Life is not exactly easy for indie musicians and becoming a recognized artist takes a lot of time and effort. Despite your hard work, living in a city that doesn’t appreciate music, can negatively impact your career. Fortunately, there are cities that have lively music scenes and offer great opportunities for artists wanting to make it in the music industry. If you are willing to move and make a change, consider these musician friendly cities in the U.S.

 Nashville, TN:

Known as the Music City, Nashville provides a music scene that is ideal for any musician because it is the center of the music industry. Many assume the city only focuses on country music, however, Nashville is a great place for Jazz and Blues musicians, as well as Rock artists. With the high demand for live music performances, this city is the place to be to promote your music.

New York City, NY:

One of the main reasons why New York City is so musician friendly is because you can find numerous venues where you can perform your music. While it isn’t the cheapest city to live in, the Big Apple has many opportunities to put your sound out there and become a recognized artist. Whether you perform live at a venue or on the streets, you will have the opportunity to promote your music and hopefully make a living doing what you love. If you are interested in furthering your musical education, New York City has some of the top music colleges offering a variety of different programs.

Austin, TX:

Some indie musicians, especially at the beginning of their careers, may not be financially stable to live in a big city such as New York City. Fortunately, cities like Austin are more affordable and because of its demographics, the demand for musicians and live performances are high.

Memphis, TN:

With a population of over six-hundred thousand, Memphis is the largest city in the state of Tennessee.  Being the home of founders and pioneers of music genres such as Memphis Soul and Blues, Rock n’ Roll, and many other, Memphis is a great city for musicians to make a living. Beale Street, besides being a significant landmark in music history, has blues clubs, restaurants, outdoor concerts and festivals where you can perform your music.

New Orleans, LA:

New Orleans, also known as the birthplace of Jazz, can provide musicians with many opportunities to make a living from their music. With countless bars and restaurants to perform at, the city of New Orleans is a hub for tourists looking for live entertainment. While it is a historical city and living in the French Quarter can become expensive, the overall music scene in this city is worth it.

Ultimately, choosing where to live goes hand in hand with your financial situation. However, living in a city where your career can benefit from opportunities in the music industry, is something every indie musician should consider.

For more information on how to promote your music and make a living as a musician, visit our SongCast blog.