I didn't even realize SXSW was a music festival for a long time, because all anybody (in the startup/tech world) talked about was going there to launch their iPhone app.
Sorry, but Sweet Leaf Tea is a local Austin business and been around for years. It wasn't "placed" at SXSW by some mega-corp. It just expanded out of Austin.
- Your friendly neighborhood local Austinite
The author seems to take offence to artists being used as economic fuel for companies to drive associated value to their products. This is exactly where artists can work with the system, by developing ways to drive value to companies who are willing to pay for it. Can this industry be changed for the good of the artists if the common goal is to get a record contract?
I think the article is more nuanced than that (if you got annoyed by the start, keep reading - it expands a lot). They seem to be saying (IMHO) that artists need to be aware of what is happening and make sure that they get something out of the process.
That's why I posted it - because it's more than "capitalism bad"; it's saying "this is capitalism; use it".
His advice is very good, and I know that he is saying that artists should use these opportunities. He just seems so frustrated with with process even thought he was making progress. In my comment I wanted to restate that the artists should be looking to themselves to organize and better their situation, and not to outside forces.