Walsworth is proud to celebrate a major milestone for our customer, Thunderhouse Media, whose debut title Austin’s Music Scene: Your Guide to the City’s Most Iconic Artists & Venues has earned national recognition at the 2026 IBPA Book Awards.
The book received top honors across multiple categories:
- Gold Winner – Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Nonfiction
- Gold Winner – Gift Book
- Silver Winner – Cover Design: Nonfiction
Presented by the Independent Book Publishers Association, the IBPA Book Awards represent one of the highest distinctions in independent publishing – recognizing excellence in storytelling, design, and production.
A First-Time Publisher with a Big Vision
Published in November 2025, Austin’s Music Scene is a 224-page, photo-rich celebration of the city’s contemporary music culture. More than a book, it’s a curated experience – part visual showcase, part insider guide – featuring:
- 160+ artist profiles spanning genres
- Venue histories and festival coverage
- Curated playlists and local perspectives
- A hand-drawn map of Austin’s live music scene
But what truly elevates the project is its purpose. Half of all net proceeds support the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), directly benefiting the creative community that inspired its pages. The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) works to provide access to affordable healthcare and support services for low-income working musicians in the Austin community.
For founder and editor-in-chief Mitch Baranowski, this wasn’t just a publishing project – it was personal.
“Walsworth was a true partner from the very first bid conversation all the way through final delivery,” said Mitch Baranowski, founder and editor-in-chief of Thunderhouse Media. “The close coordination at every stage of the project gave us the confidence to push the design as far as we did. When you’re a first-time publisher putting everything into a book like this — the photography, the stories, the cause behind it — you need a printer who’s as invested in the outcome as you are. Walsworth was exactly that. It’s the kind of project that reminds you why print still matters.”
It’s a source of pride for Walsworth, as well. This is what “customer-centric partnership” really looks like – deep alignment, shared accountability and enabling the customer to take creative risks that ultimately drive a book everyone wants and award-winning outcomes.
From Vision to Press Check: Bringing the Book to Life
Producing a design-driven, photography-heavy book at this level requires more than strong files – it takes precision, collaboration and hands-on expertise.
The Thunderhouse team traveled to Walsworth’s Marceline facility for an on-site press check, seeing their vision come to life in real time.
As Rich Zweiback, the sales representative who worked alongside Baranowski on this project, shared:
“It was a blast working on this project. Our team at Walsworth was able to home in on our customer’s goals and produce an award-winning book. An on-site press check brought them to Marceline where they were treated to a hands-on course in book production.”
A Blueprint for What’s Possible in Print
Projects like Austin’s Music Scene demonstrate what happens when creative ambition is matched with production expertise. The result isn’t just a book – it’s:
- A brand-building asset for a first-time publisher
- A revenue-generating product tied to a meaningful cause
- A showcase of what high-end print can achieve when done right
This project is a strong proof point: when we collaborate early and often, focus on outcomes and not just output, we create work that stands out in the market.
Looking Ahead
As the IBPA Book Awards continue to spotlight the best in independent publishing, Austin’s Music Scene sets a clear benchmark for what’s possible.
Walsworth is proud to support customers who are pushing boundaries, telling important stories and using print as a platform for impact.
If you’re ready to bring a high-visibility, high-impact project to life, https://www.walsworth.com/contact-us-walsworth.
