Music Health Shortlisted For 2023 SXSW Innovation Awards

Australia’s Music Health will wave the flag at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas where the health-tech startup will compete for a coveted Innovation Award, The Music Network can reveal.

Music Health is a finalist in the Health and Medtech category for the 2023 SXSW Innovation Awards, to be presented at the Austin Convention Center later this month.

The music wellness technology specialist is behind Vera, an intuitive, A.I.-powered “music intervention” tool that’s designed to help those battling dementia.

It’s the Vera tech that caught the attention of SXSW’s panel of judges.

Developed through a rigorous three-year research and development process, Vera analyses the age of the dementia-affected person, where they grew up, and how they react to certain music, crunches the data and curates music for the listener.

The world’s largest music company, Universal Music Group, was also impressed with Vera.

Last year, UMG licensed its entire catalog for the app, to develop “personalised music stations” designed to “improve the lives” of folks living with dementia, a figure both companies estimate in the tens of millions.

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"Being named a finalist for the SXSW Innovation Awards is a tremendous honour and a testament to the dedication and passion of the Music Health team,” Stephen Hunt, co-founder and COO of Music Health explains in a statement to TMN.

“We believe that Vera has the potential to completely transform dementia care and we're grateful for the opportunity to showcase our work alongside some of the most innovative companies in the world,” he continues.

Ahead of the ceremony, to be held Austin Convention Center (Ballroom D), five finalists in each category will be chosen to exhibit their projects this Saturday (March 11) at the Innovation Awards Finalist Showcase.

“We're excited to be part of SXSW and look forward to celebrating the groundbreaking work of our fellow finalists,” says Hunt.

Health and Medtec is one of 14 categories that make up the SXSW Innovation Awards, which highlight the creativity, originality and passion of the global community

Winners of the sixth annual Innovation Awards (and the best of show) will be announced Monday, March 13.

SXSW 2023, the music industry’s annual showcase and conference feast, runs from March 10-19.

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