 "Photo: Brian Ray")
Mike Booher, singer and guitarist for the Austin band Zykos, vividly remembers one of his favorite Austin Music Network broadcasts.
"I remember seeing a live Johnny Cash show at Emo's [from Cash's renowned 1994 SXSW performance]. That's unique and rare, really special," he said.
Booher got the chance to appear on the same network he'd been watching when his band taped a performance for AMN.
"They had a new stage, and we were the guinea pigs about a year ago," he said. "It was great. Everyone was really nice and very gracious. We were honored to do it."
Since April 1, 1994, the Austin Music Network has broadcast the videos and performances of a wide array of Austin acts without regard to a band's genre or popularity. They've presented a laundry list of notable Austin and Texas acts live, including Spoon, Doug Sahm, Alejandro Escovedo, ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and Townes Van Zandt. More importantly, AMN has provided a venue for far lesser-known acts to appear on television.
Because AMN's contract with the city ends today, the instant gratification of being able to make a video or tape a performance and see it shortly thereafter on television in Austin is in question. The network has been widely criticized for being a waste of city money. City Council will vote on the possibility of AMN being absorbed into a potential new, private music network programmed by Austin Music Partners come January. Until then, either the city or Austin Community Television will run the network.
But some people, like AMN's current music director Clay Fain, are skeptical about the access artists would have with the proposed private music channel.
"If we're to not make it through this whole mess, it's likely that another network will emerge, but the access will be harder," he said. "There will be less opportunity given to people who really need it and more of a place to showcase established acts."
AMP's proposal to the city specifies that it would commit at least 75 percent of its programming to local artists.
Other potential outlets are Austin's cable access channels, the Internet and the slim possibility of being shown on national video networks. But without a local network where they can be seen, Austin video director Erik Horn says local bands won't place as much of an emphasis on creating videos.
"I think everybody will still want videos, but without being assured to be on TV, nobody will be as willing to spend money on videos," he said. "Now we're going to send them off to Fuse and MuchMusic and the Internet, but the Internet's not like sitting on your couch and watching a whole lot of videos in a row."
Horn says that while placing videos on networks and national video Web sites such as ifilm and Launch is a possibility for Austin bands, it might not be the best option.
"I think it's more important to have it on your individual site," he said. "That way you can build a fan base, and they can immediately see concert dates and stuff."
For local bands, the Austin Music Network is the one place they can see their videos aired. Many Austin musicians have performed live at the station's studio and submitted videos, knowing they would easily find room in the network's rotation.
"Every video that comes through here is put to tape and put out there. If people like it, they let us know, and it builds from there," Fain said.
"We always knew we could get on AMN, we knew we'd play there, and we'd hope for more," said Horn, who filmed videos for several Austin artists, including Canoe, Single Frame and Jerm Pollet.
Booher said without AMN, he doubts his band's videos will be as useful as a local promotional tool.
"We have a new record, so we have a new video. I still think we would make videos, but locally I don't think there's any way for them to be beneficial," he said. "If that network was to discontinue, I think it would really hurt the local scene, especially bands who make videos and try to use that as a tool to better their band's place."
Justin Preston, who plays keyboards and sings for Canoe, agrees. His band's video for the song "C'mon" has been in rotation on AMN for several months.
"I doubt that video will be played at all in town now, honestly," Preston said.
In addition to providing them with an outlet for their videos, artists say AMN serves as a valuable means for promotion, one that provides them with immediate, tangible benefits.
Laura Scarborough, an Austin pianist who performs solo and in the group Lila's Medicine, was filmed live by the network, which then aired her performances.
"They showed those videos a lot, and it really helped me," she said, adding that she's received a lot of e-mails from fans who discovered her on AMN. "I think [the potential loss of AMN] really sucks."
Booher also saw the benefits of having a video in AMN's rotation.
"Every show, a couple of people would come by and say, 'We saw your video.' It seemed like it'd get a few people out," he said.
Preston said the network is conscious of how its programming could help local bands with upcoming shows.
"They always played [our video] on the nights we were playing shows out," he said.
The network features a nightly show called "Club Scene," an hour of programming that focuses on bands with upcoming shows.
"All we do is scour the [Austin] Chronicle and scour the paper to find out who's playing, and play videos for bands who have upcoming shows, and show the information," Fain said.
Musicians aren't just on the network, they're also in the audience. Though Horn and Scarborough said their exposure to AMN was limited because they don't have cable, Booher said he was a regular viewer.
"It's cool; there's no real format," he said. "They have some new videos you probably won't ever see again on MTV."
Preston was also a fan of the network.
"I've always enjoyed watching it. A lot of my friends have videos on that station," he said. "I'm upset that it's getting canceled."
Booher echoed his sentiment.
"It's a sad, sad day," he said. "Their hearts and their intentions are in the right place. They want to see local bands do well."
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