Faster Than Sound: KUT/KUTX Will No Longer Manage the Cactus Cafe: University station terminates “disheartening” negotiations and Spider House Ballroom changes ownership. – Music

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David Garza and Scrappy Jud Newcomb perform at a Cactus Cafe rally on UT’s West Mall on February 26, 2010 (Photo by John Anderson)

After a ten year run, KUT / KUTX will no longer manage the Cactus Cafe. As reported in The Chronicle earlier this month, the 10-year management contract between the university union division in UT and the radio station expired last fall. The previous agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, was temporarily extended as discussions continued through 2021.

Last week, sources close to the issue confirmed that KUT / KUTX had ended their negotiating side. The station will thus end the employment of long-time Cactus manager Matt Muñoz and deputy manager Amy Chambless, both of whom are currently employed on reduced salaries. Most likely, the university unions would regain management of the historic bar and music venue that opened in 1979. Commenting on the Chronicle earlier this month, a UT spokesperson said the school plans to redesign the space for musical use “in keeping with the venue’s rich history. “

The management of KUT / KUTX and Cactus declined to comment and put questions to the university’s media work. After the Chronicle broke the news last Friday, Speaker JB Bird made the latest statement:

“The university is grateful that KUT ran the Cactus Cafe for 10 years to support the Austin music scene. Financial considerations resulted in the broadcaster declining to extend the contract, but UT-Austin remains committed to providing music programming in the Cactus for years to come while creating a sustainable path for its business. “

Bird added that new management details “are still being worked out”.

Those involved described the negotiations as “disheartening” and said the school had “played hardball”. In a proposal presented to the university unions board of directors in April, KUT / KUTX cited annual grants of $ 120,000 in support of the cactus. To increase revenue, the station demanded profits from cash sales that it had not received under the 10-year contract, as well as increased use of larger university spaces such as the Union Ballroom and the Hogg Auditorium.

According to records obtained through an open filing request, the venue cost the station $ 1.21 million over the decade of management. On April 4th, Debbie Hiott, General Manager of KUT / KUTX, emailed Dean Jay Bernhardt of the Moody College of Communication setting out the sender’s requirements to achieve a new Memorandum of Understanding:

“With more than $ 2 million in lost revenue from pandemic underwriting and events for our radio stations and the urgency to meet local news needs in a growing community, we cannot sustain a year.” Subsidy from the Cactus Cafe at the expense of our members and listeners.

“In order to achieve a balanced position (we are not trying to make money with the cactus), we have to achieve financial sustainability with an extension of our Memorandum of Understanding. Otherwise we have to forego the booking and management of the Cactus Cafe to our partners at the Unions. “

Bane’s World at the Spider House Ballroom in 2018 (Photo by David Brendan Hall)

Spider House Ballroom reopens under new ownership

The Spider House Ballroom, currently known as the Ballroom and pending renaming, has reopened under new ownership. According to recently hired booker Ashley Bradley, the company is now owned by Chris Baker, owner of Arlo’s plant-based restaurants. There is a long-term Arlo food truck on campus.

Bradley came on board with former Holy Mountain / Red 7 / Sidewinder partner Jared Cannon to help restore the space. Former Dozen Street booker For Spite Creative kicked off last Tuesday with a video release show for Jeff Hortillosa, a member of Whiskey Shivers. She plans to host the former weekly Dozen Street Butter N Jam in the ballroom while continuing comedy residences like Peep Show, Shit’s Golden, Blackout, and more.

“I’m slowly building the calendar for June, but we’ll really get started in July,” says Bradley.

She hopes to work with the city to increase the indoor capacity of 150. In 2019, former owner Conrad Bejarano told Chronicle that the venue would no longer host live music and would become an arcade bar, citing issues with the city code. This was followed by a Chronicle cover story detailing alleged sexual misconduct by former co-owner John Dorgan (see Tangled Web, News, December 21, 2018).

Since then, the venue has reintegrated the music and comedy programming, but not to the extent of its previous status since it started in the 1990s.

“We want to work with bigger bookers to put on national shows here,” she says. “We’re going to be making some changes to the stage, sound system and lighting. The owner mentioned that he would like the inside to be like a Red River venue and the outside to be like a venue [Cosmic Coffee]. “

Bradley said the ballroom at 2906 Fruth operates separately from the neighboring café, which is currently closed for renovations. A new fence separates the terrace behind the buildings. According to Travis County records, the cafe at 2908 Fruth was purchased on February 12 by NLX Fruth LLC, a company registered with Jimmy Nassour. The Austin landowner also owns the former Sidewinder room, now Bar Birdie Num Nums.

Erika Nevells on May 16th in Haute Spot (Photo by David Brendan Hall)

New $ 10 million in music, venues, and live music funds

Last Thursday, the city council provided $ 10 million of an incoming federal aid package for music from Austin. The American bailout portion will be spread over two years, up to $ 5 million a year, through grants to “Austin Music Professionals, Organizations and Corporations.” The funding went to artists and arts organizations in the amount of $ 15 million for a unanimously approved item introduced by Councilor Vanessa Fuentes.

On the music side, the $ 10 million could help replenish existing programs like the hotel occupancy-backed Live Music Fund, which has declined due to COVID-19 tourism declines. The feedback from the community focused on the quick release of the LMF.

“Most working musicians still need support before the performances are 100% again,” said Pat Buchta, executive director of Austin Texas Musicians. “Given that our state has just turned down expanded unemployment benefits, it is vital to the survival of our industry that we meet these needs in a timely manner.”

The money could also be used to top up the Creative Worker Relief Grant, which opened last August. Another potential pot is the Live Music Venue Preservation Fund, which continuously supported 28 clubs but would have required an additional $ 2.8 million to fund all 52 applicants (see “Live Music Preservation Fund Outlays Another US $ 3.5 million Dollar “, April 23). The latest council resolution targets venues with no ongoing Preservation Fund grants, as well as venues that are not eligible for federal programs such as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (also known as Save Our Stages).

“Many of our venues have literally been saved by [the] Preservation Fund late last year, “said Rebecca Reynolds, founder of the Music Venue Alliance in Austin.” However, we still have venues that fell through the cracks through no fault of their own and received no disaster relief. “

The vote follows budget proposals submitted to the Council by Music Makes Austin advocacy group and the Austin Music Commission last month (see The Music Relief Magic Number, April 30). Both asked the ARP and the General Fund over $ 20 million to support the music industry in Austin. At their request, the council directed the city administrator to recommend further funding options for the restoration of art and music.

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