Top iPad Music Apps (a/o May 23rd):
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Stop kidding yourself. Because for most music companies, SXSW is simply an awful place to do business. It's just an expensive party, one full of extreme barriers to good dealmaking and business-building. And, one so full of noise it's questionable whether any marketing dollars make sense here. 
Sure, it's fun to hop around venues and soak in the atmosphere. I'm not sure of another place that can give me Datarock, Wu-Tang Clan, Yelawolf, and five other groups in the same night. But c'mon: that's a vacation - not a business outing. In fact, for a significant percentage of the attendees, this IS a vacation.
Oh, don't tell me about the deal you just made. I've made two this week - but I realized that I could have done both of them more effectively from the office. Or, at another, less crowded conference (and there are plenty of those). Because the approach of extreme, overlapping variety and crowds is fun for seeing music, but a nightmare for getting people together and structuring meetings. Everything takes an hour to get to, traffic is LA-like, flights are expensive and overbooked, and so are hotels. It's a giant, BBQ-soaked hassle the minute something needs to get done.
But isn't that the SXSW tradition? An institution to be celebrated? Right, so are African safaris and rock-climbing expeditions, both places where dealmaking is impossible. In fact, the 'business part' at the Austin Convention Center is like a bad transplant of the music schedule. Panels are piled on top of one another - just like the bands outside - and a large number are full of fluff and underattended. Sure, Canadian Music Week lacks the sizzle, but at least their panels are packed and serious - and the professionals that attend are learning something.
Back in the 90s, there was actually something to be accomplished at SXSW. A&R executives would scout bands, and actually sign them. But in 2011, the entire A&R process has been transformed, and most want serious signs of traction - not a catchy sound that has potential.
In fairness, some businesses have real reasons for being here. Topspin, for example, wants to reach out to smaller artists. Sonicbids is the exclusive application partner, and it makes sense for them to have a marquee presence. Those are two examples, but for most other businesses, I'd argue that SXSW Music is a colossal waste of time.
Paul Resnikoff, publisher, being unproductive at SXSW.
Comments Closed
RobertCA Friday, March 18, 2011
I have a hard time thinking of an event with more energy or opportunity during the year. Maybe you need a new approach to your SXSW experience?
cramerbob Monday, March 21, 2011
I found many amazing new bands for Nimbit's direct-to-fan platform, held very successful face-to-face business meetings, saw and supported many of our artists, and yes, had a great time "bonding" with many important people in the industry.
The reason why it was easily justifiable for us is because we went to "network" which only costs us a hotel room, air, and food/drink - not huge extravagant parties.
And given our investment (small), it's one of the best returns of time and money for us.
Bob
Chairman & CEO, Nimbit
Kevin Friday, March 18, 2011
I couldn't agree more, I was at a label in the 90's and it was an excellent A&R event. I lost interest when they added the film festival...save that for Sundance!!
RabLabb Friday, March 18, 2011
I dont have the long history of attending however the last couple years is seem better touted as a spring break destination. Nothing wrong with that, I still love it.
@creativemindinc Friday, March 18, 2011
Robert M. Stewart
@2850Music Friday, March 18, 2011
2850Music
This is why we didn't go.
@VictorMourning Friday, March 18, 2011
The Victor Mourning
SXSWasteoftime Friday, March 18, 2011
Time to add the ferris wheel, mini golf and waterslides
@mr_trick Friday, March 18, 2011
Darren Hemmings
Interesting piece from the ever-negative Paul Resnikoff decrying SXSW as a waste of time
I can see his point. You?
@timopo Friday, March 18, 2011
Timo Poijärvi
Must say I agree with Paul.
@Ben_Cline_Esq Friday, March 18, 2011
Benjamin Cline Esq.
an interesting take
MisterSoftee Friday, March 18, 2011
oh Don't pop the bubble! people want to pretend this is WORK! sorry, that's such a fiction --- tell me how many deals really get done here and how many are really making money at SXSW. This is just an adult playground, and most are just blowing their companies $3000 and getting drunk and high.
Keep it going!
