In the crowd at Oblivion Access (Photo by David Brendan Hall)
In 2015, the first Austin Music Census highlighted fault lines in the local music economy still referenced in current policymaking – including that 75% of musicians fell below Austin’s average annual wage, with one-third of musicians making less than $15,000 annually.
Last week, partners including Mayor Steve Adler and KUTX announced plans to launch a new survey to provide a “health check” on the music ecosystem. Starting June 20, the 10- to 15-minute online census will be open for three weeks to music industry workers living or working in the Greater Austin area, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop counties. The group seeks responses from musicians, venue owners, music nonprofits, music business professionals, and beyond.
Whereas the 2015 survey was commissioned by the City of Austin and conducted by Titan Music Group, this edition will be overseen by Austin-based company Sound Music Cities. Former Austin Music & Entertainment Division Manager Don Pitts launched Sound Music Cities after running the city music office since its inception in 2010, where he conceived the Austin Music Census idea. He departed local government in 2017 while on administrative leave amid an audit investigation into his handling of an employee filing a fraudulent vendor invoice for $2,500 in travel costs.
His research group has been hired in cities nationwide to consult on music policy topics like noise level disputes. They have also worked on similar census projects in Charlotte, Dallas, D.C., and Seattle. Compared to the 2015 focus on the industry dollar amounts, the new census’ expanded questions will also examine social and cultural aspects of Austin music. No personal data will be requested, with respondents submitting anonymously. Results will be released publicly, in a series of infographics and a report, later this year.
The rollout listed support from 19 Austin orgs including ACC, SIMS, EQ Austin, and the city’s Economic Development Department – inviting more partners to reach out. Music Commissioner Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone, also behind POC support group DAWA, criticized Music Cities online for not engaging “several key BIPOC-led” groups prior to the launch. This week, the census added 19 more new partners like the Long Center, Latin Music Coalition Austin, and Urban Artist Alliance.
Back in February 2021, the Music Commission supported another survey aimed at musicians in partnership with local data-gathering nonprofit Measure. Mobley, who helped launch the Black Austin Musicians’ Collective and presented the survey to the commission, tells the Chronicle he isn’t able to share results yet. He also declined to comment on the new Sound Music Cities census.
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