SXSW
Hugh Forrest has been promoted to president of South by Southwest, where he will continue to oversee programming and assume full leadership of an organization he’s worked at for 36 years. Previously co-president and chief programming officer, Forrest takes on this new role as Jann Baskett, the current co-president and chief brand officer, prepares to step down on Dec. 31. Baskett will transition into an advisory and project-based role.
As president, Forrest will focus on driving business growth and work closely with the board of directors, which includes co-founder Roland Swenson, Jay Penske (CEO of Penske Media, SXSW’s largest shareholder), and Amy Webb (CEO of the Future Today Institute). Forrest expressed his enthusiasm for leading SXSW into its next phase, emphasizing “the experience of connection, inspiration and discovery that we provide for so many different industries each March” and its role in fostering community globally.
Founded in 1987 by Swenson, Nick Barbaro, Louis Black and Louis Jay Meyers, SXSW has evolved into a globally renowned event in Austin. Swenson, who led SXSW for 36 years, became executive chairman in 2022. Over the past two years, Forrest and Baskett successfully navigated SXSW’s post-COVID recovery, including expanding the festival to Sydney and London.
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Baskett reflected on her time leading SXSW, sharing pride in her contributions alongside Forrest and the team. She praised the event’s mission of supporting creative individuals — “Never has that purpose been more necessary” — and expressed excitement about her ongoing involvement as an advisor. “SXSW continues to be a beacon of light for artists and change makers,” she said.
“I want to extend my gratitude to Jann Baskett for her leadership, commitment, and creative vision as Co-President of SXSW over the past few years,” said Jay Penske. “Her contributions have been key in evolving the festival. Looking ahead, we are confident that Hugh Forrest will continue SXSW’s long tradition of supporting innovators and artists, expanding our global footprint, and building upon the incredible foundation of the world’s premier gathering of creative minds.”
The Executive Leadership Team supporting Forrest includes co-founders Swenson and Barbaro, as well as chief culture & people officer Autumn Amescua, chief technology officer Justin Bankston, chief logistics officer Michele Flores, chiefpartnerships officer Peter Lewis, chief financial officer Leanna Rossman, general counsel Stevie Fitzgerald and executive vice president Darin Klein
Note: Billboard’s parent company PMC is the largest shareholder of SXSW and its brands are official media partners of SXSW.
South by Southwest will be returning to Austin, Texas, in the spring, and the event announced its next lineup of showcasing artists on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
Big Freedia, Tamanaramen, Heal, Jasmine.4.t, Steve Wynn, Aiko, Freak Slug, Steam Down, Master Peace, Sweet Spine and Total F—ing Darkness will all be performing at SXSW.
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“The SXSW Music Festival lineup provides a unique opportunity to discover artists from around the world,” said James Minor, VP of Music Festival. “The magic comes from a diverse and carefully-curated program that’s designed to help you find your next favorite act. For our second reveal, we continue down that path with an abundance of inspiring musicians who will be heading to Austin next March.”
The second round of acts hail from countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Scotland, Spain, Ukraine, and Wales.
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Founded in 1987 in Austin, SXSW has grown to encompass tech, film and TV, music, education and culture. The entirety of the 2025 conference and festival will run from March 10-15.
South by Southwest has revealed its initial keynote and the second round of featured speakers for the 39th edition of its annual Conference, scheduled for March 7-15 in Austin, Texas.
Leading the charge is the Conference’s Keynote Speaker, IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, who will lead From Sci-Fi to Society: The Next Era of AI and Quantum Computing as he looks past the “sci-fi hype” surrounding the titular subjects and instead focuses on their real-world advantages.
“Exploring the benefits of new advances in technology while addressing their potential challenges represents a core part of the SXSW experience we curate each year,” said Hugh Forrest, Co-President and Chief Programming Officer in a statement.
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“We are excited to announce Arvind Krishna as our first Keynote Speaker of the 2025 season. His session on the convergence of AI and quantum computing will cover what this monumental shift in technology will bring to humanity.”
