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Music Commission

band playing music

San Antonio Artist Azul Barrientos

As a certified Music Friendly Community through the Texas Music Office, San Antonio is dedicated to the growth and development of its talented and diverse local music industry. 

In 2019, the Music Commission launched a music database with over 300 artist and business listed. We were able to help get 25 musicians featured during City Council Meetings and on Public Access Channels. Plus, we had 15+ artists booked for paid performances after discovery via music programs. We are here to help navigate resources for musicians and music businesses to thrive in San Antonio.

MUSIC DIRECTORY

San Antonio is home to experienced and talented musicians, music businesses and music resources – and the San Antonio Music Guide is your resource for connecting with them easily. 

  • Find Musicians - Your event can feature an authentic San Antonio sound by booking these local musicians! 
  • Find Music Businesses - Looking for a local place to listen to music? Want to attend a San Antonio music festival? Need to rent, buy or repair gear? Need a recording studio? Want to produce a music event? Interested in joining a music group or association? Take a look at these business listings!

Please note: The online guide is a reference; no endorsement or quality judgment is implied by the San Antonio Music Commission.

Do you need to register your music business, band, or yourself in the San Antonio Music Directory?

Already registered? Login here!

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM 

The Local Music Spotlight Program is a program administered by the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture and that features the music of local San Antonio musicians and songwriters at the beginning and during City Council meetings.

APPLICATION Guidelines

Applications for the City Council Local Music Spotlight program are accepted on a rolling basis.

Eligibility

  • Only San Antonio-based musicians/songwriters can apply.

  • Applicant(s) must be both the musician(s) and songwriter(s) of the submitted songs.

  • Music must be original (in other words, you must have the legal authority to license the City of San Antonio to utilize the recording and composition for the Local Music Spotlight program).

  • All genres qualify, including music in languages other than English and instrumental only.

  • Applicants who participate in the Local Music Spotlight Program must comply with the City of San Antonio’s Non-Discrimination Policy. Music submitted must not stereotype or promote views and ideas which are likely to promote discrimination, contempt or hatred for any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, familial status, national origin or age.

  • Content of submitted work must follow Federal Communication Commission rules on obscene, indecent and profane content.

How It Works

  • By applying to Local Music Spotlight Program, musicians/songwriters grant rights to the City of San Antonio to use the submitted music for the purpose of promoting the songs and the applicants via City of San Antonio channels, including on KGSA and during City Council meetings. The City of San Antonio is limited to this exclusive use, while participating musicians/songwriters remain free to use the same music outside of program. By applying, the applicants confirm and verify that they are the legal copyright/license holder of any and all music submitted and have the legal authority to grant a license the City of San Antonio for its use.

  • City staff and the San Antonio Music Committee, a committee of the San Antonio Arts Commission, will select songs from the pool of submissions received.

  • Applicants will be notified of selection and when/where music will be used.

  • Selected song will be featured for a specified length of time.

  • City reserves the right to remove the song from the program at any time for any reason, without providing notice to the musician/songwriter.

If Selected, When Will My Music Be Featured?

  • Selected artists will be notified of the time frame in which their songs will be featured.
  • City Council “A session” meetings are held every Thursday at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers (first floor of the Municipal Plaza Building, located at 114 W. Commerce St.), except for the fourth week of month. “B session” meetings are held on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. On occasion, the Council may be called into a special meeting and/or may meet at locations other than City Hall  All meetings will be open to the public, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. In addition, meetings are broadcast on TVSA at Time Warner Cable 21; Grande Cable 20; AT&T U-verse 99; and online on the TVSA website. Featured music will appear on these outlets as well.
  • City advertisements listing bid opportunities are played in rotation between TVSA programming, including City Council meetings. 

How To Apply

To be considered for the Local Music Spotlight Program, complete the application form with an original (not electronic signature) and email to music@sanantonio.gov along with: 

  • 1 to 2 photos (jpeg format, hi-res preferred for social media promotion)

  • 1 to 3 songs (must be in MP3, MP4 or WAV format)

Please directly attach application, photos and songs in an email to music@sanantonio.gov.  

