Reduced SXSW badges through Friday, January 14

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If you're planning to attend Austin's 25th annual South by Southwest Music and Media Conference & Festival (March 11-20), you still have a chance to purchase discounted badges.

Every year the conference in Austin, Texas, gathers members of the international music, film, and interactive media industries for a weeklong convergence of ideas and talent. Nearly 2,000 bands from 50 countries perform annually at the event, and the city swells with an estimated 100,000 music lovers who come to hear the thousands of concerts - many of them free - staged in 80 venues throughout the city. The music conference, geared toward industry professionals, attracts nearly 12,000 attendees every year; the film and interactive components, added in 1994, attract approximately 17,000 registrants.

To attend the conference: through January 14 badges range from $475 to $675  (€355-504) for single events (music, film, or interactive). Gold and platinum badges, priced at $800 (€598) and $1,050 (€785), allow entry into multiple events. After January 14, costs will rise by $25 to $75 (€19 to €56) per badge. This is an urban event and there are no camping options.

One of the most influential music festivals in the world, South by Southwest announced on December 20 its latest lineup of more than 100 international acts expected to perform at 2011's event.

Included in the lineup are James Blake and The Boxer Rebellion (from London), British India (Melbourne), Canteca de Macao (Madrid), Chateau Marmont (Paris), DAM (Palestinian Territory), Daniel Lioneye (Helsinki), and Intimate Stranger (Santiago), just to name of handful of acts spanning the globe. Some US acts include John Vanderslice, Dreaming in Stereo, Das Racist, Les Shelleys, Emmure, and God-Des & She. Canada's Oh Susanna was added to the lineup on December 21.

See the full list here of acts so far expected to perform: http://sxsw.com/music/shows/bands

Visit the SXSW website for updates and new band announcements, and to purchase badges: http://sxsw.com/