Krishna’s addition to SXSW coincides with the announcement of Featured Speakers, which include founder and Chief Trend Curator at The Non-Obvious Company Rohit Bhargava who will lead the 7 Non-Obvious Secrets Of Understanding People To Predict the Future session; founder and CEO of EMPIRE Ghazi; director and social media strategist Alex Haraus; author, Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, and a Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Professor of Public Policy and Public Law at Texas Tech University Dr. Katharine Hayhoe.
The list of speakers also features CEO of Bumble Lidiane Jones; activist and astronaut Amanda Nguyen, WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, 2x WNBA MVP, 2x Gold Medalist, WNBA Rookie of the Year, and broadcaster Candace Parker; author and music attorney at Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman Donald Passman; and author, speaker, teacher, advisor, podcast host, and futurist Rishad Tobaccowala.
Many of these speakers will also be involved the featured sessions which have also been announced today, which include Spill the Tea: A Strategic Guide to Office Gossip with Contributing Editor at the Harvard Business Review Amy Gallo; Cleaning Up Our Atmosphere: Carbon Removal Prepares to Go Mainstream with Climeworks COO Douglas Chan and the aforementioned Dr. Hayhoe.
This new announcement of speakers complements SXSW’s previously-revealed first round in September, which included Dr. Peter Attia, Johanna Faries, Douglas Rushkoff, and more.
SXSW will take place from March 7-15 in Austin, Texas, with full details regarding their newly-announced speakers and sessions available via their website.
SXSW London has shared details about the ticket sale for 2025’s upcoming inaugural event in the U.K. Taking place in east London’s Shoreditch neighborhood from Jun. 2-7, the upcoming event will be the first time that SXSW has taken place in Europe, in addition to its home in Austin, Texas, and expansion into Sydney, Australia.
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Passes for the entire event across the Conferences, Music and Screen Festivals will be available to purchase, as well as for individual separate programming strands. Tickets will go on sale on Nov. 21 and a 25% discount will be applied to those who purchase a pass from the general sale before Dec. 19. With the exclusive price offer, prices range from £488 for the individual programme strand passes, to £975 for platinum passes. For further ticket information, head to the SXSW London website.
SXSW London has also announced additional details about the venue partners throughout Shoreditch. These include Truman Brewery, Village Underground, Rich Mix, Shoreditch Town Hall, Shoreditch Church, Christ Church Spitalfields, Dream Factory (Chance St & Rivington St), Kachette, Bike Shed Moto Co, Shoreditch Studios / Over the Road, and Protein Studios.
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Billboard has been confirmed as the event’s first official partner, and will host a night of music during the festival with a globally-renowned artist performing at the event. The show will also be ticketed to the general public.
Mike Van, president of Billboard said, “We’re thrilled to partner with SXSW London for the inaugural 2025 event. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to supporting and celebrating the global music community. Billboard will bring a night of live music celebrating world class artists, both established and on the rise, and will offer fans a truly unique experience within the festival.”
The festival will partner with local charities and community groups to provide 500 complimentary passes to ensure “the rich diversity” of the city is represented throughout the events and programming.
“We’re thrilled to share how many incredible venues are working with us already for SXSW London’s Shoreditch takeover next June,” said Katy Arnander, director of programming for SXSW London. “Shoreditch is renowned as a vibrant centre for creativity and technological innovation, as well as for its diversity, energetic youth culture, global cuisine and nightlife. We’re excited to be working closely with local stakeholders to ensure the festival creates a positive impact for the community it will take place in.”
In October, SXSW London announced that it would begin the process of accepting session proposals from the public across the various programming strands. The festival says that “thousands of session proposals have already been submitted from over 50 countries across the world.” The submission portal will remain open until Nov. 29 at the festival’s website.
Back in April 2021, it was announced that SXSW had signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.
The South by Southwest Music Festival has announced the first group of showcasing artists for its 39th annual event, scheduled for March 10-15 in Austin, Texas. Known for fostering discovery among fans and industry pros, the festival will feature an eclectic lineup from across the globe.
