What life as musician is really like in the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

I’ve lived in Austin for only a few short years. We moved here for better jobs in the IT industry. Since we have been here, we have noticed that everything in Austin is getting ridiculously expensive. Housing, food, gas. Everything here is just rising in price as more and more people migrate to Austin. To some they see this as a great opportunity for growing our economy and notoriety in the U.S. However, the high prices are also trickling down and affecting more than we think.
According to Texas Monthly the cost of living in Austin is causing our musicians to consider other alternatives to survive in the city rather than just making music. The online magazine writes that the City of Austin Music Office hired Titan Music group to conduct a research survey that would allow the city to see how the music industry is holding up these days. The numbers weren’t great. According to the census, 20% of the musicians who perform in Austin only make less than $10 thousand a year. Most have to get another job to be able to support themselves outside of performing. As if income isn’t enough of an issue, another one of the biggest challenges that musicians and venue owners face is the rise of rent prices. If rent prices on these venues rise, how will the venue owners be able to pay these musicians what they deserve for their time and talent as well as how will the musicians be able to pay to use the venues as well as make a living and support themselves when the show is over?
Because of this, I foresee the music industry losing ground and growing smaller and smaller. This is a shame since this is what Austin is known for and what people what to see when they come visit the city. In My Statesman, there were some suggestions made to the city on how to help both the venue owners and most importantly our musicians be able to live and thrive in not only the music business but be able to survive in this expensive city. Hopefully, the city will recall on how these musicians are a huge part as to why Austin has been placed on the map, and come together to think of a solution to keep the music playing.