Atlanta, the City That ‘Drives Hip-Hop Culture,’ Revels in the Spotlight — Again

Within the next three years, Atlanta will host two major sporting events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: eight games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LXII in 2028. These attractions will offer the latest opportunity for the city to promote itself to a global audience. But in many ways, Atlanta has always been doing this.

The city’s music scene has thrived for decades, with artists such as Outkast, Usher and Young Thug creating global hits and uplifting Atlanta as their home base. Other acts, from Nigerian American Afrobeats star Davido to British pop icon Elton John, have also called the city home. And pop stars including Beyoncé and Tyla have been known to visit some of its state-of-the-art recording studios to work with local producers such as Tricky Stewart.

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Since the early 2000s, the city’s fame for its musical exports has been rivaled only by its emerging reputation as a film/TV production hub. Thanks to Georgia’s film tax incentive, Atlanta is home to Tyler Perry Studios and Trilith Studios and has served as a filming location for Marvel’s Black Panther, Netflix’s Stranger Things and more.

Atlanta has long thrived at the nexus of business and culture, too, thanks to institutions like the Atlanta University Center — the consortium of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) that includes Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta — and businesses such as The Home Depot, Delta and Coca-Cola.

Music executives within Atlanta have taken note of all this and hope to keep building off the city’s continued success. Here’s what they have to say about the future of music and business in Atlanta.

An Entertainment District Anchor

“Atlanta is thriving, and the city looks completely different than it did five years ago,” Live Nation Georgia chairman Peter Conlon says. “From Michelin-star restaurants to a wave of new hotels and live venues, the growth is undeniable. A major recent milestone is Live Nation’s announcement of a new 5,300-seat theater in Downtown as part of the Centennial Yards development. It’s set to be the anchor of a revitalized entertainment district in the heart of the city.”

Where to Go: “The Tabernacle and Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park are two of my favorites. Both are iconic, uniquely Atlanta venues with incredible history.”

‘A Game-Changer’

“Atlanta still drives hip-hop culture — sound, style and influence,” says Pierre “P” Thomas, CEO of Quality Control. “It’s not in the past, it’s right now. Quality Control’s new 60,000-square-foot headquarters is a game-changer — distribution, management, studios, podcast rooms, film and TV all under one roof. It’s a big investment in Atlanta’s future and supporting the creative community here.”

Where to Go: “Busy Bee for real soul food. Cheetah for a vibe: late-night and high-end dining.”

‘A Mega Trendsetter’

“Atlanta has been a mega trendsetter and influencer in hip-hop and R&B for decades,” says attorney Bernie Lawrence-Watkins, founder and CEO of B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates. “It is the home of trap, crunk and snap music that has continued to mold the sound of hip-hop on a global scale. Music festivals around Atlanta are on the rise, creating performance opportunities for independent artists. In 2025, the Music Biz conference relocated from Tennessee to Atlanta, signifying a need to be in the place where music is thriving. Atlanta’s mayor [Andre Dickens] has been openly supportive [of] workforce development initiatives and has expressed an interest in seeing the music industry thrive.”

Where to Go: “Rock Steady because of its cultural vibe. The food is Afro Caribbean and is flavorful. The upper level caters to a nightclub experience filled with soulful sounds from a fusion of Afrobeats, Caribbean, house and old-school R&B. It’s definitely a vibe.”

Joel Katz’s Legacy

“Atlanta has been a major force in the music business thanks to renowned entertainment attorney Joel Katz, who set up operations in Atlanta in 1971 with his first client, James Brown,” says Keith Perissi, director of the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State University. (Katz died in April.) “The music industry alone in Atlanta generates nearly $990 million in output and employs close to 9,000 people, according to [the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association]. Atlanta boasts over 300 professional recording facilities, making it a prominent center for music production. It hosted the 2025 Music Biz conference, bringing together over 2,100 global music professionals.”

Where to Go: “Smith’s Olde Bar opened its doors in 1994 and [remains] one of Atlanta’s most historic music venues, having hosted some of the most prominent names in music today.”

