Nikki Rowling

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”

Laura Mendoza of Cosmic Chaos is pictured on Dec. 3, 2021, at her home north of Austin. Michael Minasi/KUTX

We’re Not New York, LA or Nashville. So What Kind of Music City is Austin? Part 1: Dayglow

We’ve said the words Austin music ecosystem so many times on this podcast. But what do we actually mean when we say that? And how is our ecosystem different from other music cities like LA, Nashville or New York?

In this episode we’ll try to start to answer those questions. First you’ll hear from Austin artist Sloan Struble aka Dayglow, who moved to Austin in part because of the music scene and who has no plans to leave. You’ll also hear from three experts Michael Seman, Nikki Rowling and Peter Schwarz, who will shed some light on what Austin’s music ecosystem is actually like and how it compares to other music cities like New York, LA or Nashville.

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V&B: Austin Music Census

In this episode of Views & Brews, guest host Matt Reilly of KUTX talks with Nikki Rowling, of the Titan Music Group, and Don Pitts, from The City of Austin Music Office, to discuss what recent data, published in The Austin Music Census, tells us about the health of the Austin music scene. Is the live music capital of the world on the verge of losing it’s musicians, because they can’t make a living in the city? Is Austin a place to discover new music? What can be done, by the city, the musicians, and the general public to ensure Austin music remains alive and kickin’?