SXSW by the Numbers

SXSW ON THE RISE: If you thought Austin was extra crowded this year for the 23rd annual SXSW, you were correct, sir. According to festival organizers, the number of music badge holders reached 13,022, an impressive 11% gain over last year. And that figure does not count the influx of non-registered attendees, many of whom spent significant amounts of money. Meanwhile, a total of 1,981 bands performed, some of them multiple times per day, though it just seemed Andrew W.K. was everywhere. (3/23a)