More Rock, Less Talk

Just a thought -- a quick one. SXSW isn't just about seeing bands and drinking beer. (It's true, Stephen.) There are also panels, all day long, every day, on topics ranging from marketing and merchandising to intellectual property to new trends in music. Maybe I've just hit the worst-attended panels, but I've been surprised by the sparseness of their audiences. Concurrently, about a billion companies have started throwing day parties with free food, free booze, a dollop of swag (think CDs and T-shirts) and crowd-grabbing headliners.

Even a music-industry wonk like me hesitates for a long minute when given the choice between attending a panel on a topic I care about and seeing current It Musicians like Amy Winehouse and Mika playing in a courtyard on a beautiful day.

Neda Ulaby

11:28 AM ET | 03-17-2007 | permalink

 

Comments (Send a comment)

Neda, I'm glad you mentioned the daytime panels. It amazes me that more musicians don't attend these sessions, which are usually extremely informative.

The panels can give an artist a crash course in how the industry works, from booking to management to agents to marketing. The "inside baseball" commentary from the panelists sheds tremendous light on how things really work behind the scenes, and how the industry players (agents, mgrs, clubs, etc.) interact financially. The panels also attempt to chart the future of the music business, critical knowledge for performers in a rapidly changing industry.

So, to all you SXSW musicians out there: Make sure a member of your band attends some of the panel sessions! You won't regret it.

p.s. I thank you and Stephen for all the great postings on this blog. NPR has been a fantastic resource for SXSW and emerging music in general.

Sent by Wright Sullivan | 1:45 PM ET | 03-17-2007

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