Community voting for the 2027 SXSW PanelPicker is officially open! From now through August 23, audiences can vote for the sessions they want to see at next year’s conference in Austin.
This year, Press Kitchen is proud to support an exceptional lineup of panel proposals from clients including BUTTER Music and Sound, United Entertainment Group (UEG), Washington Square Films, WTA, Fuel Labs, and Zambezi. These sessions bring together industry leaders to explore the future of advertising, production, creativity, technology, and brand storytelling through timely, thought-provoking conversations.
We’d love your support! Please log in to the SXSW PanelPicker, cast your votes, and help these important discussions make it to the 2027 SXSW stage.
We Are the Music Makers: The Science of Sticky Ads
BUTTER Music + Sound
Some ads stick around for years; others vanish by the time we scroll. This panel explores how music and sound help shape long-term memory, brand recognition, and creative effectiveness.
Experts from the music, advertising, and psychology industries will discuss why music can be one of the most powerful tools for helping campaigns stick with audiences long after the first watch.
Speakers:
Callie Ahlgrim, Sr. Pop Culture Writer, Billboard
Dr. Thomas Dickson, PhD
Gerry Graf, Global CCO, JOAN
Andrew Sherman, CCO and Co-Founder, BUTTER Music + Sound
The New Media: Your Neighborhood
UEG
Long after advertising first moved beyond screens, newspapers, and billboards, this panel asks: what if the next major brand movement is your own neighborhood?
As physical spaces become more curated and culture-driven, neighborhoods are beginning to function like media platforms of their own. This conversation will explore how brands can show up in these spaces in a way that feels authentic, useful, and connected to the community.
Speakers:
Shanna Khan, Real Estate Entrepreneur
Jarrod Moses, CEO and Founder, United Entertainment Group
Moderator: TBD
The AI Video Boxing Match: Does It Have a Future?
Washington Square Films
As generative AI continues to reshape the moving image, this panel brings together opposing perspectives on whether live-action production is at risk, or more valuable than ever in an increasingly synthetic world.
The conversation will look at AI video, filmmaking, advertising, creative labor, and what the future of human-led production might look like after the hype settles.
Speakers:
Han West, EVP of Production/Producer, Washington Square Films
Secret Level, AI-Led Production Company
Dade, Deadline
Moderator: TBD
NIL Unpacked: Inside the Athlete Marketing Economy
WTA
The NIL era has changed college sports into one of the fastest-growing creator economies in marketing. This panel breaks down how NIL partnerships are built, from sourcing talent to measuring ROI, while exploring how college athletes are reshaping brand strategy, sports marketing, and the creator economy.
Speakers:
Jason Booker, Deputy Athletic Director, University of Kansas
Zarif Haque, Founder, The Good Game
Charlie Tetrick, CEO, WTA
Sara Fischer, Reporter, Axios
From AI Overload to Actionable Insights
Fuel Labs
AI promises smarter decision-making and more personalized campaigns, but many brands are still struggling to turn tools, dashboards, and data into clear business outcomes.
This panel explores how companies can avoid AI overload, simplify tech stacks, and use AI in ways that actually support smarter marketing decisions and measurable growth.
Speakers:
Amanda Drum, Vice President, Press Kitchen
Brian Olson, Chief Strategy Officer, WTA / Fuel Labs
Chris Kovac, Co-Founder, Kovac.ai
Screen Time, Reframed: The Future of Healthy Family Tech
Zambezi
This panel explores how families and tech brands can move past the screen-time guilt conversation and focus instead on healthier, more active ways to use technology at home. Featuring Nex Playground and Zambezi, the session looks at how the living room TV can become a more communal, movement-focused device instead of another isolating screen.
Speakers:
Paul Dixon, Vice President of Marketing, Nex Playground
Laura Stayt, Partner, President, Zambezi
Women Agency Founders & C-Suite Meetup
Zambezi
This panel brings together women leaders in advertising and creative business for an honest conversation about building teams, winning business, negotiating your worth, and leading in a way that feels true to you. The session focuses on practical advice, stronger professional connections, and making the path to leadership feel less lonely.
Speakers:
Jean Freeman, Principal and CEO, Zambezi
Megan Lally, CEO, Highdive