Austin Texas Musicians

09/08/2026

MEET THE PANEL: PAT BUCHTA 🎶
Kozmetsky Center for Civic Engagement Community Forum 1: Is Austin Still the Live Music Capital? Protecting Austin's Creative Culture

What will it take to ensure Austin remains a city where musicians can build sustainable careers?

Pat Buchta is an Austin musician, composer, and music-industry advocate who leads Austin Texas Musicians. Under his leadership, ATXM has advanced fair-pay standards, public investment, professional education, and policy solutions that strengthen Austin’s music ecosystem.

Hear Pat share a working musician’s perspective on:

• The economic realities facing Austin artists
• Policies and investments making a difference
• Where critical gaps remain
• How musicians and residents can help shape Austin’s future

Join us for “Is Austin Still the Live Music Capital? Protecting Austin’s Creative Culture.”

📅 Tuesday, September 22
📍 St. Edward’s University, Jones Auditorium
⏰ Forum: 1–3 PM
🎶 Community Reception: 3:30–5 PM
🎟️ Free and open to the public—RSVP required

Tickets are going fast. Secure yours today! https://buff.ly/MUFUTrK

09/08/2026

🎸 INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS: YOU DON’T NEED A SUPERSTAR BUDGET TO BUILD A SMART MERCH PROGRAM.

Scott Friedeck knows because he started where many independent artists are today.

Before The Graphic Guitar Guys was creating custom guitars for Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, and other major artists, Scott was on the road as a road manager and merch manager for emerging Texas artist Ryan Beaver—learning the business from the ground up.

He started small. His first three custom guitars sold quickly. Four guitars for Gary Allan later sold out in just 20 minutes. Eventually, his company was producing 432 custom guitars for George Strait’s final Cowboy Rides Away concert.

That journey is exactly why Scott brings so much value to independent musicians.

At ATXM’s Sept. 14 Master Class, he’ll share practical guidance on:

🎸 Starting at a scale you can afford
💰 Managing costs, inventory + margins
📈 Building profitable merch revenue
👥 Creating products your fans will buy
🤝 Building relationships that create opportunities
🚀 Scaling your merch as your career grows
💡 Thinking beyond the T-shirt

Scott’s advice: Start smart. Know your audience. Protect your profitability. Build relationships. Be ready to scale.

Read his story, "When Merchandise Becomes Art">>https://buff.ly/oQowYkd

📅 Sept. 14 | St. Edward’s University
🎓 3–5 PM | 🎶 Reception 5:15–7 PM
🎟️ FREE | RSVP Required | Limited to 300



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09/07/2026

🎟️ TICKETS ARE GOING FAST!
Don’t miss ATXM’s FREE Music Industry Master Class on Sept. 14 at St. Edward’s University!
Learn from industry pros how to build your brand, create merch fans want, strengthen fan connections, and turn your creativity into new revenue.

🔥 Space is limited to 300 guests. Reserve your seat TODAY!
RSVP Now — FREE Admission

https://www.austintexasmusicians.org/blog/atxm-music-industry-master-class-sept-14thbeyond-the-stage-build-a-brand-that-creates-revenue

Miranda Lambert The Pink Pistol St. Edward's University Kozmetsky Center of Excellence

09/07/2026

🎨 LEARN HOW TO BUILD AN ARTIST BRAND FANS CAN RECOGNIZE—AND WANT TO BE PART OF.

Before you decide what to put on your next T-shirt, there’s a more important question:

What does your artist’s world look and feel like?

At ATXM’s Sept. 14 Music Industry Master Class, Dorothy Nottingham, the multidisciplinary designer, illustrator, and creative director behind Baby Snakes Creative, will show independent musicians how to turn their story and creative identity into a recognizable visual brand.

Dorothy’s work spans artist branding, illustration, album artwork, merchandise, festivals, and live experiences, with projects involving C3 Presents, Two Step Inn, Robert Earl Keen/REK & Friends, Tanner Usrey, SXSW, Formula 1, and more.

