Unofficial Guide to Music Tech events during SXSW: Top Picks
The free Unofficial Guide to Music Tech events during SXSW in Austin next week is live and we share our top picks.
Unofficial Guide to Music Tech events during SXSW
This guide collects all the official and unofficial music tech events happening at and alongside SXSW so you won’t miss anything important during this whirlwind week.
The guide is free for everyone in the Music Tectonics, Rock Paper Scissors and Hypebot networks. Sign up now to get it in your inbox!
Add Your Music Tech Event
If you’re running a music tech event next week, click here to get it added to the Unofficial Guide. Share your panels, meetups, parties, and activations that involve music tech and innovation. You must submit by EOD March 7 to be included.
Hypebot Picks for SXSW 2025
There’s a lot to choose from in the Unofficial Guide but here are our top picks
Monday March 10
How To Startup: 20 Essential Lessons in Music Tech
- 2:30pm – 3:30pm CT
- Austin Convention Center Room 18CD
- SXSW Badge Required
Dmitri Vietze (Music Tectonics/ Rock Paper Scissors) and Sun Jen Yung (Nfluence Partners) join forces again! 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 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, an investment banker and advisor, knows what it takes for startups to get investment or get acquired.
Tuesday March 11
Take Action Summit x SXSW
- 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM CT
- Empire Control Room & Garage
- No SXSW badge required
- RSVP here
Organized Artist For Action & Sandy Hook Promise in partnership with Bandsintown, Music Managers Forum-US and SXSW, hear from industry leaders in music and social impact alongside legendary and breakthrough talent.
Summit Pick: Live & Amplified – Unlocking the Power of Live Fan Engagement
- 2:40 PM CT
- Take Action Summit x SXSW @ Empire Control Room & Garage
- No badge required
- RSVP here
Learn how to supercharge fan engagement at every stage of the live event journey with first party data. This session will reveal proven strategies for building a loyal fanbase through live shows, utilizing data and targeted marketing to boost ticket sales, elevate the concert experience and ensure fans return for more. Discover how to harness the power of digital platforms to drive event promotion and connect with fans in innovative ways, both before and during shows. From personalizing fan interactions at the venue to leveraging social media and live event data, this panel will cover actionable tactics to create moments that resonate far beyond the final encore. Walk away with the tools to amplify artist-fan connections, maximize fan loyalty and grow an engaged community that thrives around each beat.
- Fabrice Sergent: Bandsintown, Co-Founder / Managing Partner
- Aaron Bare: Etix & Rockhouse Partners, Chief Marketing Officer
- Warner Bailey: Sunset Nine / Assistants vs Agents, Founder
- Joe Pileggi: Crowd Surf, Director Digital Marketing
Wednesday March 12
Creator Panel – The Future of Creativity, Innovation, & Ownership
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT
- 2112 Creator House at Own, 1114 E Cesar Chavez St
- No badge required
Join Dmitri Vietze for a knockout panel with Ryan Smith (Shure), Maulin Hemani (FanPad), Abe Batshon (Beatstars), Julian McCrea (Open Sesame Media/SyncStage), and Diego Pinzon (DAWn Audio).
Immersive & Live Music Industry Event Meetup
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CT
- 2112 Creator House at Own, 1114 E Cesar Chavez St
- No badge required
Stay at 2112 Creator House after Dmitri’s panel to network with the creators, live event experts, and tech execs shaping the immersive future of music experiences. Presented by Showpass, NIVA, and Music Tectonics!
Thursday March 13
Small Stages, Big Impact: Saving Indie Stages for Artists
- 10 am – 11:00 am
- Austin Convention Center Room 17 AB
- SXSW Badge Required
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.
- Alex Christie – Wasserman
- Stephen Parker – National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)
- Andre Perry – University of Iowa
- Fabrice Sergent – Bandsintown
Music Tech Professionals Meet Up
- 11:30am – 12:30pm CT
- Austin Convention Center Room 13AB
- SXSW badge required
Music Tectonics’ own Shayli Ankenbruck facilitates. 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.
Bruce Houghton
