SXSW plans to condense its music portion to occur concurrently with the film and innovation symposiums. Credit: Jaime Monzon

Hugh Forrest — co-president of SXSW and an integral part of the Austin-based music and multimedia festival since 1989 — has been forced out of the organization, among other departures, the Austin Chronicle reports.

In a statement provided to the Chronicle, Forrest said the departure wasn’t his decision.

“I put my heart and soul into this event for more than 35 years, and I was looking forward to leading several more editions,” he said. “To this end, I will be rooting big time for the Austin team on the go forward. The city, the country, the world needs the positive energy South by Southwest has traditionally provided and needs it now more than ever.”

Forrest became the chief programming officer in 1994 when the fest first added film and interactive components, and he eventually became co-president alongside Chief Brand Officer Jan Baskett.

Though SXSW has yet to reveal other departures, the Chronicle reports that at least another 10 people have left either unexpectedly or due to planned exits, including senior leadership in its music and comedy tracks.

The rash of exits follows a wave of criticism in the wake of SXSW 2025. This year’s fest was mocked in viral videos for its low attendance compared to previous iterations. Criticism also followed a post-fest announcement from organizers that the event is restructuring and condensing the music portion to occur concurrently with the film and innovation symposiums.

The high cost of tickets has become another point of contention for the fest, which over the years has been cannibalized by free or cheap unofficial showcases that spring up in its ecosystem.

SXSW seemed keen to address at least some of the criticism by offering half-price badges next year. The event also dissolved its partnerships with weapons manufacturers and the U.S. Army after more than 80 artists dropped out in 2024 citing their complicity in the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed

Related Stories

This article appears in Apr 16-29, 2025.

Stephanie Koithan is the Digital Content Editor of the San Antonio Current. In her role, she writes about politics, music, art, culture and food. Send her a tip at skoithan@sacurrent.com.