Panels, Presentations and Pop-Ups: Your Guide to Panel Picking for SXSW 2026
SXSW 2026 will be here before you know it! Right now, you have the power to decide what sessions will be featured at the conference, whether you are attending or not. The list of potential presentations gets bigger every year and can be very overwhelming when you first check out their site. Featured on this list are several panels and meetups about music and entertainment tech, AI, and the future of music on the internet to help you narrow down your search.
How to Vote
Voting for panels is very simple. All you have to do is log into/make a SXSW account with your preferred email address, and you can get right to voting! The best part: there are no limits! You can vote for as many panels as you would like over the course of as many days as you want. However, you can only vote once per panel.
Voting is open right now until August 24th. If you are looking for some things to vote for, consider this list:
Omnipresence is the Future of Music Monetization
The music industry was once defined by singular revenue paths: records, CDs, downloads, streaming. But the future does not follow a single path or formula. Join music tech thought leader Dmitri Vietze as he unveils the rise of “omnipresence” — where artists build new and custom multi-channel revenue streams based on their specific audiences. From virtual instruments to gaming collabs and fan personalization, Dmitri shows how omnipresence is the new formula for success in music.
Presenter: Dmitri Vietze, Rock Paper Scissors
Click here to vote for Omnipresence is the Future of Music Monetization
Brands and Creators Meetup
Join brands and creators, podcasters, influencers, and artists to build relationships that go beyond the meetup. Whether you're a content creator looking for your next brand partnership, or a company (hardware, software, service, or somewhere in between) looking to tap into fresh creative energy, this meetup is designed to spark real connections that lead to real work.
Hosts: Shayli Ankenbruck, Rock Paper Scissors; Laura Davidson, Shure
Click here to vote for the Brands and Creators Meetup
Finding Live Customers in the Dead Internet Era
The internet may be dead, but you can blur the lines between PR and Marketing to find living, breathing people. Two seasoned experts provide actionable strategies and hands-on tactics to unite the forces of earned and paid media and create a pulse of engagement, trust, and validation that can help you reach your audience. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of the state of PR and Marketing right now, as well as the basics to craft their own ingenious plan to launch their first campaign or revive tired comms.
Speakers: Tristra Newyear-Yeager, Rock Paper Scissors; Adam McHeffey, Rock Paper Scissors
Click here to vote for Finding Live Customers in the Dead Internet Era
Next-Gen Music: AI, Tech & the New Talent Pipeline
In the fast-evolving music landscape, artists, startups, and platforms are transforming how music is created, discovered, and distributed. This panel brings together leaders from BandLab and StrmMusic to explore how AI, digital distribution, and emerging tech are fueling artist development and reshaping the industry. We'll dive into what's next for artists, labels, and fans in an era of infinite creation and discovery.
Speakers: Jade Prieboy, Rock Paper Scissors; Fernando Gabriel, StrmMusic; Dani Deahl, BandLab
Click here to vote for Next-Gen Music: AI, Tech & the New Talent Pipeline
Can You Hear the Machine? The Disappearing Tells in AI Music
Until recently, AI-made music was obvious. Garbled vocals, robotic beats, inhuman instruments—these were all giveaways of AI music. Now, AI- and human-made tracks are often indistinguishable, and the technology keeps improving. This panel features voices from music tech, performance, songwriting, and academia to discuss AI’s musical tells, chart its evolution, and debate what this all means for musical listeners and creators. The hosts of this session will explore technical issues and ethical risks—from musical deskilling to new definitions of creativity—and close with an interactive “Is it AI?” listening game.
Speakers: Tristra Newyear-Yeager, Rock Paper Scissors; Charlie Harding, NYU Steinhardt & Vox Media; Christopher White, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Adam Neely, Bassist & Content Creator
Click here to vote for Can You Hear the Machine? The Disappearing Tells in AI Music
From Stems to Songs: How Moises Fuels the Creative Process
Explore how AI can unlock creativity, not compete with it, in this hands-on workshop led by Francois Quereuil of Music AI, makers of the award-winning Moises app, and a featured artist TBD. Used by millions, Moises offers tools like stem separation, smart metronomes, chord detection, and Moises Live, a real-time mix control tool for stage or studio. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how artists use AI to move faster, sound better, and stay in control—plus a sneak peek at upcoming features and practical tips to elevate your workflow.w
Presenter: Francois Quereuil, Music AI
Click here to vote for From Stems to Songs: How Moises Fuels the Creative Process
You Just Gotta Post: Advice That Kills Artist Development
Artists today are told to treat content like currency: post more, show more, be more “engaged.” But what’s getting lost in the constant pressure to feed the algorithm? Actual artist development. We’ll explore how today’s artists can build a lasting career without becoming full-time content machines, and how to trade panic posting for long-term growth. From sustainable release strategies to redefining success beyond social metrics, this session is for anyone who’s tired of being told to “just post more” and is ready to build with purpose.
