When people talk about Austin’s music scene they don’t all agree on what exactly it is that makes it so special. Some people say it’s the legendary venues like Antone’s, Broken Spoke, Continental Club, and Saxon Pub; the venues Austin Chronicle’s Margaret Moser deemed “the ABCs of Austin.” For others, it’s the talented musicians who’ve established themselves while getting their starts in Austin, from Janis Joplin to Spoon. Still, many others point to the civic and political support provided by the likes of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau and former Mayor Will Wynn.

It’s this cross-section of perspectives that Austin Music People, a nonprofit created to unite Austin’s music scene from festival to venue to artist to fan, is grounded. Announced just weeks ago, with Momo’s owner Paul Oveisi serving as executive director, AMP is a step to rally all the creators and appreciators of Austin’s music scene, and more broadly its creative class. Instead of relying solely on a dozen movers and shakers (although many of them do serve on AMP’s board), this organization will be a much more crowd-sourced initiative.

At Austin City Limits Festival, more than 15 volunteers—local bloggers, DJs, fans, industry aides and up-and-coming musicians—were banded together to share the mission and values of AMP. In a few weeks, more volunteers will have a presence at Fun Fun Fun Fest. Yes, you read that right; both C3 Presents and Transmission Entertainment are on board with AMP—literally, both Charles Attal and James Moody are on the board. All this collaboration should serve to show that AMP is unlike any music-driven organization the Live Music Capital has ever seen.

“The city and the scene continue to change and I think it's extremely important,” says Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma. “It's not that the music community has been disorganized, but never before have all different factions of it joined forces to protect and grow live music, which we feel is one of the city's most valuable assets.”

In writing my next book, Indisputable, I’ve interviewed several of these Austin Music People, and many have agreed that Austin has long needed a body, better yet a voice, to speak up for the music scene often found competing with neighborhood associations and struggling for City dollars with Emergency Medical Services and water treatment. While no city can go without safe neighborhoods, water, and EMS services, it’s obvious that when Austin makes various lists calling it “the best city for the next decade” and a “great place for the creative class,” it’s these Austin Music People leading the way for such high praise. That’s why I’m writing you asking if you too are an Austin Music Person? If so, join the movement.

Joah Spearman is the Founder & Chief Ninja of Sneak Attack Austin, the author of Indisputable: A Fan’s Guide to the Live Music Capital (coming March 2011), and the co-author of Real Role Models: Successful African-Americans Beyond Pop Culture.