The Austin Music and Entertainment division (ACME) reported the latest hotel occupancy tax collections for the Live Music Fund and provided FY24 grant closeout data while announcing open applications for the FY26 cycle.

ACME program manager Kim McCarson told the commission that September collections for the Live Music Fund were $26,351, bringing year‑to‑date collections to $4,404,004.62, a 1% decline from the prior year. "The September collections are 26,351. That makes the year to date, $4,404,004.62," McCarson said.

Erica Shamali, music and entertainment division manager, presented FY24 closeout metrics. Out of 136 awarded grants, 136 award agreements have been accepted; 135 awardees completed orientations and financial forms and received first payments. Second payments have been made to 101 awardees (about 74%), and 52 agreements have closed with final payments (about 38%). "A 135 completed financial forms, and first payments paid…a 101 second payments…52 final payments," Shamali summarized.

Why it matters: the Live Music Fund is paid by hotel occupancy tax revenues and supports Austin performers and venues. Staff said the FY24 closeout rate indicates the program is progressing through scheduled payments and reporting milestones, and that ACME will continue to solicit procedural feedback from applicants to reduce application pinch points.

Key application rules and deadlines
ACME reminded applicants that the intake/eligibility/application process is in three parts. "All applications for the Austin Live Music Fund are open now. You must have your initial intake forms in by December 4. And for folks that have all that information in by the fourth, you have until the eleventh to complete your application," Shamali said.

Staff clarified several eligibility and process points requested by commissioners:
- Applicants must choose either the $5,000 or the $20,000 award stream at the start of the process; the application applies to the selected award amount only. "If you choose 20 or 5, that is what you're applying for," Shamali said.
- Previous FY24 award recipients are eligible to apply for FY26, but awardees cannot receive payments from a newly awarded FY26 agreement until they have closed out any prior agreement. Erica Shamali said award agreements may be executed, but first payments on a new award are withheld until the prior grant is closed out.
- ACME estimates the intake form takes about five minutes and the Live Music Fund eligibility form about 30 minutes, since applicants must attach documentation (two years’ professional activity and evidence meeting five of seven elements of the Live Music Fund definition).

Application assistance and panelists
Acting division manager Laura Odegard reviewed outreach and assistance: ACME has held workshops (virtual and in‑person), offers weekly office hours (Tuesdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), and provides one‑on‑one meetings with staff. Fillable forms and translated materials will be available; ACME plans Spanish, ASL and Asian language supports for specific sessions. Odegard said 657 intake forms have been submitted across all ACME programs (four in Spanish). For the Austin Live Music Fund specifically, staff distributed 249 eligibility forms in English (two in Spanish); 178 eligibility forms were submitted, 174 applicants were sent full applications, and 30 full applications had been submitted as of the reporting date.

Panelists: Odegard said review panels are paid and are being recruited for Elevate and Heritage Preservation grant review; the Live Music Fund uses a different review process and does not use community panelists. Panelists cannot be City of Austin full‑time employees and may not review a program to which they have applied; panelists must complete a conflict‑of‑interest form before reviewing applications.

What staff asked commissioners to do
Staff solicited commissioner feedback on procedural pain points and outreach, and asked commissioners to encourage community members to use workshop and office‑hour resources. Shamali and Odegard requested commissioners help spread the word that prior FY24 grantees may apply for this FY26 cycle but explained the timing limits on payments until prior grants are closed out.

Ending note
ACME staff said they will continue to update the commission monthly with collections and closeout metrics and will post application and assistance materials on the ACME funding pages and the Long Center resource portal.