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Organizers today (Oct. 29) announced over a hundred new and established acts that will perform across Austin next March, including UK pop duo The Ting Tings, regional Mexican singer Justin Morales, Dublin punk band Gurriers, Indonesian psychedelic funk group Ali, Montreal art-punk ensemble La Sécurité, Australian rock band Delivery and indie pop artist Twin Shadow, who’ll debut his sixth album Georgie at the event.
“This announcement is an excellent teaser for what you can expect to see at SXSW 2025,” said James Minor, VP of Music Festival. “This round includes a range of exceptional artists, from up and coming talent to established legends, and everywhere in between. If you’ve been to SXSW before, you’ll know that this list is more than an eclectic playlist; it’s a guide to discovery, and your first step toward what you’ll experience in March.”
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The festival’s global scope is reflected in its artist selection (see the full list below), with acts representing countries such as Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and Norway. Showcases are curated with industry collaborators, including record labels, booking agencies, and media outlets like ATC Live, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Deezer, Music From Ireland and Sofar Sounds, among others, offering attendees exclusive, small-stage performances.
Founded in 1987 in Austin, SXSW has grown to encompass tech, film and TV, music, education and culture. The festival has also expanded to include SXSW Sydney and SXSW London, making it a key event for the global creative community.The entirety of the 2025 conference and festival will run from March 10-15.
In 2021, SXSW signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.
The first round of SXSW 2025 artists invited to perform include
Ali (Jakarta INDONESIA)Amiture (New York NY)Annie-Claude Deschênes (Montreal CANADA)Ava Vegas (Los Angeles CA)babas tutsipop (Guadalajara MEXICO)Bakers Eddy (Wellington NEW ZEALAND)Bee Blackwell (Austin TX)Big Phony (New York NY)Bleary Eyed (Philadelphia PA)Boo Seeka (Dudley AUSTRALIA)Bubba Lucky (Austin TX)Bummer Camp (New York NY)Caleb De Casper (Austin TX)Cap Carter (Sydney AUSTRALIA)Cari Cari (Vienna AUSTRIA)Carter Vail (Los Angeles CA)CDSM (Atlanta GA)Chinese American Bear (Seattle WA)Cloth (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)corto.alto (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)Cotton Mather (Austin TX)Delivery (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)Dr. Pushkin (Bolgatanga GHANA)Dune Rats (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)Edgar Alejandro (Guadalajara MÉXICO)Ellur (Halifax UK-ENGLAND)Emmeline (London UK-ENGLAND)Exotic Fruitica (Austin TX)Fake Dad (Los Angeles CA)fantasy of a broken heart (Brooklyn NY)Frankie Venter (Mount Manganui NEW ZEALAND)GEOGRAPHER (San Francisco CA)Graham Reynolds (Austin TX)Guardian Singles (Auckland NEW ZEALAND)Gurriers (Dublin IRELAND)Gus Englehorn (Maui HI)Hachiku (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)HIMALAYAS (CARDIFF UK-WALES)Honeyglaze (London UK-ENGLAND)Housewife (Toronto CANADA)J.Tajor (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)Jad Fair and the Placebos (Austin TX)John Francis Flynn (Dublin IRELAND)Julie Nolen (Austin TX)Justin Morales (Cuernavaca MEXICO)Kanaan (Oslo NORWAY)KAP BAMBINO (Bordeaux FRANCE)Ki! (Copenhagen DENMARK)Kombilesa Mi (Palenque COLOMBIA)La Sécurité (Montréal CANADA)Laura Lee & the Jettes (Berlin GERMANY)Lauren Lakis (Austin TX)Letting Up Despite Great Faults (Austin TX)Levin Goes Lightly (Stuttgart GERMANY)Los Eclipses (Mexico City MEXICO)Lucy Sugerman (Canberra AUSTRALIA)MADELEINE (London UK-ENGLAND)Mall Girl (Oslo NORWAY)Man/Woman/Chainsaw (London UK-ENGLAND)Marry Cherry (Austin TX)Maruja (Manchester UK-ENGLAND)mary in the junkyard (London UK-ENGLAND)MatchingOutfits(BerlinGERMANY)MELLT (Cardiff UK-WALES)Meltheads (Antwerp BELGIUM)Mhaol (Dublin IRELAND)Midnight Navy (Austin