REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION March 2, 2026 6:30 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 1001, 301 W 2ND STREET, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Music Commission may be participating virtually. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Shelbi Mitchell, 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clarissa Cardenas, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Penny Jo Pullus, Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Music Commission meeting on February 2, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on Live Music Fund collections by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment , Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (AACME). 3. Staff briefing on FY24 Austin Live Music Fund final reports by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, AACME. 4. Staff briefing on Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) live music performances/booking by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, and Greg Gonzalez, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, AACME. 5. Staff briefing on AACME funding programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. 6. Staff briefing on The Creative Reset Phase II by Candice Cooper, Interim Chief Administrative Officer and Marion Sanchez, Acting Public Information & Marketing Manager, AACME. 7. Staff briefing on AACME department objectives and goals for 2026 by Candice Cooper, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, AACME. DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. Austin Convention Center Project and benefits to Hotel Occupancy Tax and creative community following presentation by Riley Triggs, Project Manager, Austin Convention Center and Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, AACME. 9. Downtown Commission update on priorities and recent actions by Parliamentarian Silva. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. FY26-27 budget recommendations following presentation by Chair Medicharla. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities …
Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | March 2, 2026 FY24 Live Music Stats ▪ 136 grant awards accepted so far out of 136 total grant awards (100%) ▪ 136 signed agreements so far out of 136 total grant agreements (100%) ▪ 136 completed Grant Agreement Orientations so far out of 136 total awardees (100%) ▪ 136 completed Financial Information Forms out of 136 forms sent so far to awardees (100%) ▪ 136 first payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (100%) ▪ 113 second payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (83%) ▪ 63 final payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (46%) 2 FY26 AACME Funding Programs $24.6 Million available 1,607 applications ~680 grants will be awarded 3 Funding Programs: Feedback Loop ▪ Internal Retrospective Meetings – City Staff/Leadership, The Long Center ▪ 1:1 Meetings / Focus Groups ▪ Application Experience Survey ▪ Application Experience Survey Open until March 6th! ▪ All 2,000+ in the AACME Pipeline ▪ Commissioner Perspectives Survey ▪ Emailed to you directly, and linked here. ▪ Open until March 16th! 4 Austin Live Music Fund Austin Live Music Fund • $5,000 - $70,000 • Music Industry (musicians, independent promoters, venues) $7 Million 1,117 Eligibility Forms 809 Applications Submitted ~380 Awards anticipated 995 Eligible 122 Ineligible 242 awards at $20k 120 awards at $5k 22 awards at $70k 5 Funding Programs: Ineligibility Reasons Detailed Breakdown for Austin Live Music Fund (122 Ineligible) Does Not Qualify By Definition Live Music Venue Does Not Qualify By Definition Indepedent Promoter Independent Promoter tied to venue Insufficient evidence (Live music venue) Insufficient evidence (Independent Promoter) Insufficient evidence (Professional Musician) Operating budget under $60k (LMV) Lives outside MSA Full time City of Austin employee Under age 18 2% 6% 4% 8% 24% 24% 5% 6% 3% 3% Yes nonprofit 13% On Non-Complaint List 1% 6 Creative Space Assistance Program Creative Space Assistance Program • $60,000 • Commercial creative spaces $1.6 Million 138 Eligibility Forms 64 Applications Submitted ~25 Awards anticipated 72 Eligible 66 Ineligible 7 Funding Programs: Ineligibility Reasons Detailed Breakdown for CSAP (66 Ineligible) Owned or operated by a government agency or public authority. 9% Applicant is a full-time City of Austin employee. 3% Space is not currently open to the public for business. 2% Public does not gather to experience art at the creative space. 21% Space does not have …
