Panelpicker Season: Vote for Music and Tech at SXSW 2025
SXSW has opened community voting for the 2025 event! Each year the number of amazing proposals grows. To help you zero in on the most intriguing sessions in the Music & Tech and Music Industry tracks, the Rock Paper Scissors team has put together a list of our favorite music tech & innovation meetups, presentations, and panels.
Check out our curated list of proposals below and upvote them if they get you excited too. Let SXSW know you care about the future of music and you want to see it on the schedule!
How to Vote
All you need to do is log in to (or create) a SXSW.com account with your email address. Then click through the links below and cast your vote on the proposals that you want to see in Austin in 2025. Vote for as many proposals as you like. You can also add comments to voice your excitement!
Your votes count—it doesn't matter if you have never attended before or you’ve never missed a conference! Community voting is just one factor in programming decisions, though. Read SXSW’s explainer on the process here.
Voting is open through August 18, 2024. You can come back to the panelpicker as often as you want through the voting period, but you can only upvote each proposal once.
Music, Tech, and Innovation Proposals
How To Startup: 20 Essential Lessons in Music Tech
Launching a music startup is like peeling an onion: the many layers go on forever, and it makes most people want to cry for no reason. In this fast masterclass, founders get insights on the wide range of skills required to succeed. We’ll cover ideation, product-market fit, money, investment, music licensing, and more. Dmitri Vietze has captured the best lessons from the top startup experts in music tech via his How to Startup series on the Music Tectonics podcast. Sun Jen Yung, an investment banker and advisor, knows what it takes for startups to get investment or get acquired.
Presenters: Dmitri Vietze, Rock Paper Scissors & Music Tectonics; Sun Jen Yung, Nfluence Partners
Click here to vote for How To Startup: 20 Essential Lessons in Music Tech
Share your Story: Why I got into Music Tech
Take a breath from the panels and meetings to connect with people who share your passion! Join veterans and newbies from all walks of the industry as they journey through their story of working at the convergence of Music and Tech. Hear what trials and tribulations peers faced to get to where they are and how far the industry has come. Meet and connect with potential partners, co-founders, investors, and advisors who will help you take your business to the next level all in a supportive and facilitated environment.
Organizer: Shayli Ankenbruck, Music Tectonics
Click here to vote for Share your Story: Why I got into Music Tech
Music Tech Meetup where we bring together innovative minds in music and technology for a roundtable. Let's share why we got into the space, B2B tips on how to succeed in making partnerships, and discuss how to attract great talent to your company.
Organizer: Jade Prieboy, Rock Paper Scissors
Click here to vote for Music Tech Meetup
A New Age of Independence: Modernized Artist Services
The steady growth of the DIY and independent side of the recorded music market, with indies having accounted for a groundbreaking 50% of the total revenue generated in 2023 on Spotify, calls for a discussion of what models and services are available to this group of artists.
This session will focus on the emergence of alternative models for independent and DIY artists, who have a diverse range of ideas about what success looks like. The panelists are industry experts who have an intimate knowledge of these ideas and how new models can productively respond to independent artists’ needs.
Panelists: Arianna O'Dell, Fast Company; Kevin Lazaroff, Amuse; Steve Sparrow, ATG Group; David Ponte, Audiomack
Click here to vote for A New Age of Independence: Modernized Artist Services
Artists in Games - What Works?
Gaming has 3.5B global players and intense loyalty and fandom. Can music artists break in games? Can artists develop new fans? Do these fans engage outside of the game? What does in-game monetization look like for artists beyond the sync license -- virtual merch, emotes, and? We are entering an era of creativity and convergence of tech around music experiences, games, and virtual worlds. We need an equal amount of innovation in how artists and gaming engage fans together, and build successful practices to all artists. Join us and learn from key players who are deep in music and gaming.
Panelists: Vickie Nauman, CrossBorderWorks; Brooke Rascoff, Riot Games; Ryan Ruden, Aerial Entertainment; Aaron Matusow, Crush Music & Ventures
Click here to vote for Artists in Games - What Works?
Scrubbing the System: Music Data Management Today
In today’s music industry, data is king. It must be accurate, updated and consistent. Historically, data management has been another way the industry favors recorded music over publishing, with DSPs relying on labels to submit backend data. To protect all parties involved and ensure accurate compensation, we must foster open dialogue addressing our data management challenges. We will discuss how to treat data meticulously, hold rights holders accountable, and set responsibilities that achieve results for all. We plan for a music business journalist to moderate, and speakers from a DSP & label.
Presenter: Rell Lafargue, Reservoir Media
Click here to vote for Scrubbing the System: Music Data Management Today
Forge New Connections: Reimagining Artist Management in a Fragmented World
The media landscape is fractured, audiences are diverse. How can artists adapt and forge lasting connections? Join Ross Michaels from Park Ave Artists, the forward-thinking agency redefining artist careers, and GRAMMY-nominated artist/producer Alissia (known for her work with Mary J. Blige, Bruno Mars, and more) for a fireside chat exploring innovative artist management strategies. Learn how to create space for artists beyond traditional channels, build engaged fanbases, and leverage technology & unexpected partnerships to forge unforgettable connections with audiences.
