug into your device. Phone-addicted application junkies will unite as one and the world will bond over the experience.
4. Be prepared to snack. A lot.
At some point you are going to find it impossible to eat at SXSW. This is not due to a lack of access to food—that actually couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Hell, everywhere you turn around in Austin there is a dining option. In reality, starving will come due to a lack of time. With bands starting sets more often than Taylor Swift starts relationships, there will too-often be no time to sit down and snarf a steak. It would be wise for you to pack a collection of “hiking food” in your bag. Power bars and granola are both light and take up very little space, yet leave you with plenty of energy in return. Shoving them in your face on the go leaves much reward for little effort.
5. See someone play in a church. Anyone.
The coolest thing about SXSW is getting to see bands play in places you’ll experience no place else. I’ve gotten to see Fiona Apple play in a Presbyterian church and Broken Belles rock a parking garage. Both experiences have pushed the boundaries of what I expected to experience in my music journalism career. They are unique and amazing stories I am blessed to have. Do yourself a favor and experience them too.
6. Leave your TOMS at home. Bring your Jordans.
At SXSW, you’re going to walk. A LOT. Wearing shoes that are made to comfort your feet is a stellar idea. Sure, it is important to look cool, but honestly how cool are you going to look as you limp around from the quarter-sized blister you gathered on your heel?
Think comfy, not cool.
7. Bring a hoodie, just in case.
Sure, Texas is hot. Texas is T-shirt and jorts (jean shorts) hot. Your shirts are going to pit stain and you’re going to want to change clothes a minimum of three times a day during the fest. Texas is this hot IN MARCH. However, fluke weather happens. I can remember standing in the photo pit of Auditorium Shores preparing to shoot She and Him a few years back, freezing to death. The weather had dropped from 75 and sunny the previous day to the 40s and rainy. Come prepared for everything.
8. If that secret show has been announced on Twitter, it isn’t secret anymore.
It is pretty badass that Green Day has decided to play their one and only show at SXSW in a tiny, hole-in-the-wall dive off the beaten path. The venue holds roughly 300 people. The event will be second to none and something that you will never get the chance to see again. It is something that you don’t want to miss. However, it is also something that hundreds of thousands of other people will not want to miss. You do the math. Do you want to stand in line nine hours early in order to get in the venue? Or would you rather see nine other bands play?
Seeing the big names are great, but you’re missing out on a lot.
9. Expect for your schedule to fall apart.
You can make as many spreadsheets, Google docs, to-do-lists and itineraries as you want, but at the end of the day all of them will fail you. SXSW is a clusterfuck, plain and simple. Bands are going to miss their sets. Shows are going to run late. Shows are going to hit capacity and you’re going to be left outside.
SXSW doesn’t give a shit about you or your spreadsheet. You have to adjust. If one bar is full, go next door and see what you find. You never know if the next band that you randomly walk into will turn out to be that band that changes your life.
Take a chance on a no-name or two.
10. Be polite.
You’re going to be tired and cranky throughout the week. Your feet are going to hurt and you’re going to be overwhelmed by the amount of people who are constantly in your face. Weather, delays, drunks and a gaggle of other obstacles are going to piss you off throughout your experience. You have to smile through them. It is understandable for you to be annoyed, but don’t be an asshole. Everyone else is just as fed up as you and it pays to have friends from all over and you never know who you’ll meet!
Josh Hammond is a music industry lifer. After years spent reviewing artists and discussing their ongoing activities as a music journalist, Josh now spends his time pitching talent as one member of Another Reybee Production PR. Follow him on Twitter to gain more insight on his life in the music business.