TX)Miranda and the Beat (New Orleans LA)Monobloc(NewYork NY)Nanocluster [Immersion | SUSS] (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)Nature TV (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)Nemegata (Austin TX)Nilipek. (Istanbul TURKEY)Nive Nielsen (Nuuk GREENLAND)o’summer vacation (Kobe JAPAN)Parker Woodland (Austin TX)Paula Prieto (Buenos Aires ARGENTINA)Perennial (Vernon CT)Personal Trainer (Amsterdam NETHERLANDS)Pug Johnson (Beaumont TX)Quiet Money Dot (Houston TX)Really Good Time (Dublin IRELAND)Rowena Wise (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)Sarah Klang (Gothenburg SWEDEN)Scarlet House (Charlotte NC)Shao Dow (London UK-ENGLAND)Shiho Yabuki (Hadasu JAPAN)Shishi (Vilnius LITHUANIA)Sir Jude (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)Sly5thAve (Austin TX)SodaBlonde(Dublin IRELAND)Sofia Grant (London UK-ENGLAND)Sultanes del Yonke (El Paso TX)SummerPearl(LondonUK-ENGLAND)Surely Shirley (Kiama AUSTRALIA)Susobrino (Brussel BELGIUM)TesfayeTayeGebeyehu/YahoEthiopian Cultural Band/ (Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA)The Philharmonik (Sacramento CA)The Ting Tings (Manchester UK-ENGLAND)The VANNS (Wollongong AUSTRALIA)tiger bae (Harumi JAPAN)TVOD (Brooklyn NY)Twin Shadow (Los Angeles CA)twst (Barry UK-WALES)Vanessa Zamora (San Diego CA)Venus Grrrls (Leeds UK-ENGLAND)Volcan (San Antonio TX)Vv Pete (Sydney AUSTRALIA)Water Damage (Austin TX)Woomb (Sofia BULGARIA)XAMIYA (Tokyo JAPAN)Xixa (Tucson AZ)Yasmin Williams (Woodbridge VA)Yndling (Bergen NORWAY)Yoo Doo Right (Montreal CANADA)Yuuf (London UK-ENGLAND
You can acquaint yourself with the artists who’ll be performing at SXSW 2025 by subscribing to the official SXSW Spotify and YouTube Music Video playlists.
The inaugural SXSW London will take place June 2-7, 2025, at more than 20 venues throughout the city’s Shoreditch neighborhood, marking the first time the longstanding event will happen in Europe.
As the gears get turning, the event has also announced new hires Clare Barry, the former marketing director of Cannes Lions; writer and film programmer Anna Bogutskaya; and artistic curator Beth Greenacre. Organizers forecast that SXSW London will generate more than £75 million (roughly $97 million) for the U.K. economy.
According to its booker Adem Holness, a London native, the event will also emphasize the city’s many cultures while working to connect artists and industry workers from local scenes with international audiences and potential partners.
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“The thing we can do uniquely is pull together reflections of the cutting-edge, grassroots music communities and — if I’m just thinking about the music program — how people can get involved in what is happening at the cutting edge and how they might be able to work with those different international music scenes to develop them and develop ideas with them,” he says. “That’s what I think SXSW London should be.”
This focus is thus not just on music, film and technology, but the cultures these things emanate from. This, Holness envisions, will create a gathering that “doesn’t just feel like a series of performances, but like you’re experiencing culture and moment around that.”
The event will also incorporate broader European perspectives, with Holness and his team focused on programming that highlights “the cutting edge of music and culture in Europe and beyond.” As such, he adds, the goal is to “make sure our neighbors and friends feel like they’re a big part of what we’re trying to do.”
Still, the 20,000 anticipated attendees will land at an event site that is distinctly London, with Holness saying that Shoreditch “feels in a way like a microcosm of what London is. It’s a hub of technology, but you’ve also got incredible nightlife. You’ve got distinct diasporic communities in and around that area and obviously the whole of London. But I think [Shoreditch provides] a great opportunity for people who might not have been to London before to understand who we are and what we’re about.”
