Music commission approves updated criteria for Austin Live Music Fund; board splits awards into $5,000 and $20,000 tracks

The Austin Music Commission on Thursday approved revised guidelines for the Austin Live Music Fund that create two grant tracks — $5,000 awards for one year and $20,000 awards covering two years — and change how applications will be scored.

The commission’s recommendation stresses majority weighting on musician or promoter career accomplishments (50 percent) and local economic impact (25 percent), adds past-and-future marketing as a scoring factor (20 percent) and includes a small accessibility scoring element (5 percent). The package passed the commission after discussion and community presentations and will be passed to city staff for implementation.

The commission and staff framed the change as an effort to get funds to more individual musicians and independent promoters while retaining dedicated support for live-music venues. Erica Shamley, division manager for the Music and Entertainment Division in the Economic Development Department, presented program metrics and operational details and said the city is continuing to refine payment and reporting processes. “We have 131 signed agreements so far for 2024 … 124 first payments, 42 second payments paid out so far,” Shamley said, reporting ongoing program administration.

Why it matters: The Live Music Fund is financed with hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) revenue and is intended to support public-facing music projects that promote Austin as a music tourism destination. Commissioners and community groups argued the revised guidelines seek to balance supporting working musicians and independent promoters, keeping funds focused on…