Pause/Play

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October 26, 2022

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

By: Elizabeth McQueen

Austin is home to a thriving music scene, but that scene hasn’t received much financial support outside of fans buying music and going to shows. That’s not uncommon in the U.S. While some art forms like the opera and the symphony get regular public and private investments, commercial music typically gets left to fend for itself. Why is that?

In the first episode of Season 4 of Pause/Play, Hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen try to answer that question with the help of UT Professor Charles Carson.  They also examine the idea that the best music comes from struggle. And they explore what the city of Austin owes the music scene, and how the city might better support the for-profit music sector.

Charles Carson, an associate professor of music at the University of Texas at Austin, is pictured on campus on Oct. 18, 2022, in Austin. Michael Minasi / KUT News

Episodes

July 15, 2025

Streaming Sucks: The good, the bad and the future of music platforms

We examine what streaming looks like now and what it could look like in the future. Walker Lukens explains how Song Confessional has found success with streaming. And Lauren Bruno talks about a possible alternative to streaming that she wants to build called Prosper XO. Learn more about the Living Wage for Musicians Act. Check […]

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July 1, 2025

Social Media & Music: Love It, Hate It, or Use It?

Social media has completely changed how musicians share their work and connect with fans — but not everyone is here for the endless scroll. Some artists are over it and have even ditched it altogether. In this episode, we dive into the love-hate relationship musicians have with social media. Hear from Chinasa Broxton, Carlos Dashawn […]

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June 17, 2025

Doing all the things: The new blueprint for making a living in music

Pay for musicians in Austin has stayed the same for decades, and streaming often doesn’t bring in my money. So if you can’t make money playing music and you can’t make money selling music, what can you do? You’ll hear how Sara L. Houser, Chinasa Broxton and Carlos Dashawn Daniels Moore from Tribe Mafia, and […]

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June 3, 2025

Season 6 of Pause Play starts June 17th!

The world is shifting faster than ever, and for many, the future feels more uncertain than clear. In season six of Pause/Play, we are taking a look at the future of Austin’s music scene.

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September 4, 2024

Don’t Austin My Lockhart: How Austin musicians seeking affordability are impacting surrounding towns

We’re looking at what happens to small towns like Lockhart when a bunch of Austin musicians seeking affordable places to live move there. You’ll hear from musician Emily Gimble, musician and co-owner of Fiddler’s Green Jenn Miori Hodges, co-founders Courthouse Nights and Rach and Rhodes presents Rachel Lingvai and Will Rhodes, musician Pierson Saxon and […]

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August 21, 2024

How SXSW went from an Austin festival to an international experience

SXSW started in 1987 as a regional music festival in Austin. You’ll hear how it started and how it changed over the years from the perspectives of some of the musicians who’ve played it, and what’s next for the festival.

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August 7, 2024

Pause/Play is taking a quick break

There should be a new episode of Pause/Play this week. But, we got hit by a mix of travel, COVID, and unforeseen circumstances. So there’s no episode right now. But there will be in two weeks! In the next episode, you’ll hear about the history of SXSW, and how it’s changed over the years. And […]

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July 24, 2024

An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 2

The latest episode of Pause/Play is part two of an Austin Artist’s Guide to Success. You’ll hear from many people in the everchanging Austin music scene about their tips and tricks for making it here. You’ll hear about the role of streaming in an artist’s career, what makes a great artist and advice from people […]

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