Highlights

Audible Teams Up with SXSW

A large crowd of people in front of Audible's SXSW event

This year, Audible’s robust presence at SXSW—one of the leading conferences for tech, media, music and film—featured exciting onsite experiences in addition to at-home listening.

For those who attended the conference in Austin, TX, we brought the medieval world of Heads Will Roll to life at The Night Realm Tavern with an immersive, audio-driven experience that allowed guests to revel like royalty and indulge in medieval food and drink. The tavern’s “Hall of Portraits” introduced the eccentric characters and voices of Heads Will Roll with samples of some of their most comedic moments from the audio show.

Wall of portraits characters from Heads Will Roll inside the Heads Will Roll event space
Inside The Night Realm Tavern for “Heads Will Roll.”

The new audio-only comedy original, from creator and star Kate McKinnon and her creative partner and sister Emily Lynne, will be available exclusively on Audible starting May 2. This workplace comedy about an evil queen and her ditsy raven sidekick who must put down a peasant rebellion and save her throne features performances from Meryl Streep, Tim Gunn, Peter Dinklage, Andrea Martin, Carol Kane, Audra McDonald, Aidy Bryant, Alex Moffat, Heidi Gardner, Chris Redd, Steve Higgins, Bob the Drag Queen, Esther Perel and Queer Eye’s Fab Five.

A person's hand holding a turkey leg wrapped in a wrapper that says "Eat Me" and with a flag on it saying "Smoky AF"
Medieval food at the tavern.
Queen Mortuana's shellphone
Attendees could sample the show on shellphones.
Left: Medieval food at the tavern. Right: Attendees could sample the show on shellphones.

SXSW also hosted a session with author and motivational speaker Rachel Hollis that was moderated by Audible SVP of Content Diana Dapito and drew a packed house of over 500 attendees. Hollis helped attendees find their voice and tell their story, sharing that the fear that keeps people from exploring their passion and reaching their potential is the same fear that keeps them from literally telling their truth. Afterwards, she met with numerous Audible members at a meet-and-greet event.

Diana Dapito and Rachel Hollis sitting on stage at SXSW
Rachel Hollis and Diana Dapito on stage at SXSW.

For those who prefer to enjoy SXSW from the comfort of their home (or car or gym), Audible offers year-round access with over 100 hilarious, empowering and world-changing works from SXSW speakers that can be listened to anytime, anywhere. These titles can be found at https://www.audible.com/sxsw.