How ATXM Helped Create the Austin Live Music Fund

A Story of Musicians Rallying Together to Change the Future of Austin Music

In 2019, something was shifting in Austin’s music community.

ATXM (Austin Texas Musicians) had only just begun meeting as a small, volunteer-driven group of working musicians, but the need for a unified voice was already clear. Local artists were struggling. The cost of living was rising. The music economy was changing. And while Austin publicly celebrated its reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” the musicians who actually built that identity often felt invisible in policy decisions that shaped their livelihoods.

The Spark: A Chance to Make History

In early 2019, ATXM’s founder, Nakia Reynoso, and Executive Director, Patrick Buchta, began researching the broader nonprofit landscape—who was serving musicians, what gaps existed, and how ATXM could bring something different to the table.

Around the same time, Nakia and Patrick were invited to meet with Music Makes Austin, Gary Keller’s coalition focused on strengthening Austin’s music ecosystem. They were exploring a new idea: a political advocacy committee aimed at securing public funding specifically for Austin musicians and music venues.

But something was missing.

They had policy experts. They had business leaders.

What they didn’t have were musicians.

That’s where ATXM came in.

Rallying the Musicians’ Voice

ATXM was asked to do what no other group had the trust or proximity to do: mobilize Austin’s working musicians—fast.

Starting in March and accelerating into April and May of 2019, ATXM volunteers began showing up everywhere that mattered:

• Tourism Commission meetings

• City Council sessions

• Public hearings on cultural funding

• Community stakeholder gatherings

Musicians who had never spoken at City Hall before were suddenly standing before elected officials, telling real stories of what it means to work gig-to-gig in an increasingly expensive city.

ATXM didn’t just show up—they showed up consistently. Passionately. Persuasively.

And people listened.

The First Victory: A Resolution Passed

By May 2019, thanks to coordinated advocacy across multiple organizations—with ATXM as the public face of the musician community—the City Council passed a resolution supporting the creation of a new public fund for music.

There was a catch, though.

Unlocking the money required a controversial expansion of the Austin Convention Center, tied to a portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). Political groups opposed the expansion, and battles continued behind the scenes.

But ATXM kept showing up.

Kept rallying musicians.

Kept speaking truth to power.

And in December 2019, after the bond election, the City officially announced it:

Austin would create the first-ever Live Music Fund in the United States.

A recurring, sustainable public fund—over $3.5 million annually—dedicated to musicians and music venues.

The Long Wait

Then… the pandemic hit.

For a community whose income depends on live performance, the pandemic’s impact was devastating. ATXM worked tirelessly to help accelerate the launch of the Live Music Fund—support that musicians urgently needed during the crisis. While the rollout took longer than anyone hoped due to unavoidable challenges, the continued collaboration, dialogue, and commitment from all sides eventually moved the process forward.

ATXM remained consistently engaged, offering support, feedback, and advocacy every step of the way—and that persistence played an important role in helping the fund ultimately reach Austin’s music community.

The Breakthrough

By 2023—four years after the fund was passed—the first dollars finally began flowing to musicians and venues.

The City also reorganized its cultural departments, forming the new Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment Office to help address some of the issues that had held back the Live Music Fund.

Today, Austin musicians are finally receiving the support ATXM fought so tirelessly for.

Why It Matters

The Austin Live Music Fund is more than a grant program. It’s proof of what can happen when musicians organize, speak up, and refuse to accept the status quo.

It represents:

• The first sustainable public music funding model in the nation

• Over $3.5 million annually dedicated to Austin musicians and venues

• A major step toward preserving Austin’s musical identity

• A victory led not by lobbyists or corporations—but by working artists

ATXM’s Legacy

ATXM didn’t just advocate for the Live Music Fund—they were the movement behind it. The group rallied musicians. Showed up at every meeting. Pushed through political headwinds. And gave policymakers the one thing they couldn’t manufacture themselves:

The unified voice of Austin’s music community.

The Live Music Fund stands today because musicians, united through ATXM, demanded the support and recognition they’ve long deserved.

And it all began in 2019, with a small group of volunteers—and a big belief that Austin’s musicians deserved better.

Support the Mission

ATXM’s mission centers on three core pillars—advocacy, education, and economic development—all designed to protect, uplift, and empower Austin’s working musicians.

From championing policies that ensure fair treatment and sustainable funding, to expanding professional development opportunities, to creating pathways for economic stability and growth, ATXM is building a stronger future for the people who make Austin’s music possible.

Your support helps us continue this vital work. Please consider making a donation today to keep these programs growing and to ensure Austin’s musicians have the resources, representation, and opportunity they deserve.