The city is seeking feedback in the initial guidelines for the long-planned Live Music Fund, which would provide hundreds of grants of up to $10,000 for independent musicians and promoters to create new concerts and festivals throughout the city. Total proposed funding for the program stands at $2.5 million, with grant amounts ranging from $5,000-$10,000 each.
City staffers presented the suggested guidelines for the Live Music Fund Event Program at last week’s meeting of the Music Commission, explaining that the commission’s emphasis on equity and historically underserved communities will give priority in application scoring to racial minorities and those with gender- and disability-based considerations. Other prioritized groups will be independent promoters with a staff of three or fewer people, and professional musicians and bands based in Austin.
The initial guidelines designate that the awarded funds can be used for live and virtual events, special events and festivals based in specific City Council districts, and paid marketing plans that promote funded events as a tourist attraction to comply with the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax dollars being used to fund the program.