Hosts: Angela Abbott, Soundstripe; Kevin Breuner, BandLab; Tatiana Cirisano, MIDiA Research; Chris Woltman, Element1
Click here to vote for You Just Gotta Post: Advice That Kills Artist Development
The Future Of Streaming in the Superfan Era
Mainstream streaming focuses on personalized algorithms and passive listening. Meanwhile, some niche platforms embrace a participatory model where superfans don’t just consume music—they interact with it, shape it, and financially support creators in real time. These platforms embed tipping, live chat, and fan community engagement into the experience. This panel explores how fandom-driven models are redefining streaming and how “social radio” tech can help mainstream DSPs catch up. What if streaming became social, not solitary?
Speakers: Con Raso, Tuned Global; Brian Zisook, Audiomack, Jordan Pettinato, SoundCloud
Click here to vote for The Future Of Streaming in the Superfan Era
Get More Gigs: A Meetup for Working Performers
From weddings to corporate events to late-night sets, musicians are making real income through local, live gigs. This meetup is for artists who want more of that. GigSalad CEO Mark Steiner will kick things off with a quick welcome before we dive into lightly structured activities designed to help you make meaningful connections, swap stories, and set your next gigging goals. Whether you're already performing full-time or just starting to build your live presence, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, new contacts, and a clear path forward in the IRL music economy.
Host: Mark Steiner, GigSalad
Click here to vote for Get More Gigs: A Meetup for Working Performers
A Sync Licensing Playbook for Artists & Labels
Own your masters? Run an indie label or boutique publisher? This hands-on workshop breaks down how to get your music ready—and discoverable—for use in branded content, creator campaigns, and social media ads. We’ll walk through how to structure your rights and assets for licensing, decode pricing models that work at scale, and build a music catalog that plays well with the platforms. From pitch strategies and metadata must-haves to monetization mechanics, you’ll leave with the know-how to start plugging your music into today’s most active sync pipelines.
Speakers: Angela Abbott, Soundstripe; Josh Collum, Soundstripe
Click here to vote for A Sync Licensing Playbook for Artists & Labels
How to Choose Music That Doesn’t Suck (and Drives Results)
Let’s be real: bad music kills good content, but the right track can supercharge engagement, deepen emotional impact, and move your audience to take purchase action. Drawing from data insights across 400+ billion video streams, Soundstripe CEO Jeff Perkins reveals which music trends are driving video performance – allowing brands to stand out, find the balance in risk & reward, and use music for brand storytelling to create lasting impact with your audience.
Presenter: Jeff Perkins, Soundstripe
Click here to vote for How to Choose Music That Doesn’t Suck (and Drives Results)
What You Need to Know To Add Commercial Music to an App
Music streaming services need good content to attract users, but music adds real value and appeal to a wide range of non-music related apps and services, from fitness and medtech to gaming, social media, and telcos. But how do you add commercial music legally? You’ll find out at this workshop. We’ll walk you through the practical, technical, and legal steps involved. We’ll explain the technology required to stream music, how to ingest and filter catalogues and report to rights holders. And we’ll help you understand what questions to answer first, and what to expect from the process.
Presenter: Spiro Arkoudis, Tuned Global
Click here to vote for What You Need to Know To Add Commercial Music to an App
Why Do Music Streamers Care About Live Music?
Major music streaming services are focusing more on live music including showcasing concert dates. What’s driving this shift, and what does it mean for artists, promoters, and the broader live music ecosystem? This panel will delve into the economic and cultural forces shaping the intersection of live and digital music.
Speakers: Fabrice Sergent, Bandsintown; Ali Rivera, YouTube; Jamie Loeb, Nederlander Concerts
Click here to vote for Why Do Music Streamers Care About Live Music?
