Stand with the Band: Join the Movement to Protect Human Creativity
200 Businesses. 14 Days. One Mission.
Music has always been created by people.
Every song begins with someone's story, countless hours of practice, years of sacrifice, and the courage to create something original.
Today, that creativity is under threat.
Generative AI companies are training their models using musicians' intellectual property—often without permission, attribution, or compensation. The very artists whose work powers our culture are seeing their creative output harvested to build technologies that can ultimately compete against them.
This isn't simply a technology issue.
It's a human creativity issue.
It's an artist rights issue.
And it's an economic issue for every independent musician working to build a sustainable career.
Austin Is Taking Action
Several weeks ago, Austin Texas Musicians joined Prosper XO, We Need a Union, and the Music Workers Alliance (MWA) at The Far Out Lounge for the AI vs. Music Panel and Community Protest.
The event united musicians, attorneys, technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders around one central question:
How do we protect the future of human creativity?
The conversation sparked immediate attention.
Following the event, Congressman Greg Casar reached out to meet with our leadership team to better understand the challenges facing independent artists and discuss potential legislative solutions that protect creators from unauthorized AI training and misuse of their work.
While this represents meaningful progress, it is only the beginning.
Real change requires sustained advocacy, policy development, legal expertise, coalition building, education, and community support.
That work requires resources.
Introducing the “Stand with the Band” Roundup Campaign
Today, Austin, Texas, Musicians is launching the Stand with the Band Campaign—a community-wide effort to raise $500,000 to continue defending independent artists while strengthening Austin's music ecosystem.
Funds raised will support:
Legislative advocacy for artist rights and AI protections
Public policy development
Legal defense partnerships
Education and awareness campaigns
Music business education
Career sustainability programs
Economic development initiatives for working musicians
Community organizing and coalition building
Together, we're building the infrastructure independent musicians need—not only to survive today's challenges, but to thrive in tomorrow's music industry.
The Community Can Make History
We're inviting businesses across Central Texas to become partners in one of the largest grassroots music advocacy campaigns our city has ever seen.
The easiest way to participate?
Round Up for Austin Texas Musicians
Participating businesses simply ask customers to round up their purchases at checkout.
Pennies become dollars.
Dollars become advocacy.
Advocacy becomes meaningful change.
Whether someone rounds up their purchase or chooses to donate $1, $3, or $5, every transaction helps protect the people who create the music we all enjoy.
The Path to $500,000
Our goal is ambitious—but completely achievable with community participation.
200 participating businesses
250 customer transactions per day
14-day campaign
50% customer participation
Average contribution of $1.43
Total Raised: $500,500
Giving customers multiple options—Round Up, $1, $3, or $5—creates an achievable path to funding the advocacy work needed to protect independent artists while engaging hundreds of thousands of Central Texans in supporting the music community.
Every Business Can Make a Difference
Whether you're a coffee shop, restaurant, brewery, retail store, venue, salon, boutique, food truck, or local business, your customers can become part of the solution with one simple question at checkout:
"Would you like to Round Up today to support Austin Texas Musicians?"
It's one of the easiest ways to create meaningful community impact.
More Ways to Stand with the Band
Businesses aren't the only ones who can help.
You can support the campaign by:
Making a one-time donation
Becoming a recurring donor
Creating a peer-to-peer fundraising team
Encouraging your favorite local businesses to participate
Sharing the campaign on social media
Introducing us to business owners and community leaders
Becoming a campaign sponsor
Every action strengthens Austin's music community.
Every contribution helps protect the future of human creativity.
The Future Belongs to Artists
Artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool—but it should never come at the expense of the artists whose work makes it possible.
Human creativity deserves consent.
Artists deserve compensation.
Creators deserve protection.
Austin has always been known as the Live Music Capital of the World because of its musicians—not because of algorithms.
Now is the time to stand together and ensure that future generations of artists can continue creating, performing, and making a living from their work.
Stand with the Band.
Protect Human Creativity.
Join the Movement.
Together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for independent artists—and ensure that the music of tomorrow is still created by humans.
