The growth of the internet and smartphone technology has enabled businesses across industries to decentralize from big markets. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic further pushed many companies to embrace remote options and allowed employees to work from anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, the music industry is a bit different. In the past, you had to live in Los Angeles or New York if you wanted to work in the music industry because of the number of record labels in those cities. Although Los Angeles and New York still lead the way, the music business is more dispersed than it’s ever been. Despite a shift to streaming and the accessibility afforded by social media, musicians and those seeking jobs in the music industry may still have to relocate to maximize their career opportunities.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is where aspiring stars go to solidify their fame. Music industry giants like Universal Music Group, Live Nation Entertainment, and Netflix have set up shop in the city. (Note: some may not see Netflix as a music company, but its music supervision department is one of the best in the business and continues to expand). So if you’re starting in the music business, an internship at a record label in LA is a great way to get your foot in the door. In 2019, LA reportedly had 19,812 available jobs in the music industry.
New York City, NY
Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and ASCAP are several companies with headquarters in New York City. In addition, several Los Angeles-based music companies also have East coast offices in New York like Capitol Records and Interscope Records. As a result, the city has a thriving live music scene that spans from smaller venues like Gramercy Theatre to city staples such Irving Plaza and large arenas like Madison Square Garden.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is a central hub for entertainment. It has a bustling television production scene, and it’s the third-largest film industry in the U.S. Since the early 1990s, Atlanta has been the hub of black music. The city has launched the careers of chart-topping artists like TLC, Usher, TI, Outkast, Migos, Childish Gambino, and Lil Nas X. Atlantic Records, Arista Records, and So So Def Records are among the music companies that are either headquartered or hold satellite offices in Atlanta.
Nashville, TN
Dubbed Music City because of famous music venues like the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville is the mecca of country music. The city is also a significant attraction for songwriters because several well-known publishing companies, including Sony/ATV and Razor & Tie. Music Row is also at the heart of Nashville’s country music scene. This famous strip is home to record labels, radio stations, and recording studios in the Southwest of downtown Nashville.
Miami, FL
If you’re interested in working in Latin or electronic dance music (EDM), look no further than Miami. The southeastern Floridian city has grown in popularity amongst music fans and professionals over the past few years. In 1999, the Ultra Music Festival — one of the most significant events in EDM — launched in Miami. Since then, the festival has generated nearly $1 billion of economic impact for the city. In addition, MTV, Warner Music Group, and Apple have dedicated Miami offices for their Latin music divisions.
Austin, TX
Some have referred to Austin as the live music capital of the world. It hosts major festivals such as Austin City Limits and SXSW. Austin also has more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. The live music scene in Austin was once a $1.8 billion industry, but venues in the city have been hit hard by Covid-19.
New Orleans, LA
Considered the birthplace of jazz music, New Orleans has also become known for hip-hop and rap. In the French Quarter, Bourbon Street has a slew of clubs and bars that feature a slew of clubs and bars that feature live music, such as Tipitina’s and Maple Leaf Bar. Although New Orleans doesn’t still have the pull of its heyday, there are still many music recording studios and publishing companies throughout the city.
For more information about working in music and possible career paths, download Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Music Career Guide.
