The Swarm

February 25, 2008

South By Shark Jumped

TDS Editors

Next month, when you’re down in Austin with your $500 South by Southwest badge dangling from your neck waiting in an outrageously long line to catch a glimpse of that much buzzed band showcasing just beyond the barriers, pause for a moment to think about who those people are standing in front of you. Could they be the winners of the Wendy’s/Dr. Pepper giveaway (mmmm, burgers), or are they Citibank customers who used their Private Pass to buy the SXSW VIP Package (doubtful – those people don’t need no stinking badges), or are they just lucky label saps who won their tickets from Toyota (pitch clearly directed at the music industry: “Don’t have the cash to make it down to Austin? Here’s your chance to get hooked up!”)? No wonder those SXSW folks are cracking down on the unaffiliated parties…ad-supported music has arrived in Texas.

UPDATE: SXSW wristband sales fall short

SXSW Sponsors


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10 Comments

#1 Lee Peddy says:

Pato Bandon, nice.

#2 ryan says:

welcome to the future. enjoy your stay. drink coke (oops, i mean dr pepper)

#3 SXSWXGOING SOUTH says:

well it was fun while it lasted.

#4 uselessgoo says:

long live the free day parties!!!!

#5 okie-mugs says:

SXSW still is the best for a live music fan

#6 Steven Patrick Morrissey says:

no it's not. not by a long shot.

#7 jmm says:

how's that scion-sponsored "mix tape" working out for you guys?

#8 tds editors says:

take it or leave it - it's free

#9 jmm says:

it just sort of strikes me as "pot..kettle" is all. i know you guys gotta eat and whatnot, but, i mean, when you're getting all over sxsw for taking on a whole bunch of corporate sponsorships (especially those carrying "pitch[es] clearly directed at the music industry") while you guys are pimping out a car that's clearly aimed at a certain desireable "lifestyle/demographic," the whole point of your rant seems a bit off.

also, exactly when did the whole utopian dream of SXSW die, exactly? as far as i can tell, it's pretty much been an industry-sponsored back-scratch for about a decade now as is.

#10 truecraig says:

Bound to happen. Or, bound to become blatant. Whichever, really.


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