From AI-powered composition and artwork creation to voiceprints and curated playlists, AI is changing the way artists create and market their music, and engage with their fans. With these new tools comes a new set of challenges and responsibilities for the music industry. Artists can harness the power of AI but it is the responsibility of companies across the industry to ensure that human artistry is supported, not replaced. Panelists will present principles for companies to consider as...

What if you could see the world like a futurist and be a non-obvious thinker? After exploring the front lines of world changing trends and writing about them for more than a decade, this session will be the exclusive premiere of the new book, Non-Obvious Thinking (coming September 2024) from #1 Wall Street Journal best-selling author and founder and Chief Trend Curator at The Non-Obvious Company Rohit Bhargava. Going beyond offering the usual secretive futurist's tour of emerging trends and...

How can brands and leaders tell stories that inspire human connection and positive action, especially in these anxious and uncertain times? Cheryl Miller Houser offers tactics grounded in the science and craft of storytelling to make people feel part of something bigger than themselves and move them to laugh, to cry, to propel change. Participants from all sectors can apply these tactics to drive success in building brand loyalty, marketing, galvanizing employees, creating community,...

Join award-winning writers and directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert as they talk about the process of developing, creating, and releasing their surprise hit movie that took the world by st— okay, look, if you’re still reading this, we should tell you that we've run out of new things to say about Everything Everywhere All At Once, so although we’ll try our best to stay on topic, we'll most likely go on a bunch of tangents about the state of the world, the impending climate crisis, the...

Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there's still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers. Social media's omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular. On International Women’s Day, we’ll hear from visionary female leaders at the forefront of news, media, entertainment and philanthropy who are breaking barriers, challenging...

Join Amy Webb for the launch of the Future Today Institute's 17th edition of its Tech Trends Report and a deep dive into all the tech trends you'll need to follow in 2024. In this mind-bending session, futurist Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute and professor at NYU Stern School of Business, will provide a data-driven analysis for the emerging tech trends that need to be on your radar this year––and she’ll show you scenarios that will change your perspective on the futures. For those...

Each year, MIT Technology Review reporters and editors assemble a list of the top breakthrough technologies that will change the world. In this SXSW Session, Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau, the Publisher and CEO of MIT Technolgy Review will share the publication’s list of ten breakthrough technologies with the SXSW audience, explaining each one and how it will impact the way we live and work.

These last few years have been characterized by prolonged uncertainty when it comes to our health, politics, economy, and beyond. Can you blame us for falling deeper into the siren song of our increasingly predictive technologies? Endless suggestions of what to buy, who to date, what to write, where to turn, and what to listen to next flow right into our palms—fooling us into thinking we have control over this unknowable, messy world. The deluge of perfectly curated feeds doesn't help....

Our country continues to take steps backward when it comes to civil liberties and voting rights when we should be expanding those rights and making it easier for everyone to participate in the democratic process. In this panel, leaders in the fight for civil rights and voting access will be sharing their insight into how we can expand access to voting for marginalized groups.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), released its first full-color images and spectroscopic data on July 12, 2022. As the largest and most complex observatory ever launched into space, Webb went through a six-month period of preparation before it began science operations with 50 major deployments, careful alignment of the mirrors, and calibrating the instruments. These experts will talk about Webb’s latest...

Moderated by self-proclaimed Dateline fan and Grace & Frankie star June Diane Raphael, join Dateline correspondents Josh Mankiewicz & Keith Morrison and Executive Producers David Corvo & Liz Cole for a conversation about how NBC’s longest running primetime program evolved into a true crime powerhouse with a mega podcast hub. With numerous #1 podcasts, including The Thing About Pam, Motive for Murder, Dateline: Missing in America & Mommy Doomsday, along with a Dateline 24/7...

2022 saw a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the country, and we’ve already seen one Texas lawmaker announce that he will introduce a bill to ban youth from attending drag shows next year. The heated political discourse has led to threats against Pride celebrations and drag shows around the world.   We know these debates are negatively impacting LGBTQ youth — and that access to affirming spaces and representation is crucial to mental health. Amid these relentless attacks...

