A few months back we asked you to vote for us. We weren’t running to impersonate Ted Kennedy in the US Senate, just a chance to participate in the yearly music funfest known as “SXSW” (”South-By” for the uber-hip.)

Our proposed panel was/is “The History of Music Recommendations”. Description of the panel is below.

But now – the news. WE WON. We’re going to Austin baby! Packed right in there in the list between IODA (Global Music Marketing: How to Reach Fans Worldwide with Adam Rabinovitz) and United Record Pressing (How to Make Money with Vinyl with Jay Millar) you’ll find us.

Michael Papish (our fearless CEO & Founder) will be circus ringleader for the panel, currently slated for March 17. They’ll be discussing the general history of recommendations. From our submission:

Mention “music recommendations” and talk of algorithms, genomes, visualizations and widgets ensues. But, the concept of making music recommendations is far older than the tech industry can imagine. Beginning with traveling minstrels of the middle ages who sow songs like seed to legendary freeform DJs of the 60s, we present a history of the music recommendation.

1. How did people ever learn about music without the Internet? Is this even possible?
2. What was the role of music performer in introducing audiences to new music?
3. How can songwriters teach listeners about music?
4. What is the place of the “cover version” in song discovery?
5. Was there a time when terrestrial radio helped people discover music? What different radio formats worked best for music discovery?
6. What is the current state of music discovery via radio (terrestrial, satellite, internet, interactive, etc.)?
7. Can record labels and music publishers create trusted relationships with listeners that allow them to find new and interesting music? Has this worked in the past? Are there groups doing this successfully today?
8. What about movie soundtracks?
9. Do people actually read music criticism?
10. What is the history of listener-to-listener music sharing?

Also, some additional information on this panel:

Many people in the “recommendation technology industry” think that music, movie and entertainment recommendation systems are completely revolutionizing the way we consume culture. Some have even gone so far as to portray sites like TheSixtyOne as radical experiments in music recommendations because they bring together like-minded music fans to discuss and discover culture together — an activity which has been happening for hundreds of years before the internet was even a twinkle in Al Gore’s eye.

We want this panel to be a broad discussion looking at the different ways humans have historically learned about music. From friends? From musicians? From DJs/curators? From writers?

We’ll be sure to let you know when the panelists have been finalized. If you have any questions or suggestions for the panel, please drop us a line.

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