Come learn how to:

🎨 Define what your artist brand looks + feels like
✏️ Use illustration, color + typography to tell your story
👕 Create merch that feels like an extension of your music
👀 Build a visual identity fans immediately recognize
🎶 Carry your brand across albums, shows, merch + experiences
💰 Turn a stronger creative identity into new revenue opportunities

Dorothy’s lesson for independent musicians is simple:

ILLUSTRATION → BRAND → MERCHANDISE

Great merch doesn’t start with the product. It starts with a strong, authentic, and recognizable brand.

🎟️ Tickets are going fast, and space is limited. RSVP TODAY!

📅 Monday, Sept. 14
📍 St. Edward’s University
🎓 Master Class: 3–5 PM | Doors 2:30 PM
🎶 Reception + Live Music: 5:15–7 PM
🎟️ FREE | RSVP Required | Limited to 300

Read Dorothy’s story + RSVP>>https://buff.ly/MvG25YT

09/06/2026

MEET THE PANEL: CHIP ADAMS ⭐
Kozmetsky Center for Civic Engagement Community Forum 1: Is Austin Still the Live Music Capital? Protecting Austin's Creative Culture

How can public policy and economic development help musicians, venues, and music businesses thrive?

As Director of the Texas Music Office, Chip Adams leads statewide efforts to support and grow Texas’ commercial music industry. His work connects artists, music businesses, communities, and government through initiatives including the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community program and the Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program.

Hear Chip’s statewide perspective on:
• Music as a powerful economic-development engine
• How cities can better support local music ecosystems
• Public programs strengthening musicians and venues
• Opportunities for collaboration between industry and government

Join the conversation about protecting Austin’s creative culture—and the people who make it possible.

📅 Tuesday, September 22
⏰ 1–3 PM
📍 Jones Auditorium, St. Edward’s University
🎟️ Free admission—advance RSVP required

Tickets are going fast. Secure yours today! https://buff.ly/MUFUTrK

Texas Music Office Chip Adams

09/05/2026

🎸 What if Your Memorable Piece of Merchandise Wasn't a T-Shirt at All?
Think beyond the merch table.

Scott Friedeck, Founder & CEO of The Graphic Guitar Guys, takes one of music’s most iconic objects—the guitar—and transforms it into a canvas for art, branding, and storytelling.

The result can become so much more than traditional merchandise:

⭐ Collectibles
🎸 Commemorative pieces
🤝 Brand collaborations
🎟️ VIP products and fan experiences
❤️ Fundraising pieces

The progression?

INSTRUMENT → CANVAS → EXPERIENCE → VALUE

And there’s a bigger lesson here for every musician:

Stop asking only, “What merch should I sell?”

Start asking:

What could I create that only MY brand could create?

Read the latest ATXM case study and then hear directly from Scott at our FREE Sept. 14 Music Industry Master Class, Beyond the Stage: Build a Brand That Creates Revenue.

Read: When the Merchandise Becomes the Art>>https://buff.ly/hYfzqPt

📅 Monday, Sept. 14
📍 St. Edward’s University
🎟️ FREE + Open to the Public | RSVP Required



Miranda Lambert The Pink Pistol St. Edward's University The Graphic Guitar Guys - Making Guitars for the Stars

09/05/2026

Bravo Isabell!👏👏👏

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jason-isbell-suno-lawsuit-artist-identities-1235619317/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUFnJljbGNrBQWcaHBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeNcCHg8z3CJbYndX8agoznTAthzGdgda0tpNjahJDgc81bgnOBS9B9Ln7MZE_aem_0NjDYvgIvpBXD6XKdrPuLQ

Jason Isbell is leading a new lawsuit that accuses Suno of training its AI music model on artist identities in violation of right-of-publicity laws.

