This U.S. City Was Just Named the Best for Music Lovers—and It’s Not Nashville
- - This U.S. City Was Just Named the Best for Music Lovers—and It’s Not Nashville
Meghann FoyeDecember 7, 2025 at 3:15 AM
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Willie B. Thomas
A new study is giving music lovers a head start on their 2026 travel lists. Researchers at Spin Genie analyzed dozens of data points—from venue density and artist communities to festival calendars, music-related jobs and even search trends—to pinpoint the best U.S. cities for fans who want a built-in soundtrack everywhere they go.
The analysis compared these factors on a per-capita basis to see which cities offer the richest mix of venues, artists, events and overall music activity.
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Atlanta Takes the No. 1 Spot
According to the report, Atlanta ranks as the top U.S. city for music lovers in 2026, earning an overall score of 8.74 out of 10. The city performs well across nearly every metric: it boasts 188 upcoming music events per 100,000 residents, one of the highest rates in the country, and 577 musical artists per 100,000 people.
Atlanta’s influence also extends beyond numbers—the city has shaped modern hip-hop and R&B for decades, and its studio scene continues to attract artists from around the world. Between festivals, independent venues and emerging talent, the study found Atlanta offers both volume and variety that few cities can match.
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Miami & New Orleans Tie for Second Place
Two very different cities share the No. 2 ranking: Miami and New Orleans, each scoring 8.18.
Miami lands high thanks to its festival calendar—including Ultra and GroundUp—and its blend of Latin, Caribbean and American influences. The city currently lists 11 upcoming festivals, one of the highest counts in the study.
New Orleans, meanwhile, leads the entire country in musicians per capita with 633 artists per 100,000 residents. Its deep jazz heritage still shapes the city’s modern sound, creating a density of working musicians that few places can rival.
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Other Standouts Across the Top 10
Rounding out the top 10 are Orlando (which leads the nation in music-related jobs), Boston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Nashville, Las Vegas and Seattle—each with a strong mix of venues, artists and live events.
For anyone planning 2026 travel around concerts, festivals, or simply exploring a music scene, these cities offer the most riveting experiences—and the richest playlists—in the country.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
