Next Generation Radio @ SXSW

From: Next Generation Radio
Series: NPR's Next Generation Radio
Length: 05:00

SXSW and "the underdog." Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Next Generation Radio @ SXSW
From: Next Generation Radio

Matthew_small NPR's "next generation radio" and member station KUT co-sponsored training project for students during the South-By-Southwest (SXSW) music festivals. In this story, Next Generation Radio's Matthew Watkins found that the SXSW Festivals has had a reputation as a place where new, fresh artists could get a foot in the door of the music industry, but some people think it has become more of a spring break party for established insiders and fans.

Also in the NPR's Next Generation Radio series

Dark Knight, sort of (03:46)
From: Next Generation Radio

Batman returns this summer in a movie and in an online game

Oakland High School and Williams Settlement (04:35)
From: Next Generation Radio

Four years after Williams settlement, students join to clean up their own school

Education in "Journalism" (04:15)
From: Next Generation Radio

Budding reporter learns a lesson in "reporting."

What's in a (band) name? (03:24)
From: Next Generation Radio

Who decided on the name of that band and why that name?

Travelling Ice Cream Man (04:10)
From: Next Generation Radio

Matt Allen goes to music festivals and gives away ice cream

Texas Two-Step Con't (04:02)
From: Next Generation Radio

Texas politics and the Democratic Primary

This is "Thriller." (02:07)
From: Next Generation Radio

Man obsesses overlearning the dance moves to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Muslim Speed Dating (03:34)
From: Next Generation Radio

Finding a spouse and maintaining respect for Islamic tradition

Deep Voices = Sex Appeal? (03:10)
From: Next Generation Radio

Scientists study if if true that women like men with deeper voices

Sisters from Las Vegas serving in the Iraq War (03:52)
From: Next Generation Radio

Sisters in military both serving in Iraq

Piece Description

NPR's "next generation radio" and member station KUT co-sponsored training project for students during the South-By-Southwest (SXSW) music festivals. In this story, Next Generation Radio's Matthew Watkins found that the SXSW Festivals has had a reputation as a place where new, fresh artists could get a foot in the door of the music industry, but some people think it has become more of a spring break party for established insiders and fans.

Transcript

It's 10 a.m. and Matt Sheehy will play his first ever South By Southwest showcase in 10 hours. He'd like to be sleeping, but he has a problem: he can't find his bassist. Then his phone rings.

Track:
Hello? Is this tom? It is so good to hear from you man. Yeah. I assume you are in Austin it looked like an Austin phone number. So will you be playing tonight? Alright, it's great to hear from you?

Just another day in the life of a struggling musician. Sheehy works as a forester in Portland. He has no record deal, no booking agent and no manager. He hopes that his SXSW showcase will change that.

Track:
I don't want to work a day job anymore. I just want to play music because it is my favorite thing to do.

More than 600 unsigned bands have flocked to SXSW with the same hopes as Sheehy.

Noise at convention center

At the festival headquarters, musicians, executives,...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

ORGANIZERS SAY MORE THAN HALF OF THE ARTISTS ACCEPTED TO THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC FESTIVAL ARE SIGNED TO A RECORD LABEL. THE ACTS COME TO AUSTIN TO VIE FOR THE ATTENTION OF THOUSANDS OF MUSIC INDUSTRY INSIDERS WHO HAVE THE POWER TO JUMPSTART AN ARTIST'S CAREER. AS NEXT GENERATION RADIO'S MATTHEW WATKINS REPORTS THE GROWING SIZE AND POPULARITY OF THE FESTIVAL HAS LEFT SOME QUESTIONING WHETHER THESE INSIDERS PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE UNDERDOGS.