The Austin Live Music Fund encourages, promotes, improves, and showcases Austin’s diverse music industry through supporting a wide array of activities marketed to visiting and potential tourists, including live and online events open to the public; studio, video, and merchandise production; promotional tours outside of Austin; broadcasting; and marketing and promotional campaigns.
Donor Name: City of Austin
State: Texas
City: Austin
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/04/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Program goals include increasing Austin cultural tourism; increasing revenue for musicians, promoters, and live music venues; supporting new jobs in the creative economy; and promoting new artist development.
Funding Information
Grants awarded in the following categories:
- Professional Musician & Independent Promoter: $20,000 with 24-month Grant Agreement
- Professional Musician & Independent Promoter: $5,000 with 12-month Grant Agreement
- Live Music Venue – At least $60,000 Operating Budget: $70,000 with 12-month Grant Agreement
Eligible Expenses
- 51% of expenses must be spent within the City of Austin Council Districts and/or its Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)
Expenses must cover grant funded activities marketed and promoted to visiting and potential tourists and convention delegates - Commercial Rent – Live Music Venues
- Compensation – Contractors
- Compensation – Employee Salaries
- Insurance – Live Music Venues
- General Liability
- Insurance – Professional Musician & Independent Promoter
- Event Insurance for Public Events
- Lodging and Travel for Participating Visiting Artists
- Performance Fees / Guarantees
- Stage, Lighting, and Sound Rental
- Studio and Video Production Rental, excluding Capital Expenditures
- Supplies
- Telephone / Internet
- Tourism Marketing
- Paid Ads
- Merchandise Production
- Posters, Banners, and Signage
- Venue Rental – Public Events Only
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must meet all of the following:
- Applicant must meet either the Professional Musician, Independent Promoter, or Live Music Venue definition
- Live Music Venue applicants must provide the previous year’s operating budget or profit & loss statement to evidence at least a $60,000 operating budget
- Only one Austin Live Music Fund application per Lead Applicant
- Musicians may perform in multiple bands receiving awards; however, a Lead Applicant may only qualify for one application
- Unless a promotional tour, public activities must take place in a City of Austin Council District or the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) and include at least 51% of performers who fit the definition of “Professional Musician” and live in the MSA
- Professional Musicians compensated through grant funds are paid at least the City of Austin musician pay rate outlined
- Professional Musicians and Independent Promoters cannot receive $20,000 awards in two consecutive City of Austin fiscal years; therefore, if an applicant is awarded in Fiscal Year 2026, they are not eligible to apply again until Fiscal Year 2028
For more information, visit City of Austin.
