REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION November 4, 2024 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 BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Anne-Charlotte Patterson – Vice Chair, Oren Rosenthal – Parliamentarian, Scott Strickland – Secretary, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Pedro Carvalho, Leonard Davila, Lauryn Gould, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Otis the Destroyer PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Approve the minutes of the Music Commission Meeting on October 7, 2024. Live Music Fund collections briefing by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Economic Development Department. 3. FY24 Austin Live Music Fund briefing by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music and Entertainment Division. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. Feedback on 2024 Austin Live Music Fund by Pat Buchta, Chief Executive Officer, Austin Texas Musicians (ATXM). Update on live musical performances for Music Commission meetings by Vice Chair Patterson. Discussion on city support for community / grass-roots organizations such as Sunday Sessions ATX. 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 additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Music Commission, please contact Shelbi Mitchell at 512-974- 6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov.
2024 LIVE MUSIC FUND: APPLICATION FEEDBACK BACKGROUND After the 2024 Live Music Fund Application closed, Austin Texas Musicians received a wide range of feedback from our members, informing us of both shortfalls and benefits to the current format. What follows is anecdotal evidence that illustrates their experience with the application. We hope that this data set will serve to assist staff and commission in informing Round Three of the Live Music Fund. BACKGROUND This information will be presented in two parts. Our first presentation will offer a snapshot of just some of the anecdotal feedback from musicians who applied. Our second presentation in December will introduce data from our detailed 2024 Live Music Fund feedback survey. ANECDOTAL “It makes no sense why the 4.5 million fund can’t simply be divided and allocated for all working musicians that apply.” ANECDOTAL “I found the whole process overwhelming and the directions were a bit unclear. Some are saying if you’re too wordy in your app, you get denied. But if you don’t have enough to back up, you get denied. After reading some of these posts of applicants that won, I’m even more baffled. I’m happy for them, don’t get me wrong. But I’m sad for musicians like me who have been working hard for over 20 years and bam… door slam. Maybe next year will be better.” ANECDOTAL “I’m saying it again: there needs to be transparency on what our scores were. There was a rubric. They need to provide our scores with a breakdown as it relates to the rubric. Not providing our actual scores is not acceptable.” ANECDOTAL “This is quickly and easily shared if you apply to Arts Division funding. I know there's a friendly rivalry between the two divisions but it would be very helpful and would mend community relations to use some CAD protocol with LMF.” ANECDOTAL “In the first year, we all understood the growing pains and still appreciate the fact this exists but now it needs to be held up to other city of Austin grant protocol standards. All of this to say, I appreciate the staff immensely. I would also encourage a lot of the folks on this thread to go down to city hall and attend music commission mtgs.” ANECDOTAL “So, got a response email back saying our apps will be used as a data point for more money the city needs for …
RECOMMENDATION FOR SUPPORT OF SUNDAY SESSIONS ATX WHEREAS, Sunday Sessions ATX is a community-focused organization dedicated to fostering inclusivity, well-being, and engagement through free, open-to-the-public music events hosted in outdoor greenspaces that reflect the City of Austin’s cultural identity and enhance its reputation as the "Live Music Capital of the World"; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin recognizes the significant social and economic benefits of supporting free community events, which attract visitors, support local businesses, and provide meaningful opportunities for community engagement; and WHEREAS, the City Council, in Resolution No. 20240215-023, acknowledged the challenges faced by event organizers due to rising costs, emphasizing the need for support to sustain free, accessible community events like "Blues on the Green," which contribute to Austin’s cultural vibrancy; and directed the City Manager to solicit input from the Arts, Music, and Quality of Life commissions in developing recommendations to support and sustain these events by utilizing partnerships across all areas of expertise involved in the live music and arts event space, with the goal of expanding opportunities for the City to co-sponsor community events that are centered around locality, diversity, and inclusivity; and further established an ordinance for associated fee waivers, co-sponsorships, or related budget authorizations needed to effectuate these goals; and WHEREAS, Sunday Sessions ATX is an ongoing, monthly event that aligns with the goals outlined in Resolution No. 20240215-023 by providing free access to local music, arts, and wellness activities, while creating inclusive and diverse spaces for Austinites; and WHEREAS, the ACE permitting fee presents a financial barrier for small, grassroots organizations like Sunday Sessions ATX, and waiving this fee on an ongoing basis would directly support the City’s goal of fostering open, accessible, and culturally enriching events; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to preserving and promoting accessible community events that reflect Austin’s diversity and vibrancy, including supporting organizations like Sunday Sessions ATX through fee waivers and other resources to ensure their long-term sustainability; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOMMENDED, that the Music Commission requests that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager’s Office to waive the ACE permitting fees for Sunday Sessions ATX on a recurring, monthly basis in recognition of its valuable contributions to Austin’s cultural and community life, as part of the City's broader efforts to support free, public, and inclusive events; and BE IT FURTHER RECOMMENDED, that the Music Commission supports exploring additional partnerships and …
