Advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy That Amplifies Austin’s Musicians
From City Hall to Capitol Hill, Austin Texas Musicians stands up for those who make our city sing. Our advocacy has transformed policy, secured historic funding, and protected the rights of musicians across Texas. Together, we’re shaping a future where artists can live, work, and thrive right here at home.
Representation
We maintain strong relationships with City, State, and Federal leaders—as well as with community and industry partners—to craft groundbreaking policies that support Austin’s creative workforce.
Consulting
ATXM provides trusted guidance to civic and nonprofit organizations, ensuring music-friendly solutions that advance economic and cultural growth for artists.
Voter Registration
Our Volunteer Deputy Registrars help musicians “Show Up, Speak Up, and Be Heard,” registering thousands of new voters across Texas.
Results that Resonate
The ATX Musicians’ advocacy efforts have been instrumental in securing policy changes that have yielded far-reaching impacts on our members and stakeholders alike. Some wins include:
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The advocacy efforts of ATX Musicians resulted in the first-ever sustainable recurring funding for music in the United States.
Thanks to this effort, the City of Austin created the Austin Live Music Fund, directing $8 million in grants to local musicians and venues so far—with more support rolling out every year to strengthen our city’s creative workforce.
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Helped secure $11M in Federal Relief Grants in 2020 - $6M for musicians and $5M for venues.
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Worked with the Austin City Council to create a standardized pay rate of $200 per musician for all city-funded performances.
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Lobbied State Legislators to defeat anti-LGBTQIA+ bills that would have had devastating financial impact on Texas’ performing arts industry.
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Registered thousands of new voters in Travis County, El Paso, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley.
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"The Austin Texas Musicians has been instrumental in helping HAAM reach underserved musicians during Open Enrollment. Their bilingual videos, social reach, and marketing expertise expanded our message to a wider audience, making our communications more effective and impactful for Austin’s music community."
Rachel Blair, Chief Operating Officer
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“ATXM and Workforce Solutions share a mission to support Austin’s musicians—connecting members to virtual hiring events, job-search videos, and career resources. Together, they’re helping keep Austin’s live music community strong during and beyond the pandemic.”
Tamara Atkinson, Previous Chief Executive Officer
Workforce Solutions Capital Area -
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“As someone who has seen firsthand the impact of ATXM’s work—from saving stages to sustaining musicians’ livelihoods—I can say without hesitation that their leadership has been vital to preserving Austin’s cultural heartbeat. I’m proud to stand with them in ensuring our music community not only survives but continues to thrive.”
Lloyd Doggett, U.S. House of Representatives, (D-35)
Make an impact today
Advocacy isn’t just about making noise—it’s about making change.
🎵 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.