SXSW London follows the 2023 debut of SXSW Sydney. The original event in Austin has been happening since 1987 and has grown to become one of the biggest events in the global music calendar, attracting hundreds of thousands of musicians, creatives, filmmakers, media companies and music industry executives to the state of Texas every March.
“I hope that the Austin and Sydney teams, when we’ve done our take on it, feel proud of it as well,” Holness says. “I hope they feel like it lives up to the incredible work they’ve done, but also has its own flavor.”
In April 2021, it was announced that SXSW had signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.
SXSW will no longer engage in partnerships with the U.S. Army or weapons manufacturers, the event announced Wednesday (June 26). “After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” reads a statement posted to the SXSW website. “As a result, the U.S. Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of […]
It’s time for another spin around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. Don’t forget to dig into this year’s Indie Power Players list. We also have a weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year.
Bravado, the merch and brand management arm of Universal Music Group, announced across-the-board changes to its leadership structure. Joining Bravado’s c-suite as chief financial officer is NYC-based Colin McIntosh, most recently CFO and chief operating officer at REVOLT Media. McIntosh reports to company president Matt Young, as do a slew of newly promoted Bravadoans. In Los Angeles, Alyssa Tobias is upped to svp and head of creative services, Ashley Fogerty is now svp of business affairs and Brian Schechter is senior vp and head of brand management. In London, David Boyne is managing director of Bravado, UK, while Rachel Redfearn continues to lead the region’s A&R and brand management and label liaison teams as svp of UK A&R. Working alongside McIntosh in the NYC office is Bill Ashton, who is promoted to svp of commerce at the company, and down Nashville way Stacie Swanson was elevated to vp of artist strategy. But wait there’s more: Reporting to Ashton in the commerce department is NYC-based Briana Farrell, who was promoted to vp of U.S. retail, and Londoner Keith Taperell, now the vp of licensing. “Helping artists connect with fans around the world will always be our driving force, and I’m excited to announce this new leadership, who will ensure that artists’ visions are brought to life,” said Young.
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Warner Records welcomed Terese Joseph as senior vp of A&R administration. Based in Los Angeles, Joseph will report to Karen Kwak, evp/head of A&R, and work closely with Julian Petty, evp/head of business and legal affairs. The veteran executive most recently served as head of label operations at Se LaVi/Rebel Music but launched her career at UMG, where she logged time at Def Jam, Victor Victor Worldwide and Capitol. “I’ve known Terese for many years, starting back in our Island Def Jam days in New York,” said Kwak, who oversaw A&R at UMG’s U.S. labels until 2016. “She’s a well-respected and knowledgeable player in the field, playing an integral role in the delivery of massively successful projects for music legends to newcomers alike.”
Sony Music Nashville promoted Lauren “LT” Thomas to svp of promotion, with Thomas having day-to-day oversight of both the RCA Nashville and Columbia Nashville imprints. Thomas will continue to report to evp of promotion Steve Hodges and work with him across the roster on all national promotional strategies and initiatives. During her tenure, Thomas has helped earn radio hits for artists including Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Nate Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny and Old Dominion. Thomas joined Sony Music Nashville in 2009 and previously spent five years at KMLE in Phoenix, Arizona. Thomas is also a 2019 Billboard 40 Under 40 honoree. –Jessica Nicholson
AEG Presents ditched the “co-” from Don Strasburg‘s title and named the live music veteran as sole president of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest regions. The Denver-based executive will oversee AEG’s regional offices in the Colorado capitol and Seattle, and continue managing the team that books concerts in a full slate of venues. Until recently, Strasburg served as co-president of the expansive region alongside Brent Fedrizzi, who in May was promoted to president of North American regional offices. During a lengthy career, Strasburg has been a plank owner of sorts at Bill Graham Presents/Chuck Morris Presents, Live Nation and AEG Live. “Don has a drive to win and succeed that is unmatched,” noted Shawn Trell, AEG Presents’ evp, COO and general counsel. “He’s got an almost innate sense of knowing what the audience wants and where the trends are heading.”
