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Music & Entertainment
Planning Commission approves amendment to allow more music venues, creative spaces
The Planning Commission has approved an amendment to the city’s building code that could clear the way for more music venues and creative spaces throughout the city. At its July 25 meeting, the commission unanimously approved the amendment, which was…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 28, 2023
City IDs $65M in creative space needs for possible 2024 bond package
The city has identified $65 million in critical needs for cultural arts infrastructure projects that will be under consideration for a possible bond vote in 2024. A memo released last week spells out the progress being made on a handful…
Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 18, 2023
Music Commission hears testimony and then delays vote on SXSW pay
The Music Commission delayed action on the matter of fair pay for South by Southwest performers, holding nearly three hours of discussion on the controversial topic Wednesday night before rescheduling possible action until next month. The delay on the SXSW…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 7, 2023
Parks board wants SXSW artist pay included in negotiation for use of city facilities
In response to a call for higher compensation for South by Southwest showcase musicians, the Parks and Recreation Board on Monday voted unanimously to ask the city to negotiate for fair pay for artists performing at its parkland facilities, such…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 28, 2023
Former City Hall and One Texas Center eyed as possible arts and music spaces
The city once again appears to be willing to make a high-profile downtown building available for cultural and creative uses, along with a handful of other city-owned properties under consideration for use by local musicians and artists. A memo released…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 27, 2023
Parks board to consider SXSW fair pay measure
A coalition of groups will rally on Monday at Austin City Hall to demand the city require fair pay standards in all future contracts with South by Southwest. The 5 p.m. protest is being organized by local advocacy nonprofit Austin…
Music & Entertainment • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 23, 2023
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Chicago creative hub to help shape plans for three Austin cultural facilities
By the end of the year, the city will have rough estimates for the capital expenses and operational costs for opening three music and art hubs at three cultural centers, with a Chicago group likely playing a large role in…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 13, 2023
Despite its name, the Live Music Fund is not just for live music
The 650-plus applications for grants from the city’s inaugural Live Music Fund are in the early stages of evaluation and scoring, with the awards of $5,000 and $10,000 slated for initial distribution beginning in September. The Music Commission received a…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 9, 2023
Council pushes for music census every five years, with data to publish on city portal
Data from the most recent census of the Austin music ecosystem will be posted on the city’s open data portal, along with data from the applicant pool for the first-ever cohort of the new Live Music Fund. Last week, City…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 6, 2023
Austin music venues could receive $100K liquor tax rebates from new state incubator
Live music venues in Austin could receive up to $100,000 annually in state liquor tax rebates from a new program created to provide relief for the state’s live music industry. The Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program was passed by the…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • May 31, 2023
Music Commission pushes city to analyze, publish latest music census data
The Music Commission wants the city to look for ways to analyze data from the latest census of the Austin music ecosystem and find a way to publish the raw data from that third-party project on the city’s open data…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • May 3, 2023
Economic Development staff opts to withhold music census data from city data portal
Staffers in the Economic Development Department have declined to publish data from the most recent census of the Austin music ecosystem on the city’s open data portal, despite a request to do so from the Music Commission and the support…
