Santa Monica To Host Social Media Week Los Angeles Starting Monday:

Social Media Week Los Angeles (SMWLA) comes to the Broad Stage in Santa Monica this Monday, Sept. 22 with a long list of keynotes and panelists during the four-day conference.

The event is part of Social Media Week Global, a worldwide event exploring the social, cultural and economic impacts of social media, and what’s trending.

In anticipation of the event, the conference announced its third annual “Social 25” list, which includes everyone from Russell Simmons and Steve Rifkind (All Def Digital), Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, and Ian Rogers (Beats) to Endemol Beyond and VICE.

The SMWLA “Social 25” recognizes this year’s top 25 most outstanding individuals, companies, and brands influencing the future of social media, aligning with the spirit of SMWLA by helping people and organizations connect through collaboration, learning, and the sharing of ideas and information.

This year’s list joins SMWLA’s previous roster of luminaries including Ryan Seacrest, The Trevor Project’, Jimmy Kimmel, George Takei, Scooter Braun, Kevin Spacey, and Snapchat, among others.

The “Social 25” list is curated by Drew Baldwin, Executive Director of SMWLA and Founder of Tubefilter, and Shira Lazar, Host and Co-Founder of the Emmy-nominated, What’s Trending, and ratified by the Social Media Week Los Angeles Board of Advisors.

“Los Angeles has put itself on the map as one of the leading cities in entertainment, technology and digital media,” said Baldwin. “From traditional entertainment and new media companies to consumer electronic brands, the members of the ‘Social 25’ list are helping to fuel Southern California’s trajectory as a hub of social innovation.”

The scope of honorees will reflect the diverse programming of this year’s conference with a robust line up of panels, presentations, demos, workshops, talks, conversations, and parties.

Themes include community, social action, and civic engagement, advertising and marketing, innovation and entrepreneurship, entertainment, and celebrity, lifestyle, and culture

Lazar added “It is an incredibly exciting time to be part of the LA startup and creative community. Each year it is getting more and more difficult to choose only 25 due to the city’s growth in tremendous contributions to the world’s tech and social media. We are thrilled to be able to honor this year’s list of true pioneers.”

Honorees are set to attend an exclusive VIP event during SMWLA’s opening night, Sept. 22, at the Artists-in-Residence space at 800 Main in Venice, California.

Along with attending the VIP event, some of the honorees will serve as keynotes and panelists during the four-day conference.

The Social 25 list includes a wide array of savvy social media influencers who are leaders in their respective fields (listed alphabetically).

· Beatriz Acevedo, MiTu

· Sophia Bush, actress and activist

· Roy Choi, Kogi BBQ Taco Truck & Catering

· Caitlin Crosby, Giving Keys

· DJ Skee

· Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, and Ian Rogers, Beats (Apple)

· Benny and Rafi Fine, Kids React

· Danny Gabai, VICE

· Grace Helbig, YouTube celebrity and comedian

· Tony Horton, Beachbody Fitness