SXSW MEDIA KIT

#ChicagoSXSW

ABOUT

Kanye’s first gig didn’t sell out the United Center.

Groupon wasn’t worth billions the day it was

founded. Ferris Bueller wasn’t always the world’s

most famous truant. From humble beginnings —

it’s how every great story starts in Chicago. The

ground floor may be where we get on, but we

don't stay there long. What's born in a garage, on

a workbench, or with a camera phone ends up

bigger than life.

This is where Pitchfork & Lollapalooza crank it to

11; where a new startup is taking hold every day;

where movie moguls & indie film makers

produce blockbusters & cult classics; where

achievements made in food-culture, architecture,

art, and design are endlessly inspiring.

Whether you come to be a maker or to meet the

makers, one thing's certain: Chicago is where

greatness is made.

www.ChicagoMade.us

“From music to movies to the

latest tech companies,

Chicago is home to the best

and brightest in the industry.”

- Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel.

SPONSORED BY

MUSIC “A Music Omnivore’s Paradise”

LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL

With more than 225 music venues, 15 citywide festivals, and 47 neighborhood festivals, Chicago is one of America’s best cities for live music no matter the time of year.

The likes of Lollapalooza Music Festival, North Coast Music Festival, Wavefront Music Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival, Riotfest, Spring Awakening, The Hideout’s Block Party, and The Chosen Few Picnic make Chicago a premier music festival city.

MUSICALLY DIVERSE

From Hip-Hop (Kanye West, Common, Lupe Fiasco) to Rock and Roll (Smashing Pumpkins, Wilco), to House Music

(Frankie Knuckles, Derrick Carter) to Classical (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Eighth Blackbird), to the Blues (Buddy

Guy, Lonnie Brooks) to Jazz (Orbert Davis, Dee Alexander, Ken Vandermark) to Soul (Jennifer Hudson, R. Kelly),

Chicago is home to the most diverse pool of musical talent in the world.

WE’VE GOT HISTORY

House and Gospel music were founded in Chicago.

Chicago style Jazz and the Blues developed as a result of African Americans from the South making their way to Chica-

go during what was known as “The Great Migration”. The African Americans settled in the historic south-side Chicago

neighborhood of Bronzeville.

“THE BIZ” THRIVES HERE

Chicago is home to some of the most successful businesses in the music industry today

including: The Windish Agency, Billions, Monterrey, Flower Booking, Music Dealers,

Pitchfork, Bloodshot Records, Thrill Jockey Records, Alligator Records, Touch and Go

Records, Drag City, A.V. Club, Sound Opinions and Jam Productions.

FILM / TV “The Film and Television Industries are Booming in Chicago”

SETTING RECORDS YEAR AFTER YEAR

2013 was another record year for the Chicago Film industry with a 20 percent increase in production activity including a

total of 2,198 filming days. 2012 set the previous record with nearly 40 percent growth over 2011.

ON THE BIG SCREEN

2013 productions include: Divergent, Jupiter Ascending and Transformers 4.

Some of your favorite movies filmed in Chicago include: The Dark Knight, Transformers 3, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,

Public Enemies, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Untouchables, High Fidelity, Home Alone, Stranger than Fiction,

The Fugitive and The Blues Brothers.

Illinois offers an aggressive 30% Film Tax Credit. Please contact us for more information www.film.illinois.gov

STELLAR STUDIOS IN THE BIG CITY

Chicago is home to some production studios that you may have heard of before including: Harpo, Cinespace, Chicago

Studio City, Optimus, Kartemquin, Method Studios, Essanay Studios, Odd Machine, Protein, Kurtis Productions and

Big Shoulders.

Cinespace Studios recently announced plans to become the largest studio complex in the world.

TV LAND

Chicago attracts hundreds of commercials and photo shoots each year that are

produced for both national and international clients.

Chicago is home to some of the most successful television series productions including:

Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Crisis, Mind Games, Betrayal, Sirens, Boss, Mob Doctor, ER,

The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Steve Harvey Show.

BUSINESS / TECH “Chicago is North America’s Global Business Center”

IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL

Chicago is home to the best connected airport in the U.S. with 2,900 flights per day and Non-stop service to more than

200 destinations around the world.

At the center of one of the largest trading areas in the world: the east-west nexus joining the markets of Europe and Asia

and the north-south nexus of NAFTA.

The hub of railroad and shipping traffic in the U.S.

Virtually every major fiber optic network interconnects in Chicago, making the city an information hub as well.

4th in the World’s Most Economically Powerful Cities - The Atlantic Cities

START-UP CITY

Startup incubators and accelerators, along with a new generation of mentorship and venture capital pumping through the

business veins of Chicago, are allowing the city’s tech startups to thrive, and feeding a new generation of talent.

By the end of 2013 a new startup was launching every 24 hours in Chicago.

“Chicago’s Startup Scene is on Fire.” - Forbes

WHERE LIFE WORKS

Chicago’s low cost of living for a major U.S. city + cultural & recreational options =

excellent value for the city’s world-class workforce.

More than 150 area colleges & universities confer 145k degrees annually.

CULTURAL TOURISM “You Can’t Get Bored in Chicago”

OUR BEST ASSETS

500+ city parks

26 miles of lakefront

369 historic landmarks

220+ dance companies

200+ theater companies

225+ music venues

77 distinct neighborhoods

VISITATION GOALS

Increase annual visitation to 55 million visitors as set forth by Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Book 2.3 million hotel room nights and 50 new groups annually

Elevate Chicago to among the top five U.S. cities for inbound international travel by 2020

THE CULTURAL TRAVELER

Cultural travelers present a significant opportunity for Chicago to meet and potentially exceed its goal of 55 million visitors

by 2020

76% of Leisure Travelers participate in a cultural or heritage activity

Cultural Travelers spend 61% more per trip than non-cultural leisure travelers and take one more trip per year on average

15 citywide music festivals

47 neighborhood music festivals

35 neighborhood food festivals

10 downtown cultural parades

22 neighborhood cultural parades

56 neighborhood museums & organizations

SCHEDULE OF SXSW EVENTS

VIP EVENT (INVITE ONLY) at The Chicago House

Tuesday, March 11th | 5pm—7pm

With music by: The Hood Internet and White Mystery DJs

TRADE SHOW BOOTH at the Austin Convention Center | Exhibit Hall 4

Sunday, March 9th - Wednesday, March 12th

Meet, mingle with and see exclusive performances by Chicago’s Makers - FULL SCHEDULE

SXSW MUSIC SHOWCASE at Red 7

Tuesday, March 11th | 8pm—2am

Hosted by: Hologram Kizzie aka Psalm One

Featuring Performances by: Chance the Rapper,

The Hood Internet, The Autumn Defense,

Archie Powell & the Exports, My Gold Mask,

Bonzie, ShowYouSuck, and Prob Cause.

For press inquiries:

Michael Samm | msamm@choosechicago.com

For more information, please visit:

ChicagoMade.us #ChicagoSXSW

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