Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Journalist | Author | Pop Culture Critic
Sowmya Krishnamurthy is a respected music journalist and pop culture expert whose work has appeared in Time, Rolling Stone, Complex, XXL, Playboy, and Highsnobiety. As a cultural critic, she has been featured on NPR, CNN, BBC, MSNBC, Hot 97, Fox, and MTV, offering sharp commentary on music, celebrity, entertainment and media.
She is the author of the critically acclaimed book Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion—the first comprehensive anthology to chronicle the relationship between hip-hop and style. A sought-after speaker, Sowmya has shared her insights at major events including SXSW, Music Biz, REVOLT World, and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
She is a graduate of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
KEYNOTE TOPICS:
• Culture Is the New Power: What Hip-Hop Teaches Us About Leading Real Change
• From Blog Era to TikTok: The New Gatekeepers of Music Discovery
• The Art of the Pivot: Reinventing Your Career Without Losing Your Voice
• Brand x Culture: What Hip-Hop Can Teach the World About Authentic Marketing
• Truth, Trends & Timelines: Navigating Journalism in the Age of Clickbait and Clout