Miles and Elizabeth go on a journey to mint an NFT. But in order to do that they have to write and record a song, buy cryptocurrency, set up a wallet, and list an NFT for sale. But things don’t quite go as they planned.
Miles Bloxson
NFTs and Music: What is an NFT?
In this first episode of our mini-season about NFTs and you’ll learn all the things you need to know in order to understand what music NFTs are and how they work.
You’ll hear from musician, DJ, composer, and founder of the web 3 community Mashibeats Mark de Clive-Lowe, and President of Blockchain Creative Labs, Melody Hildebrandt.
Bonus! A City Department just raised their rate for musicians to $200 per hour.
The City of Austin’s Economic Development Department just raised their rate of pay for musicians to $200 per hour per musician. Hear why that happened, and how they hope this change will inspire other departments.
What Mayor Adler has to say about the Live Music Fund
Hear what Austin Mayor Steve Adler has to say about the history of the Live Music Fund, why he raised concerns about the Live Music Fund Event Program, and what he thinks should guide the conversation moving forward.
The city has millions of dollars to support the Austin music scene. But who gets the money?
Musician pay for live shows in Austin hasn’t changed in 40 years. Here are some other ways they’ve found to make money with music.
Austin musicians are making the same amount of money per gig as they did in 1979. In the latest episode, we look at gig pay through the years and talk to musicians Greg Clifford and Beto Martinez about how they’ve found ways to make money from music that don’t involve playing live.
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Live music doesn’t always pay the bills. So what else can you do?
In this episode, you’ll learn how much money the average Austin musician makes per gig, and why it can be hard to make a living playing live music.
Then you’ll learn all about an alternate revenue stream for musicians — sync licensing. Nathalie Phan, founder of SoundSync Music, will explain the ins and outs of sync licensing from an agent’s perspective and Austin rapper Tee-Double will walk you through the artist’s perspective.
During Nathalie’s segment you’ll hear the song “Black Tea” by Slug, Elijah Fox, Soul Food Horns and Yasper.
During Tee-Double’s segment you’ll hear “Caped Up” from his album Local Transplant.
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Could affordable housing save Austin’s music scene?
In the latest episode, you’ll learn how Austin non-profit Foundation Communities helped musician James Shelton find affordable housing the central Austin. And you’ll get a crash course in how affordable housing works from Foundation Communities Executive Director, Walter Moreau.
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Read “The Artist Loft: Affordable Housing (for White People)” from the Atlantic
Bonus! Gina Chavez and Joe Greenwald at ACL Music Festival
Miles Bloxson speaks to Latin Grammy nominee Gina Chavez and artist manager Joe Greenwald at Austin City Limits Music Festival back in October of 2021. They talk about navigating the pandemic and issues facing the Austin music scene.
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How some Austin musicians are finding housing help with HOME
In the latest episode, you’ll learn about Austin Housing Opportunities for Musicians and Entertainers or HOME. This Austin organization helps older musicians with housing and living expenses.
You’ll hear from Marcia Ball and Rosie Flores.
How Austin’s housing market helped build the music scene, and how it could destroy it
In the latest episode of Pause/Play, we’re looking at how the housing market helped build Austin’s music scene, and how it could be the thing that destroys it. You’ll hear from Austin artists about how the housing market has changed for them over the years and why some of them have decided to leave. You’ll also learn about the connection between cheap housing and thriving music scenes, musician incomes, and Austin’s housing market from experts Nicky Rowling, Michael Seman, and Audrey McGlinchy.
In this episode you’ll hear from:
Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel
Robert A. Kraft
Laura Mendoza from Cosmic Chaos
Gina Chavez
Chinasa Broxton
Listen to the documentary “Back Home to the Armadillo”
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Why Taméca Jones, Austin’s Queen of Soul, is leaving for LA
Austin singer and songwriter Taméca Jones is leaving Austin for LA at the end of the year. In the latest episode, you’ll hear the reasons why the Austin Music scene isn’t working for her. Plus you’ll learn more about our music ecosystem.
You’ll also hear from and Peter Schwarz about the reality of music businesses in Austin’s music ecosystem. And Nikki Rowling explains how so many businesses operating independently can lead to burnout.
What Do We Do Now?
We look at this latest COVID surge in Austin and ask the question — What Do We Do Now?
In this episode you’ll hear from
Desmar Walkes, M.D — Medical Director/Health Authority for the City of Austin.
Pat Buchta — Executive Director or Austin Texas Musicians
Aubrey Hays — Musician
Mike Hidalgo — Musician
Autumn Cymone — Musician
Matt the Electrician — Musician
Erin Walter from Parker Woodland
Kate Howard — Musician
Jason McNeely — Managing Partner of Hotel Vegas
Jung Kwak PhD, MSW — Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing specializing in end of life issues and Medical Ethics.
