

Royal Sonesta Rocks!!!
Melissa O'Brien
During her 20+ years at South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals, Melissa O’Brien did everything from managing a crew of 30 volunteers to managing over 900 speakers a year, ultimately serving as the head of the SXSW Music Conference from 2012 to 2017. Her vast knowledge of multiple music genres and music history allowed her to book a wide range of programming with numerous artists and music industry professionals. Melissa now lives in the New Orleans area, where she produced NOLA MusicTech, a conference highlighting the intersection of music and technology, in April 2022. She is also a co-owner of Five24 Productions, creating digital content for various clients. Follow her on Instagram, where she posts way too many sunset and alligator photos: @melissaliz