‘Unapologetic Authenticity’

“Atlanta isn’t only a hub for hip-hop, it’s a cultural ecosystem,” LVRN co-founder and president Tunde Balogun says. “What the world needs to understand is that the city is no longer defined by one genre or one era. There’s an explosion of genre-blending from R&B to alternative sounds to Afro influences, and it’s all rooted in Atlanta’s unapologetic authenticity. Artists here don’t follow trends — we set them. There’s also a new wave of collaboration between the city’s music, film and tech industries. That type of cross-pollination is where I see the most promise.”

Where to Go: “Magic City. No question. It’s way more than a strip club: It’s a cultural institution. If a record goes off in Magic, it’s probably about to run the city or the country. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s a place where the culture actually moves.”

‘A Cultural Epicenter’

“Atlanta continues to thrive as a cultural epicenter where music and tech — and now film and TV — intersect to create endless opportunities for synch, scoring and content development,” says Catherine Brewton, vp of creative at BMI. “Longtime BMI affiliate Tyler Perry’s studio is a hub for many major motion pictures, including Straw, which recently hit No. 1 [on Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10 chart] in its first week of release on Netflix. Atlanta is at the forefront of major music and sports collaborations. FIFA tapped longtime BMI affiliate RedOne as the World Cup’s music producer and several other Atlanta-based BMI producers for additional music activations.”

Where to Go: “I’m a big fan of Sessions Atlanta, the studio and event space owned by Tricky Stewart. The space creates a seamless environment where artists, writers and producers can collaborate and connect with key industry players under one roof.”

‘Follow the Energy’

“If you want to understand where the industry is headed, follow the energy coming out of Atlanta,” says Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, entrepreneur and co-founder, president and CEO of the Black Music Action Coalition. “We’re proud to announce the launch of Black Music Week, debuting in June 2026, [as] an annual celebration rooted in Atlanta, the capital of Black music innovation. [It] will honor Atlanta’s unparalleled contributions to Black music while creating space for critical conversations around ownership, equity and innovation in the music industry.”

Where to Go: “Copper Cove isn’t just a bar and restaurant; it’s a vibe. Founded by Brooklyn native and entrepreneur Mr. Rugs, the space bridges the pulse of New York’s hustle with the rhythm of Atlanta’s culture. You feel it the moment you walk in, from the curated playlist to the food to the creative energy.”

‘Success Stories Across the Industry’

“Atlanta is a community that aims to collaborate within the community first so that we can grow together,” COLTURE co-founder Ty Baisden says. “The consistency of young managers [is] transforming into success stories across the industry.”

Where to Go: “We like to bring our guests to the new membership-only location Retreat by The Gathering Spot [or] Magic City — which is celebrating its 40th-year anniversary this year — to experience new music and wings and overall Southern hospitality.”

‘The City Wants to Be Talked About’

“You can still tell the city wants to be No. 1, the city wants to be in the mix [and] the city wants to be talked about,” says Jermaine Dupri, founder and chairman of So So Def. “Atlanta has a Black music underground. It’s happening on Edgewood. It’s happening in East Atlanta. It’s an underground circuit. I know artists out there that are really, really heavy into this space. Atlanta’s music scene as a whole is as healthy as it’s always been.”

Where to Go: “Magic City. If I’m having a conversation with somebody about music and the industry and the energy, it’s the one spot you can go to see all of this.”

‘Visionaries Building What’s Next’

“A new wave is here in Atlanta and we’re carrying the torch with pride,” says Jamin Whatley, senior director of creative A&R at Sony Music Publishing. “At SMP, it’s about the creatives behind the boards crafting global hits and the visionaries building what’s next in music business. Investing in this city isn’t just a smart move, it’s a necessary one. The city has long influenced the sound of music worldwide, and now it’s building the infrastructure to support its future. The industry is already taking notice.”

Where to Go: “Palm Beach Atlanta. It’s a space built by and for the culture, reflecting a new standard for gathering, collaborating and celebrating music in this city.”

