Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Airport Music Transition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City moving airport music programming to ACME; coordinator posting expected in coming weeks
Summary
ACME staff said the city is transferring airport music-stage booking into the new department, will post a dedicated music coordinator role, and plans a data internship to analyze a musician database of roughly 17,000 names.
Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) staff updated the Music Commission on Sept. 8 about the transfer of airport performance booking and operations into ACME and on staffing and process changes for airport stages.
Erica Shamley, division manager for ACME’s Music and Entertainment Division, said ACME and Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport staff have been meeting biweekly and are preparing a memorandum of understanding that will guide the transition. “We will be posting the music coordinator position … in the next week, in the next two weeks,” Shamley said, noting federal requirements for airport staff and additional training needs.
In the interim, Shamley said the current airport staffer remains the point of contact and that ACME staff (including Greg Gonzalez) are copied into scheduling communications. Shamley said ACME had received a database of roughly 17,000 musicians who have performed at airport stages in recent years and plans to hire a data intern to analyze the list and help integrate the airport booking process with ACME’s new performance application.
Why it matters: Bringing airport booking into ACME centralizes music programming, aligns the airport process with citywide artist intake forms and could expand opportunities for local musicians as ACME builds capacity and technology for artist sign-up and scheduling.
Commissioners asked about booking volumes and cancellations during the earlier transition. Commissioner Stressing (speaker identified in transcript as a commissioner) corrected a prior comment about target show volumes and reported the airport had hosted about 90 acts (198 musicians) in July and about 105 acts (202 musicians) in August, figures she said indicate booking is returning to normal.
Shamley said ACME intends to fold the airport booking into the department’s single application and to train the new music coordinator and other staff on airport-specific requirements. She offered to provide monthly updates to the commission during the transition.
Ending: ACME staff said they will continue to brief the commission monthly during the transition and will post the airport music coordinator role shortly.
