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Music & Entertainment
Music Commission considers dedicated grant stream for live music venues
Music venues around the city could have a dedicated source of funding in next year’s Live Music Fund program, which was created to help inject city money into the local music economy. During discussion on expected changes to the program…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 6, 2023
Music commissioners consider how to steer more grants toward working musicians
The city’s Music Commission may consider a proposal from a local advocacy group to designate a specific portion of grants from a new city grant program to be awarded to working musicians, who are increasingly finding it harder to afford…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 8, 2023
Three consultants enlisted to fix city's arts, music grant programs
Amid criticism over problems with the rollout of new grant programs for artists and musicians, the Economic Development Department has hired three outside consultants to study and recommend how to improve their performance. A memo released last week by Sylnovia…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 7, 2023
Citing construction concerns, city indefinitely extends moratorium on new street events
The city has indefinitely extended a long-standing moratorium on street events in response to the large number of private development and infrastructure projects slated for downtown and beyond in the coming years. A memo released last week by José Roig,…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 19, 2023
Education, community building among ‘start small’ goals for city’s push for music hubs
The push to establish creative and music hubs in the city’s three ethnic cultural centers could begin with small educational and community-building workshops before a possible bond vote in 2026 to raise money for construction and equipment for the facilities.…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 11, 2023
Live Music Fund grant payments expected this week after month-plus delay
Grant recipients from the city’s Live Music Fund pilot program were expected to receive the initial 50 percent portion of their award by today, more than a month later than they were initially told they would receive the money. The…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 6, 2023
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City taking criticisms, survey results to improve Live Music Fund process
The city is taking extensive feedback from a local musician advocacy group into consideration as it works to refine the Live Music Fund’s application process, which many hopeful recipients claimed was not aligned with the needs of working musicians. At…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 25, 2023
Hole in the Wall dodges closure, secures 20-year lease with $1.6M from city
The Hole in the Wall music venue has secured a 20-year lease and will remain open to celebrate its 50th anniversary next summer, thanks largely to $1.6 million in assistance from the city’s Iconic Venue Fund. Will Tanner, who purchased…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 15, 2023
Music Commission asks city to include fair pay standards in SXSW negotiations
The Music Commission has joined the Parks and Recreation Board and other entities in pushing the city to require South by Southwest to further raise the amount it pays showcasing performers at the annual spring festival. The commission’s recommendation, approved…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 14, 2023
Live music proponents express optimism, caution at potential expansion of venues
Boosters in the local music and creative communities are optimistic, if cautious, about the potential for new music venues and art spaces to open throughout Austin, now that the land use code is set to include formal definitions for both…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 8, 2023
State Theatre slated for head-to-toe renovation project
The State Theatre, the smaller sibling space of the Paramount Theatre and one of Austin’s oldest operating venues, will soon undergo a 21st-century upgrade. Emily Little of Clayton Korte Architects stopped by last week’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting to share…
Music & Entertainment • By Kali Bramble • Aug 8, 2023
Insurance costs listed among music venues' biggest challenges at city summit
The rising cost of liability insurance has become a substantial pain point for music venues in Austin, with attendees of the city’s recent music venue summit pointing to six-figure yearly premiums as one of their most substantial costs. The general…
