AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. It’s also known as a city that is becoming less and less affordable. While you’d think that as the cost of living goes up, venues are paying Austin musicians more, but that might not be the case.
“I would say that the pay has been pretty much the same for at least the good eight to 10 years that I’ve been doing this,” said Lesly Reynaga.
Reynaga, a local singer/songwriter, said the rate of pay for musicians varies depending on venues and events, and, of course, how big the artist is. But, for the most part, the price musicians get paid hasn’t changed in a decade. What has changed is today’s cost of living.
“Twenty-five hundred then goes a lot farther than it does now,” said longtime Austin musician Van Wilks.
He’s been in the Austin music scene for about 50 years. Wilks explained how the pay system for musicians works, saying at some venues you get guaranteed pay on top of a percentage of tickets sold. For other venues, musicians only get the tickets sold percentage.
Wilks keeps the calendars from the live shows he has played from decades ago. According to his calendar from 1980, he said he played a show at the Armadillo Den for $1,250 plus 60% of the gate. As for now in 2022, Wilks said some venues are leaning more on paying the percentage of ticket sales.
“For a lot of people, if you can get a $500 guarantee, that’s decent, and then against the 80% to 90% of the door,” said Wilks.
That’s all money that is split between band members. Wilks said he’s not sure how large bands make it.
Creativity is part of the job for musicians, and if creating for their music isn’t enough, they also have to get creative when it comes to making a living in Austin.
“I worked at record stores, worked at a cemetery, cleaned houses,” said Wilks.
Now he does music lessons, along with his live shows.
As for Reynaga, she’s depended on family members, saying she lived with her brother for a little while and is just slowly figuring it out.
Along with some venues not increasing their guaranteed pay for bands, technology can hurt these musicians financially as well. The royalty rates for musicians was much larger with vinyl, eight-track tapes and cassettes than they currently receive from streaming services like Spotify. Wilks said he could have a 14-page statement for one song, and he’d only make about $10 from it. He added that it doesn’t stop him from wanting his music on Spotify, because he wants his music to be heard and to be shared.
Technology has helped musicians in a way too. Now, Wilks said he can put a QR code to his Venmo or CashApp to get tips when he plays at venues.
Austin musicians say the best way to support them is by attending their shows, buying their merch and contributing to their tip jars.
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