Commission supports a study into extending live music curfews in Red River District The Music Commission will recommend the city perform a case study that reviews noise curfews for outdoor music venues within the Red River Culture District in downtown Austin. Music Commission members at Monday evening’s meeting said the current curfews—10:30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday; 11 p.m. Thursday; midnight Friday and Saturday—put a restriction on revenues. Commissioners cited data that shows peak revenue hours for bars are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., but people do not typically stick around the live music venues after the music stops. The study would take 12 months to complete, if accepted by City Council. CodeNEXT also impacts music industry CodeNEXT, the effort to rewrite the city's land development code, will have an affect on the music and art industry, according to Dave Sullivan, a member of the CodeNEXT Advisory Group who was invited to speak to the Music Commission about the code rewrite on Monday night. CodeNEXT is being implemented to fit the city’s comprehensive plan, Imagine Austin, which prioritizes preservation of the arts and music scene. The lack of affordability within the city's urban core makes it hard for artists to survive, and Sullivan said affordability is a key factor behind some music venue closures. Sullivan said the forthcoming form-based code would make it easier to open rehearsal studios. He also mentioned density bonuses may be provided if building owners preserve their first floor for a live music venue, and a focus will be placed on making live-work situations available for visual and acoustic artists. The Music Commission discussed sending a letter to the advisory group to list the commission’s specific concerns regarding CodeNEXT. Possible recommendation for a busking ordinance coming in 2017 Busking is the art of playing music or to perform for voluntary donations in the street. While Austin is the “Live Music Capital of the World,” street performers are not easy to find. According to the Music Commission, this is because there is no ordinance that allows for it. At the discretion of the officer, commissioners said street performers can get fined for panhandling in Austin. At the first Music Commission meeting of 2017, commission members will review research on busking and consider passing a resolution recommending council approval of a busking ordinance that allows artists to obtain a cheap permit from the city to perform in the streets. Commission wants to investigate inequality in music industry Last month, Mayor Steve Adler formed a task force to combat institutional racism and inequality. Music Commission members, who said racism also affects the music industry, discussed recommendations for the mayor’s task force to look into inequality in the arts throughout the city. Commissioners said there is “no doubt” that genres such as hip-hop, rap, Latin music and heavy metal have failed in Austin’s music climate. Commissioners also said there is little diversity among live music venue owners, and the task force should look into why.