Austin City Limits
"Great music. No limits."
A PBS Original
Austin City Limits started as a simple idea: put musicians on a stage and let them play, then film it for television. Over the years it grew into a steady platform where established stars and adventurous newcomers perform full sets, often in front of a live audience. Episodes tend to focus on the... Read more
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About Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits started as a simple idea: put musicians on a stage and let them play, then film it for television. Over the years it grew into a steady platform where established stars and adventurous newcomers perform full sets, often in front of a live audience. Episodes tend to focus on the music itself, giving artists room to stretch out beyond radio singles. The series highlights a wide array of styles, from country and rock to blues, folk, and more experimental sounds, keeping each episode centered on performance instead of spectacle.
Premiered in 1975, Austin City Limits was created by Bill Arhos. It was conceived as a televised showcase for live musical performances and developed into a long-running series that continued to feature diverse artists across many seasons.
Across decades of broadcasts the show has received industry recognition for its archival importance and consistent production values. Rather than listing specific trophies, its longevity and reputation have led to institutional acknowledgments, retrospective honors, and respect within the music and television communities.
As the longest-running music series in American television history, Austin City Limits helped normalize televised concert sets and preserved performances that might otherwise have been lost. Its episodes are often cited by fans, musicians, and researchers as a valuable record of changing musical tastes, and clips from the show circulate widely online and in music documentaries.
Audience response is steady, with a modest average rating reflecting a core fanbase that appreciates full-length performances. Critics frequently note the program’s emphasis on musicianship, authenticity, and variety. Themes across episodes include artistic craft, roots and tradition, collaboration, and the way live performance reveals different sides of well-known songs.
Details
- Release Date
- January 01, 1975
- Episode Length
- 54m
- Rating
- TV-PG
- User Ratings
- 18 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 48
- Episodes
- 558
- Network
- PBS
- Status
- Returning Series
- Genres
- Documentary
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- KLRU Austin
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Seasons (48 seasons, 558 episodes)
Season 1
14 episodes - 1975
Season 2
10 episodes
Season 3
13 episodes
Season 4
13 episodes
Season 5
13 episodes
Season 6
13 episodes
Season 7
13 episodes
Season 8
13 episodes
Season 9
13 episodes - 1984
Season 10
14 episodes
Season 11
1 episodes - 1986
Season 12
13 episodes
Season 14
14 episodes
Season 15
1 episodes - 1990
Season 17
1 episodes - 1992
Season 18
1 episodes - 1993
Season 20
1 episodes - 1995
Season 21
12 episodes - 1996
Season 22
13 episodes - 1997
Season 23
12 episodes - 1998
Season 24
12 episodes - 1999
Season 25
15 episodes - 2000
Season 26
13 episodes - 2000
Season 27
13 episodes - 2001
Season 28
4 episodes - 2002
Season 29
13 episodes - 2003
Season 30
13 episodes - 2004
Season 31
14 episodes - 2005
Season 32
13 episodes - 2006
Season 33
14 episodes - 2007
Season 34
13 episodes - 2008
Season 35
14 episodes - 2009
Season 36
14 episodes - 2010
Season 37
15 episodes - 2011
Season 38
13 episodes - 2012
Season 39
13 episodes - 2013
Season 40
14 episodes - 2014
Season 41
15 episodes - 2015
Season 42
13 episodes - 2016
Season 43
13 episodes - 2017
Season 44
13 episodes - 2018
Season 45
13 episodes - 2019
Season 46
13 episodes - 2020
Season 47
13 episodes - 2021
Season 48
13 episodes - 2022
Season 49
13 episodes - 2023
Season 50
13 episodes - 2024
Season 51
12 episodes - 2025