SXSW 2011 Overview: A familiar refrain in Austin, Texas
After a showcase for the unknowns, the South By South West now regularly includes the name acts. Such as music sales decline and independent works often at the top of the Billboard charts, it takes precedence over the promotion of business deals.
With 2,000 bands in five days in Austin, Texas, music and media resources to the annual South by Southwest Festival and Conference will be in rock ‘n’ roll hopefuls packaging than ever before. But even as the meeting place 25 and overload is non-stop music from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., it is increasingly in a study to extremes.
After a showcase for unsigned and undiscovered, SXSW is now regularly is dotted with names. New York’s Strokes played for more than 10,000 people on Thursday evening due to the Riverfront Park, coming from the party for the band’s first album in five years, “Angles” in stores Tuesday. Five new tracks dotted the length of the track 90-minute set, the longer for about 45 minutes than what was allocated to other acts of SXSW 1990th
If SXSW is a stray from their R & D roots, it is more a reflection of the diversification of industry, one that is in the company’s brands more prominent of the four major labels included. Online video site Vevo should accommodate Kanye West on Saturday, and off-site “Fader Fort” offers free drinks and four full days of buzz acts, including the Welsh hard rock act trying Joy, brother, sister LA pop band Belle Brigade Compton Odd buzzing hip-hop collective future – even though Fort looks and feels more like a showroom for auto sponsor of Fiat from the music site.
Edward Pierson, Seattle-based attorney and former executive with Warner / Chappell Music, said on Thursday that the disk is 15 years ago on a trip spending $ 10-15000000 Dollar Band, have you never heard [Register] SXSW . “As as revenue fell and independent works now regularly grace the top of the Billboard charts, it shall be promoting priority over business affairs. Crowds, for instance, flocked to catch Jack White perform two songs in front of the bus, and AOL Music Concert by the church before the retro-style UK rockers vaccines organized.
“For the people now, it feels like a very exciting time,” said Simon Wheeler, head of digital initiatives for a consortium of independent label Beggars Group. “You can read more than ever before. You can more than ever be justified.”
However, the industry must shift from a CD to sell downloads, streams and incremental purchases, do-it-all digital free-for-yourself funds tags still may “shake up” their work, “said Wheeler. Beggar Group Label Matador Records has some of his best years, “said label co-founder Gerard Cosloy, but not without spending some dramatic changes.
“We would usually put between 12 and 14 records per year,” said Cosloy. “In recent years we have out of service less … We are now at the point where our fate is decided to record the first week or earlier.”
And competition is fierce for dollar, even in the concert industry as a market segment is immune to the fluctuations in the music business.
“Well, compared to 18 months before the consumer has more to do on Friday evening,” said Nathan Hubbard, who works for Live Nation as CEO of Ticketmaster Entertainment Division. “Angry birds on IPAD’s much more fun than the $ 125 concert ticket you could not live without.”
Hubbard spoke on the panel, which promised to address the industry has split. Under the title “Indie Davids Take On Goliath Live Nation Ticketmaster, the panel also featured Space land Productions Founder Frank Mitchell and indie promoter Boch billion, the billions handles Corp. Reservations for the likes of Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, among many others. But Despite the controversial title, on Friday morning to talk politely pointed out the challenges faced by smaller players in the concert industry.
Recently candidate promoter / owner of the place of Live Nation and Ticketmaster have raised many concerns are in the industry and that the company was able to take advantage of their tour and ticketing department to cripple competitors. “Live Nation has some advantages,” admitted the Justice Department representative John Read, the part of the committee that the controversial merger was approved. “A finger in every part of the equation, appear to be dressed.”
Frank LA Echo and Echoplex venues are flying normally developed under the radar, but as a promoter, often works with bands on the rise and is currently selling tickets through Ticketmaster, Frank said, “It scares me to know that I pay 40% This profit is the second company to come and take over their market.”
To calm their fears, Hubbard said: “It is said that the Justice Department every week,” adding he was “delivered” on each of its employees do not exchange information. However, Read said the Department of Justice has received several complaints from the field, that Live Nation Entertainment has violated its contract with government agencies.
Several unnamed company to read, she came back said that Live Nation Entertainment, has threatened to withdraw the ticket agreement to work, if not used as a promoter company. Read added that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are sharing office space in many markets and stressed that “we have not sued for contempt, but we see ..”
But in consolidating the fragmented industry with many niches, each playing a trust to be beautiful?
“It’s like seeing my children,” said Read. “If I know I’ll be watching in the room, they behave a little better.”
R.E.M. Attorney Bertis Downs previously offered some sage advice for the survival of all the artists, labels and brands flooding Austin. “Companies that have been around 10 years and had to be treated equally to those artists who are still another 10 years.”
