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KUT & KUTX Studios

Pause/Play

A Music Interviews , Music and News podcast

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About the show

Pause/Play: a podcast about live music, why it matters, and what comes next.

Newest episodes

How to become an Official SXSW Music Artist

45 min

Ever wondered what it takes to perform at SXSW? In the latest episode of Pause/Play, we sit down with SXSW’s VP of Music Festival, B. Hobbs, and Senior Music Programmer Berkli Johnson to find out how artists are selected to perform at one of the biggest music festivals in the world. They walk us through […]

How to get your song on the radio

30 min

KUTX Music Director Rick McNulty talks about how he discovers new music, and his process for determining what songs make it into rotation. He also gives Austin artists insights about how to pitch their music for airplay.

Season 7 of Pause/Play starts October 27th!

1 min

This season, we’re trying to answer we want to answer some questions that we often hear from people in the Austin music ecosystem. How can local artists get their music on the radio? How do Austin bands get booked at ACLfest?  How can we keep the Red River district alive? How can venues stay open […]

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 88 episodes

How to become an Official SXSW Music Artist

45 min

Ever wondered what it takes to perform at SXSW? In the latest episode of Pause/Play, we sit down with SXSW’s VP of Music Festival, B. Hobbs, and Senior Music Programmer Berkli Johnson to find out how artists are selected to perform at one of the biggest music festivals in the world. They walk us through […]

How to get your song on the radio

30 min

KUTX Music Director Rick McNulty talks about how he discovers new music, and his process for determining what songs make it into rotation. He also gives Austin artists insights about how to pitch their music for airplay.

Season 7 of Pause/Play starts October 27th!

1 min

This season, we’re trying to answer we want to answer some questions that we often hear from people in the Austin music ecosystem. How can local artists get their music on the radio? How do Austin bands get booked at ACLfest?  How can we keep the Red River district alive? How can venues stay open […]

BONUS — Austin Artists Share What It Means to Play ACL Fest 

35 min

What does it mean for Austin artists to take the stage at the city’s biggest music festival? This episode features conversations with SL Houser, Geto Gala, and Next of Kin as they share their journeys to Austin City Limits Music Festival, reflect on what it means to perform in their hometown, and talk about what’s […]

What’s going on with the Live Music Fund?

27 min

The Live Music Fund is about to launch applications for its third round of funding. Hear what's changed with the fund over the years, and what will be new with this next iteration.

The Future of Vinyl

56 min

Caren Kelleher, founder and CEO of Gold Rush Vinyl and co-owner of Waterloo Records, shares why she launched a vinyl pressing plant, how her company brings records to life, and what’s next for her growing businesses.

AI and the Future of Music

38 min

AI is a hot topic right now, but how will it impact music? We discuss everything from fake bands getting millions of listens to a legendary producer vouching for the use of AI to lawsuits by major music groups against AI music generation programs. In the latest episode, we dive into how Austin musicians are […]

Streaming Sucks: The good, the bad and the future of music platforms

29 min

We examine what streaming looks like now and what it could look like in the future. Walker Lukens explains how Song Confessional has found success with streaming. And Lauren Bruno talks about a possible alternative to streaming that she wants to build called Prosper XO. Learn more about the Living Wage for Musicians Act. Check […]

Social Media & Music: Love It, Hate It, or Use It?

40 min

Social media has completely changed how musicians share their work and connect with fans — but not everyone is here for the endless scroll. Some artists are over it and have even ditched it altogether. In this episode, we dive into the love-hate relationship musicians have with social media. Hear from Chinasa Broxton, Carlos Dashawn […]

Doing all the things: The new blueprint for making a living in music

40 min

Pay for musicians in Austin has stayed the same for decades, and streaming often doesn’t bring in my money. So if you can’t make money playing music and you can’t make money selling music, what can you do? You’ll hear how Sara L. Houser, Chinasa Broxton and Carlos Dashawn Daniels Moore from Tribe Mafia, and […]

Season 6 of Pause Play starts June 17th!

1 min

The world is shifting faster than ever, and for many, the future feels more uncertain than clear. In season six of Pause/Play, we are taking a look at the future of Austin’s music scene.

Pause/Play is taking a quick break

1 min

There should be a new episode of Pause/Play this week. But, we got hit by a mix of travel, COVID, and unforeseen circumstances. So there’s no episode right now. But there will be in two weeks! In the next episode, you’ll hear about the history of SXSW, and how it’s changed over the years. And […]

An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 2

The latest episode of Pause/Play is part two of an Austin Artist’s Guide to Success. You’ll hear from many people in the everchanging Austin music scene about their tips and tricks for making it here. You’ll hear about the role of streaming in an artist’s career, what makes a great artist and advice from people […]

An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 1

41 min

The latest episode of Pause/Play is an Austin Artist’s Guide to Success. You’ll hear from many people in the everchanging Austin music scene about their tips and tricks for making here.

Who owns Austin’s venues, how it’s changed, and why it matters.

32 min

20 years ago, most of Austin's venues were independently and locally run. But, over time corporations like Live Nation and Oak View Group have entered Austin's venue landscape. Discover how that happened, and hear what that means for our live music ecosystem.

Ticketing through an Austin Lens

46 min

This episode of Pause/Play explores changes in ticketing through an Austin lens. You’ll hear from Mellie Price, one of the founders of Front Gate Tickets about the industry’s expansion onto the internet. Then you’ll hear from Stephen Parker, the executive director of the National Independent Venue Association about problems with service fees, secondary markets, and […]

How laws targeting LGBTQIA+ Texans are impacting Austin’s live music scene

36 min

LGBTQIA+ members of Austin’s music scene talk about how proposed bans on drag performances, and laws outlawing gender-affirming care for minors are impacting their work and their lives. You’ll hear from co-owner of Cheer Up Charlies Maggie Lea. Plus you’ll hear from Austin musicians Caleb de Casper, Lizzy Lehman, Pelvis Wrestley’s Jammy Violet, and writer/musician […]

How is climate change impacting Austin's live music scene?

