REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION August 4, 2025 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 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, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Scott Strickland – Secretary, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., 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 July 7, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Live Music Fund collections briefing by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment. 3. FY23 Austin Live Music Fund final reports briefing by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division. 4. History of AUS Airport music programming and transition to future programming with ACME briefing by Ramonika Carr, AUS Airport Guest Services Manager and Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. ACME funding guidelines update by Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment. 6. 2026 Bond Program public engagement and awareness update. 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 the Economic Development Department, at 512-974-6318, call Shelbi Mitchell at 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.
MUSIC COMMISSION MEETING 8/04/2025 H O T E L O C C U P A N C Y T A X C O L L E C T I O N S L I V E M U S I C F U N D Kim McCarson Program Manager UPDATED 7.30.2025 FY 25 Year-to-Date Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections – Live Music Fund June 2025 w/ Encumbrances $16,485 FY25 Year-to-Date w/ Encumbrances $3,233,024 % Change in Year–to-Date Total -.58% $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 $16,485 $352,635 $816,197 $48,397 $316,607 $809,445 $17,407 $159,710 $696,141 FY 23 FY 24 FY 25 October April November May December June January July February August March September
FY23 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot - Compliance Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (AACME) Music Commission Meeting August 4, 2025 FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot • 367 Awardees for “Specific Future Projects” o 41 $5,000 Grant Awards o 326 $10,000 Grant Awards • Grant Agreements executed Oct–Dec 2023 • Agreement extensions provided to ensure 12-month terms and for compliant Awardees needing more time for awarded “Specific Future Projects” FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot Pilot Program Challenges • • Flawed Economic Development Department (EDD) Portal Large number of grant agreements Application / Reporting System • Switching from EDD Portal to Google reporting forms for static reporting templates • Awarding “Specific Future Projects” when music industry activities are fluid and often subject to change • Awardee inexperience with grant processes and expectations • Awardee personal challenges FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot • 4 Awardees forfeited before receiving any funds • 1 Awardee did interim report evidencing the 1st payment but paid back the 2nd payment (40% of award) and did not receive the 3rd payment of (10% of award) • As of today, 41 remaining non-compliant Awardees o 20 submitted an interim report evidencing the 1st payment, but incomplete or no final report o 21 submitted incomplete or no interim report ACME Awardee Non-Compliance Steps • STEP 1 - 1st Notice sent via e-mail to Awardee who is at least 15 business days delinquent in submitting report. Awardee has 10 business days to submit report or contact ACME. E-mail sent by ACME Grant Agreement Manager. • STEP 2 - 2nd Notice sent by certified mail to Awardee who is at least 30 business days delinquent or has submitted an incomplete report after the first delinquent notice. Awardee has 5 business days to submit a complete report. Letter signed by ACME Grant Agreement Manager. *Applicant will not be granted program extension request after second notice. • STEP 3 - Termination Notice sent by certified mail to Awardee who has not responded to and/or provided corrections or additional information. Letter signed by ACME Music & Entertainment Division Manager. Copy of Termination Notice sent to ACME Department Director. FY 2024 Austin Live Music Fund • 136 grant awards accepted out of 136 total grant awards (100%) • 135 signed agreements out of 136 total grant agreements (99%) • 134 completed Grant Agreement Orientations out …
Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment ACME Funding Programs - Update Presented by Morgan Messick Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Music Commission Meeting | August 4, 2025 Recap on where we have been The Creative Reset: Phase 1 Starting with the 2023-2024 Guidelines for all ACME programs Community Engagement/feedback Enhanced guideline drafts, starting with redlined guidelines/feedback from Arts/Music Commission Working Groups Iterative feedback process/edits Updates to engagement and drafts available at PublicInput throughout the process Public feedback ended on Sunday, July 20 Staff have collaborated to get a final draft Draft is now with internal City staff for review, working towards a final See additional information at publicinput.com/thecreativereset Measuring Program Impacts Category What the City Measures Metrics Reach & Engagement Community reach and public participation Attendance counts, demographic data Promotion Visibility and marketing efforts Event flyers, social media screenshots, VisitAustin.org listings, Tourism Marketing training attendance satisfaction, marketing plan analytics Impact Access Expression Resiliency Economic and cultural benefits for the creative workforce Number of jobs supported, amount of funding distributed Accessibility and inclusion for audiences and participants Diverse locations, ADA features, free/low-cost tickets/creative space, multilingual options Support for authentic artistic and cultural expression Artist reflections, new work created, creative risks taken Organizational growth, adaptability, or long- term community benefit beyond City funding New partnerships, diversified revenue, business training and professional development Austin Live Music Fund For-Profit Applicant Award Amount Professional Musician & Independent Promoter Professional Musician & Independent Promoter $20,000 w/24-month Grant Agreement term $5,000 w/12-month Grant Agreement term Live Music Venue with atleast an operating budget of $60,000 $70,000 w/12-month Grant Agreement term Grant Awards are for one and two-year terms and are based on the amount the awardee selects in their application that most appropriately matches their needs. Scoring Criteria Austin Live Music Fund – Professional Musicians & Independent Promoters Category Criteria – Evidence Documentation from the last three years is prioritized Available Points Music Industry Accomplishments Music industry recognition Public shows at live music venues with capacities of 300 or more Audience data, i.e. music streams and downloads; distributed recordings; local, national and international music festival placements; regional and national tours; radio & TV broadcasts Artist Development Austin Music Economy Development Cultural Tourism Marketing & Outreach Career training and professional development Participates in music programs for schools, cultural centers, youth, private lessons, camps, workshops, etc. Performs / volunteers at benefit concerts to raise awareness …
