Why Atlanta ‘Still Drives Hip-Hop Society’: Songs Execs Discuss

Within the following 3 years, Atlanta will certainly hold 2 significant showing off occasions at Mercedes-Benz Arena: 8 video games of the 2026 FIFA Globe Mug and Super Dish LXII in 2028. These tourist attractions will certainly use the most up to date possibility for the city to advertise itself to an international target market. Yet in several means, Atlanta has actually constantly been doing this.

The city’s songs scene has actually flourished for years, with musicians such as Outkast, Usher and Youthful Goon developing worldwide hits and boosting Atlanta as their home. Various other acts, from Nigerian American Afrobeats celebrity Davido to British pop symbol Elton John, have actually additionally called the city home. And pop celebrities consisting of Beyoncé and Tyla have actually been understood to go to a few of its cutting edge recording workshops to collaborate with regional manufacturers such as Tricky Stewart.

Given that the very early 2000s, the city’s popularity for its music exports has actually been equaled just by its arising online reputation as a film/TV manufacturing center. Many thanks to Georgia’s movie tax obligation motivation, Atlanta is home to Tyler Perry Studios and Trilith Studios and has actually worked as a recording area for Wonder’s Black Panther, Netflix’s Complete Stranger Points and extra.

Atlanta has actually long flourished at the nexus of company and society, as well, many thanks to establishments like the Atlanta College Facility– the consortium of traditionally Black schools (HBCU) that consists of Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta– and companies such as The Home Depot, Delta and Coca-Cola.

Songs execs within Atlanta have actually made note of all this and wish to maintain structure off the city’s ongoing success. Right here’s what they need to claim regarding the future of songs and company in Atlanta.

An Amusement Area Support

” Atlanta is flourishing, and the city looks entirely various than it did 5 years back,” Live Country Georgia chairman Peter Conlon states. “From Michelin-star dining establishments to a wave of brand-new resorts and live locations, the development is obvious. A significant current landmark is Real-time Country’s news of a brand-new 5,300-seat movie theater in Midtown as component of the Centennial Yards advancement. It’s readied to be the support of a rejuvenated enjoyment area in the heart of the city.”

Where to Go: “The Habitation and Synovus Financial Institution Amphitheater at Chastain Park are 2 of my faves. Both are legendary, distinctively Atlanta locations with extraordinary background.”

‘ A Game-Changer’

” Atlanta still drives hip-hop society– noise, design and impact,” states Pierre “P” Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Quality Assurance. “It’s not in the past, it’s right currently. Quality assurance’s brand-new 60,000-square-foot head office is a game-changer– circulation, monitoring, workshops, podcast areas, movie and television all under one roof covering. It’s a large financial investment in Atlanta’s future and sustaining the imaginative neighborhood below.”

Where to Go: “Hectic genuine heart food. Cheetah for an ambiance: late-night and premium eating.”.

‘ A Huge Trailblazer’

” Atlanta has actually been a huge trailblazer and influencer in hip-hop and R&B for years,” states lawyer Bernie Lawrence-Watkins, creator and chief executive officer of B. Lawrence Watkins & & Associates. “It is the home of catch, crunk and break songs that has actually remained to mold and mildew the noise of hip-hop on an international range. Songs events around Atlanta get on the increase, developing efficiency possibilities for independent musicians. In 2025, the Songs Biz meeting transferred from Tennessee to Atlanta, representing a requirement to be in the area where songs is flourishing. Atlanta’s mayor [Andre Dickens] has actually been honestly encouraging [of] labor force advancement efforts and has actually shared a passion in seeing the songs market prosper.”

Where to Go: “Rock Steady due to its social ambiance. The food is Afro Caribbean and is savory. The top degree accommodates a club experience loaded with emotional noises from a blend of Afrobeats, Caribbean, home and traditional R&B. It’s certainly an ambiance.”