Emre Dokucu
Turkish conductor, arranger, guitarist and pianist Cenk Eroglu joined Frontiers Label Group as the Italian metal label’s new in-house writer and producer. FLG is the home of such artists as Winger, Stryper and Blue Öyster Cult, among others. Eroglu has a long creative partnership with the former, having appeared on a Kip Winger solo album and later as a core player on the prog-adjacent rock band’s first release for Frontiers, 2006’s IV. “I am truly excited to welcome Cenk to Frontiers Records, and I am confident that his impressive background and top-notch craftsmanship will bring some major added value to our label,” said the label’s president Serafino Perugino. “I am looking forward to working together on new epic projects.”
Vickie Nauman, founder of music-tech consultancy CrossBorderWorks and a former executive at 7digital and Sonos, joined Musical AI as an advisor. Formerly Somms.ai, Musical AI provides tools to help rights holders monitor and manage how their IP can be used in AI creation. “Happy to be a part of this journey,” Naumna said on LinkedIn. “I believe AI can be transformative to us all if used wisely, and generative AI needs licensed models.”
Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill joined the International Nightlife Association, a Barcelona-based advocate for nightlife venues, as Vice President. In a joint announcement, the organizations called it a validation of Kill’s leadership and the NTIA’s “growing impact on global nightlife policy and advocacy.” Kill remarked that he’s “excited to collaborate with our international counterparts to drive positive change and innovation in the nightlife sector. Together, we will work towards a vibrant, sustainable, and safe nightlife environment for all.”
NASHVILLE NOTES: Contemporary Christian music industry veteran Tim Robinson launched Aligned Talent Agency. The Brentwood, Tennessee-based firm represents artists Love & The Outcome, Dan Bremnes, 7eventh Time Down, Ignescent and others. Robinson most recently served as a booking agent with Greg Oliver Agency –J.N. … Milestone Publicity promoted Campbell Jenkins to publicist, effective immediately. The Belmont University grad joined the Music City-based PR firm a year ago … BMG Canada appointed Bryan Columbus as vp of recorded music. He was previously label director for Concord Label Group/Canada.
The creative team for next year’s SXSW London is taking shape with the appointment of Adem Holness as head of music and Katy Arnander as director of programming. Additionally, Alex Poohs will serve as a consulting creative advisor and Elliot Willis has taken the role of SXSW London’s commercial director. The festival and conference will take place over one week in June 2025 at venues and spaces around Shoreditch in east London. (In April 2021, it was announced that SXSW had signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.)
Independent music distribution and marketing company Symphonic Distribution hired Guji Lorenzana as its first territory manager for Asia. Based in Los Angeles, Lorenzana is tasked with growing Symphonic’s presence in the region, by way of expanding its artist roster and forging new business partnerships. A former solo artist and member of Philippines boy-band TFTI, Lorenzana arrives from Ingrooves Music Group, where he was country manager for Philippines.
Aaron Hamel is the new label director for Materia Music, a Seattle-based video game imprint, distributor, publisher and rights administrator. Hamel’s appointment follows Materia’s recent acquisition of the remaining game music inventory of Ship to Shore, a boutique label he founded that’s centered on discovering and re-issuing cult soundtracks. “He shares our passion for discovering and promoting the rich musical heritage of video games as well as bringing innovative new products to the video game music community and marketplace,” said Sebastian Wolff, Materia Music’s founder and CEO.
Victoria Fleary was promoted to vp of social at iONE Digital, a content company targeting Black and urban lifestyle enthusiasts. Fleary joined the company two years ago as senior director of social following stops at Emmis Communications and BET. “Victoria’s promotion is a result of the dedicated work that she has put in since her first day at iOne,” said Sam Stiers, GM/evp. “Her relentless drive, creativity, and commitment to excellence in digital media has truly been an inspiration to everyone around her.”
