New Jack Swing, Emotions in Pop, and Music Histories: Music Culture & Stories Track Sessions for SXSW 2018
Join us this March at SXSW for the Music Culture & Stories Track to explore the rich history of modern music, told from the perspective of industry superstars and up-and-comers alike - check out session recommendations below.
"Music Culture & Stories gets to the heart of why we love music and how music connects people, " says SXSW programmer Bobby Nall. "It's legendary stories straight from the musicians who lived them, and deep looks at how music genres and attitudes continue to change and shift."
Explore highlighted topics in the Music Culture & Stories Track like reality TV singing shows, New Jack Swing, emotions in popular culture, and more. Music Culture & Stories sessions will be held March 13-17 at the Austin Convention Center with primary access to Music and Platinum Badges; secondary access to all other badges.
Music Culture & Stories Highlights
Ballads: A History of Emotions in Popular Culture
Speakers: David Metzer (University of British Columbia)
Ballads tell us much about how feelings are understood and experienced in popular culture at particular moments. In my book The Ballad in American Popular Music: From Elvis to Beyoncé, a larger historical development emerges: a desire to experience feelings in bigger and bolder ways. Important songs and repertoires in this emotional crescendo include Johnnie Ray’s “Cry,” 1960s soul ballads, and the power ballad. Since the 1970s, power ballads have taken this desire to euphoric, giddy heights.
If The Artists Only Knew w/ KP the Great & David Banner
Speakers: David Banner (Artist) and Kawan "KP" Prather (Artist)
Grammy Award-Winning Music Exec and DJ, Kawan “KP The Great” Prather, along with Grammy Award-Winning Music Producer, Recording Artist and activist, David Banner, have joined forces to give the music industry one of the most honest panels for SXSW 2018. Entitled “If Artists Only Knew”, the dynamic pair will delve in to the importance for music creatives sticking together and galvanizing for the greater good, mentoring upcoming artists and producers, exposing them to tools to achieve greatness as well as journey through a timeline of their musical influence across the masses. With a combined 30+ years of experience in the music industry, attendees will leave with a better understanding of the power they can have in the music game.
Now What? Life After Reality TV Singing Shows
Speakers: Cas Haley (Artist), Blake Lewis (Artist), Lyndsey Parker (Yahoo Music), and Nakia (Artist)
American Idol, America's Got Talent, The Voice... Singing competitions aren't new but their popularity and permanence don't seem to be fading anytime soon. Originally hailed as a way to break and develop undiscovered talent, the reality is most contestants leave before making a mark and many who do make the cut end up without any support or guidance from the shows or labels involved upon their exit. Find out how to prepare for what happens before, during and after the cameras are rolling.
New Jack Swing: The Renaissance of Hip Hop and R&B
Speakers: Andre Harrell (REVOLT Media & TV) and Teddy Riley (Artist)
A soundtrack for young America that transformed one of the most popular cultural moments of our era. Fusing elements of smooth jazz, electronic funk, hip hop and R&B, hear from legendary producer, artist and hit-maker Teddy Riley and Founder of Uptown Records and Vice Chairman of REVOLT Media & TV Andre Harrell, as they share their journey behind this burgeoning genre, while uniting a generation under one groove.
Browse All Music Culture & Stories Sessions
Crossover Track Recommendations
Expand your mind by attending SXSW sessions across all 24 Tracks of Conference programming. These recommended sessions are outside of the Music Culture & Stories Track, but are pitch perfect for anyone interested in the music industry.
How Immersive Storytelling Explores Social Issues – DAVID EISENMANN (Google Spotlight Stories), AMY GREEN (Numinous Games), and JEFFREY JONES (Peabody Awards) Track: Experiential Storytelling
The Data Revolution in Music Royalties – Geoff Cross (The Music Fund) and Thomas Jerde (The Winton Group) Track: Code & Programming
Enhance Musical Brains: The Cognitive Exoskeleton – Bill Casebeer (Lockheed Martin), Tony Mickle (Beemo), Bartlett Russell (Lockheed Martin) and Justin Sanchez (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Track: Intelligent Future
Purchase your SXSW Badge and reserve your hotel today to experience these sessions along with 10 days of screenings, showcases, exhibitions, networking, and more this March 9-18 in Austin, TX. Take the Tracks Quiz to discover which badge will suit your needs.
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Stay tuned to SXSW News and Twitter for more highlights from Conference Tracks and continued coverage of SXSW 2018.
2017 Music Keynote: Nile Rodgers - Photo by Tyler Draker
By Hayden Bagot
03/1/2018