Episodes
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.
Published 05/01/24
Published 05/01/24
In the first episode of Season 5, hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen look at how COVID has shifted some people's relationship with live music, plus they give you a season overview.
Published 04/17/24
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.
Published 04/05/24
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.
Published 11/15/23
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.
Published 03/29/23
SXSW brings in millions each year, but Black and brown Austinites don’t always benefit from the influx of money. DAWA, a local nonprofit, has put together a series of music shows and panels to elevate and direct resources to Austin’s BIPOC community. Find more information about everything happening during Vision:8291 here.
Published 03/13/23
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.
Published 03/08/23
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.  
Published 02/22/23
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.
Published 02/01/23
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      
Published 01/18/23
In the latest episode of Pause/Play we spoke with Brett Orrison, Samara Simpson, and Jonathan Horstman about the non-profit record label Spaceflight Records.
Published 12/21/22
Sonic Guild and DAWA are two Austin based that actually give musicians money. In this episode you’ll learn what they do, how they work, and why they were founded. You’ll hear from Matt Ott, co-founder of Sonic Guild, formerly known as Black Fret, and Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone, founder of DAWA.
Published 12/07/22
Miles and Elizabeth explore different forms of corporate support for music, and look at one company that's making a big investment in Austin music.
Published 11/23/22
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.
Published 11/09/22
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.
Published 10/26/22
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 […]
Published 07/05/22
Here’s your very own, very fungible copy of the soon-to-be hit song, “What is an NFT?”
Published 06/30/22
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.
Published 06/14/22
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.
Published 05/31/22
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.
Published 04/05/22
The City of Austin's Economic Development Department just raised their rate of pay for musicians to $200 per hour per musician. Hear why that happened, and how they hope this change will inspire other departments.
Published 03/29/22
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.
Published 03/07/22
We're looking at the Live Music Fund. We'll tell you what it is, how it came to be, and we'll explore the conversation around who gets the money. You'll hear from various people across the spectrum of Austin's live music ecosystem.
Published 03/01/22
Austin musicians are making the same amount of money per gig as they did in 1979. In the latest episode, we look at gig pay through the years and talk to musicians Greg Clifford and Beto Martinez about how they've found ways to make money from music that don't involve playing live.
Published 02/15/22