The Future Of Art & Activism: 7 Industry Panels
- Noah Deutschmann
- Apr 4
- 4 min read
The music industry is evolving fast and the best ideas aren't coming from the top down. They're bubbling up from artists, managers, mental health advocates and fan engagement experts who are rewriting the rules. At our recent Take Action x SXSW Music & Social Impact Summit, seven standout panels tackled the biggest shifts in the music ecosystem, activism through art and more. Here's what we learned:
1. Out of the Box: Redefining Artist and Brand Campaigns
This panel proved that authentic storytelling is the new gold standard for brand partnerships. Whether it’s through micro-campaigns, artist-led narratives, or purpose-driven collaborations, the takeaway was clear: artists want a seat at the creative table.
"If the story isn’t real to the artist, no one's going to care. Not them, not the fans." — Dre London (Don Londrés, London Entertainment)
Artists and managers are demanding more than just brand checks — they want co-creation, cultural relevance, and creative freedom.
Erica Ramon: Eminor, Inc., Founder & CEO
Dre London: London Entertainment / Don Londrés, Founder & CEO
Franki Chan: IHEARTCOMIX, Founder & Chief Creative Officer
Jeremy Gruber: Friends At Work, Head of Artist Marketing & Digital Strategy
Whitt Bell: HeadCount, Director of Partnerships & Events
Andrew Preisig: Magus Entertainment, Artist Manager
2. Artist For Action: The Social Power of Music
A powerful conversation centered around how music can be a vehicle for activism and healing. The panelists, including Aly & AJ and Artist For Action/Sandy Hook Promise Co-Founder Mark Barden, spoke to the importance of authentic advocacy.
"Music breaks down barriers. It gets in where other messages can’t." — Mark Barden (Sandy Hook Promise, Artist For Action)
Younger audiences expect artists to stand for something, and long term partnerships with social orgs are more impactful than one off benefit shows.
Mark Barden: Sandy Hook Promise, Co-Founder / Co-CEO
Aly & AJ: Artists / Activists
Steve Ross: Artists & Athletes Alliance, Executive Director
Emily White: iVoted Concerts, Founder
Yeji Cha-Beach: HeadCount, Senior Director of Artist Relations
3. The Manager’s Playbook: Adapting for Success in 2025
Today's managers are multi-hyphenates, navigating everything from mental health to tech strategy and vision. This panel emphasized adaptability, data fluency and the importance of co-creating artist paths rather than following outdated formulas.
"There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ career path anymore. Our job is to build the blueprint with the artist." — Neeta Ragoowansi (MMF-US)
Neeta Ragoowansi: Music Managers Forum - US, President
Reid Martin: MidCitizen Entertainment, Artist Manager
Jack Gallagher: Open Management, Founder, CEO
Erica Ramon: Eminor, Inc., Founder & CEO
4. Live and Amplified: Unlocking the Power of Live Fan Engagement
Live events remain a cornerstone of fan connection. But this panel showed how hybrid experiences, thoughtful design, and real-time fan data are transforming shows into deeply personal, scalable experiences.
"Live is where you earn the relationship. Everything else supports that." — Fabrice Sergent (Bandsintown)
Fabrice Sergent: Bandsintown, Co-Founder / Managing Partner
Aaron Bare: Etix & Rockhouse Partners, Chief Marketing Officer
Warner Bailey: Sunset Nine / Assistants vs Agents, Founder
Joe Pileggi: Crowd Surf, Director Digital Marketing
5. Know Your Worth: Music Rights, Royalties & Revenues
Artists are still missing out on income they’ve earned. This panel was a crash course in the importance of metadata, publishing education, and understanding your catalog as an asset.
"If you don’t know what you're owed, you won't know what you're missing." — Jamie Dominguez (The MLC)
Linda Bloss-Baum: SONA, Government Affairs Lead
Jamie Dominguez: The MLC, National Director, Industry Relations
Jessica Roffe: SoundExchange, Associate Director of Writer/Industry Relations
José Maldonado: Marmoset, Creative Partnerships Director / DEI
Lynn Lowe: Music Services, President, Label and Publishing Administration
6. Sound Mind: Mental Health, Isolation, and Connection in Music
This Sandy Hook Promise led heartfelt session shed light on the emotional challenges artists face and the rising movement to destigmatize mental health. Foundations like MusiCares, Social Connection Action Network and The SIMS Foundation are key allies, but peer support and vulnerability are just as vital.
"You don’t have to be in crisis to seek support. You just have to be human." — Brandee Smith (The SIMS Foundation)
Nicole Hockley: Sandy Hook Promise, Co-Founder, Co-CEO
Aly & AJ: Artists / Activists
Brandee Smith, LPC-S, LCDC: The SIMS Foundation, Director of Clinical Services
Candress Suber, LPC: MusiCares, Client Manager, Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services
Andrew MacPherson: Foundation for Social Connection Action Network, Founder & Executive Chairman / Healthsperien, LLC, Managing Partner
7. The Artist Accelerator: Tools for Growth and Success
From distribution platforms to alternative funding models, artists today have more tools than ever, but need guidance to navigate them. This session focused on empowerment through education, strategy and community building as led by TuneCore's CRO Brian Miller.
"Artists are entrepreneurs now. We’re building business with them, not around them." — Dan Melnick (Sonicbids)
These conversations weren’t just industry talk, they were roadmaps for where the music world is headed. Whether you're a manager, an artist, an advocate or a fan, there's one clear message: the future is collaborative, intentional, and artist-led.
For more information please visit Artist For Action, Sandy Hook Promise, Artist For Artist, Bandsintown & Music Managers Forum-US.