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT Austin is the 13th largest city in the country. But the Austin Convention Center is only the 61st largest. 2 Once the redevelopment is complete, we expect the Austin Convention Center to be around the 35th largest in the country. 3 The redeveloped Austin Convention Center will be larger than: Charlotte Fort Worth Baltimore Nashville Kansas City Pittsburgh Once complete, Austin’s new competitive set will include: San Antonio Boston Seattle Philadelphia Denver Project Overview Rentable Square Footage Total Budget $1.66B Annual Economic Impact $750M+ Construction Schedule April 2025-December 2028 EXISTING CONVENTION CENTER 365,000 SF NEW CONVENTION CENTER 620,000 SF + 140,000 SF in the future Funding HOT*, Convention Center Revenues, PFZ* *HOT: Hotel Occupancy Tax, PFZ: Project Financing Zone Our Partners Construction Schedule 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 3rd St. Electrical 3 R Red Line Station Chilled Water Loop AE Demo We are here Excavation Building Construction Closed April 2025 Open March 2029 PROJECT GOALS Austin City Council Resolution NO. 20210610-096 The City Council seeks to work with the prime architecture firm capable of delivering a world class design befitting a city of Austin’s size and prominence. The Convention Center design shall incorporate the most innovative ideas in programming and placemaking and shall aim to create a civic building that draws and serves Austinites as well as visitors. The City council affirms its intention that the convention Center be, like its companion civic building to the west, the Austin Central Library, a landmark of great distinction, a bustling and vital public gathering place, and a point of pride for the community. Uniquely Austin Sustainability ACC will be the world’s First Zero Carbon Certified Convention Center powered by 100% renewable energy and built with low-impact materials. Art in Public Places SCALE $17.7M TOTAL INVESTMENT Austin’s largest single investment in public art to date ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRATION 10 artists selected during schematic design of building for architecturally- integrated art Additional AIPP artwork will follow more traditional procurement timeline PRESENTING Outdoor Event + The Warehouse • Enhance Connections and Movements • Flexible Event & Gathering Places • Abundant Shade & Comfort • Reflect History of the Site and Materials • Extension of Warehouse District Scale E H T A G R THE BAC K YAR D FESTIVA L D A N E M O R P TH EWAREHOUS E E DISPLAY DROP- OFF BACKYARD PROMENAD E WAREHOUS E EXHAL …
Convention Center + Public Benefit Austin Convention Center + AACME March 2, 2026 Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections for Culture How HOT Revenue Supports Arts and Culture in Austin ▪ HOT funds come from visitors who stay in hotels ▪ HOT funds do not come from local property taxes ▪ State law allows up to 15% each for Cultural Arts + Historic Preservation (30% cap total) ▪ Austin is already at the cap ▪ The only way to grow the cultural allocation is to grow the base HOT revenue 3 Tourism Funding + The Creative Economy More visitors in Austin More hotel stays More Hotel Occupancy Tax collections More Cultural/Music/Heritage Funding 4 What Cultural Funding Supports Today ▪ Annually, the City receives $50+ million in requests for HOT funding: ▪ 2024: $22M in grants awarded to 532 artists & cultural organizations ▪ 2023: $16M in grants awarded to 673 artists & cultural organizations ▪ 2021: $5.7M in grants awarded to 356 artists & cultural organizations ▪ 2020: $11M in grants awarded to 361 artists & cultural organizations ▪ 2019: $11M in grants awarded to 361 artists & cultural organizations ▪ Grant funds flow to: ➢Music + Live Music Fund ➢Heritage Preservation projects ➢Cultural Arts Grants ➢Creative business support ➢Festivals + event production ➢Public art initiatives 5 Benefits to Austin & the Creative Community What are the risks of not completing the Convention Center? ▪ Losing potentially millions in: o Cultural funding tied to visitor revenue o Sales tax revenue ▪ Thousands of lost jobs in the hospitality industry, including local restaurants, retail, and other entertainment venues ▪ nearly $18 million in Art in Public Places (AIPP) opportunities would cease to exist if construction is stopped 7 Beyond the Revenue: Additional Benefits ▪ HOT revenue supports: ➢ Artists ➢ Local entertainment venues, retail, restaurants ➢ Local business, including creative sector ➢ Nonprofits ➢ Community cultural organizations ➢ Residents + tourists (access/experience) ▪ What are other community benefits? ➢ Affordable or subsidized event and meeting space for community groups, cultural organizations, and creative practitioners. ➢ Increased programming partnerships, including festivals, showcases, and creative industry events. ➢ Expanded tourism activity, which supports local performers, vendors, hospitality workers, and cultural venues. ➢ Long-term stabilization for cultural funding streams ➢ Public art opportunities at the Convention Center site ➢ Increased national profile for Austin’s creative sectors ➢ Spillover visitation to events, museums, venues, districts 8 Kick …
REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION February 2, 2026 6:30 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 1001, 301 W 2ND STREET, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Music Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Shelbi Mitchell, 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clarissa Cardenas, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Penny Jo Pullus, Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Music Commission meeting on January 5, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on Live Music Fund collections by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (AACME). 3. Staff briefing on FY24 Austin Live Music Fund final reports by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, AACME. 4. Staff briefing on Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) live music performances/booking by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, and Greg Gonzalez, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, AACME. 5. Staff briefing on AACME funding programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. 6. Staff briefing on AACME department objectives and goals for 2026 by Candice Cooper, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, AACME. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. Austin Convention Center Project and benefits to Hotel Occupancy Tax and creative community following presentation by Katy Zamesnik, Acting Deputy Director, Austin Convention Center and Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, AACME. 8. Downtown Commission update on priorities and recent actions by Parliamentarian Silva. 9. Music Commission strategic planning for 2026. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give …
Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections Live Music Fund Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment February 2 , 2026 FY 26 Year-to-Date Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections – Live Music Fund December 2025 w/ Encumbrances $18,226 FY26 Year-to-Date w/ Encumbrances $959,845 % Change in Year–to-Date Total 10% $17,874 $312,748 $827,586 $19,399 $338,773 $854,923 $12,938 $323,076 $798,287 $5,509 $217,400 $744,461 $4,573 $472,660 $716,095 $36,835 $335,537 $782,771 $19,180 $288,001 $856,608 $5,354 $172,557 $754,925 $26,351 $1,123,522 $21,687 $16,485 $352,514 $816,197 $48,397 $316,607 $809,445 $17,407 $159,710 $696,141 FY 23 October April November May FY 24 December June January July FY 25 February August FY 26 March September $18,226 $179,271 $762,348 2
Music Commission Meeting Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | Feb 2, 2026 FY24 Austin Live Music Fund – Current Stats ▪ 136 grant awards accepted so far out of 136 total grant awards (100%) ▪ 136 signed agreements so far out of 136 total grant agreements (100%) ▪ 136 completed Grant Agreement Orientations so far out of 136 total awardees (100%) ▪ 136 completed Financial Information Forms out of 136 forms sent so far to awardees (100%) ▪ 135 first payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (99%) ▪ 110 second payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (80%) ▪ 58 final payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (43%) 2 Thank you! 3
Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | February 2, 2026 REVISED Funding Program Timeline December 19, 2025 February 2026 April 2026 REVISED Application Deadline REVISED Panel Meetings Occur 6:59 PM REVISED Funding distribution begins (Activities are still for calendar year 2026) REVISED Austin Live Music Fund and Creative Space Assistance Program scored REVISED Panelists trained and assigned (Elevate and Heritage Preservation Grant) REVISED Funding Decisions announced Nexus Application Opens Thrive, Elevate, Austin Live Music Fund, and Heritage Preservation Grant application cycle begins January 2026 March 2026 July 2026 2 Funding Programs: Funds Available Austin Live Music Fund • $5,000 - $70,000 • Music Industry (musicians, independent promoters, venues) $7 Million ~380 awards Creative Space Assistance Program • $60,000 • Commercial creative spaces $1.6 Million ~25 awards Elevate • Up to $30,000 - $80,000 • Arts organizations, individual artists, creative businesses $13 Million ~250 awards Heritage Preservation Grant • $50,000 - $250,000 • Preservation projects and activities $3 Million ~25 awards 3 Eligible (Application sent) Ineligible (No Application sent) Applications Submitted Funding Programs: Application Status • 2,085 Intake Forms Submitted (2,065 EN; 20 SP) Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Elevate Heritage Preservation EN SP EN SP EN SP EN SP Eligibility Forms Sent Eligibility Forms Submitted 1,377 1,111 16 299 10 6 138 0 1,399 1,060 25 247 8 14 125 1 991 4 72 0 855 9 67 1 ALL PROGRAMS TOTAL 3,381 2,455 1,999 120 2 66 0 205 5 58 0 456 806 3 64 0 680 7 46 0 1,607 4 Funding Programs: Ineligibility Reasons Detailed Breakdown for Austin Live Music Fund Applicants Does Not Qualify By Definition Live Music Venue Does Not Qualify By Definition Indepedent Promoter Independent Promoter tied to venue Insufficient evidence (Live music venue) Insufficient evidence (Independent Promoter) Insufficient evidence (Professional Musician) Operating budget under $60k (LMV) Lives outside MSA Full time City of Austin employee Under age 18 2% 6% 4% 8% 24% 24% 5% 6% 3% 3% Yes nonprofit 13% On Non-Complaint List 1% 5 Funding Programs: Austin Live Music Fund Detailed Applicant Breakdown ▪ $70,000 Live Music Venue Applicants – 46 ~22 Awards anticipated ▪ $20,000 Applicants – 590 ▪ 49 Independent Promoters ▪ 541 Professional Musicians (3 Spanish) ▪ $5,000 Applicants – 173 ▪ 9 Independent Promoters ▪ 164 Professional Musicians ~242 Awards anticipated ~120 Awards anticipated 6 Funding Programs: Feedback Loop ▪ Internal Retrospective …
REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION January 5, 2026 6:30 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 1001, 301 W 2ND STREET, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Music Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Shelbi Mitchell, 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clarissa Cardenas, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Penny Jo Pullus, Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Music Commission meeting on December 1, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on Live Music Fund collections by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (AACME). 3. Staff briefing on FY24 Austin Live Music Fund final reports by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, AAACME. 4. Staff briefing on Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) live music performances/booking by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, and Greg Gonzalez, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, AACME. 5. Staff briefing on AACME funding programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. 6. Staff briefing on The Creative Reset Phase II by Candice Cooper, Acting Chief Administrative Officer and Marion Sanchez, Acting Public Information & Marketing Manager, AACME. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. Downtown Commission update on priorities and recent actions by Parliamentarian Silva. 8. Music Commission strategic planning for 2026. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Shelbi Mitchell at the Economic Development Department, at 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov, for …
Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | January 5, 2026 AACME Funding Programs: Extension REVISED DEADLINE: December 19th at 6:59 p.m. WHY? ▪ New funding process for our community. ▪ Applicants who submitted their intake forms on time have adequate support and time to complete a brand-new process. ▪ Commitment to accessibility, equity, and meeting the community where they are. 2 REVISED Funding Program Timeline December 19, 2025 February 2026 April 2026 REVISED Application Deadline REVISED Panel Meetings Occur 6:59 PM REVISED Funding distribution begins (Activities are still for calendar year 2026) REVISED Austin Live Music Fund and Creative Space Assistance Program scored REVISED Panelists trained and assigned (Elevate and Heritage Preservation Grant) REVISED Funding Decisions announced Nexus Application Opens Thrive, Elevate, Austin Live Music Fund, and Heritage Preservation Grant application cycle begins January 2026 March 2026 July 2026 3 Funding Programs: Funds Available Austin Live Music Fund • $5,000 - $70,000 • Music Industry (musicians, independent promoters, venues) $7 Million ~370 awards Creative Space Assistance Program • $60,000 • Commercial creative spaces $1.6 Million ~25 awards Elevate • Up to $30,000 - $80,000 • Arts organizations, individual artists, creative businesses $13 Million ~250 awards Heritage Preservation Grant • $50,000 - $250,000 • Preservation projects and activities $3 Million ~25 awards 4 Eligible (Application sent) Ineligible (No Application sent) Applications Submitted Funding Programs: Application Status • 2,085 Intake Forms Submitted (2,065 EN; 20 SP) Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Elevate Heritage Preservation EN SP EN SP EN SP EN SP Eligibility Forms Sent Eligibility Forms Submitted 1,377 1,111 16 299 10 6 138 0 1,399 1,060 25 247 8 14 125 1 991 4 72 0 855 9 67 1 ALL PROGRAMS TOTAL 3,381 2,455 1,999 120 2 66 0 205 5 58 0 456 806 3 64 0 680 7 46 0 1,607 5 Funding Programs: Austin Live Music Fund Detailed Applicant Breakdown ▪ $70,000 Live Music Venue Applicants - 46 ▪ $20,000 Applicants – 590 ▪ 49 Independent Promoters ▪ 541 Professional Musicians (3 Spanish) ▪ $5,000 Applicants – 173 ▪ 9 Independent Promoters ▪ 164 Professional Musicians 6 Funding Programs: Application Comparison Austin Live Music Fund ▪ 2024: 904 Submissions ▪ 2025: Elevate ▪ 2024: 554 Submissions ▪ 2025: ▪ 1,117 Eligibility Forms submitted ▪ 1,074 Eligibility Forms submitted ▪ 24% increase ▪ 93% increase ▪ 810 Applications Forms submitted ▪ 687 Application …
Music Commission Meeting Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | Jan 5, 2026 FY24 Austin Live Music Fund – Current Stats ▪ 136 grant awards accepted so far out of 136 total grant awards (100%) ▪ 136 signed agreements so far out of 136 total grant agreements (100%) ▪ 136 completed Grant Agreement Orientations so far out of 136 total awardees (100%) ▪ 136 completed Financial Information Forms out of 136 forms sent so far to awardees (100%) ▪ 135 first payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (99%) ▪ 106 second payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (78%) ▪ 55 final payments paid so far out of 136 total awardees (40%) 2 Thank you! 3