@singletonrock Friday, March 18, 2011
Yep... couldn't agree more. Not that it isn't a great time. But go for the party, and the music. If you get some business done, consider it a bonus!
Fuzzgun Friday, March 18, 2011
Couldn't have said it better myself. So I won't.
@artzbridge Sunday, March 20, 2011
ArtzBridge
Interesting point.
Maxwellian Sunday, March 20, 2011
You forgot to mention MIDEM which from the industry standpoint is even worse boondoggle. You know what I'd like to know? how many expensive badges are actually getting sold? because manybe sxsw is hurting also despite all the hype/.
dhuman Monday, March 21, 2011
Can't say I agree. This was one of the most productive weeks I've had in a year of pretty productive weeks. Face to face time with a lot of people I rarely get face to face time with. I think it depends on how much setup work you do before arriving.
Torvi Monday, March 21, 2011
Whining and wimpy....that´s really what´s wrong - SXSW is what it is and if music execs complain of too much traffic, too loud, too many people and that they have to listen or deal with the elements and the riff raff may I suggest another career choice, quickly.
@jonahjames Monday, March 21, 2011
If you've got a real product, you don't need to go to a music networking event to do deals...however, a lot of business deals start on the dancefloor (figuratively speaking) and having a social relationship with people can get you through the due diligence better than no social relationship will. SXSW humanises a commercial context - those that need it will continue to need it and those that don't can still use it to forge deeper, more long lasting relationships...
Also, don't forget that you don't have to do the deal TODAY, you can always save that link for another time, down the line...it's called STRATEGY, of which the music industry is in dire need
redryderent Monday, March 21, 2011
Disagree. From the agent's perspective (mine), I represent one artist whose SXSW experience was an absolute coming out party, elevating their profile from local / regional to national. They wowed many key figures over the course of eleven shows, from festival buyers, to radio programmers, to print and web-based writers. My expectation is that SXSW'11 will open many doors for them, and opportunities have already begun to flow our way.
For a few other clients, the sweep was not as clean and complete, but multiple shows did boost their overall profile a notch or two. No doubt, that's a large investment of both dollars and time per notch!
For those with no new release (one of whom required a bit of armtwisting to attend), it was all about maintenance, and remaining on the radar. Music discourse over the coming weeks will inevitably focus on those resonating at SXSW. The effect will fade over time, but for now, I feel we batted 1.000 for our nine artists at the conference, and regret that the others couldn't make it.
Rock N' Roll Buddha Monday, March 21, 2011
P-Digital,
Thank You for the piece about SXSW! I stopped going
several years ago, because I felt it had been completely co-opted and
oversold by the majors/Big Brands, etc.
Its become a compete clusterfuck - and is more like a huge Frat Party than anything else these days.... Except that the organizers make millions from the Corporate sponsors.
As always - I LOVE that you speak truth to power!
@juliomuniz Monday, March 21, 2011
Julio Muniz
Something to think about.
Jason Feinberg Monday, March 21, 2011
Like anything anywhere at any time, it's all about what you put in and what you're looking to get out. If you prepare well for it and plan ahead, you can get more face-to-face meetings done in a week than in a couple months back at the office. We're so focused on technology to build relationships, but those ties are relatively weak compared to ones forged in person. Yes some of these meetings are fleeting, but sometimes you can learn all you need to know in 3 minutes with someone.
It's not necessarily about closing the deal - as someone else said, it's often about starting the dance. To be able to meet with 10 or 15 of our existing partners in three days is massive, to meet 25 or 30 tech companies to see if I believe in the team as much as the product - also tremendous value. To find myself in a room with likeminded contemporaries discussing just where the hell we're going next - that fuels relationships and thoughts that will power the next six months of development and strategy. To hit the town with some of my closest friends who I just happen to also work with - yeah, that's a serious bonus.
I see less music every single year - and it's not for lack of trying. It's that as I have more and more real business to do, and am thinking about bigger and bigger issues where I need my industry's support, a conf like SXSW is of significant value. But I do ultimately agree that for many it's one part vacation, one part gamble, or one part a perk of a time long-past. It's all about context.
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