

Pause/Play
KUT & KUTX Studios
Pause/Play: a podcast about live music, why it matters, and what comes next.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 17, 2025 • 40min
Doing all the things: The new blueprint for making a living in music
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 Carrie Rodriguez figured out how to make a living in music by expanding their ideas of what they can do with music.
Find out more about Laboratorio Arts.
The full transcript of this episode of Pause/Play is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.The post Doing all the things: The new blueprint for making a living in music appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jun 3, 2025 • 35sec
Season 6 of Pause Play starts June 17th!
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. We’ll talk about how artists are making a living by exploring multiple creative avenues. We talk to artists who are reimagining fan connections beyond social media and who are dreaming up alternatives to the major streaming services. We’ll dive into how musicians are embracing (or rejecting) AI, what’s ahead for the Live Music Fund, and—of course – what the next generation of Austin musicians is up to.Pause/Play is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
The post Season 6 of Pause Play starts June 17th! appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Sep 4, 2024 • 49min
Don’t Austin My Lockhart: How Austin musicians seeking affordability are impacting surrounding towns
We’re looking at what happens to small towns like Lockhart when a bunch of Austin musicians seeking affordable places to live move there.You’ll hear from musician Emily Gimble, musician and co-owner of Fiddler’s Green Jenn Miori Hodges, co-founders Courthouse Nights and Rach and Rhodes presents Rachel Lingvai and Will Rhodes, musician Pierson Saxon and founders of Duett’s in Martindale, Texas Ryan and Katie Grametbaur.
The post Don’t Austin My Lockhart: How Austin musicians seeking affordability are impacting surrounding towns appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Aug 21, 2024 • 43min
How SXSW went from an Austin festival to an international experience
SXSW started in 1987 as a regional music festival in Austin. You’ll hear how it started and how it changed over the years from the perspectives of some of the musicians who’ve played it. You’ll also learn about what changed because of musician protests, what SXSW was like in Sydney, Australia, and what the festival might look like in the future.Check out this flier from the first SXSW
The post How SXSW went from an Austin festival to an international experience appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Aug 7, 2024 • 1min
Pause/Play is taking a quick break
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 in the episode after that, you’ll hear about what happens when people leave Austin and start music scenes in towns around Austin.
We want to hear from you — do you live in a town close to Austin with a new thriving music scene or have you been to a show where you least expected to see live music? We’d love it if you would send us a voice memo about your experience!
You can leave a message at kutkutx.studio/contactpauseplay, email us at pauseplay@kut.org or you can leave us a message on Instagram — our handle is @pauseplaypod
The post Pause/Play is taking a quick break appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jul 24, 2024 • 0sec
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 within the industry.
Featuring advice from:
Little City Sounds music consultant project manager Lisa Machac
Howdy Gals co-founder and booker Belicia Luevano
Rap singer, songwriter, vocalist and entrepreneur Anastasia Hera
Songwriter, producer, and performer Dayglow
Singer and songwriter Mama Duke
KUT The Breaks podcast host Fresh
KUTX music director Rick McNulty
KUTX Program Director Matt Reilly
Austin Chronicle Music and Culture editor Cy White
Hip hop artist, producer and creative solutionist J Soulja
The post An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 2 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jul 10, 2024 • 42min
An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 1
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.
You’ll hear about what people within the industry are looking for in an artist, what role authenticity plays, and how social media can impact a musician’s career.
Featuring advice from:
Little City Sounds music consultant project manager Lisa Machac
Howdy Gals co-founder and booker Belicia Luevano
Singer, songwriter, rap artist, innovator and entrepreneur Anastasia Hera
Songwriter, producer and performer Dayglow
Singer and songwriter Mama Duke
KUT The Breaks podcast host Fresh
KUTX Music Director Rick McNulty
KUTX Program Director Matt Reilly
Austin Chronicle Music and Culture editor Cy White
Hip-hop artist, producer and creative solutionist J Soulja
The post An Austin Artist’s Guide to Success: Part 1 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jun 26, 2024 • 32min
Who owns Austin’s venues, how it’s changed, and why it matters.
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 what it means for our live music ecosystem.
The full transcript of this episode of Pause/Play is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.The post Who owns Austin’s venues, how it’s changed, and why it matters. appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jun 12, 2024 • 46min
Ticketing through an Austin Lens
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 speculative ticketing. And you’ll learn about what some people are trying to do to fix these issues.
The post Ticketing through an Austin Lens appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

May 29, 2024 • 36min
How laws targeting LGBTQIA+ Texans are impacting Austin’s live music scene
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 Jack Kaulfus.
The full transcript of this episode of Pause/Play is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.The post How laws targeting LGBTQIA+ Texans are impacting Austin’s live music scene appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.


