President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama

President Barack Obama will appear as part of a Keynote Conversation at South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive on March 11 in Austin, Texas. First Lady Michelle Obama will be the opening Keynote at SXSW Music on March 16.

This marks the first time in the 30-year history of SXSW that a sitting President and the First Lady have participated in the event, which is known for showcasing the most innovative ideas and creative talent of our time.

President Obama will sit down with Editor in Chief of The Texas Tribune Evan Smith for a conversation about civic engagement in the 21st Century before an audience of creators, early adopters and entrepreneurs who are defining the future of our connected lives.

The President will call on the audience to apply their ideas and talents to make technology work for us—especially when it comes to tackling big challenges like increasing participation in the political process and fighting climate change. In the lead-up to the event, The Texas Tribune will also source questions for the discussion from its online audience.

First Lady Michelle Obama comes to SXSW Music to discuss the Let Girls Learn initiative, which aims to break barriers for the 62 million girls around the world who are not in school today, more than half of whom are adolescent.

The SXSW Music Conference brings the global music industry together and offers the perfect platform to celebrate Women’s History Month, as the First Lady provides her call to action to support girls’ education.

“I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our event’s 30th year than to welcome both the President and First Lady to SXSW,” said SXSW co-founder Roland Swenson. “As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it’s important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs. Obama’s visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose.”

President Obama’s appearance is open to all SXSW Interactive, Gold, and Platinum registrants.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s event is open to all SXSW Music, Film, Gold, and Platinum registrants.

Leadership Music To Host The Learning Network Panel

Leadership Music will present a seminar to discuss how government policies affect Nashville’s creative community. The Learning Network: The Impact Of Policy On The Creative Community will be held March 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the First Amendment Center, located at 1207 18th Avenue South. Panelists will include: Mitch Glazier (LM ’10), EVP, Government & Industry Relations, RIAA; Dave Pomeroy (LM ’07), President,  AFM Local 257; and Casey Summar (LM ’15), Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville.

Rachel Skaggs (Vanderbilt) will moderate.

Walk-ups are welcome. Tickets are $10 per person via The Learning Network or at the door.

SOLID Partners with CMA EDU

Pictured (L-R): George Briner, Valory Music Co.; Brad Belanger, Homestead / Red Light Management; Basak Kizilisik, Morris Higham, SOLID President; Doug Phillips, Universal Music Group; Tim Gray, Grayscale Entertainment Marketing, SOLID University Outreach Chair; Rachel Cunningham, The Collective, SOLID Secretary and panel moderator; Peter Hartung, L3 Entertainment.

SOLID has partnered with CMA EDU to launch SOLID Speak. The first event was held Tuesday, Feb. 23, and discussed the relationship between artist management and record labels. The event hosted more than 140 local students and SOLID members in CMA’s atrium.

Andrew Peterson, J. Chris Wall Launch Shining Isle Productions

Pictured (L-R): Andrew Peterson, J. Chris Wall.

Singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson and producer J. Chris Wall (VeggieTales) have launched Shining Isle Productions to develop film and television projects. The first effort will be an animated short film based on Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga book series. A kickstarter campaign launched March 1 to create the project.

“When the series was complete, the idea of bringing this story to the screen wouldn’t leave me alone. If whatever truth or beauty or goodness is in these books could translate to a wider audience through animation, then I wanted to find a way. I’ve known Chris for years, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the man for the job,” says Peterson. “Not only does he know the nuts and bolts of animation, but he and his family know and love the Wingfeather Saga. There’s no one else I’d rather partner with for Shining Isle Productions. I can’t wait to see this story come to life on the screen.”

For more information, visit andrew-peterson.com or kickstarter.com.

Don Williams, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, is retiring after six decades in the music industry.

“It’s time to hang my hat up and enjoy some quiet time at home. I’m so thankful for my fans, my friends and my family for their everlasting love and support,” Williams said.

Williams first gained musical attention as a member of the pop folk trio The Pozo Seco Singers, which had six pop chart hits in 1966-67. Between 1974 and 1991, Williams had at least one major hit every year, including such country standards to be as “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” “Till the Rivers All Run Dry,” “It Must Be Love,” “I’m Just a Country Boy,” and “I Believe in You.” He also had a hit duet with Emmylou Harris on Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You.” Other hits included “Tulsa Time,” “Back in My Younger Days,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “Come Early Morning,” “Lord, I Hope This Day is Good,” “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” and many more.

Williams was the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1978 and “Tulsa Time” was the ACM Record of the Year for 1979. In 2010, Williams received country music’s highest honor with his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.