Despite its name, the Live Music Fund is not just for live music

More than 650 applications for grants from the city’s first live music fund are in the early stages of evaluation and scoring, with initial distribution of the $5,000 and $10,000 prizes expected to begin in September.

The Music Commission was briefed on the next steps for the $3.5 million program on Monday and closed the application process last month. Music and entertainment department manager Erika Shammary said the committee’s July meeting will include a breakdown of the social and economic demographics of the applicant pool and what types of projects the desired winners will pursue. He said it would include details about what he had proposed.

The program has a total budget of $4.1 million, with an additional $600,000 included to cover administrative costs for the contract-winning Long Center for the Performing Arts, which manages scoring and payments to recipients.

The Live Music Fund’s name suggests that the award should be used to fund performances and events, but Shammary said that as long as it’s advertised in a way that appeals to tourists, it won’t be used for recordings. – Explained that sessions and video projects are also eligible for funding. Funding for this program comes from the city’s hotel lodging tax receipts, which are used to boost the local tourism economy, and are therefore permitted to be used.

Discussions about the program revolved around complaints from potential applicants that the online submission process seemed to suggest a preference for live events over other types of projects. Another issue was that some believed that financial and demographic information collected during the process was used in some way to evaluate the application, and Shammary said that in fact, said it was intended to be used to study the equity and reach of the programme.

“A lot of people were wondering why I was being asked that, so I understand it was kind of a barrier, but it’s not part of the subsidy. It was clear,” she said. “We are working to improve that process and make it easier for applicants to get through.”

Chair Nagavalli Medicharla said these changes to next year’s program and application process will help reach a wider range of potential beneficiaries.

“This subsidy program was offered to users … focused on the music ecosystem with the idea of ​​expanding and building the ecosystem,” she said.

Medichara added, “I think there are still some gaps to fill, because at the moment the application still seems very focused on live performances, going through questions about audience, dates and venues. Because there is a route,” he added. Recordings and other projects were mentioned in a few places, but it didn’t feel like it was going in the right direction at all. ”

The Live Music Fund’s group next year will also include venues as potential beneficiaries of city funds used to host concerts and events that boost the careers of local musicians. Expansion may require additional funding. Shammary said a venue summit, scheduled for early to mid-July, will help determine the biggest needs for these companies and what role the city can play.

A survey of local venue owners will be released by early next week.

“We’d love to hear from them about what they think is fair for your venue and what’s most convenient,” she said. “Are[they]okay with grants like what just happened? Or would they want to consider a different kind of system for venues that is simpler than grants?”

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