SXSW Music: March 17-21, 2010

• Quincy Jones on Michael Jackson at SXSW '09
  Post from SXSW.
• BMI moving jobs from NYC to Nashville
  Post from NY Times.
• Jammie Thomas-Rasset will appeal, lawyer says
  Story from CNET.
• Sony makes strategic investment in IODA
  Story from Reuters.
• Small music companies sue tech giants over copyrights
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• How the net saved live music
  Story from Sydney Morning Herald.
• New Pirate Bay owner discussed going legit
  Post from Wired.
• Summer music preview
  List from Pitchfork.

We are excited to announce our unique partnership with the Roskilde Festival and Austin-based Sol Design Lab, in a mutual exchange that will explore both the artistic and practical applications of clean energy. At this year’s Roskilde Festival, (July 2 - 5, 2009) outside Copenhagen, Denmark, the SXSW sponsored SolarPump™ will make its debut. Incorporating cutting-edge solar technology and the adaptive re-use of a classic symbol of American fuel culture, this innovative Solar Charging station will power electric scooters that members of the media can use to travel back and forth from the Media Village (in the center of the festival grounds) to the Press Center about a mile away (where the media can use the facilities to file stories). The SolarPump™ will also serve as a practical and eye-catching tool to educate festival-goers about the possibilities of Solar Power, from both a technological and a creative point of view.

Designed by Austin-based Sol Design Lab, the SolarPump™ project is part art, part education and part practicality. It was created in February 2009, when Beth Ferguson, (a MFA candidate at the University of Texas at Austin), debuted it as her graduate project, with the intention of helping people re-imagine the future of transportation by showing solar powered mobility in action. Using the reclaimed body of a 1950’s gas station pump retrofitted with solar panels, she installed an innovative system to harness solar energy to charge electric scooters, laptops, cell phones, cameras, etc. (any item that uses a standard electric plug). In consultation with SXSW staff, Ferguson redesigned and modified the Pump to be truly portable, temporary and suitable for outdoor events. The Pump was fabricated and assembled by Ferguson’s Sol Design Lab in consultation with Austin Energy, Lighthouse Solar and with assistance from the University of Texas Department of Art. The batteries and electric scooters are being supplied locally in Denmark, and Roskilde is providing space and other support for the assembly on-site.

SXSW would like to thank the following for their support: Austin Energy, Department of Art & Art History at the University of Texas at Austin, Lighthouse Solar and Maverick Solar.

From left to right - Designer Beth Ferguson and Lula Marcondes, of Sol Design Lab, and Rick Mansfield from the University of Texas at Austin Art Department surround the SolarPump™ produced for the 2009 Roskilde Festival.

• RIAA triumphs in Usenet copyright case
  Story from CNET.
• Microsoft pacts with Live Nation to promote browser
  Story from Media Post.
• The future of Pirate Bay, with pirate metaphors
  Post from Wired.
• Report: Twitter users buy music
  Story from Marketing Vox.
• What's up with Jody Stephens
  Interview from The Daily Swarm.
• Jackson tops sales, reflected in catalog chart but not Top 200
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• The most ill-timed album art ever
  Post from LA Times.

The 2009 SXSW Music Keynote speech from Quincy Jones contained many unforgettable moments. Among them was a series of stories about his work and friendship with Michael Jackson. After meeting on the set of "The Wiz," Jackson convinced Jones to produce his next record, and went against label advice to pursue this collaboration. What ensued was history, and 'Q' shares his unique perspective on the blockbuster of 'Thriller' and the breaking of racial barriers at MTV. As we remember Michael Jackson's music and note his deep and wide cultural impact, we thank Quincy Jones for sharing his remarkable life stories at SXSW '09.

check out the SXSW Youtube channel for more videos...

• Pirate Bay site sold to game firm
  Story from BBC News.
• Quincy Jones on Michael Jackson
  Post from LA Times.
• RIAA: Jammie Thomas-Rasset snubbed settlement 'overture'
  Story from CNET.
• Malcom Gladwell on 'Free' by Chris Anderson
  Review from The New Yorker.
• Jackson will from 2002 in spotlight
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Licensing issues shut down Pandora outside US
  Post from Slashdot.
• Topper Headon on making peace with Strummer sacking him
  Story from The Independent.

• Should RealNetworks switch gears?
  Story from NY Times.
• A rock masterclass at Glasto
  Story from Reuters.
• MJ as seen by the Village Voice
  Collection of reviews from Village Voice.
• 'Don't Stop Believing' as cultural touchstone
  Story from LA Times.
• Oscars toughen up best song rules
  Story from BBC News.
• Hoffs and Sweet have more covers
  Story from Billboard.

We know the SXSW community abounds with intelligence, enthusiasm and creativity, and is brimming with new ideas on the future of music, film and new media, so listen up! If you have a brainstorm for a great panel (or a great solo presentation) at the event next spring, then we want to hear from you soon! Don't delay, as the deadline for submitting proposals to the 2010 Panelpicker interface is Friday, July 10.

