The city plans to set up a pipeline of creative spaces to invest in and preserve in the coming years using dollars allocated after $16.9 million currently dedicated to that purpose is exhausted. Leaders of the new economic development corporation that will execute the real estate deals envisioned with those dollars told the Music Commission […]
Austin Music Commission
The Austin Music Commission guides city practices on music development issues, including the SxSW music festival.
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Music Commission opts to reevaluate Live Music Fund after affirming diversity goals
The Music Commission will gather more community feedback on the guidelines for the city’s $2.3 million Live Music Fund, but agreed Monday that diversity and inclusion will be one of its baseline goals. The commission unanimously approved three resolutions related to the fund, which is funded by hotel tax revenues, thanks to a 2019 City […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Adler wants Music Commission to be ‘more creative’ with $2.3M Live Music Fund
Mayor Steve Adler wants the new Live Music Fund that is supported by hotel tax revenues to produce a city-financed music venue, record label or some other business entity to train Austin music professionals in the coming years. In an interview with Austin Monitor, Adler expanded on his comments from a recent City Council work session […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Council pushes Music Commission for further review of funds to promote industry growth
City Council has asked the Music Commission to take another look at the proposed guidelines for the new Live Music Fund, with some on the dais questioning whether the program fits the intent of Council action taken two years ago to support the local music industry. At Monday’s work session, Mayor Steve Adler led off […]
Posted inCity Hall
Cultural trust RFP expected as new EDC considers handling Live Music Fund
The city’s new economic development corporation could issue its first call for development partners next month, with the goal of preserving or creating spaces that can be used by local musicians and arts groups that are increasingly being displaced. At last week’s Music Commission meeting, Emmett Beliveau, a board member for the EDC, said the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Music Commission’s oversight could further delay emergency funds for musicians
The Music Commission has asked city staff for more input and involvement in how a pair of financial assistance programs for Austin musicians will be carried out, with an emergency aid fund tied to Covid-19 possibly delayed three weeks as a result. The commission heard presentations Monday on two programs: the Live Music Fund Event Program […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City to expand federal aid for musicians, venues impacted by Covid-19
The city will provide more assistance for music venues and anyone involved in the music industry, using $4 million in federal money designated for Covid-19 relief. On Friday the Music Commission approved a recommendation for guidelines for city staff to move forward with another round of direct cash payments to musicians in Austin as well […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Music, arts proponents renew push in land use code for creative spaces
Music and creative proponents are renewing a push to change the city land use code to make it easier for live music venues and other creative spaces to open throughout the city. The Music Commission voted unanimously last Monday in support of a draft letter from a working group made up of members of the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Proposed live music grants could fund hundreds of concerts
The city is seeking feedback in the initial guidelines for the long-planned Live Music Fund, which would provide hundreds of grants of up to $10,000 for independent musicians and promoters to create new concerts and festivals throughout the city. Total proposed funding for the program stands at $2.5 million, with grant amounts ranging from $5,000-$10,000 […]
Posted inAustin
Emergency funding for musicians, creatives waiting on Council, staff action
City staffers expect to have initial guidelines next month for how to spend money in the city’s Live Music Fund, part of a series of spending programs to aid local creatives in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. This week the Music Commission received an update from Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, deputy director of the Economic Development […]
Posted inAustin
EDC eyes push to make more city properties available for music, arts uses
The city’s new economic development corporation will make a push this summer to identify city properties that could be repurposed into music venues or creative spaces, and has started to assemble the financial models for creating two arts spaces in the redevelopment of properties just south of the Congress Avenue Bridge. During a presentation at […]
Posted inAustin
Music supporters’ budget proposals seek $20M+ for pandemic recovery
Advocates for Austin’s music community have come forward with a pair of budget proposals urging the city to earmark roughly $20 million in its next budget specifically for music-related purposes to help the creative economy recover from the pandemic. On Friday the advocacy group Music Makes Austin released its proposed budget priorities for the city’s […]