Welcome to the SXSW January Update featuring timely tips about our 2010 Music, Film & Interactive events.

First Headliner Announced The one-and-only Cheap Trick will perform at the SXSW Music Festival. Since the '70s the band has been blending elements of pop, punk and even metal in a way that is catchy and instantly recognizable. More

SXSW Welcomes Cheap Trick

Panels Update As of the beginning of January, 67 panels have been announced for the 2010 Music Conference. This unprecedented number of early confirmations is due to PanelPicker, our online idea submission and evaluation process. From entry-level sessions to advanced topical panels, everyone with a stake in the music business can benefit from participating. Among the featured panels are:

• Case studies on the music from the film Twilight: New Moon and the video game Rock Band, examining how music makes it way into mass culture.
• "Music And The Revolution," a panel of 1960s radicals who recall a time when music was much more than a marketing tool.
• The principals of Merge Records celebrating 25 years of independence.

Stay tuned for final additions to the schedule.

Chalie Boy

Showcasing Bands Update As the event nears, the band list grows. Be sure to check back later in the week as we release the schedule of official showcasing bands.

Back to top

SXSW 2010 Kicks Ass! We're delighted to announce that Matthew Vaughn's awesome KICK-ASS will open SXSW 2010! Starring Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kick-Ass mashes up bone-cracking action, dark comedy and razor sharp dialogue into a blistering thrill ride! More

Aaron Johnson as 'Kick-Ass' in KICK-ASS. Photo courtesy of Marv Films

SXSW Goes Interstellar with Hubble 3D, Lemmy and more We've just announced another five awesome films for the 2010 line-up:

• Cold Weather Alum Aaron Katz directs the tale of a former forensic science major who returns home to find himself embroiled in an unexpected situation
• Elektra Luxx Carla Gugino (pictured) returns as a pregnant porn star in Sebastian Guttierez' sequel to 2009's Women in Trouble.

• Hubble 3D Voyage into the depths of space with NASA in IMAX 3D!
• Lemmy A rare glimpse into the world of legendary Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister
• SATURDAY NIGHT Actor James Franco directs this intimate look at the inner workings of the legendary comedy show

Panels Update SXSW has just announced a sizeable chunk of the Film Conference lineup for 2010 including cutting edge Film/Interactive Crossover panels. More

Back to top

Digital Creatives Unite: Crabapple, Pettis, Zeldman & More

The heart of the SXSW Interactive Festival is the incredible diversity of daytime programming and the dynamic speakers that share their expertise. Below is a small sample of the more than 900 innovators scheduled to speak at the 2010 event:

Jim Coudal (Coudal Partners), Molly Crabapple (Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School), Leah Culver (Six Apart), Nick Finck (Blue Flavor), Dave Gray (XPLANE), John Gruber (daringfireball.net), Jeremy Gutsche (TrendHunter.com), Kristina Halvorson (Brain Traffic), David Heinemeier Hansson (37signals.com), Molly Holzschlag (molly.com), Tim Hwang (ROFLCON), Joi Ito (joi.ito.com), Allyson Kapin (Women Who Tech), Andrew Keen (Andrew Keen Inc.), Jaron Lanier (Author), Charlene Li (Altimeter Group), Hugh MacLeod (gapingvoid), Chris Messina (OpenID Foundation), Bre Pettis (Makerbot Industries), Dan Roam (Author), Clay Shirky (shirky.com), Kevin Smokler (BookTour.com), Brian Solis (briansolis.com), Jared Spool (User Interface Engineering), Bruce Sterling (Author), Peter Sunde (The Pirate Bay), Jessamyn West (Tunbridge Public Library) and Jeffrey Zeldman (Happy Cog).

Photo: Molly Crabapple (top), Bre Pettis (middle), Jeffrey Zeldman (bottom)

Visit the Interactive Talks section of SXSW.com for an up-to-date list of confirmed panels, Core Conversations, Book Readings, Workshops and more.

SXSW Networking Parties Begin January 11 in San Francisco Our pre-SXSW tour begins on January 11 at Slim's in San Francisco. This is a great opportunity to get to know event organizers, as well as mix with other digital creatives in an informal environment -- made all the more appealing by great tunes and free drinks of course. Also, one lucky attendee will win a FREE registration to the 2010 SXSW Interactive Festival. RSVP by filling out this form before Friday, January 8.

Web Awards Competition Heating Up: Finalists Announced in Late January, Winners Revealed March 14 Judging is currently underway in the SXSW Web Awards, the international website competition that honors innovative developers who are building tomorrow's online trends.

Finalists in twenty competition categories will be announced in late January, while winners will be revealed at a special ceremony on Sunday evening, March 14. Register for SXSW Interactive now to catch this highly-entertaining event and web industry zeitgeist.

The 13th Annual SXSW Interactive Web Awards are presented by Adobe Systems. Supporting Sponsorship is provided by Convio.

Back to top

Great things happen when the representatives of 49 countries convene in Austin during SXSW. A true global cross-pollination between entertainment and technology produces new ideas, new relationships and a new future. Take control of your future and immerse yourself in this global network. Exchange ideas, services and products with these countries that are already committed to marketing at 2010 SXSW: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, U.K.

Plan your participation now by contacting sales@sxsw.com or go to sxsw.com/business