‘Amazing Up-and-Coming Talent’

“Through the Recording Academy’s ­GrammyU program, I’ve gotten to meet many students, the amazing up-and-­coming talent from our colleges,” says Diane Durrett, a producer-singer-songwriter who is president of the Atlanta chapter of the Recording Academy. “They graduate from cutting-edge music programs at Atlanta’s HBCUs [and] from [programs such as] Georgia State University’s production and audio recording, Georgia Tech’s Science in Music Technology, SAE [Institute] sound engineering courses and Kennesaw State’s music performance and composition.”

Where to Go: “Tricky Stewart’s studio, Sessions Atlanta. It’s a great studio to be able to fluidly write and record. For a great live drum sound where a band can record live together, I would go to Will Turpin and Brian Collins’ studio, Reel 2 Reel. For an organic community experience and great all-around studio, I’d take them to Paul Diaz’s amazing Tree Sound Studios.”

‘A Global Music Hub’

“Atlanta is evolving from a hit-making city into a full-fledged creative capital,” says 11th&Co CEO Ebonie Ward, who represents Gunna, among others. “Beyond the music, it’s now a place where artists can scale into brands and businesses. Take [our new headquarters] 550 RMG, a 10,000-square-foot creative incubator offering studios, production, branding, travel and business management all under one roof. But the story doesn’t stop there. Projects like the upcoming Live Nation-backed venue at Centennial Yards show that Atlanta is investing in infrastructure to match its influence, cementing its status as a global music hub.”

Where to Go: “Apache XLR ­[previously Apache Cafe], a historic venue where countless Atlanta legends like J.I.D, EarthGang and Outkast affiliates cut their teeth. It’s a raw, real showcase of Atlanta’s hip-hop lineage and still one of the best places to discover what’s next in the culture.”

‘An Interconnected Creative Economy’

“Atlanta is not an emerging city — it is an established force in the entertainment industry with a cultural identity all its own,” says Fox Theatre president/CEO Allan Vella. “Having managed venues in multiple cities throughout my career, I can say it is rare to live and work in a place where the community so passionately champions its own story, and the Fox Theatre is proud to be a part of that. One of the most promising developments is the rise of an interconnected creative economy where music, film, visual art and entrepreneurship fuel one another. Atlanta’s artists are just as fluent in brand-building and intellectual property ownership as they are in sound. Killer Mike is a standout example. He is a Grammy-winning artist who also co-owns a chain of barbershops and helped co-found a digital bank aimed at advancing Black economic empowerment.”

Where to Go: “It’s hard to top the Fox Theatre. Even if I weren’t affiliated with it, I’d say the same. The architectural majesty, the history embedded in its walls, the feeling you get when the lights dim … it’s a destination in and of itself.”

‘A Must-Visit City’

“Atlanta is an entertainment hub and a must-visit city for concerts and tours. The diversity of the city makes it the perfect place to host all genres of music,” says Trey Feazell, executive vp of programming for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. “With State Farm Arena’s location, incredible amenities and the ease of getting to Atlanta via Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta is a regional play. Fans will travel to Atlanta to see top artists. Our venue was ranked third domestically in ticket sales by Billboard, only behind Sphere in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden in New York [in the 2025 midyear Boxscore recap]. Since the beginning of the year, the arena has hosted over 600,000 fans across the span of over 50 events.”

Where to Go: “State Farm Arena, of course. The arena underwent a massive $200 million renovation in 2018. The goal was to create a world-class venue, and we’ve done just that.”

‘A Multimillion-Dollar Engine’

“The global music business often recognizes Atlanta’s creative output before Atlanta fully recognizes its economic power,” says Mala Sharma, president of Georgia Music Partners and a principal in Sound Advice and Consulting. “This city is not just a cultural hub, it’s a multibillion-dollar engine of innovation that consistently drives global music trends. Atlanta ranks among the top five cities in the U.S. for recording studios per capita and continues to launch artists who define and redefine genres. The most promising development is the growing momentum around formalizing a statewide music office and increasing public and private investment in the infrastructure behind our creative output.”

Where to Go: “Criminal Records is more than a record store — it’s a discovery zone. You can still stumble on a new band the old-school way, flipping through vinyl or catching one of their in-store performances.”

This story appears in the Aug. 30, 2025, issue of Billboard.

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