Austin Music Network signs off

At midnight last night Austin Music Network signed off indefinitely with "Fun, Fun, Fun" as their last video by the Big Boys, in honor of Austin punk icon Randy "Biscuit" Turner who died last month. Now Austin Music Partners, Inc. will control cable Channel 15, which will go live on the air Oct. 1. Until then, an automated service will be airing music videos.

The Austin Music Network was a city funded, nonprofit music organization dedicated to making local Austin bands visible to the public and drawing attention to the Austin music scene. Despite many efforts, the network just couldn't stay afloat.

"The city has given AMN a lot of chances, but it has been poorly managed," said Clay Fain, past AMN program director.

Since Louis Meyers took the position as general manager in 2003, he struggled to make the network independent of city funds, which he finally did, Fain said. The network downgraded to a two-person staff, and generated funds through sponsorships, events and fundraisers.

After 11 years, Austin City Council decided to cut their losses and let Austin Music Partners run things on their own dime.

"The City Council decided they weren't allocating city funding for the network anymore," said Rondella Hawkins, who works for the city's Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs office. "It was a great idea, the promotion of Austin music, but it never took off as without city funding. The idea was for them to be self-sufficient, and after a while, we realized we just didn't want to sink more money into them anymore."

Last October the Austin Music Partners approached the City Council with offers to take over the station with funding from Time Warner Cable. The city simply found a better business deal, but some at AMN are taking it more personally than that.

"We did everything they asked us to do, I don't think there was anything else we could've done," Meyers said. "It's obvious that the city didn't intend for us to last; six months from the start of our contract in 2003, they were already in negotiations with Time Warner."

The original intent of the local music network is still the same for the incoming commercial network.

"We have the same missions and goals, to promote Austin and Austin music and the arts" said Connie Wodlinger, Austin Music Partners leader. "But this is like any other business and requires professionals just like any other business. Bringing that sort of professional experience is key to the success of this project."

The new network will take into account the Austin music community as a whole, based on radio play and record sales from the area. Austin Music Partners will play more nationally-known acts, but their main focus is local talent, according to Wodlinger.

Wodlinger has already started two other 24-hour networks. With a more experienced staff and financial backing, the network has potential to effectively reach the goals set by the previous network.

"They have a glossier, higher profile, and we have more of a grassrootsier approach," said Fain.

The Austin Music Partners are looking for new talent in Austin, not only musicians, but to staff the station.

"The entire focus of the network is local. Helping develop new artists is one of the most exciting aspects of the project," Wodlinger said.

Open calls will be held Sept. 10 and 11. AMP is looking for full-time on-air hosts, reporters, correspondents and filmmakers, as well as experts on different genres of music.

Now that the Austin Music Network is officially history, the Austin History Center will now maintain the video archives from the AMN archives, some of which can be viewed there at the history center.

"We're extremely pleased to have the Austin Music Network archives as a part of our collection." said Susan Soy, Austin History Center Director of Archives. "Our work here is to preserve the history of the community, and the Austin Music Network is certainly an important part of the history of this community."

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