Austin, TX has long proclaimed itself quite accurately as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” But increasingly for a few days every March, that superlative boast seems almost quaint next to the massive celebration, exploration, examination and exploitation of music that is today’s South by Southwest Music Festival.
In its 27th year, SXSW is no longer just the place for indie bands and artists to come and hope to be discovered by someone, anyone, who can help boost their careers. Although that is still the aim for most music creators appearing at the festival, it has increasingly the place in the music universe where any musical artist now wants to come to juice up their profile – or perhaps just not miss out on the fun. This year, ASCAP superstars performed at some of the hottest (and hardest to get into) shows. Prince, Green Day, Justin Timberlake and Usher led the pack and the rumor mill was churning so hard, that word on the street was that Paul McCartney was sure to drop in on the festivities.
The beautiful thing about SXSW however is that musical glory can happen on any stage in Austin whether that stage is in a backyard, on a rooftop or even on the side of the street.
In addition to the rock-centric ASCAP Presents…at SXSW showcase on Wednesday, March 13th at the Red Eyed Fly and the hip-hop driven BET and ASCAP Present…Music Matters, powered by Yahoo! Showcase at Brazos Hall on Thursday, March 14th, the ASCAP Presents...at SXSW showcase at the Driskill Hotel on Friday, March 15th offered audiences an acoustic-oriented line-up featuring some of today’s best new songwriters and bands, including Mary Epworth, Tyler Lyle, The Lone Bellow, Nylo, David Ramirez, Wardell and Michael Bernard Fitzgerald.
ASCAP sponsored several showcases that were packed to capacity all over town. From Filter Magazine’s Showdown at Cedar Street, featuring such buzzed-about acts as Hearts, Haim, Bastille and more, to Brooklyn Vegan’s Day Parties to the official SXSW Radio Day Stage in the Austin Convention Center featuring such artists as Lissie, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, and Vampire Weekend, ASCAP members and their music delivered unforgettable performances around the clock.
ASCAP also delivered important messages on two panels at the Austin Convention Center. ASCAP’s Senior VP of Distribution & Repertory Lynne Lummel participated on the “Music Metadata Means More Money for Musicians” panel, and ASCAP AVP of Legal Affairs Christine Pepe spoke on the “Digital Distribution – Where the Future Money Is” panel. Both panels emphasized ASCAP’s innovations in delivering greater revenues to ASCAP members - by developing more efficient distributions and licensing more and more online businesses that use music.
As a respite from the “madding crowd,” the ASCAP Boat, sponsored in connection with SOCAN, IMRO, TAXI and SunTrust Bank, offered attendees a relatively quiet cruises on Lady Bird Lake on Thursday, March 14th.
Everywhere you turned, there was ASCAP music. And although SXSW can be bit overwhelming, it represents an important endeavor: an industry – from music creators to technological innovators to corporate sponsors – who are all very much true believers in music’s power to move the world and are seeking new ways to harness it.
Click here for coverage of the 2013 ASCAP Presents…at SXSW showcase at the Red Eyed Fly.
Click here for coverage of the 2013 BET and ASCAP Present…Music Matters, powered by Yahoo! SXSW Showcase