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What’s Changed for Musicians?
We talk to musicians about what’s changed for them at this stage of the pandemic. You’ll learn what they’re doing differently creatively and with their businesses and how they’re feeling overall about the constantly changing Austin music landscape.
In this episode you’ll hear from
Jay Wile
Sara Houser
Jon Fichter from Sweet Spirit and Hong King Wigs
Caleb de Casper
Rene Chavez
Stephanie Bergara from Bidi Bidi Banda
Tee Double
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What’s Changed for Music Venues?
For the Fans
In this episode its all about the fans! You’ll hear about how they coped when there were no live shows and how they feel now that things are opening back up.
In this episode, you’ll hear from:
Hady Mawajdeh. : Hady produced a great podcast called “Gun Play.” You can listen here.
Joanna Castillo
Jonathan Weldon
Jen Leduc
Lulu Bryant
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Check out Andrew Weber’s piece on venues not yet receiving federal relief
Let us know your thoughts! Take the Pause/Play Survey!
Listen to songs from this episode of Pause/Play
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Is the Pandemic Over for Austin Music?
We ask the question, “Is the Pandemic Over For Austin Music?” You’ll hear from public health experts, a musician, a fan, a venue owner and a venue manager about what whether or not the CDC’s change in mask guidance for vaccinated individuals coupled with the big reopening in Austin music venues that took place on Memorial Day weekend signals the end of the pandemic for Austin’s music scene.
In this episode you’ll hear from:
Jason R. Pickett, MD, FACEP, FAEMS: Deputy Medical Director for Austin
Matt Lara: Public Information Officer – City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
The Teeta: Austin based hip-hop artist
Sabrina Mikan RN, PhD: Music fan
Steve Sternshein: Managing Partner of Heard Presents and Owner of Empire Control Room and Garage
Jeanette Gregor — Venue Manager for Mohawk and Co-founder of The Amplified Sound Coalition.
Let us know your thoughts! Take the Pause/Play Survey!
![Austin hip-hop Artist the Teeta](https://kutkutx.studio/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/51216292988_d7d5e389eb_o-1024x683.jpg)
You can listen to Jason Pickett’s podcast here: https://atcomd.wordpress.com/category/podcasts/
You can follow Sabrina Mikan on @lovefromatx on Instagram.
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To Play, or Not to Play?
In the latest episode of Pause/Play we tackle the question “To Play, or Play or not Play?” We asked 15 Austin Musicians the same questions — Have you performed during the pandemic? Are you ready to perform now? What would it take to make you feel comfortable performing the way we used to pre-pandemic? Their answers provide insight into what it’s been like to be a musician during COVID and what kind of decisions artists are faced with now that more people are getting vaccinated and COVID restrictions are loosening.
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In this episode you’ll hear from:
Tameca Jones
Chinasa Broxton from Tribe Mafia
Daisy O’connor
Nayome
Topaz McGarrigle from Golden Dawn Arkestra
Yin & Yang
Gina Chavez
Corey Baum from Croy and the Boys
Jaehross
Megz Kelli and Dougie Do from Magna Carda
Sara Houser
Chris Conde
Daniel Fears
Let us know your thoughts! Take the Pause/Play Survey!
![](https://kutkutx.studio/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/51184039869_c46df2c38e_o-1024x683.jpg)
Listen to the Songs featured in “To Play, or Not To Play?”
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The Pivot
In the latest episode of Pause/Play we talk to the lunch ladies of Free Lunch, musician J Soulja, the founders of Mosaic Live Wire and entrepreneur and artist Cam the TSTMKR about how they’ve pivoted during the pandemic.
You’ll hear from
Jazz Mills — event producer and co-founder of Free Lunch
Carrie Fussell Bickley — singer and songwriter with Calliope Musicals and co-founder of Free Lunch
Caroline Rose –singer, songwriter and producer and lunch lady at Free Lunch
J Soulja — hip-hop artist and promoter
Dan Redman — founder of Mosaic Sound Collective and co-founder of Mosaic Live Wire
Mike Henry — co-founder of Mosaic Live Wire
Stuart Sullivan — owner of Wire Recording and co-founder of Mosaic Live Wire
Cam the TSTMKR — hip-hop artist and entrepreneur
Let us know your thoughts! Take the Pause/Play Survey!
![](https://kutkutx.studio/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/51140901718_cb97aa3fd4_o-1024x683.jpg)
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Find out how to contribute to Free Lunch
Find out more about Caroline Rose
Find out more about Calliope Musicals
Find out more about Jazz Mills project Popecoke
Check out Behind the Song on The Smokeout’s InstagramTV
Find out more about Behind the Song Live, Which airs May 4th at 8pm
Find out more about Mosaic Sound Collective
Find out more about Mosaic Live Wire
Find out more about Wire Recording
Find out more about Rent a Record Label