Too many people are famous for being famous, not talented. That’s exactly what I’ve always thought of Cage.
SXSW has allowed Hollywood to take over. It’s now nothing but a big studio production. What started out as a venue for “unknowns” trying to break into the biz, has become the barrier they’ve always tried to get over.
It's a good racket. 75 paid employees (full time/part time) and 3000 unpaid volunteers. Corporate sponsorships, benefits from the city, and tens of thousands of hopefuls sending in their paid press kit applications with ZERO chance of ever being booked.
And they've franchised it to other regions as well.
It began as an attempt to highlight regional music to the nation. Now it is a media event to highlight the "next new thing" (already signed) or to promote the new comeback album from someone of yore. Even Johnny Cash played at a punk club in 1994 to highlight his American recordings.