09/03/2026

🩷 FROM ARTIST MERCH TO AN ENTIRE BRAND ECOSYSTEM
What can independent musicians learn from the business behind Miranda Lambert?

Long before Miranda became one of country music's biggest stars, Bev Lambert was working alongside her daughter behind the scenes—helping with booking, fan club operations, merchandise and retail as Miranda's career grew.

The lesson for independent artists isn't that everyone needs to build a national retail operation.

It's this:

Understand what your fans connect with—and give them meaningful ways to become part of your world.

It might start with a $30 T-shirt.

But it doesn't necessarily have to end there.

Read Case Study #1 in What Musicians Can Learn From the Pros, then hear directly from Bev Sept. 14 at ATXM's FREE Music Industry Master Class.

Read the Case Study>>https://buff.ly/TOz6tFB



St. Edward's University HAAM - Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Sonic Guild Austin The SIMS Foundation Kozmetsky Center of Excellence

09/02/2026

🎸 WHAT MUSICIANS CAN LEARN FROM THE PROS
What if your merch table wasn’t the end product—but the beginning?

A T-shirt can introduce a visual identity.
A visual identity can build a recognizable brand.
A brand can strengthen fan loyalty.
And that connection can create entirely new revenue opportunities.

Our latest blog looks at four real-world case studies—and four experts joining us Sept. 14 for ATXM’s FREE Music Industry Master Class:

🩷 Bev Lambert + Miranda Lambert — From Artist Merch to an Entire Brand Ecosystem
🎸 Scott Friedeck + The Graphic Guitar Guys — When the Merchandise Becomes the Art
🎨 Dorothy Nottingham + Baby Snakes Creative — Before You Make the T-Shirt, Build the Brand
👕 Clint Avants + C.C. Creations — Great Merch Needs a Business Behind It

Together, they connect the dots:

ARTIST → STORY → BRAND → DESIGN → PRODUCT → FAN → REVENUE

Read the blog, get inspired, and then come learn directly from the pros Sept. 14 at St. Edward’s University.

Read What Musicians Can Learn From the Pros>>https://buff.ly/TOz6tFB

🎟️ FREE + Open to the Public | RSVP Required | Limited to 300

Reserve Your Free Seat: https://buff.ly/TOz6tFB



St. Edward's University The Graphic Guitar Guys - Making Guitars for the Stars C.C. Creations, LLC The Pink Pistol Miranda Lambert Kozmetsky Center of Excellence

09/02/2026

🎸 WHAT IF YOUR MERCH TABLE WERE JUST THE BEGINNING?
Before Miranda Lambert became one of country music’s most recognizable artists, her mom, Bev Lambert, was working alongside her—helping with booking, merchandise, the fan club, and retail operations as Miranda’s career grew.

One of the biggest lessons?

Fans don’t just buy a T-shirt. They buy a connection to an artist.

And that connection can become the foundation for something much bigger.

Read our latest blog about what independent musicians can learn from Bev and Miranda Lambert’s journey—from early artist merchandise and fan engagement to the much larger lifestyle and retail ecosystem surrounding Miranda’s brand today.

Then come hear from Bev herself at ATXM’s FREE Music Industry Master Class:

🎓 Beyond the Stage: Build a Brand That Creates Revenue
📅 Monday, Sept. 14
📍 St. Edward’s University
⏰ Master Class: 3–5 PM
🎶 Reception + Live Music: 5:15–7 PM
🎟️ FREE | RSVP Required | Limited to 300

What could YOUR artist brand become?

Read the story>>https://buff.ly/UQbV30Q



The Graphic Guitar Guys - Making Guitars for the Stars Miranda Lambert Idyllwind Fueled by Miranda Lambert Miranda Lambert's MuttNation The Pink Pistol Wanda June Home Red 55 Winery Casa Rosa The Graphic Guitar Guys - Making Guitars for the Stars C.C. Creations, LLC St. Edward's University