James Minor

Background

About James Minor

I’m a music executive and cultural strategist with 25+ years of experience across artist management, international touring, and global showcase festival programming and operations. My career began at the grassroots level — promoting shows, touring in bands, working in record stores, and eventually managing the indie group Voxtrot, who are best known for "The Start of Something"(63.7m streams). The band released a few singles and an LP with Playlouder/Beggars Group, eventually calling it quits in 2010. When Voxtrot reunited in 2023, I resumed management duties and continue to support the band’s next chapter, with a stunning new LP on the horizon. From 2011 to 2025, I led the SXSW Music Festival, one of the world’s most influential events for discovering new talent. Throughout my time there, I emphasized developing music markets, stronger inclusion of Asian and Latin artists, and advocated for international artist mobility in a rapidly shifting touring landscape. At SXSW, I championed globally-minded, experience focused programming — Max Richter’s 8-hour overnight SLEEP performance and Perfume’s groundbreaking live-CG hybrid J-Pop concert collab (with artist-technologist Daito Manabe) were two of my favorites. Early career performances from Dua Lipa, Peso Pluma, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Anderson.Paak, Megan Thee Stallion, CHVRCHES, Mitski, Kendrick Lamar, Bomba Estéreo, The Marias, Khruangbin, Grimes and Otoboke Beaver, took place alongside established acts including Depeche Mode, Richie Hawtin, New Order, Low, Lady Gaga, Prince, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Coldplay, Psychic TV, Bruce Springsteen, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Dolly Parton, Iggy Pop, Charles Bradley, IKON, f(x), The Zombies, Juanes, The Chills and way too many other acts to mention. In 2013, I was honored with the Dari Awards' “Person of the Year,” an accolade also given to industry leaders like Scooter Braun and Pachinko showrunner Soo Hugh.