Thank you for your interest in sharing your music with the City of San Antonio. We are excited to showcase our city’s rich and diverse music scene!

Featured Artists

Artists and songs currently featured are:

Interested in contacting an artist? Find featured artists and browse other San Antonio based artists on our database.

COMMERCIAL DECAL FOR MUSICIANS

Throughout San Antonio are several Commercial Loading Zones. As a certified Music Friendly Community, the City of San Antonio provides permission to local musicians who meet the qualifications and application requirements below to use the city's 30-minute commercial loading zones with a Commercial Decal, strictly for the purpose of loading music gear and equipment into and out of gig venues.

 

WHO QUALIFIES?

Musicians with at least one of the following designations:

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

  1. DBA, LLC or Limited Partnership documentation OR Letter from AFM Local 23 stating that applicant is a member in good standing OR Letter from the Department of Arts & Culture's Music Commission verifying that the applicant is listed in the San Antonio Music Guide. 
  2. Copy of vehicle insurance OR registration with the Vehicle Identification Number 
  3. Driver's License
  4. 30-Minute Parking Application (PDF)

At any time, the City of San Antonio's Center City Development Office's Parking Division may require to provide additional documents. 

PROGRAM RULES AND REGULATIONS

  1. The permit decal allows for use of any 30-minute commercial loading zones in San Antonio, only for the purpose of loading into and out of gig venues.
  2. The permit decal is only for use of 30-minute commercial loading zones. The use of all other loading zones is not permissible with this permit.
  3. A new application form must be submitted each year with required document(s).
  4. If the vehicle is sold or transferred, a written notice is required along with a replacement fee of $5.00. Only one decal replacement will be issued within a one-year period.
  5. Documented misuse or abuse of the decal will result in a suspension of privileges for a period not to exceed one year. Examples: Transferring decal from one vehicle to another without proper notice and/or excessive parking citations. 
  6. Vehicle is subject to citations and towing for overtime parking in Commercial Loading Zones, if parking exceeds more than 30 minutes. 
  7. It is the decal holder's responsibility to contact the Parking Division of any changes in vehicle status. Unauthorized transfer of decal may result in citation and impoundment of vehicle. 
  8. Decal holder is responsible for the renewal of decal.
  9. Expiration date on decal serves as notice.
  10. Permits are good for one year from the date of issue at a charge of $30.

Decals are sold in person between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Center City Development Office's Parking Division at 400 N. St. Mary's Street, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78205. Applicants must bring all applications documents listed above.

CONTACT

Krystal Jones
Film, Music & Marketing Administrator
210.207.6730 

Music Committee

A committee of the San Antonio Arts Commission, the Music Committee consists of individuals with expertise across the music industry. The responsibility of this advisory committee, which meets once every two months, includes assisting with the development of a Music Strategic Plan, participating in public meetings concerning the local music industry and beyond, and making reports at regular San Antonio Arts Commission meetings. The members of the Music Committee are:

  • Henry Brun, District 7 Arts Commission Representative and Committee Chair
  • Suhail Arastu, Mayoral Appointee on Arts Commission
  • Hannah Mery, District 8 Arts Commission Representative 
  • Mark Rogers, District 10 Arts Commission Representative 
  • Carlos Alvarez 
  • Joan Carroll 
  • Julie Good 
  • Keith Harter 
  • Jon Johansen 
  • Stan Renard 
  • Edwin Stephens

Per the San Antonio Arts Commission bylaws, the Music Committee can comprise of up to 11 members. If you are interesting in volunteering on the Music Committee, please fill out this application. All applicants are reviewed and recommended by the Committee Chairperson and voted on by the San Antonio Arts Commission. If you have any questions, please call 210.207.6968.

REPORTS AND RESEARCH

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Monday, September 28, 2020