Since 1991, Austin has reigned as the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, based on the number of live music venues per capita. Visit Austin, the city’s convention and tourism arm, says the city boasts more than 250 venues where musicians perform.

But in the more than 30 years since Austin embraced that title, the continually higher cost of living in Austin and pandemic-triggered venue shutdowns have chipped away at the city’s status as a hub for live music.

Now, Dewy Brooks, chairman of the nonprofit Austin Creative Alliance, questions whether another Central Texas city — Lockhart, the Barbecue Capital of Texas — could grab the Live Music Capital of the World title from Austin. (It’s worth pointing out that Visit Austin owns the “Live Music Capital of the World” trademark.)

Speaking January 29 at an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Austin session called “How to Preserve Austin's Cultural Identity,” Brooks noted that more and more musicians are moving from Austin to Lockhart. They’re relocating due to Austin’s increasingly out-of-reach affordability, he said.

In December, the median sale price of a home in Caldwell County, anchored by Lockhart, sat at $275,000, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. By comparison, the median sale price of a home in Travis County stood at $512,500. In other words, you could almost buy two homes in Caldwell County for the price of one home in Travis County.

With that wide gap in home prices, it’s no wonder that Austin musicians are seeking cheaper housing in Lockhart. According to ZipRecruiter, the average musician in Austin earned just $21.38 an hour as of January 22. (A plurality — the greatest share, but not a majority — make even less in the $16.92-$20.73 range.)

Given the flow of musicians out of Austin and into Lockhart, Brooks posed this question to the ULI Austin audience: “So, is Lockhart going to become the new Live Music Capital of the World?”

That question remains to be answered. But it’s obvious that Lockhart — with a population of more than 15,000 — is gaining ground on Austin’s live music sector. Adding to Lockhart’s burgeoning reputation as a music hub: In December, the Texas Music Office named Lockhart as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community.

“From hosting live music events on the historic Lockhart Square to the variety of venues here in town with live artists, it’s clear that Lockhart is a place where music is valued,” Lockhart Mayor Lew White said in a news release issued by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.

“We want to make sure to support the musicians and artists who make Lockhart special and unite our community,” White added.
“This designation has been proven to boost local economies by supporting small businesses, creating jobs, and attracting tourism. We look forward to seeing Lockhart thrive in a variety of ways through this designation.”

Ronda Reagan opened The Pearl, a Lockhart bar, nine years ago and regularly hosts musicians there.

“Live music has grown with the addition of more businesses in our downtown historic district supporting it,” Reagan is quoted as saying in the governor’s news release. “With this designation making it official, Lockhart will be a star on the map as a Music Friendly Texas [Certified] Community — a live music destination that will certainly attract more music lovers and musicians.”

Steven Collins owns Troubadour Image + Sound, which operates a recording studio in Lockhart. He said the city is nurturing “a growing, authentic music scene.”

“Becoming a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community cements Lockhart as a hub for musicians and music lovers, creating opportunities for local talent to thrive and highlighting the unique contributions Lockhart brings to Texas music,” Collins is quoted in the release.