Keep in mind that as a new initiative for 2010, the Panelpicker interface will now be used to help slot programming for SXSW Music and SXSW Film (in addition to SXSW Interactive).

Wondering how to increase your odds of getting picked? Here's a tip - at present, we have received a lot more programming ideas for the geek portion of the event than SXSW Music or Film, so don't be shy about submitting ideas for those events as well (as there is less competition for slots).

So get going, and be sure to read the FAQ for extra tips and guidelines before you submit!

A recurring theme with the folks at Kanine Records is that they love life and have a fierce passion for vinyl. And of course, they love dogs, too. The coolest thing about their website (apart from the bands, the tour schedule, the videos) is that they feature adoptable pets from all over the country. We love record labels with a heart! Kanine brought us two bands to SXSW 2009 - Chairlift and Holy Hail, and have a killer roster of bands who are touring all over this summer. Kay Quartarino, General Manager, kindly told us about the label and some of the things they have coming up.

So what is Kanine Records all about?
A collection of music nerds that love collecting records (vinyl), going to shows, having beers, hanging with friends and dogs, and enjoying life. We started Kanine because we love records, saw a ton of rad bands playing right in our own neighborhood, and wanted to show everyone what great talent was playing right in their own backyard.

How was your experience at SXSW 2009?
As usual we saw a ton of great new bands, hung out with a ton of friends, drank a ton of free beers, ate some great Mexican food, and walked around till our feet were too sore to stand up anymore.

Who are some Kanine artists you're excited about this year?
We are super excited about some of our new and upcoming releases from:
Blind Man's Colour, The Depreciation Guild, Drink Up Buttercup, Holiday For Strings, Princeton, ZAZA

What artists are playing on your iPod the most these days?
I've been listening to new records lately from:
Blind Man's Colour, The Depreciation Guild, Princeton, Zaza, Drink Up Buttercup, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Dinowalrus, The Drums, Dum Dum Girls, The Mayfair Set, City Center, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Wavves, Dinosaur Jr., Gang Gang Dance, Kasabian, Bat For Lashes, Saint Vincent, Passion Pit, Chairlift, The Vaselines, The Television Personalities, Camera Obscura, Jarvis Cocker, Ariel Pink, Fly Girlz, Talk Normal, Phoenix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Horrors, Surf City, Micachu, Metric, Woods, These Are Powers, Suckers, Mi Ami, Morrissey, Mirror Mirror, Franz Ferdinand, Bachelorette, Matt and Kim, Hatcham Social, Nite Jewel, Glass Candy, School of Seven Bells, Crystal Stilts, Ladyhawke, Knight School, and many more.

If we were to visit you in Brooklyn for one day only, what do you think we should definitely see and do?

7:00am walking the dogs, 9:00am skating under the BQE, 1:00pm checking out new vinyl releases at Academy Records, 6:00pm eating and drinking at Mugs, 8:00pm skating around the neighborhood, 10:00pm seeing a show at Bruar Falls, 1:00am having a beer at Daddy's.

For more information, check out Kanine Records online www.kaninerecords.com.

Hiya kidz. I'm back (yes, I know you're thrilled). I'm done moving and stuff (although stuff is not done moving... or breaking for that matter). And what a way to come back... with this tasty video shot right here at the ol' SXSW festival of Dead Confederate performing the song "Yer Circus" from their debut album Wrecking Ball.

Now I confess I didn't know much about these gentlemen from Georgia, but your friend and mine Ms. Jenni Sperandeo tweets about them all the damn time. Now I have been schooled and am a new fond fan of the recent (recent meaning last night) winners of Flagpole's Best Rock Band Award. I mentioned to JS that lead singer Hardy Morris looks like the dude you hook up with one night in high school who breaks your heart the next day, but she assures me that he is a very nice, non-hipster type.

Part of what I love about SXSW is discovering all the excellent breakout bands, err, months after the fact... and then kicking myself for missing them. Happens every year. Happening today. Luckily they're coming to the 'ville (that's Louisville) soon so maybe I can catch them in July. Then they're off on tour with The Meat Puppets so you can go see them, too!

Thanks for joining us on this fine Friday. You can catch more hawtsome vids at our bitchin' YouTube channel.

Back to Wimbledon... quite sad with no Rafa, lp

• Michael Jackson dies
  Obituary from NY Times.
• Music, film piracy at schools can't be stopped
  Editorial from USF Oracle via UN Gateway.
• BPI head Taylor reflects on Napster
  Story from BBC News.
• Siruis XM must raise prices to pay music royalties
  Post from CNET.
• Pixies planning to record album
  Story from AP.
• Excerpts from Michael Lang's "The Road To Woodstock"
  Article from Rolling Stone.
• Creating worthless copyright 'consensus': Canada's case study
  Article from Ars Technica.