March 30: ATXM Master Class: Performance Royalties, Mechanical Royalties & Publishing 101 (FREE)
Learn how musicians actually get paid.
Austin Texas Musicians (ATXM) is launching its 2026 Music Industry Education Series on March 30, with the first ATXM Master Class of the year, bringing together leading experts from across the music industry to help Austin artists better understand how musicians actually get paid.
The inaugural session — Performance Royalties, Mechanical Royalties & Publishing 101 — will take place Monday, March 30, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at St. Edward’s University on South Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
This free master class is designed specifically for working musicians, songwriters, producers, and independent artists who want to better understand the complex world of royalties and music publishing.
Event Details
📅 Monday, March 30, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
🚪 Doors Open: 2:45 PM
📍 St. Edward’s University - Maloney Room — Main Building
3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
🎟 Free Event — RSVP Required!
👥 Capacity: Limited to 75 attendees
Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive on time.
Free Parking
🚗FREE Parking
Park in nearby Green or Yellow Lots ONLY
Your target is the Main Building, Third Floor
Use the following link, or QR Code, to enter your vehicle information
Parking code is ATX
Full Agenda
02:45 PM
Doors Open. Check-in, networking, and resource tables
03:00 PM
Welcome & Program Overview: Introduction to the ATXM Education Series
03:10 PM
Performance Royalties Explained, Presented by Kristen Townsend (BMI)
03:50 PM
Mechanical Royalties Demystified Presented by Jamie Dominguez (The MLC)
04:30 PM
Panel Discussion - “Where Musicians Leave Money on the Table” moderated by Pat Buchta (ATXM).
04:50 PM - 05:00 PM
Audience Q&A
Learn How the Royalty System
Actually Works
Many artists unknowingly leave money on the table simply because the music royalty system can be difficult to navigate.
This master class will break down the essentials every songwriter and performing artist should understand, including:
How performance royalties work
The difference between PRO royalties and mechanical royalties
How streaming generates income for songwriters
Why registering with The MLC is essential
Common mistakes that cause musicians to miss income
Whether you perform live, release music online, or write songs for other artists, this session will help ensure you’re collecting the royalties you’ve earned.
Featuring Industry Experts
The session will feature two respected music industry professionals who work directly with artists and songwriters across the country.
Kristen Townsend, BMI
Creative Coordinator, Austin
Kristen Townsend is BMI’s Creative Coordinator in Austin, supporting Texas songwriters, composers, and publishers. Since 2019, she’s helped coordinate performance opportunities at BMI’s Acoustic Lounge and major festivals like SXSW and ACL. An active member of the Recording Academy, ACM, and CMA, she advocates for creators while helping navigate royalties and industry relationships. Read full bio below.
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Kristen Townsend is BMI’s Creative Coordinator in Austin, TX, where she supports Texas songwriters, composers and music publishers with creative and administrative tasks. Since BMI’s Austin office first opened its doors in 2019, Townsend has been instrumental when coordinating valuable performance opportunities for affiliates at BMI’s Acoustic Lounge and for BMI stages at major festivals including SXSW, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, CMA Fest and Key West Songwriters Festival.
An active member of the ACM, CMA, and Recording Academy, she blends administrative expertise with a deep commitment to creator advocacy, helping affiliates navigate complex royalty structures and fostering strong publisher relations. With a career rooted in legendary Texas institutions—from her early days at Lone Star Music to her pivotal work at Cheatham Street Warehouse under Kent Finlay-Kristen remains a vital force in preserving and advancing the Texas music scene.
Jamie Dominguez , The MLC
National Director, Industry Relations
Traveling from Nashville, Jamie Dominguez will explain mechanical royalties and streaming income, helping musicians understand how to properly register songs and ensure they receive the mechanical royalties they are owed.
Jamie works directly with songwriters and publishers across the country to ensure creators receive their U.S. mechanical streaming royalties, making her one of the leading experts on the topic. Read full bio below.
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Description text goes hereJamie Dominguez serves as National Director of Industry Relations at the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC), where she builds and strengthens relationships with songwriters, publishers, and music industry stakeholders. In this role, she helps advance The MLC’s mission to ensure songwriters and music publishers receive the U.S. mechanical streaming royalties they are owed.
Jamie represents The MLC at major industry events and conferences across the music ecosystem, working to educate and engage the songwriter and publishing communities about rights, royalties, and the evolving music landscape.
Prior to joining The MLC, Jamie spent 19 years at SESAC, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Creative Services. She later helped establish and launch Sound Royalties’ presence in New York, further supporting songwriters and rights holders in navigating the business side of music.
A Small Room for Big Knowledge
To create a meaningful learning environment, attendance is intentionally limited to just 75 people.
Rather than a large-lecture format, the ATXM Master Class series is designed as a focused, interactive learning experience where musicians can ask questions, engage directly with experts, and gain practical knowledge they can apply immediately to their careers.
⚠️ Only 75 seats are available, and RSVP is required. Musicians are encouraged to register early to secure a spot.
The beautiful Maloney Room at St. Edward’s University, Main Building, third floor.
An Intimate Learning Experience
To create a meaningful learning environment and allow time for questions and discussion, this ATXM Master Class is intentionally limited to just 75 attendees.
This smaller format gives musicians a rare opportunity to learn directly from industry experts, ask questions, and engage in real conversation about royalties and publishing. We encourage early registration to ensure your seat early!
A New Education Partnership with St. Edward’s University
This event marks the beginning of a new collaboration between Austin Texas Musicians and St. Edward’s University, designed to expand access to real-world music industry education for Austin’s creative community.
Located on South Congress in the heart of Austin, St. Edward’s University provides a collaborative campus environment where artists, students, and industry professionals can come together to share knowledge and build careers.
Through this partnership, the university will host ATXM Master Classes and educational programming that connect Austin’s working musicians with industry experts and practical career resources.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting Austin’s creative economy while strengthening pathways for musicians to build sustainable careers.
Practical Education for Working Musicians
The ATXM Master Class series is part of the organization’s broader Music Industry Education Initiative, designed to give musicians practical tools to build sustainable careers.
Through master classes, workshops, webinars, and community programming, ATXM is helping Austin artists better understand the business side of music—from royalties and contracts to branding, marketing, and income streams.
