Tracking the location of musicians and music groups in the United States from 1970 to 2004, we find that the music industry has become significantly more concentrated. New York and Los Angeles remain dominant, while Nashville has emerged as a third major center. We also find that musicians are attracted to some smaller locations with particular characteristics.

Authors
Richard Florida, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management
M. Scott Jackson, School of Public Policy, George Mason University

Subjects: Music, Musicians, Entertainment, Economic Geography, Clusters, Scale

Related Projects: Creative Industries & the Creative Economy, Mega-regions, Music & the Entertainment Economy

DOWNLOAD THE PAPER (PDF)

Abstract
Our research examines the changing economic geography of the music industry over the past several decades. It does so by tracking the location of musicians and music groups in U.S. regions from 1970-2004. The findings suggest that the music industry has become significantly more concentrated over time. New York and Los Angeles remain dominant locations, with Nashville registering large gains in musicians and music establishments and emerging as a third major center. This reflects the draw of large markets and the economic and artistic advantages of clustering by musicians and music-related businesses. We also find evidence of a modest counter-trend, visible in the persistence of musicians and music scenes in some smaller locations throughout the U.S. This reflects demand for music in some small locations with more affluent, higher-human capital populations, location-specific assets such as music conservatories, and technological changes which have lowered the costs for producing, distributing and consuming music across locations.

This is a revised edition. The first edition (January 2008) is available here (PDF).