SXSW
South by Southwest is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. .
In 1987, four individuals from the Austin Chronicle—Roland Swenson, Louis Black, Nick Barbaro, and Louis Jay Meyers—launched an event born from a simple idea: bring the world to Austin to experience its music scene. That first year, they expected 150 attendees for the music festival but 700 showed up, signaling they were onto something big. The name, South by Southwest, was a clever nod to Alfred Hitchcock's film "North by Northwest." By 1994, the festival expanded, adding Film and Interactive components to the lineup. This move proved prescient, as SXSW Interactive quickly became a launching pad for new technologies. Twitter famously gained significant traction at the 2007 event, and startups that pitched at SXSW have collectively raised billions in funding. The festival's journey wasn't without challenges. The cancellation of the 2020 event due to the pandemic created significant financial strain. This led to a major turning point in 2021 when Penske Media Group acquired a 50% stake in the company, providing a crucial lifeline. By 2023, Penske increased its stake to 51%, taking a controlling interest and ushering in a new, more corporate era for the iconic Austin institution.
