VOA标准英语2011--Music Store Sets Beat for Austin Music Scene

Music Store Sets Beat for Austin Music Scene

Music thrives in Austin, Texas, where the industry brings in around $1 billion to the city every year. Musicians flood the city in droves and nearly every night there are live performances. Over the past three decades, one music store, Waterloo Records, has presided over the growing music scene.

"I'm not a music maker¹ myself, but I love sharing music that I love with other people and so working in a record store just fulfilled that desirable thing to be able to share music," said John Kunz, the owner of Waterloo Records.

Everything musical can be found at Waterloo, including CDs, books and tickets to area concerts.

"Since moving to Austin and working at Waterloo, I've met customers who are musicians, workmates who are musicians. And then going to those shows I've met other musicians that know about Waterloo and are excited that I work here," Chaquita Smith, one of several musicians who work at Waterloo.

Austin's music scene has grown since Waterloo opened in 1982.

The annual South by Southwest festival in March is now one of the biggest music events in the U.S., with about 2,000 performers.

And a national TV program points a weekly spotlight² on Austin.

"In 1982 there was no South by Southwest yet. Rhe TV show Austin City Limits was pretty much still just an infant; there was no Austin City Limits Festival. And those are all things that really catapulted the global awareness³ as the music Mecca that I think it is," Kunz said.

Kunz says that’s good for music lovers.

And good business, too.

"I love it. I've been coming here for 30 years almost I guess. Having lived in San Francisco for quite a while and then coming back to Austin, this is one of the biggest things I missed most about Austin," said a female customer.

And Kunz hopes the music will keep bringing his customers back for more.

1 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。