Brent Grulke with Smokey Robinson and Roland Swenson

Last August we lost our friend and colleague, Creative Director Brent Grulke. Brent was a legendary figure whose love for music motivated much of what he did.

Brent ran the music festival for nearly two decades and under his leadership, along with the blood sweat and tears of the SXSW staff, was fortunate enough to see the event grow into a major international destination, giving a home to both major artists and unsung talent.

On Monday, March 18, 2013, SXSW will announce the winners of the first annual Grulke Prize, which will be given to three music artists performing at SXSW 2013.

Grulke Prize winners will be music artists who are breaking new ground with their creativity and show the most promise in achieving their career goals. Winners will include a developing US act, a developing international act, and a special award for an established artist appearing at SXSW 2013 to reinvent themselves, or launch an important new project.

Winners will be determined by polling a private jury of individuals who knew Brent’s taste in music, and whose taste in music he admired. Jurors will include music critics, music professionals and the SXSW staff.

And please join us at 10am on Thursday, March 14 in Ballroom D, before Dave Grohl's keynote, for a special commemoration of Brent's life with a video produced by our pals at Arts + Labor.