The City of Austin Music & Entertainment Division—part of the Economic Development Department—implements programs and services to diversify and accelerate growth of Austin's commercial and nonprofit music and entertainment industries. We serve as a community, artist, and industry resource and liaison to foster increased jobs, compensation, nightlife compatibility, talent export, and revenue growth in Austin.

Programming

Music & Entertainment Programming provides professional development and funding opportunities to increase compensation and organizational capacity for artists, live music venues, and other industry stakeholders. Contact Stephanie Bergara for information.

• Creative Ambassadors Program
  Open to creative professionals across disciplines, the Creative Ambassadors Program provides official City designations and small stipends to Austin artists traveling outside of Texas in promotion of their creative projects.

• Music on Hold Program
  Music on Hold is one of the City's government’s fun and unique ways of showcasing Austin’s great music—usually in sixty seconds or less. Anytime someone calls into the City telephone system, if they are placed on hold, they will be listening to a well-curated playlist of Austin music. Music on Hold showcases Austin’s fantastic and diverse music, and it gives our citizens a little something to listen to while waiting.

• Street Performance Program
  Enjoy rotating line-ups of live music by local Austin musicians downtown (500 W. 2nd Street) every Saturday during the fall and spring months. Each musician is compensated for their performance through funding by the Trammell Crow Company.

• Tip the Band Pilot Program
  The Tip the Band Pilot Program aims to address affordability concerns for Austin’s music community by creating a new and convenient revenue stream for musicians. Through the use of new technology—a digital tipping vessel—artists can collect digital tips from fans using a debit and/or credit card within seconds.

Services

The Division's Entertainment Services Group creates and manages policies, tools, and partnerships to ensure vibrant and well-planned live music and nightlife experiences, while also promoting venue preservation and sustainability, as well as compatibility with neighbors. Contact Brian Block for information.

• Entertainment & Amplified Sound Compatibility Engagement
  Starting in 2018, the Music & Entertainment Division has been convening experts, community stakeholders, and City staff to formulate recommendations for improving Amplified Sound Compatibility.

• Night and Weekend Staff
  Serves as a resource in the field for venues, monitors compliance with outdoor music permits, acts as a liaison between venues and residents to investigate and solve problems, observes entertainment areas during nighttime hours and raises awareness of emerging issues.

• Creative Space Assistance Program
  The purpose of the Creative Space Assistance Program (CSAP) is to provide direct support to qualifying creative organizations facing temporary or permanent displacement, or to those previously displaced.  The program is open to arts-focused nonprofits as well as qualifying for-profit live music venues, performance spaces, and art galleries. The program is currently funded at $750,000.

• Ombudsman for Creatives
  Serves as a single point of contact and resource for nightlife establishments and music venues regarding City operating, permitting and code enforcement requirements and acts as a liaison between venues and City Departments.

• Outdoor Music Venue Permits & Sound Impact Plans
  Entertainment Services Group (ESG) administers, manages and monitors annual and special event Outdoor Music Venue (OMV) Permits for venues, music promoters, and meeting planners. ESG also consults with permit holders about better sound quality, reducing sound impact to neighbors, and permit compliance through customized Sound Impact Plans.

• Amplified Sound Monitoring and Management Solutions
  The Division's goal is to enhance amplified sound experiences while promoting compatibility between nightlife and residents. We are continuously working to implement innovative technologies and solutions for amplified sound monitoring and sound management through pilots, research, and best practice implementation.