

Since MTF’s establishment in Austin last year, it’s provided $565,000 worth of free medical care to musicians—making it just the latest organization to try to crack the city’s musician welfare problem. But even with its growing Rolodex of do-gooders, the Live Music Capital of the World is still struggling to keep the show going. Affordability continues to be an ongoing issue—one that’s hardly confined to Austin’s musicians—and consistent streams of revenue have been difficult for artists to access, especially in the era of digital streaming and low music sales. According to HAAM’s most recent reports, more than 60 percent of its members are barely making enough money to get by every month.