Presenters: Alissia Benveniste, artist/producer; Ross Michaels, Park Avenue Artists
Click here to vote for Forge New Connections: Reimagining Artist Management in a Fragmented World
Rethinking the Tune: Ethical Compensation Models for the AI-Powered Music Industry
The music industry is undergoing a sonic revolution. AI is rapidly transforming music creation, distribution, and consumption. While exciting, this shift raises a crucial question: how can we ensure artists are ethically compensated in this evolving landscape?Join the Head of Audio for Kits.AI, Kyle Billings, for a thought-provoking presentation that will explore ethical AI-based compensation models for artists in the music industry. Delve into the current challenges and discover innovative solutions that empower artists and ensure they are fairly rewarded for their creativity.
Presenter: Kyle Billings, Kits.ai
From Local to Global: Navigating Emerging Markets
Audiomack Co-Founder and CMO David Ponte will sit down with a global artist TBD to discuss the ins and outs of breaking as a global musician. The wide-ranging discussion will be a mixture of personal anecdotes and actionable tips for musicians from smaller market areas or countries looking to find their audience - and their true fans - no matter where in the world they reside.
Presenter: David Ponte, Audiomack
Click here to vote for From Local to Global: Navigating Emerging Markets
How to make your tech work for you and your music career
For indie artists, tech and its trends can feel like an overwhelming headwind, forcing musicians into panic mode or the fetal position. Yet technology can be mastered, and the more you know, the better you can use these tools to your advantage. To do this, artists need to think like a Chief Technical Officer (CTO).
Audiosalad CEO Iain Catling will show musicians how they can embrace the role of CTO in their careers, taking charge of their tech stack just as they do the tools used to create their art. Young labels will also learn how best to support their emerging artists.
Presenter: Iain Catling, AudioSalad
Click here to vote for How to make your tech work for you and your music career
The Future of Monetization in Music (Is Not Streaming)
For too long creators have wrongly assumed that their best avenue for sustainable monetization is through streaming royalties. That couldn’t be more wrong.
Our panel of experts will explore the vast opportunities creators have to monetize their work outside of uploading to DSPs and waiting for meager royalty returns. There is an entire ecosystem of monetization possibilities before the distribution phase, a fact that is often overlooked and underused.
Attendees will leave equipped with practical insights to transform their approach to monetization through new forms of creation and collaboration.
Panelists: Paul Anthony, Colossal; Jonathan Streetman, Rock Paper Scissors; Alex Brees, unhurd music
Click here to vote for The Future of Monetization in Music (Is Not Streaming)
Harnessing the Healing Power of Music in Modern Medicine
Discover the transformative role of music in contemporary healthcare at this enlightening panel. With advancements in streaming technology and AI, accessing therapeutic music has never been easier, offering personalized recommendations and curated playlists tailored to individual preferences and needs.
Join leading experts who are pioneering the integration of music into medical practice. They will share real-world applications and explore the future of music as a vital component of healthcare, enhancing mental well-being, pain management, and overall quality of life.
Panelists: Con Raso, Tuned Global; Hayley Harris, Biomedical Music Solutions; Gary Jones, MediMusic; Thomas Fritz, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Click here to vote for Harnessing the Healing Power of Music in Modern Medicine
Navigating the Digital Soundscape: Safeguarding Gen Alpha’s Music Journey
As Gen Alpha dives into the digital world, their interaction with music is evolving faster than ever before.
Our panel explores the dynamics of music consumption among young people, examining the impact of current safety measures such as age-gating on their access to music.
Are these safeguards inadvertently restricting their musical exploration and creativity?
We delve into how children are discovering, purchasing, and interacting with music amidst stringent online safety protocols.
Panelists: Jo Twist, BPI; Zoe Scaman,Bodacious; Con Raso, Tuned Global; Kerri Fox-Metoyer, Gabb Wireless
Click here to vote for Navigating the Digital Soundscape: Safeguarding Gen Alpha’s Music Journey
Small Stages, Big Impact: Saving Indie Stages for Artists
This panel will explore the challenges faced by independent stages and the essential role they play in nurturing new artists and fostering vibrant communities. Hear from industry experts and artists who have first-hand knowledge of supporting these stages. Discover how a national program, Live Independent, is working to elevate cultural havens and ensure a thriving future for live music.In a world where corporate dominance threatens the diversity of live music, these intimate spaces are crucial for emerging talent to hone their craft and connect with audiences.
Panelists: Stephen Parker, NIVA; Andre Perry, NIVA and University of Iowa; Fabrice Sergent, Bandsintown; Kiely Mosiman, Wasserman
Click here to vote for Small Stages, Big Impact: Saving Indie Stages for Artists
The Future of Live Music Experiences
We will go past the surface on groundbreaking changes shaping the future of live music. Industry leaders, tech innovators and prominent artists will discuss the evolving landscape...from the rise of virtual and augmented reality concerts to the integration of AI-driven productions and developments in audience engagement/accessibility. The discussion will cover the sustainability and logistical challenges of these emerging formats, aiming to provide a comprehensive outlook on our industry.
Panelists: Matthew Reich, Artist For Artist, Fabrice Sergent, Managing Partner, Bandsintown; Mark Barden, Sandy Hook Promise; Jabari Johnson, COLORS Worldwide
Click here to vote for The Future of Live Music Experiences
Hungry for more future-forward music panels to pick? See Hypebot’s roundup of panel’s worth voting for here.
About RPS:
Founded in 1999, Rock Paper Scissors, Inc. is a music tech PR firm composed of a diverse team of communicators, creatives, and business minds. We have represented thousands of projects from six continents. Our roster includes clients in music technology, music gear, B2B music agencies, music consumer products and apps, artist-facing and label services, music sync platforms, music AI, fintech for music, and much more.
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