Join us in New York City to demand Fair Pay at SXSW! We're holding a rally at Penske Media Corporation's NYC offices at 475 5th Ave to demand that SXSW increases artist pay, and comes to the table with musicians. Penske Media bought 50% of SXSW in 2021, making them the festival's largest stakeholders.

RSVP on this page if you can join us, so we can send important updates on the protest!

Our protest coalition includes: United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW), Music Workers Alliance (MWA), New York Working Families Party, New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA), Bandcamp United - Local 1010, Secretly Group Union OPEIU Local 174, National Writers Union (NWU)

Rates for performing artists at SXSW haven’t changed in over a decade, with the festival offering either an entry wristband to the festival OR a paltry single time payment of $100 for solo and duo acts, and $250 for bands to perform. Read more on why the festival is a bad deal for artists here.

UMAW and our allies held protests in Austin during this year's SXSW, and afterward the festival pledged to reassess artist pay after this March's festival, but they still haven't given a raise or agreed to meet with musicians.

That's why we're now taking the fight to SXSW's corporate ownership in New York at Penske Media. In 2021, Penske Media bought 50% of the festival, making the company the festival's largest stakeholder. Penske Media also owns Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, Artforum, and a slew of other publications. The company is owned by the billionaire Penske family, who are noted donors to far-right politicians and causes. The Penskes have the cash to pay artists fairly.

Our coalition of music workers organizations, music industry unions, and local organizing groups are fighting back! Join us in taking the fight straight to Jay Penske's NYC offices.