(AUSTIN, TEXAS – Feb. 27, 2026; source: Juice Consulting) – SPIN Magazine is cranking the volume all the way up during a special week in Austin, Texas. The iconic music culture brand is teaming up with Tipify – a music discovery and fan engagement initiative built to spotlight the next wave of independent artists while creating new fan powered revenue streams that support long term career growth. The “Road to Austin” will be a can’t-miss live showcase on Friday, March 13 set in the heart of downtown Austin at Courtyard ATX. The Road to Austin Live Showcase will be a full-on breakout moment for a dozen hand-picked Tipify artists who have the backing of their devoted fans. Expect back-to-back, battle-of-the-bands-style sets, nonstop discovery, and that electric “I saw them before they blew up” feeling only SPIN (and Austin) can deliver. Doors open at 5 p.m., music kicks off at 6 p.m. and the vibes go late. The showcase is free and open to the public – because the future of music should be accessible, loud, and packed wall-to-wall with people who love it. Emerging and independent artists can apply here for the program by March 1. Fans can RSVP now
Built around genuine music discovery – not hype cycles – the Road to Austin Live Showcase puts the spotlight on artists who are right on the edge of their breakout moment. Each performer is hand-selected from Tipify artists who understand the important role their fans play to their careers, giving fans a front-row look at what’s next in music. For more on SPIN and Tipify’s partnership and how that came to be, see here.
In addition to the live performances, the showcase will feature a Tipify x SPIN Lounge, a dedicated hangout space where SPIN Magazine and Tipify will host on-site artist interviews, capture behind-the-scenes content, and spotlight special moments throughout the night – bringing fans closer to the artists and the stories shaping the next wave of music culture.
“We both care deeply about emerging and independent artists and about creating real opportunities for them to be seen, heard, and supported,” said SPIN CEO Jimmy Hutcheson. “Our partnership with Tipify feels less like a collaboration and more like a shared mission.”
Since 1985, SPIN has championed emerging artists through culture-defining storytelling, helping pave the way for many to build iconic careers. Tipify, launched in late 2025, was built on a simple but powerful idea: direct fan to artist support represents an important new, and untapped revenue stream for musicians, one that exists alongside streaming, touring, merchandise and licensing. By giving fans a meaningful way to financially back the artists they believe in, Tipify helps artists build more sustainable careers powered by community. Rooted in a shared belief in uplifting artists, strengthening fan connection, and creating long term opportunity, SPIN and Tipify joined forces to create Road to Austin, a launchpad where emerging talent can connect directly with the fans who help fuel their growth.
“We created Tipify to empower fans to support the artists that they love,” said Tipify founder Dan Carucci, MD, PhD. “With Tipify, artists don’t have to do anything more than sign up. They don’t have to create new content. They don’t have to sell merch. They don’t have to pay for subscriptions. They have already made the music we love, and they should be supported for that. Tipify makes that possible from an entirely new and yet unrealized revenue stream.”
Here’s how the Road to Austin initiative works: artists submit their music through SPIN and Tipify’s joint platform page and through a merit-based, editorial selection process, 10 to 12 artists are selected to perform at the “Road to Austin” event. There is no public voting element or emphasis on social media followings. Instead, the process is aimed to reflect SPIN’s long term role as an industry tastemaker, while incorporating Tipify’s model of direct-to-artist fan support as a framework for building longlasting, successful careers. More details on submissions and selected performers can be found here: www.tipify.music/spin.
“Bringing this program to one of the most important weeks in music focused on emerging and independent artists is the perfect starting point for Tipify,” said Tipify CMO Matt Eastwood. “It represents the discovery, community and creative energy we aim for.”
About SPIN Magazine:
SPIN is one of the most recognizable names in music and pop culture. In early 2020, SPIN launched a new generation of the legendary media group, putting the brand back where it belongs — at the center of the zeitgeist.
SPIN’s digital covers have featured some of today’s biggest stars, including Noah Kahan, Demi Lovato, The Black Keys, YungBlud, Machine Gun Kelly, Rüfüs Du Sol, Jack Harlow, Denzel Curry, Run the Jewels, and Kehlani, coupled with probing journalism and in-depth interviews, hit series 5 Albums I Can’t Live Without, A Day In the Life Of, and Artist x Artist, as well as original videos. The company launched SPIN IMPACT, a platform that harnesses the music industry’s most powerful voices to raise awareness and take action around some of society’s most pressing issues.
SPIN has also brought its legendary music brand to merchandise, joining forces with Life Clothing to release a series of T-shirt designs at Urban Outfitters. A powerhouse in the media world, SPIN launched in Japan, as well as partnered with Amazon for a music free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel exclusively on Amazon Freevee. In 2023, the company launched SPIN Labs, an incubator for music tech startups that is designed to help artists thrive in the quickly-changing music technology space. To learn more about SPIN Magazine, please see here. For the latest national music news, follow SPIN on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), and YouTube.
About Tipify:
Tipify is a direct fan to artist support platform designed to create a meaningful new revenue stream for musicians beyond traditional channels like streaming, touring, merchandise, and licensing. Built to help emerging and independent artists thrive in a crowded digital landscape, Tipify enables fans to actively support the artists they believe in while becoming part of their growth journey.
What began as a simple tipping concept has evolved into a broader movement focused on transparency, artist empowerment, and community driven support. Tipify helps artists build deeper relationships with fans, gain visibility beyond algorithm driven discovery, and grow sustainable careers on their own terms.
Tipify’s mission is to strengthen the connection between artists and their communities by putting fans at the center of artist success. Built for artists, powered by fans, inspired by music. To learn more, see here.
