{"id":150133,"date":"2025-06-01T18:46:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T18:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/150133\/"},"modified":"2025-06-01T18:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T18:46:09","slug":"what-to-expect-from-inaugural-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/150133\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Expect From Inaugural Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe performance this week by Nigerian star TEMS<\/a> is one eagerly awaited moment at the inaugural SXSW London, which opens Monday (June 2) and runs through Saturday (June 7), building on the four-decade legacy of the South By Southwest music, arts, film and tech conference and festival launched by four young colleagues in Austin, Texas, in 1987.<\/p>\n

\n\tTEMS will headline The Stage at SXSW London on Thursday (June 5) in an exclusive concert presented by Billboard at London\u2019s iconic music venue Troxy.\u00a0She was featured on the cover<\/a> of the magazine\u2019s May 17 issue.<\/p>\n

\n\tLondon is some 4,900 air miles from Austin where, in the mid 1980s, the idea of a conference and festival, initially focused on music, was hatched by the co-founders of SXSW: Roland Swenson, Louis Jay Meyers, Louis Black and Nick Barbaro. At the first event, held in March 1987, an expected 150 registrants reached 700 on the opening day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tIn 2021, following the challenges of the pandemic, SXSW gained an investment partner in Penske Media Corporation (which also owns Billboard) and the film and production company MRC. Two years later, Penske took majority ownership of SXSW.<\/p>\n

\n\tUnder its new owners, SXSW has gone global. The third SXSW Sydney will take place in Australia\u2019s largest city from Oct. 13-19.<\/p>\n

\n\tThis first SXSW London takes place at a time when the creative industries of the United Kingdom are more vital than ever, with the music business finding global success with superstars like Dua Lipa, Charli xcx, Coldplay and others.\u00a0The event also follows the publication by Billboard of its annual Global Power Players list<\/a> and its first U.K. Power Players list<\/a>, whose honorees will be recognized at an invitation-only gathering.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere are seven highlights to watch for at SXSW London.<\/p>\n