SXSW 2018 Recap
As the music portion of the SXSW conference extends in length with each passing year, the opportunities for the Texas Music Office (TMO) to take business meetings and foster economic development opportunities extend as well.
This year found TMO Director Brendon Anthony speaking on a SXSW Music Conference panel titled “Austin Y’all! Sustaining a Thriving Music City,” where he discussed how industry bodies, government, and data and technology can help indie artists, venues and promoters not just stay afloat, but create booming and sustainable live music businesses. TMO also livestreamed the panel via Facebook Live for the benefit of music communities around the state. (Watch the recording on TMO’s Facebook page.) Anthony also was able to use the panel to get the message out about TMO’s new “Music Friendly Communities” economic development program. The merits of TMO’s work (as discussed during the panel) were positively covered by various media outlets around the state.
TMO also hosted Governor Greg Abbott, First Lady Cecilia Abbott and assorted music industry professionals at its “Texas Music Showcase,” produced in collaboration with The Kessler Presents. The afternoon showcase at Scottish Rite Theater opened with Corpus Christi artist Shayna Sands. San Antonio’s Garrett T. Capps & The Three Timers performed a middle set. Then after some words from the stage by Anthony and Governor Abbott about the importance and economic strength of the Texas music industry, Dallas supergroup The Texas Gentlemen headlined the showcase.
With the help of TMO’s interns, the office also joined forces with the Texas Film Commission to host a booth at the SXSW Trade Show. The booth allows both offices to solicit business development in Texas, and also allows TMO to connect with various artists, other government agencies, start-ups and assorted other businesses that would like to collaborate with the office.
Additional SXSW responsibilities include supporting and connecting with Texas artists, artist managers, promoters, booking agents and more; taking meetings with international businesses that are only in Texas once a year; and taking business development meetings with music industry professionals from Los Angeles, New York City and Nashville (including the Recording Academy, performance rights societies and music publishers) with the ultimate goal of increasing business opportunities for Texas artists and music businesses.