Blog
Blog
ATXM News & Happenings
Inspiring Conversations: Patrick Buchta on Building a Stronger Future for Austin’s Musicians
Executive Director Patrick Buchta shares his journey from working musician to advocate in a recent VoyageAustin feature—highlighting why Austin Texas Musicians exists, the systemic challenges facing artists today, and how community-driven advocacy is building a more sustainable future for Austin’s music ecosystem.
Join Us for Night Shift: Austin’s Monthly Music Industry Mixer + Open Mic Feb 4th— RSVP Today!
Night Shift is Austin’s monthly music industry mixer + open mic—bringing musicians, ATXM Pro members, and industry pros together for real connection after hours. Free to attend, RSVP required. Join us Feb 4th at Brushy Street Commons.
ATXM Night Shift Sells Out, Bringing Austin’s Music Community Together
ATXM Night Shift sold out with 200 RSVPs, bringing together musicians, industry leaders, and creatives for an unforgettable night of open mic performances, networking, and community. With 20 artists featured in a true listening-room environment and capacity expanding next month, RSVP early for the February 4 Night Shift before it sells out!
Join Us for Night Shift: Austin’s Monthly Music Industry Mixer + Open Mic Jan 7th— RSVP Today!
Night Shift is Austin’s monthly music industry mixer + open mic—bringing musicians, ATXM Pro members, and industry pros together for real connection after hours. Free to attend, RSVP required. Join us January 7 at Brushy Street Commons.
5 Ways to Support ATXM—and How to Put Each One Into Action
ATXM is urgently raising $2M to fund 2026 initiatives supporting Austin’s working musicians. Learn five impactful ways to help—from recurring donations to corporate sponsorships—and how your support fuels advocacy, education, and economic opportunity.
How Your Donation Supports Austin’s Musicians — In Action
Austin’s musicians are at a critical moment. ATXM is turning advocacy into fair pay, education into income, and opportunity into paid work—but urgent funding is needed to keep momentum moving. Support the people who make Austin’s music possible.
Advocacy Isn’t One-and-Done: ATXM as Long-Term Steward of Music Policy
Winning a policy isn’t the end of advocacy—it’s the beginning. ATXM continues to steward major wins like the Live Music Fund and the $200 minimum pay rate long after they pass, ensuring they work the way they were intended. From monitoring implementation and flagging issues to educating musicians on how to access grants and fair pay, ATXM keeps the system accountable. This ongoing oversight turns policy victories into real economic impact for musicians, venues, and the entire Austin music ecosystem.
Setting the Floor: How ATXM Helped Secure a $200 City Standard Pay Rate for Musicians
Austin Texas Musicians helped deliver a historic win for fair pay: Austin’s first citywide $200 minimum performance rate for all city-funded gigs. What began as an internal guideline during the pandemic became official policy thanks to ATXM’s advocacy—drafting the resolution, coordinating with City Council, and ensuring it passed with overwhelming support. Today, every city-sponsored performance must meet this standard, strengthening musician incomes, enforcing fair budgeting, and setting a national precedent for artist compensation.
Texas Music Office Launches the new Texas Music Industry Database
The Texas Music Office has upgraded the Texas Music Industry Directory, making it easier than ever for musicians, venues, and music businesses to get discovered. A free listing connects you with collaborators, booking opportunities, and statewide industry visibility—all in just a 10–20 minute application.
When Stevie Played the Room: A Sixth Street Story from Maggie Mae’s
Before Stevie Ray Vaughan was a global guitar icon, he was lighting up Sixth Street with raw, unforgettable performances at Maggie Mae’s. These early nights shaped his sound, electrified Austin’s music scene, and helped build the legacy that still echoes through the walls of this iconic venue.
When the Music Stopped: How ATXM Helped Unlock $6M for Austin Musicians
When SXSW collapsed in 2020, Austin’s entire music economy went silent overnight. ATXM moved fast. Within weeks, Patrick Buchta and Nakia Reynoso were inside City Hall asking one urgent question: How do we get money into musicians’ hands—now? Their advocacy helped draft and pass the resolution that created the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund, delivering $1,000 emergency grants across two rounds totaling $6 million. ATXM not only pushed the policy forward—they educated musicians on how to apply, partnered with MusiCares to ensure musician-centered administration, and gathered feedback that made the second round smoother. This support kept hundreds of artists afloat during the city’s darkest moment.