36 min

In the latest episode of Pause/Play, you’ll hear from musicians, venue owners and fans about how climate change is affecting Austin’s Music Scene.  We also talk to weatherman David Yeomans and neuropsychotherapist Bella Rockman.

Trailer: Pause/Play Season 5

1 min

The new season of Pause/Play starts April 17th. This season is all about change. We’ll be looking at the impact that climate change, changes in laws, changes in ticketing, changes in venues, changes in tech, and more are having on the Austin music scene.

An Outsider’s Take on the Austin Music Scene

23 min

In this bonus episode, Brazilian journalist and podcaster Filipe Speck explores the Austin Music Scene from his perspective as someone visiting the city for the first time.

All About Our Listeners

27 min

This episode is all about our listeners. We asked what they thought we should do to support the Austin Music Scene, and they answered! Plus, you'll learn about one listener who started a business to employ Austin musicians -- the Handyband Collective.

What Touring is Like Now

57 min

Musicians talk about what it's like to tour on this side of the pandemic.  You'll hear from Jane Ellen Bryant and Daniel Leopold of Jane Leo,  Eimaral Sol, Blakchyl, Matt the Electrician, Ali Holder, Sean Michael Giddings,  Scott Collins + Janet Weiss and Sam Coomes of the band Quasi.

Black Artists discuss the state of the Austin Music Scene

47 min

You’ll hear from four Black musicians – Anastasia Hera, Cam the Tastemaker, Blakchyl, and Brannen Temple – about how they’ve navigated the Austin music scene, and what support they’d like to see.  

All About the Census

40 min

In the latest episode, Peter Schwarz from Sound Music Cities about some of the results of the Greater Austin Music Census. You’ll also hear from Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone about why some Black community leaders didn’t feel included in the census.

Austin has a music union? Here’s what it is and how it works.

35 min

Learn all about the Austin Federation of Musicians ––  how it works, what benefits it provides for freelance musicians, and why you may not know it exists. Read more about the Musicians Union Check out Tell Tchaikovsky The News      

Take note U.S.: Canada actually gives its musicians money

49 min

Hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen explore the Canadian system of support for the arts in general, and for commercial music specifically. They explain what they know to Pause/Play audio engineer Jake Perlman, with help from Jessica Deljouravesh from the Ontario Arts Council,  Marina Adam from Ontario Creates, Eric Owen from Black Pistol Fire , and KUT transportation reporter Nathan Bernier.

Why doesn’t commercial music in the U.S. get any financial support outside of, say, fans?

31 min

Hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen talk to UT Professor Charles Carson about why American commercial music doesn't get financial support outside of the capitalist market. They break down the idea that the best music comes from struggle. They also talk about what the city of Austin owes the music scene, and how the city might better support the for-profit music sector.

NFTs and Music: Austin Musicians’ Thoughts on NFTs

31 min

Hear what Jackie Venson, Deezie Brown, David Shabani, and Erin Ivey have to say about NFTs and Music. You can check out the NFT for our song “What is an NFT?” It’s not for sale, but it is on the Solana blockchain! https://solsea.io/n/AaYykx8tvL4yzrmwwqwuB3H3NFaiV3kF7uEeAM9bfwHJ/ And you can listen to the song any time on our podcast […]

NFTs and Music: Minting an NFT

33 min

Miles and Elizabeth go on a journey to mint an NFT. But in order to do that they have to write and record a song, buy cryptocurrency, set up a wallet, and list an NFT for sale. But things don’t quite go as they planned.

NFTs and Music: What is an NFT?

36 min

In this first episode of our mini-season about NFTs you'll learn all the things you need to know in order to understand what NFTs are and how they work.

The Return of SXSW

48 min

We're taking a look at the first in-person SXSW in 3 years. You'll hear from rapper and event curator J Soulja, bartender and co-founder of the Amplified Sound Coalition Jeanette Gregor, artist manager Andi Narvaez, Cheer-Up Charlie's owners Maggie Lea and Tamara Hoover, musician and composer Graham Reynolds, freelance writer Brianna Caleri, artist, instrumentalist, bandleader and soundman Thomas Cook, and musician Jackie Venson.

What Mayor Adler has to say about the Live Music Fund

29 min

Hear what Austin Mayor Steve Adler has to say about the history of the Live Music Fund, why he raised concerns about the Live Music Fund Event Program, and what he thinks should guide the conversation moving forward.

Live music doesn’t always pay the bills. So what else can you do?

36 min

First, you'll learn how much money the average Austin musician makes per gig, and why it can be hard to make a living playing live music. Then you'll learn all about an alternate revenue stream for musicians -- sync licensing. Nathalie Phan, founder of SoundSync Music, will explain the ins and outs of sync licensing from an agent's perspective and Austin rapper Tee-Double will walk you through the artist's perspective. Then you'll learn all about an alternate revenue stream for musicians -- sync licensing. Nathalie Phan, founder of SoundSync Music will explain the ins and outs of sync licensing from an agency's perspective and then Austin hip-hop artist Tee-Double will walk you through the artist's perspective.

Could affordable housing save Austin’s music scene?

34 min

In the latest episode, you'll learn how Austin non-profit Foundation Communities helped musician James Shelton find affordable housing the central Austin. And you'll get a crash course in how affordable housing works from Foundation Communities Executive Director, Walter Moreau.

See all 79 episodes

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