Gregg Stewart is the new senior manager of communications at Universal Music Canada. Previously he worked with Bell Media for 12 years, leaving as Director of Music Strategy & Industry Relations. He was also with the Much MTV Group for a year and between 2000 and 2006 was with UMG’s digital marketing division. –David Farrell
Live Redesigned creative producer Melody Tseng is the art director and set designer for Alanis Morissette’s recently launched Triple Moon Tour, which carries through late September. Tseng joined the NYC-based live company three years ago as an associate creative producer. She previously worked on projects for Live Nation, Diversified Production Services and others. “Melody, as she always does, brought her unique creative vision to life as both the Art Director and Creative Set Designer for the tour through the artistic use of various stage and scenic elements.”
ICYMI:
Jess Ducrou
Jessica Ducrou is departing as co-CEO of Australia’s Secret Sounds Group, producer of Splendour in the Grass festival … Bradley Jordan‘s Peachtree Entertainment brought in Chuck Steedman of LiveCo, Nathan Baugh of 46 Entertainment and Shane Quick of Premier Productions … Fat Beats appointed Warner Music Group veteran Chris Atlas to president … Songtradr welcomed Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos and music lawyer Priyanka Khimani to its board of directors.
Last Week’s Turntable: Sphere Goes Hollywood
Austin’s South by Southwest conference and festival is heading to the United Kingdom, marking the first time that the world-famous event has been held in Europe.
Due to take place over one week in June 2025, the inaugural edition of SXSW London will follow the same format as its Texas-based forerunner and feature “inspiring and challenging” keynote talks, music performances and showcase leading innovations in tech, gaming and film, organizers said in today’s announcement. Names and details of who will be appearing will be announced in the coming months.
Held annually in the city of Austin since 1987, SXSW has grown to become one of the biggest events in the global music calendar, attracting hundreds of thousands of musicians, creatives, filmmakers, media companies and music industry executives to the state of Texas every March.
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Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Wet Leg are just a few of the music artists who played the festival early in their careers.
Previous guest speakers have included Dave Grohl, U.S. president Barack Obama, Steven Spielberg, Michelle Yeoh and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, while Twitter, Foursquare and Airbnb are among the tech start-ups that SXSW famously helped launch.
Next year’s debut of SXSW London continues the event’s global rollout, which began in 2023 with the launch of an Asia Pacific edition in Sydney, Australia.
The second installment of SXSW Sydney takes place Oct. 14-20 with the main U.S. SXSW festival and conference scheduled for Mar. 7-17 in Austin. The addition of a new London edition makes the event series “an indispensable three-stop tour for the global creative community,” said organizers in a press release.
Although 2025 will be the first time that a SXSW-branded event has taken place in Europe, the organization did team up with Mercedes-Benz to host an annual conference, called the me Convention, between 2017 and 2019 in Germany and Sweden, targeted at the tech, design and creative communities.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the SXSW experience to London,” said SXSW co-president and chief brand officer Jann Baskett in a statement. He called next year’s planned event “an incredible new opportunity to highlight the elements that make SXSW unique in one of the most vibrant cities in Europe.”
Randel Bryan, managing director of SXSW London, said the festival “will build on Austin’s incredible legacy” by providing “a platform for the next generation of creative talent.”
While detailed plans for SXSW London are yet to be announced, organizers said the event will be held in dozens of venues, art galleries and clubs in the East London district of Shoreditch and will have its own “distinctive personality,” reflecting the U.K. capital city’s “internationally renowned cultural life and creativity.”
Alongside keynote talks and music showcases, the conference will include “boundary pushing” visual arts, design and fashion programming, with exhibitions and interactive and immersive experiences taking place in public spaces across East London. The city’s proximity to other major creative and tech centers in Europe will also shape programming as organizers look to attract creative talent from across the continent.
Commenting on the announcement, London mayor Sadiq Khan called the plans “a historic opportunity” for the city “to once again bring the world’s most exciting talent together.”
In April 2021, it was announced that SXSW had signed a “lifeline” deal with P-MRC, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, making P-MRC a stakeholder and long-term partner with the Austin festival. P-MRC is the parent company of Billboard.
Billboard made its grand return to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin this year for three star-studded concerts that took place March 14-16 at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. Billboard Presents THE STAGE at SXSW kicked off with a night dedicated to R&B headlined by singer-songwriter and producer PartyNextDoor on March 14. Party delivered a […]