Often, songwriters attend music industry trade shows like Midem, Popkomm, SXSW and more, in hopes of making a connection with a label, artist, studio or manager.
Now in its 20th year, SXSW actually wears the face of 3 different festivals - an interactive media festival, a film festival, and its most popular identity, the music festival itself, which runs from March 15 - 19.
Days at SXSW are focused around the exhibition hall, where, where 120 labels, distributors, magazines, and other industry bodies from around the world have booths set up to promote their product, and make connections with other businesses.
The showcase shows are spread across several venues, but concentrated mainly on one main drag in Austin, so SXSW attendees can easily pop in and out of venues, checking out as many bands as possible.
The keynote speaker for SXSW music festival will be Neil Young, who will be joined by Jonathan Demme, director of a new Neil Young documentary, "Neil Young/Heart of Gold."