The ‘me too.’ Movement is one of the best examples of the power of a platform to drive equity and disruptive change. For innovators, creators, and business leaders alike, there are powerful learnings in why #MeToo went viral, how the me too. Movement has defined modern culture, and how brands can more deeply connect with communities through personal storytelling. Brands & companies, leaders, and influencers today all are expected to stand for and demonstrate intentional effort in leading...

Join Mike Jackson, Emmy® and Tony Award-winning producer and co-founder and managing partner of Get Lifted Film Co. for his ongoing conversation series Why Not Me? hosted at the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas. The series explores diversity in the media industry. Why Not Me? creates a platform for people of color and underrepresented communities across film, TV, theatre, books, and sports to share stories of breaking into the industry and making a lasting impact for...

William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 60 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist. He has won Emmys and also won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer “Denny Crane” on both The Practice and Boston Legal. He has received four additional Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods.   Mr. Shatner currently is the...

Sexual pleasure has been lurking in the shadows, hidden discretely in store aisles, lit up in neon on the side of highways, in glimpses on late-night TV, or relegated to the dark and dirty corners of the internet. The sex industry deserves innovation. Global sextech leader Bryony Cole set up Sextech School to do exactly that - bring founders, entrepreneurs, investors, job seekers and learners together in a six week online school to share the best new sextech ideas to transform them into...

With music consumption at an all-time high, a new songwriter economy has emerged, where music creators of all levels thrive and local repertoire reaches new fans across borders and genres. It's not just about writing hits but tapping into global opportunities that span various regions, art forms, and entertainment mediums, from TV/film, gaming, and Web3 to theater and production music. Music publishers will need to adapt their way of working to remain relevant, taking advantage of these new...

Music ownership has historically been concentrated in the hands of institutions and people with access. Despite streaming generating tens of billions of dollars for the music industry each year, music artists see very little of this money, largely due to signing away ownership early in their careers.   Join renowned DJ and CEO/co-founder of Royal Justin Blau to discuss how new technology is shifting power and control into the hands of artists and their fans. Unlike merch, vinyl, and other...

In her final year of competitive racing, Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, shared with the world that she was no longer competing for medals, but for a mission greater than any medal or podium: empowering women with better childcare access childcare. Her corporate sponsor Athleta, not only stood by her in this mission, but helped amplify it—co-creating a childcare grant to support other athlete mothers with childcare costs, matching the maternity benefit...

For nearly 70 years, Disney Parks has created happiness for millions through experiences that bring Disney’s beloved stories to life. Across its theme parks, hotels, cruises and adventures, Disney Parks has curated magical places around the world where a simple moment can become a treasured lifelong memory.     The ‘Art & Science’ of storytelling is the secret to how Disney amazes its Guests and delivers memorable experiences.  Disney Parks, Experiences & Products Chairman...

In the early to mid 2000s, many of the pioneers of social media gathered at SXSW to brainstorm about the potentials and possibilities of these new platforms for communication. 15 years later, so much of the optimism of those early discussions has fallen by the wayside. So where do we go from here? Is it possible to build a new kind of social media that emphasizes our shared humanity as opposed to our divisions? In this In this very interactive session, attendees are invited to come to the...

Of the $150 billion in U.S. venture capital less than 1 percent of total funding goes to Black founders. Black led startups are an underestimated, overlooked business opportunity that represents a prolific investment opportunity. Kathryn Finney, Managing General Partner of the venture fund, is working to change that, increasing Black wealth and injecting capital into startups led by Black entrepreneurs.  Kathryn shares her journey and storied career as an entrepreneur, inclusion champion, and...

Chef and humanitarian José Andrés founded World Central Kitchen (WCK) with the simple belief that a plate of food is more than a meal—it’s hope and comfort in times of crisis. Since its founding in 2010, WCK has provided more than 250 million nourishing meals in response to disasters around the world, most recently the wildfires in Chile, earthquakes in Türkiye, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. WCK’s approach to emergency response is rooted in listening to the needs of the community....

Killer Mike gets recognized for many things - being an Outkast protege, a member of rap powerhouse Run The Jewels, one of Atlanta’s biggest advocates, a Bernie Sanders whisperer, and, perhaps most importantly, a voice of reason in an increasingly insane world. Some might know one or two of those sides of Mike, but he is finally ready to introduce the world to the totality of Michael Render, a lifelong rap fiend whose consciousness is seeped in the sounds of community that raised him -...