Austin’s Live Music Fund Reopens — With More Money, New Rules, and a Fresh Start

By A Wild Ride Called Life Media

Originally reported by Jake Gripp for KUT 90.5, published October 21, 2025. Photography by Jon Shapley for KUTX.

Austin’s heartbeat — its music — just got a little louder.

The City of Austin has reopened applications for its Live Music Fund, along with other creative programs supporting the city’s art and culture scene. After a program reset, more than $25 million is now available across all arts programs, including roughly $7 million set aside exclusively for live music — a major boost for local musicians and venues who keep the Live Music Capital of the World thriving.

A Unified Application for Austin Creatives

According to Erica Shamaly, Division Manager for Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), artists will now see one streamlined application that covers multiple programs: the Live Music Fund, Creative Space Assistance Program, Elevate Program, Nexus Program, and Heritage Preservation Grant.

This change simplifies the process for applicants navigating city funding, while ensuring the programs remain accessible to Austin’s diverse creative community.

Lessons Learned — and a Course Correction

Since its establishment in 2019, the Live Music Fund — supported by hotel occupancy taxes — has provided millions to local musicians and venues.

• In 2023, the first round awarded $3.5 million, offering $5,000 and $10,000 grants to 368 recipients out of 660 applicants.

• In 2024, the fund grew to $4.5 million, with higher award levels of $15,000 to $60,000, but fewer than 140 recipients were chosen out of more than 1,000 applications.

That shift hit some artists hard.

“It devastated me, you know?” said Austin singer-songwriter Tameca Jones, who didn’t receive funding last year. “I was going to get a publicist. I was gonna get some new photos. I was going to make some more music and pay the people who helped me make music a fair rate. When I did my taxes, I met the poverty line.”

Stories like Jones’ highlight the tension between demand and availability — the love for Austin’s music scene far exceeds the funding capacity.

What’s New for 2025

After a pause and internal reset, the City of Austin and The Long Center, which now administers the program, have relaunched the fund with revised grant levels.

“For 2025, we’re just gonna try to find a middle ground,” said Shamaly. “Instead of $30,000, it’ll be $20,000 [for individual artists]. And then we will also do a $5,000 grant.”

This year’s application process introduces a narration section, giving artists a chance to personally describe how they’ll use the funding — alongside a series of scored multiple-choice questions. Applicants for the $5,000 tier won’t be required to meet the same criteria as higher-tier applicants.

The process aims to reduce subjectivity: “There isn’t any subjectivity whatsoever,” Shamaly explained. “There’s a set of guidelines, scoring criteria, and documentation to support every answer.”

Professional musicians and independent promoters will also be asked to provide metrics such as live show attendance, download numbers, and radio play.

Sustaining Austin’s Music Ecosystem

Even with expanded funding, Shamaly emphasized the ongoing challenge: “The demand for the Live Music Fund has been really high. Last year there were over a thousand applications, and the total amount that people applied for was $29 million.”

Applications are open now through December 4, 2025, with recipients to be notified by February 2026.

“The plan is to go back and do a big update every three years,” Shamaly said, noting that the city hopes this reset brings more balance and sustainability to the program.

Why This Matters

At A Wild Ride Called Life Media, we know firsthand that music isn’t just entertainment — it’s storytelling, connection, and community. Austin’s Live Music Fund represents more than financial support; it’s an investment in the soul of the city and the voices that give it life.

As Austin musicians continue to navigate post-pandemic recovery and economic challenges, this new wave of funding is a vital opportunity to rebuild, create, and thrive.

To all local artists, promoters, and venues — this is your moment. Apply before December 4 and help keep Austin’s sound alive.

For more information or to apply: Visit austintexas.gov

Original Reporting Credit: Jake Gripp, KUT 90.5 | Published October 21, 2025

Photo Credit: Jon Shapley for KUTX