Results that Resonate
Austin Texas Musicians is delivering real, measurable impact for Austin’s creative workforce. From $8M+ in public funding and fair-pay policies to 1,500+ musicians trained annually and $300K+ in paid gigs, see how advocacy, education, and economic development are helping Austin artists live, work, and thrive.
2026 Will be Our Biggest Year Yet—And We Need Your Help to Build It
ATXM is launching its most ambitious year—more education, a new creative hub, safer gigs, and stronger advocacy. Your support powers the programs that keep Austin’s music alive and its musicians thriving.
How Advocacy Powers Education & Economic Growth
Advocacy isn’t just policy work—it’s the engine that powers real opportunities for Austin’s working musicians. From shaping fair-pay standards to securing millions in public funding, ATXM’s advocacy creates the conditions for better education, stronger careers, and more paid gigs. This post breaks down how behind-the-scenes policy wins turn into master classes, business training, venue partnerships, and direct financial support for the people who make Austin’s music culture thrive.
Help Us Fund the Future We’re Building
In late March 2026, Austin Texas Musicians will launch our most ambitious year of educational programming yet—centered around a brand-new Quarterly Master Class Series designed to give working musicians the practical, real-world training they need to thrive.
How ATXM Helped Create the Austin Live Music Fund
Austin’s music scene thrives because of the people who create it—and ATXM is here to protect that legacy. Through unwavering advocacy, hands-on education, and meaningful economic development, we’re building a future where Austin’s working musicians can afford to live, work, and thrive. From shaping policy to expanding opportunities, our programs are designed to uplift the artists who give this city its heartbeat. Join us in strengthening Austin’s music community—your donation helps keep the music playing for generations to come.
Free Legal Webinar by TALA! Thurs., Dec. 4th, 12 pm-1:30 pm
Independent artists and musicians often face unpaid invoices, damaged or unreturned gear, and broken agreements—yet many don’t realize they have legal options. On December 4, TALA, ACLC, and ATXM are hosting Small Claims Court for Creatives, a free virtual seminar offering practical guidance on enforceable agreements, resolving disputes, and representing yourself in small claims court. Perfect for freelancers and creative professionals seeking to protect their income and work.
Night Shift Mixer + Giving Tuesday Celebration
Join us Tuesday, December 2nd for a special Night Shift Music Industry Mixer at Maggie Mae’s, upstairs in the brand-new lounge from 5:30–11:00 PM! We’re ringing in the holidays Austin-style—with ugly sweaters, Santa suits, drink specials, great food, and acoustic Christmas caroling. Bring your instruments, your energy, and your holiday cheer.
Help Us Help ATX Musicians
We need your help to raise funds on Giving Tuesday! Help us support more education, more paid gigs, more community resources, and a “Green Room” Creative Hub. We can’t build it without you! Sign up today!
Night Moves Monthly Industry Mixer & Acoustic Song Circle, Nov. 4th
Join us for Austin’s longest-running Music Industry Mixer Tuesday, November 4th at Pershing East Coffee & Lounge. Join fellow musicians and industry pros for a night of networking, acoustic song circle, and community updates. Bring your best song for the open mic, grab a drink, and connect with Austin’s creative heartbeat.
Community Partners
Are You a Central Texas Musician?
Austin Texas Musicians is for you! We are musicians working for musicians.
Our community of Central Texas musicians is over 6,000 strong and growing.
We represent those we serve on city, state, and federal policy and provide basic needs and services to improve our quality of life.
Advocacy, Education, and Economic Development are the three pillars of our work to empower you to “Show Up, Speak Up, and Be Heard"!
Make an impact today
🎵 Join us in protecting Austin’s creative future.
Every bit of support goes a long way in helping us help musicians. We’ve got some very impactful new initiatives in motion for 2026, including:
Expanded Paid Performance Opportunities for Musicians
Expanded Education Programming, in Partnership with Local Higher Education
A Downtown Creative Hub, Parking and Safe Escort for Musicians
To continue doing this work, we need your help. Cultivating new partnerships, investment, and donor relations both public and private will be key to our sustainability.
We're putting out a call to all interested corporate partners, angel investors, and music community members and imploring that we all come together to lift up what has proven to be a crucial service to the health of our music community, which truly serves as the cornerstone to Austin’s economic well-being. We hope you’ll help us continue our work by donating, or by contacting us directly to discuss options.