Austin City Council Votes To Provide Economic Relief To Area Musicians

On Thursday, April 23 the Austin City Council approved an ordinance providing $1.5 million to create an Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund.

The fund will provide emergency economic relief to musicians who are struggling due to the cancellation of festivals such as South by Southwest and the ordered closures of music venues to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
 
The ordinance responds to a Council resolution sponsored by Council Member Kathie Tovo and co-sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Council Members Alison Alter, Ann Kitchen and Leslie Pool to provide financial assistance to musicians through the Live Music Assistance Fund or other available resources and to explore the possibility of creating a digital live music portal.
 
In March, the City of Austin Music Commission recognized the need for immediate financial assistance and asked the City Council to create such a disaster fund.
 
“I’m proud to represent Downtown Austin and its many vibrant music venues, and I was honored to bring forward this recommendation from the Music Commission to provide financial assistance to musicians,” said Council Member Tovo. “I appreciate the thoughtful discussion and collaboration that contributed to the passage of this initiative, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Music Commission and others in the music community to identify additional ways to support our local musicians.”
 
Music Commission Chair Rick Carney added, “In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Austin music community is facing unprecedented financial challenges. The City of Austin Music Commission is grateful for Council Member Tovo’s initiative supporting the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund. This will bring critical assistance to the musicians that contribute so much to Austin’s economy and culture.”
 
“We are so glad to see that the Austin City Council recognizes the music community and its importance to our City,” stated Reenie Collins, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. “We know that the COVID-19 crisis has affected all people across all levels of our community but has particularly impacted musicians who already live in a very fragile ecosystem and rely on being able to play music to audiences in the public. This kind of support and funding that our City Council is proposing is desperately needed by our musicians.”