ACME to hire airport music coordinator; airport bookings booked through December, original music required

ACME staff reported progress on Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport live music operations and said the department is hiring a dedicated airport music coordinator to manage booking and logistics.

"We are in the process now of hiring the music coordinator that will oversee… all processes at the airport," Erica Shamali, music and entertainment division manager, told commissioners. She said Greg Gonzalez will oversee the coordinator and that current bookings have been made through December; ACME expects to resume regular booking in January so that music appears at all eight airport stages.

Content and performer rules Greg Gonzalez, program manager, clarified ACME’s content policy for airport performances: "The bands that perform have to be primarily original music, but they're allowed to play covers, of course. But it can't be pure covers." Commissioners asked whether cover bands are permitted; Gonzalez confirmed original music is the requirement.

Artist compensation and logistics Staff said tipping is handled directly by artists: tipping containers, Venmo QR codes and merchandise sales go to the performers and the city does not retain a percentage. The airport provides quality amplifiers and other equipment to reduce travel friction for musicians.

Next steps ACME will post the airport music coordinator position externally and will update the commission when the job is posted and when the booking process is formalized on the ACME performance‑opportunities portal.

Provenance: briefing and commissioner Q&A held during the staff briefing portion of the Nov. 3 meeting.