News – News
Texas Workforce Commission’s Most Frequently Asked Questions (in regards to music industry professionals / contract workers)
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced today (Tuesday, June 30th) that it will delay the reinstatement of the work search requirement for unemployment benefits in Texas. This requirement, which is federal law, was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the outset, TWC has stated that bringing back work search would be conditions-based. “Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Texas, TWC has decided to pause the return of work search requirements at this time,” said Ed Serna, TWC Executive Director. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make further recommendations in late July.” The Texas Music Office has also compiled links to some of TWC's most requently asked questions.
Governor’s Strike Force To Open Texas Executive Order GA 28 & GA 29
On Friday, June 26, Governor Abbott announced EXECUTIVE ORDER GA 28 relating to the targeted response to the COVID-19 disaster as part of the reopening of Texas. County judges and mayors, as appropriate, can prohibit certain outdoor gatherings of over 100 people by withholding approval of such gatherings, or can approve such gatherings with any conditions or restrictions not inconsistent with GA-28. On July 2, Governor Abbott issued EXECUTIVE ORDER GA 29 requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces, with few exceptions, in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases.
Assistance Information and Resources For Music Industry Professionals Affected by COVID-19
The Texas Music Office is compiling assistance information and resources for music industry professionals whose creative industries and incomes are being adversely impacted by COVID-19, resulting in loss of work due to venue closures, festival and event cancellations and travel restrictions. The TMO will continue to update this page as more information and resources become available. Likewise, some of the grants run out of funds, and then are later replished via new donations. So make sure to check back if a grant you're interested in is temporarily suspended because it ran out of funding.
Interview with ATX Music Office Manager Erica Shamaly About the City of Austin’s New Disaster Relief Grant Programs For Artists
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 the TMO released the debut episode of the Texas Music Mixtape, a program featuring Texas music news, interviews, and music. Featured here are the first 20 minutes of the program, including an interview with the City of Austin's Music & Entertainment Division Manager Erica Shamaly. Erica talks with Texas Music Office Marketing & Communications Specialist Marc Fort about the City of Austin's new grant programs: the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund providing $1,000 grants to the city's most vulnerable musicians, and the Austin Creative Space Disaster Relief Program providing up to $50,000 grants to organizations and independent artists facing displacement and difficulty paying rent for their commercial creative spaces.
Music Friendly Communities Update
Multiple cities and Texas communities continue the work of providing new opportunities for their music business professionals even during Covid-19 mitigation. We check-in with newly certified McKinney, and cities working through the process (Dallas, Brenham, Waxahachie, New Braunfels, and Waco).
Texas Artists Livestreaming Concerts
As almost all events are canceling and rescheduling for the foreseeable future, musicians are moving to social media and digital platforms to livestream concerts from their homes, empty venues, or wherever they can. Many Texan artists have hopped on this effort since the cancellation of SXSW, but there are plenty of upcoming series and concerts from all across the state that you can tune into as you’re social distancing. Texas Monthly, Austin 360, and others have compiled a list of Texas artists that are streaming weekly shows and DJ sessions, across all genres.
Provisions From The CARES Act That Will Benefit Music Industry Professionals
President Donald Trump signed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law this week. It is the third and most extensive, measure enacted to provide relief and aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes economic and health coverage protection provisions for individuals, employers, and key sectors of the music industry. We've prepared a summary of some of the key benefits for music industry professionals.
Upcoming Texas Artists Livestreaming Concerts
Learn about the plethora of livestream concerts happeningn today from Texas-based artists. As almost all events are canceling and rescheduling for the foreseeable future, musicians are moving to social media and digital platforms to livestream concerts from their homes, empty venues, or wherever they can.