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February 9, 2021

Music and Activism with Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone

By: Miles Bloxson

Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone from the Austin hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm talks about how his experience as a Black musician in the Austin music community led him to create the DAWA Fund and the Black Live Music Fund. He also explains why his music is the reason he is able to continue to serve the community he loves.

Pause/Play: Episode 10

Links:

DAWA

Black Live Music Fund

To Support the Black Live Music Fund

Black Live Music Fund – “Thankful” Live Stream Event February 19th

Riders Against the Storm

Chaka’s Speech — It’s time for a Black Live Music Fund 


Episodes

February 1, 2023

All About the Census

In the latest episode, Peter Schwarz from Sound Music Cities about some of the results of the Greater Austin Music Census. You’ll also hear from Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone about why some Black community leaders didn’t feel included in the census.

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January 18, 2023

Austin has a music union? Here’s what it is and how it works.

Learn all about the Austin Federation of Musicians ––  how it works, what benefits it provides for freelance musicians, and why you may not know it exists. Read more about the Musicians Union Check out Tell Tchaikovsky The News      

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December 21, 2022

Meet the Austin non-profit rethinking how record labels work: Spaceflight Records

In the latest episode of Pause/Play we spoke with Brett Orrison, Samara Simpson, and Jonathan Horstman about the non-profit record label Spaceflight Records.

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December 7, 2022

How can people get money into the hands of musicians, outside of being fans and going to shows?

Sonic Guild and DAWA are two Austin based that actually give musicians money. In this episode you’ll learn what they do, how they work, and why they were founded. You’ll hear from Matt Ott, co-founder of Sonic Guild, formerly known as Black Fret, and Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone, founder of DAWA.

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November 23, 2022

Do Musicians Need Corporate Support to Survive in the New Austin?

Miles and Elizabeth explore different forms of corporate support for music, and look at one company that’s making a big investment in Austin music.

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November 9, 2022

Take note U.S.: Canada actually gives its musicians money

Hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen explore the Canadian system of support for the arts in general, and for commercial music specifically. They explain what they know to Pause/Play audio engineer Jake Perlman, with help from Jessica Deljouravesh from the Ontario Arts Council,  Marina Adam from Ontario Creates, Eric Owen from Black Pistol Fire , and KUT transportation reporter Nathan Bernier.

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October 26, 2022

Why doesn’t commercial music in the U.S. get any financial support outside of, say, fans?

Hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen talk to UT Professor Charles Carson about why American commercial music doesn’t get financial support outside of the capitalist market. They break down the idea that the best music comes from struggle. They also talk about what the city of Austin owes the music scene, and how the city might better support the for-profit music sector.

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July 5, 2022

NFTs and Music: Austin Musicians’ Thoughts on NFTs

Hear what Jackie Venson, Deezie Brown, David Shabani, and Erin Ivey have to say about NFTs and Music. You can check out the NFT for our song “What is an NFT?” It’s not for sale, but it is on the Solana blockchain! https://solsea.io/n/AaYykx8tvL4yzrmwwqwuB3H3NFaiV3kF7uEeAM9bfwHJ/ And you can listen to the song any time on our podcast […]

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