Blog
Blog
ATXM News & Happenings
120626: ATXM Holiday Party, “Carols for Kids”
Gather in the spirit of the season and give the gift of music! Join ATXM December 6 at Sam’s Town Point for a holiday party featuring Cocktail Steel, festive attire, and community cheer. Help us raise $2,000 to bring holiday carols to kids and families at Austin-area hospitals. Donate ahead of time or celebrate with us—every gift helps send the music.
Nov 8th: Musicians Gear Swap!
Trade gear. Meet musicians. Keep the music going! Bring gently used instruments, pedals, cords, mic stands, and accessories to the ATXM Friendsgiving Musician Gear Swap on November 8 at Central Machine Works. For musicians; trades only, no sales. Free to attend; RSVP required.
ATXM Takes the Fight Against Predatory Ticketing to the Texas Capitol
Austin Texas Musicians’ Pat Buchta testified at the Texas Capitol about predatory ticketing practices, advocating for fair access for fans and a stronger live music economy for musicians, venues and independent promoters.
Nov 8th: ATXM Friendsgiving & Gear Swap
Join us November 8 at Central Machine Works for ATXM Friendsgiving—an evening of music, friendship, and gratitude! Enjoy an open mic, dessert table, Gratitude Wall, and musician gear swap. Musicians, families, friends, and music fans are welcome. Free to attend; RSVP required.
Austin-Area Musicians, DJs and Music Teachers: Join HAAM for Free
Austin-area musicians, DJs and music teachers can join HAAM for free and access healthcare and wellness support. Apply year-round and learn what to expect during Open Enrollment.
Tomorrow Is HAAM Day—Show Up, Speak Up and Support Austin’s Music Community
Tomorrow is HAAM Day! Start the day at ATXM’s free Community Forum at St. Edward’s University, then enjoy live music across Austin and support the businesses giving back to HAAM. Musicians, DJs and music teachers—be sure to see if you qualify for free HAAM membership.
Red River Closures Make Austin’s Creative Future an Urgent Civic Priority
Following a new wave of Red River District closures, join Austin’s musicians, policymakers, advocates, and civic leaders September 22 for live music by Guy Forsyth and an urgent forum about protecting Austin’s creative culture.
Oct. 6th: Kozmetsky Center of Excellence Community Forum 2
Explore the future of Austin’s live music venues with leading venue owners, promoters and advocates. Join this free public forum and community reception at St. Edward’s University on October 6.
Oct. 6th: ATXM Night Shift - Connections, Collaboration & Live Music
Connect with Austin musicians, industry professionals, and music supporters at ATXM Night Shift on October 6 at How Much?! Studios. Enjoy networking, collaboration, live performances, and an open mic in a welcoming community setting.
Great Merch Needs a Business Behind It
You’ve got the design—now what? Clint Avants of C.C. Creations takes musicians behind the merch table to explore what it takes to turn a creative idea into a product fans actually want to buy and wear. From choosing the right apparel and printing methods to managing inventory, fulfillment and growth, discover why successful merch requires more than great design—it needs a smart business behind it.
Before You Make the T-Shirt, Build the Brand
Before you ask what to put on a T-shirt, ask a bigger question: What does your artist’s world look and feel like? Dorothy Nottingham of Baby Snakes Creative shows how illustration, color and visual storytelling can create a recognizable brand that extends naturally into merchandise, experiences and fan connection. Discover why great merch doesn’t start with the product—it starts with the brand.
When Merchandise Becomes Art
What if your most memorable piece of merchandise wasn’t a T-shirt at all? Scott Friedeck and The Graphic Guitar Guys transform guitars into canvases for art, branding and storytelling—creating collectibles, fan experiences and premium products. Discover how musicians can think beyond traditional merch and ask a bigger question: What could I create that only my brand could create?
What Musicians Can Learn From the Pros: What if Your Merch Table Wasn’t the End Product—But the Beginning?
What if your merch table were just the beginning? From Miranda Lambert’s evolution from artist merchandise to a broader lifestyle brand, to The Graphic Guitar Guys turning guitars into premium collectibles, Baby Snakes Creative building visual identities that extend into merchandise, and C.C. Creations bringing products to life at scale—discover what musicians can learn from the pros about turning creativity, branding and fan connection into new revenue opportunities.
From the Merch Table to a Brand Ecosystem: What Bev and Miranda Lambert Built Together
What happens when an artist’s brand grows beyond the merch table? Bev Lambert was there during the formative years of daughter Miranda Lambert’s career, helping shape fan engagement, merchandise and retail as the brand took root. See how that foundation ultimately expanded into a powerful ecosystem spanning fashion, destination retail, home goods, wine, hospitality, philanthropy and the music business—and what independent musicians can learn from their journey.
How an Artist’s Brand Can Grow From a Merch Table Into a Much Larger Business
What if your merch table could become the beginning of a much bigger business? Join ATXM and St. Edward’s University Sept. 14 for a FREE Music Industry Master Class featuring special guest Bev Lambert, mother of country superstar Miranda Lambert, and industry experts sharing how artists can turn branding, merchandise, fan loyalty and creativity into new revenue opportunities.
Learn from the Best in the Business: From Merch Table to a Much Bigger Business
What can musicians learn from the business behind country superstar Miranda Lambert? Join special guest Bev Lambert Sept. 14 as she shares firsthand lessons from helping manage Miranda’s early merchandise, fan club, booking and retail operations—and how authentic artist branding can grow into something much bigger.
Sept. 22nd & Oct. 6th: Kozmetsky Center of Excellence Community Forum Series
Join ATXM and the Kozmetsky Center at St. Edward’s University for two timely Community Forums on Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. Musicians, venue leaders, policymakers and community advocates will explore the challenges facing Austin’s live music ecosystem—and the solutions needed to keep our city’s creative culture thriving.
Sept. 14: ATXM Music Industry Master Class —Beyond the Stage: Build a Brand That Creates Revenue
Your music earns the applause. Your brand builds the business. Join Austin Texas Musicians (ATXM) and St. Edward’s University on Sept. 14 for a FREE Music Industry Master Class exploring how branding, merchandise, visual identity and creative partnerships can help musicians generate revenue and build sustainable careers. Stay afterward for live music, refreshments and networking.
Sept 1: ATXM Night Shift Music Industry Mixer + Open Mic @ Hotel Vegas
Join ATXM Night Shift at Hotel Vegas on Tuesday, September 1, from 7–10 PM for Austin’s longest-running music industry mixer and open mic. Connect with musicians and industry professionals, discover local talent, and build meaningful relationships across Austin’s music community. Free admission; RSVP required.
Austin Texas Musicians Announces The Good Wolf Experience as Official Event Management & Production Partner
Austin Texas Musicians welcomes The Good Wolf Experience as its official Event Management and Production Partner. Together, ATXM and Good Wolf will expand community programs, live events, and fundraising experiences that strengthen connections and create greater support for independent musicians throughout Central Texas.
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.