Setting the Floor: How ATXM Helped Secure a $200 City Standard Pay Rate for Musicians
Creating Austin’s First Citywide Standard Pay Rate of $200
What happened
During the pandemic, staff inside the city’s music division (notably Stephanie Bergara) pushed internally to pay musicians at least $200 per performance for city events. The Economic Development Department adopted this in its own programs—but that only covered a slice of city-connected gigs.
ATXM stepped in to make it official citywide policy.
ATXM worked with Council Member Ryan Alter’s office; ATXM Advocacy Director Sarah Hall wrote the resolution; they presented it to the Music Commission and then the City Council. It passed—largely unanimously.
Now, the $200 standard rate applies to all city-sponsored performances, including:
Airport music program
Cultural arts grants
Live Music Fund–supported shows (musicians, venues, and independent promoters)
Nonprofits and contractors employing musicians with city-related funds
Any third-party vendor contracting with the city that hires musicians
When an arts organization recently underpaid musicians for a major city-connected festival, they were called out publicly, and the incident reinforced the need to hard-code the rate into contracts—not just rely on verbal guidance.
Where advocacy shows up
Recognized the internal policy as a model and expanded it citywide.
Drafted, sponsored, and won passage of a formal city resolution.
Acts as a watchdog to ensure compliance and call out violations.
Where education shows up
Need to educate musicians: “If it’s a city-sponsored or city-funded gig, you should be paid at least $200.”
Need to educate organizations: the rate must be in written contracts and budgets.
Publicizing enforcement cases (like the underpaying festival) to signal that the standard is real.
Economic impact
Raises baseline income for every city-sponsored music performance.
Forces grant-funded events to budget fairly for artists.
Establishes a precedent other cities can follow—positioning Austin as a leader in fair pay.
Austin’s music economy is built by the working musicians who make our city exceptional—and businesses play a critical role in helping that community thrive.
Austin Texas Musicians offers simple, high-impact ways for companies to support our creative workforce:
🔁 Automated monthly giving to sustain year-round programs
👥 Employee engagement opportunities—matching gifts, giving drives, workshops, and volunteer support
🛒 Point-of-sale or automated checkout donations
🎉 Corporate fundraising teams on GiveButter (https://givebutter.com/atxmusicians-donate)
Your partnership fuels advocacy wins, professional development programs, paid performance opportunities, and real economic support for thousands of Austin artists.
If your organization wants to strengthen the music that strengthens our city, let’s build something meaningful together.
