South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals (March 10-19th) has announced the addition of two Keynotes and more Featured Speakers for the 2017 Conference. The Keynote lineup now includes Jigsaw Director of Research and Development Yasmin Green on Tuesday, March 14th and a conversation with country music icon Garth Brooks and Amazon Music Vice President Steve Boom on Friday, March 17th.
Previously announced SXSW Keynotes include Lee Daniels (3/12), Jennifer Doudna (3/11), Gareth Edwards (3/13), Adam Grant (3/13), Zane Lowe (3/16), Cory Richards (3/10), Nile Rodgers (3/15), Jessica Shortall (3/12), and Jill Soloway (3/11).
Featured Speakers announced include basic income pioneer Michael Faye, Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, rap legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Surgeon General of the United States Vivek Murthy, director and immersive artist Chris Milk, actor Nick Offerman, singer-songwriter Mike Posner, actress Jenny Slate, Recode co-founder Kara Swisher, Game of Thrones actresses Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams, multi-platinum recording artist T.I., and more.
“This diverse, eclectic group of icons, artists, and pioneers represent the spirit of unexpected discovery that SXSW has become known for,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “I’m so excited that the new badge system will empower more of our attendees to discover even more of this great content.”
Once again showcasing the creative cross-collaboration SXSW is known for, these speakers are leaders in the tech, film, music, television, business, and journalism fields.
New for 2017, the Interactive, Film, and Music badges will now include expanded access to more of the SXSW Conference and Festivals experience. Attendees will still receive primary access to programming associated with their badge type but now also enjoy secondary entry to most other SXSW events.
SXSW Conference programming is organized into 24 Tracks divided between Interactive, Film, Music, and Convergence, presented in a variety of session formats.
Garth Brooks is an American country singer and songwriter. He is the first artist in history to receive seven Diamond awards for his albums—certified by the RIAA at over ten million album sales each—and remains the number one- selling solo artist in the U.S. Steve Boom is Vice President of Amazon Music, responsible for Amazon’s streaming music business globally, which includes Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Music, in addition to Amazon’s digital download music store.
Warren G is a West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. In 1990, he formed the group 213, named after the Long Beach area code, with his friends Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. Their discovery by Death Row Records and Dr. Dre helped elevate them to international stardom.
Hip hop artist A$AP Ferg, Billboard editorial director Mike Bruno, The Breakfast Club host Angela Yee, and C3 partner Charles Attal will discuss how technology’s rapid evolution has changed the entire music landscape: from how an artist produces and creates music, to how it’s distributed (streaming platforms) and monetized, to ultimately how a fan consumes and experiences it.
Lou Adler is a Grammy Award-winning record producer, music executive, talent manager and co-owner of the famous Roxy Theatre in LA. Paul Tollett Is the president and CEO of Goldenvoice and the co-founder of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Scott Goldman is vice president of the GRAMMY Foundation.
As original members of Prince’s band The Revolution, Andre Cymone and Dez Dickerson will share memories, recollections, and insights from their first hand experiences during the rise of the iconic and influential musician.
Darryl McDaniels is a legendary music icon. From the first rap group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone to the first to appear on MTV, Grammy nominated Run-DMC changed music, culture, fashion, and language, and made American history.
Multi-platinum pop singer and songwriter Mike Posner quietly became one of the world’s most inescapable and recognizable voices. In 2016, his second full-length album, At Night, Alone [Island Records], bowed at #12 on the Billboard Top 200 and included the triple-platinum smash “I Took A Pill In Ibiza”—which amassed over 1 billion worldwide streams.
Residente is a Puerto Rican rapper, writer, producer and founder of the alternative rap group Calle 13. He has won 24 Latin Grammy awards in total, making him the Latin artist who has won the most gold-plated gramophones.
Multi-platinum recording artist Tip “T.I.” Harris has won three Grammy Awards and has sold over 10 million albums in the US alone. He is an artist-owner of TIDAL, joining JAY Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lil Wayne and others in offering up exclusive music, videos, concerts and other content. His full length album Us Or Else: Letter To The System was released in December.
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.
SXSW 2017 is sponsored by Esurance, Mazda, Monster Energy, Bud Light, Capital One, McDonald’s, The Austin Chronicle, Sonicbids and Pandora.