How Cloud Infrastructure Is Powering Music Tech Innovation
Cloud infrastructure might be invisible, but its impact on the music industry is anything but. In this future-focused fireside chat, leaders from Tuned Global explore how the cloud is quietly driving transformation across the entire music tech ecosystem—from generative AI and personalized experiences to real-time fan engagement and beyond. As audience expectations evolve and the boundaries between music, entertainment, and technology continue to blur, a flexible and scalable infrastructure has become critical for companies of all sizes.
Speakers: Con Raso, Tuned Global; Tristra Newyear-Yeager, Rock Paper Scissors
Click here to vote for How Cloud Infrastructure Is Powering Music Tech Innovation
Is There Too Much Music?
Congrats, you can release a song in 10 minutes. Now do that every week, promote it constantly, and hope the algorithm’s in a good mood. Everyone celebrates accessibility, but nobody talks about how creators are stuck in a never-ending cycle of release, promote, repeat, with fewer results. What happens when the platforms encourage constant output, but discovery is increasingly unpredictable and unsustainable? Is the current system helping artists succeed, or just keeping them busy? The volume is up, so how do we tune into what really resonates?
Speakers: Dani Deahl, BandLab; Ashley-Cree Maddix, Audiomack; Kristin Robinson, Billboard; Michael Pelczynski, Voice Swap
Click here to vote for Is There Too Much Music?
Licensing Lounge: Where Music & Media Collide
Pull up a chair with music makers, music supervisors, and music-adjacent creatives navigating the wild west of sync. This meetup is for artists, producers, label/publisher reps, and anyone shaping how music moves through media today—from TikToks to docuseries. Expect warm intros, real talk, and ideas for collaboration.
Host: Angela Abbott, Soundstripe
Click here to vote for Licensing Lounge: Where Music & Media Collide
Sync Is the New Stage: How Placements Build Artist Careers
Soundstripe’s VP of Music, Josh Collum, sits down with buzzworthy indie artist Gee Smiff, who’s turned sync into a serious career accelerator. From short-form placements on social media to major brand campaigns and streaming series, this candid conversation will reveal how sync is opening new doors—and what it actually takes to walk through them.
Speakers: Josh Collum, Soundstripe; Gee Smiff, Artist
Click here to vote for Sync Is the New Stage: How Placements Build Artist Careers
AI Agents: The Future of Music Tech Infrastructure
What if you could build complex music tech simply by asking for what you need? As AI advances, enabling tech infrastructure to be created and managed through natural language, how we develop and interact with technology is transforming. This panel explores AI agents—intelligent systems that understand plain language requests, coordinate tasks across music services, and deliver seamless results without code. Hear from these seasoned music tech veterans about how it has the potential to reinvent how we build music tech.
Speakers: Yahya Bilal, Tuned Global; Hazel Savage, SYNTHO
Click here to vote for AI Agents: The Future of Music Tech Infrastructure
The Future of Music is Participatory
The age of passive music consumption is ending. Today’s fans don’t just stream, they are stepping into the role of creator, collaborator, remixer. Driven by intuitive platforms, mobile-first production tools, and immersive technologies, the barriers to entry for music creation have never been lower. This panel explores how this shift is transforming the roles of artists, brands and platforms, from how songs are made to how artists connect with fans, and what tools and strategies are shaping this new creative era.
Speakers: Dani Deahl, BandLab; Jordy Freed, Sony Corporation; Gaurav Sharma, Hook; 310babii, Artist
Click here to vote for The Future of Music is Participatory
The Algorithm Might Not Love You, But Your Fans Can
As algorithms dominate modern music discovery, artists want ways to reach fans without relying on major platforms. This session explores how artists can cultivate devoted fan bases in a digital world often driven by trends and metrics. Hear from Bandcamp and Bandsintown on how to build audience connection through authenticity, direct engagement, and community-focused strategies over algorithms.
Speakers: Fabrice Sergent, Bandsintown; Dan Melnick, Bandcamp; Mesfin Fekadu, Journalist
Click here to vote for The Algorithm Might Not Love You, But Your Fans Can
About Rock Paper Scissors:
Founded in 1999, Rock Paper Scissors, Inc. is a PR and marketing firm composed of a diverse team of communicators, creatives, and business minds. We have represented thousands of entertainment tech projects from six continents. Our roster includes clients in music technology, Our roster includes clients in music technology, sports technology, entertainment technology, wellness tech, consumer electronics, innovative musical instruments and gear, AI music, consumer apps, and much more.