The City of Austin, highly regarded for its culture of live music, released the findings of its first music census in June 2015. The census reported that over 68 percent of Austin musicians made less than $10,000 annually and that 20 percent were living below poverty levels. In addition, the city found that respected music venues were closing due in part to rising rental costs.

In its new city budget released September 10, the Austin City Council will increase funding for the Music Venue Assistance Program and the City’s Music & Entertainment Division. Council member Ellen Troxclair sponsored the funding increases, and she stated that Austin needs the changes because of the music industry’s importance to the city’s culture and economy. With its funding increases, the Music & Entertainment Division will be able to hire two new full-time staff; the Music Venue Assistance Program will now be able to help recording companies and other music infrastructure businesses.

Advocates still call for greater support from the city though. The Music & Entertainment Division’s allocation will amount to about $108,000—which includes the proposed increase of $30,000—of Austin’s $3.5 billion budget. Currently, the music industry has an estimated $2 billion impact on Austin’s economy.