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March 9, 2021

One Year Later

By: Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen

We talked to people from across the spectrum of the Austin music ecosystem around the 1-year anniversary of the cancellation of SXSW. In this episode, you’ll hear how they’ve coped, pivoted, evolved, gained new perspectives and dealt with trauma during the last 12 months.

You’ll hear from singer, songwriter and guitar player Jackie Venson, songwriter, producer and activist Mobley, Stephanie Bergara who fronts the band Bidi Bidi Banda, Maggie Lea co-owner of Cheer-Up Charlies, musician and founder of Austin Texas Musicians Nakia, singer, songwriter and podcaster Walker Lukens,  live-event coordinator, screenwriter and co-founder of The Amplified Sound Coalition, Jeannette Gregor, executive director of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Reenie Collins, and executive director of Austin Texas Musicians, Pat Buchta.

We have a survey and we’d love to hear what you think! Go ahead! Take the survey here! 

Pause/Play Season 2 Episode 1

Links:

Listen to Jackie Venson’s music

Check out Mobley’s new record “Young and Dying in the Occident Supreme”

Listen to Nakia’s new single “It’s Never Too Late.”

The Amplified Sound Coalition

Austin Texas Musicians

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians

 

 

 

 


Episodes

February 22, 2023

Black Artists discuss the state of the Austin Music Scene

You’ll hear from four Black musicians – Anastasia Hera, Cam the Tastemaker, Blakchyl, and Brannen Temple – about how they’ve navigated the Austin music scene, and what support they’d like to see.  

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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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