Only two weeks until Monday, July 1, when we begin accepting speaking proposals for the 2014 SXSW Interactive Festival.

We expect to receive more than 3000 total entries via this year's interface, so the competition for speaking slots will be fierce. How can you ensure your proposal will get high marks via public voting, as well as in Advisory Board and staff feedback? One of the most basic keys for success is proofread proofread proofread!

To this end, we are often amazed at the number of PanelPicker proposals we receive that include misspellings, poor punctuation, incomplete sentences, bad grammar and an assortment of other typographical problems. These kinds of errors are always serve as a red flag -- if you don't have enough attention to detail to catch these mistakes in your speaking application in July, then it is not likely you will have enough attention to detail to pull off a successful speaking slot in March.

In an effort to ensure thoroughly reviewed submissions and inform applicants of their status sooner, the official Sonicbids application platform will open a month earlier this year, on July 9 for only $33. After September 7, the application fee will be raised to $45.

Please take note- the final submission deadline is also earlier (October 11), so don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the SXSW 2014 lineup.

Check Sonicbids on July 9 to submit.

Austin-based indie rock band The Rocketboys released their third full-length album, Build Anyway, in June of 2012. After their first two full-length albums, and a complete band split, The Rocketboys continued with more heart and inspiration than before.

As a young high schooler in Abilene, Texas, I remember seeing The Rocketboys when they were Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys playing at local coffee shops in town. I loved them and all they represented for a small town like Abilene. As their talents strengthened and their dreams developed, The Rocketboys took themselves to Austin to pursue more opportunities.

• Lil Wayne steps on flag during video shoot, criticism ensues
  Story from NY Daily News
• MTV wants to be wanted
  Story from NY Times.
• Pink Floyd put catalog on Spotify after fan challenge
  Story from The Guardian.
• Andrew WK to attempt world drumming record
  Item from NME.

• SXSW V2V Meet Up tonight in Los Angeles
• PanelPicker entry process opens Monday July 1
• T-Shirts & More: Buy cool SXSW merchandise

The inaugural SXSW V2V conference in Las Vegas begins in just over 50 days-- have you purchased your registration yet? Scheduled August 11-14 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas, this exciting event brings together startups, entrepreneurs, innovators and digital creatives for four days of learning, sharing, networking and career-enhancing connections.

Speakers at SXSW V2V 2013 include Micah Baldwin (Graphic.ly), Scott Belsky (Behance), Stephanie Burns (Chic), Amber Case (Esri R&D Center), Steve Case (Revolution), Jake Colvin (National Foreign Trade Council), Dustin Curtis (Svbtle), Aziz Gilani (Mercury Fund), Frank Gruber (Tech Cocktail), Christine Herron (Intel Capital), Tony Hsieh (the Downtown Project), Peter Kazanjy (TalentBin), Natalia Oberti Nogurea, Tim League (Alamo Draft House) and many many others.

Space exploration proved to be one of the dominant themes at the 2013 SXSW Interactive Festival. An incredible keynote from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk led off this quest for galactic glory. Austin's own Richard Garriott eloquently explained "The New Golden Age of Human Spaceflight.", and registrants enjoyed touring the James Webb telescope on the lawn of the Long Center.

Thanks to all the gaming enthusiasts who turned out for the WIGI (Women In Games International) S.T.E.A.M. Punk Party on Wednesday, June 12 at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. SXSW Gaming proudly served as a co-host of this June 12 event and we enjoyed meeting many of the 3000+ E3 attendees who turned out en masse for this amazingly entertaining evening.

SXSWfm has added plenty of great new music from SXSW Showcasing Artists over the past few days, all from relatively young artists. Feathers, an electronic/pop band from right here in Austin, just released a new record, entitled If All Now Here, this past May.

We?ve also added a few tunes from London-based indie rockers Palma Violets to our rotation, including songs from the band?s first studio album, 180, which was released this past February.