Joel Katz’s Heritage

” Atlanta has actually been a significant pressure in the songs company many thanks to distinguished enjoyment lawyer Joel Katz, that established procedures in Atlanta in 1971 with his initial customer, James Brown,” states Keith Perissi, supervisor of the Joel A. Katz Songs & & Amusement Organization Program at Kennesaw State College. (Katz passed away in April.) “The songs market alone in Atlanta produces virtually $990 million in outcome and uses near 9,000 individuals, according to[the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association] Atlanta flaunts over 300 specialist recording centers, making it a popular facility for songs manufacturing. It organized the 2025 Songs Biz meeting, combining over 2,100 worldwide songs experts.”.

Where to Go: “Smith’s Olde Bar opened its doors in 1994 and [remains] among Atlanta’s a lot of historical songs locations, having actually organized a few of one of the most popular names in songs today.”

‘ Unapologetic Credibility’

” Atlanta isn’t just a center for hip-hop, it’s a social environment,” LVRN founder and head of state Tunde Balogun states. “What the globe requires to recognize is that the city is no more specified by one category or one age. There’s a surge of genre-blending from R&B to different noises to Afro affects, and it’s all rooted in Atlanta’s unapologetic credibility. Musicians below do not adhere to fads– we established them. There’s additionally a new age of partnership in between the city’s songs, movie and technology sectors. That sort of cross-pollination is where I see one of the most guarantee.”

Where to Go: “Magic City. No doubt. It’s method greater than a strip club: It’s a social establishment. If a document goes off in Magic, it’s most likely ready to run the city or the nation. It’s raw, it’s genuine, and it’s a location where the society really relocates.”

‘ A Social Center’

” Atlanta remains to prosper as a social center where songs and technology– and currently movie and television– converge to develop unlimited possibilities for synch, racking up and material advancement,” states Catherine Brewton, vp of imaginative at BMI. “Long time BMI associate Tyler Perry’s workshop is a center for several significant movie, consisting of Straw, which lately struck No. 1 [on Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10 chart] in its initial week of launch on Netflix. Atlanta goes to the leading edge of significant songs and sporting activities partnerships. FIFA touched long time BMI associate RedOne as the Globe Mug’s songs manufacturer and numerous various other Atlanta-based BMI manufacturers for extra songs activations.”.

Where to Go: “I’m a large follower of Procedure Atlanta, the workshop and occasion area possessed by Tricky Stewart. The area develops a smooth atmosphere where musicians, authors and manufacturers can work together and get in touch with essential market gamers under one roof covering.”

‘ Adhere To the Power’

” If you wish to recognize where the market is headed, adhere to the power appearing of Atlanta,” states Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, business owner and founder, head of state and chief executive officer of the Black Songs Activity Union. “We’re honored to reveal the launch of Black Songs Week, debuting in June 2026, [as] a yearly event rooted in Atlanta, the funding of Black songs technology. [It] will certainly recognize Atlanta’s exceptional payments to Black songs while developing area for important discussions around possession, equity and technology in the songs market.”

Where to Go: “Copper Cove isn’t simply a bar and dining establishment; it’s an ambiance. Established by Brooklyn indigenous and business owner Mr. Rugs, the area bridges the pulse of New york city’s hustle with the rhythm of Atlanta’s society. You feel it the minute you stroll in, from the curated playlist to the food to the imaginative power.”

‘ Success Stories Throughout the Market’

” Atlanta is an area that intends to work together within the neighborhood initially to make sure that we can expand with each other,” COLTURE founder Ty Baisden states. “The uniformity of young supervisors [is] changing right into success tales throughout the market.”

Where to Go: “We such as to bring our visitors to the brand-new membership-only area Resort by The Event Place [or] Magic City– which is commemorating its 40th-year wedding anniversary this year– to experience brand-new songs and wings and general Southern friendliness.”.

‘ The City Wants to Be Discussed’

” You can still inform the city intends to be No. 1, the city intends to remain in the mix [and] the city intends to be spoken about,” states Jermaine Dupri, creator and chairman of So So Def. “Atlanta has a Black songs underground. It’s occurring on Edgewood. It’s occurring in East Atlanta. It’s a below ground circuit. I understand musicians around that are actually, actually hefty right into this area. Atlanta’s songs scene overall is as healthy and balanced as it’s constantly been.”

Where to Go: “Magic City. If I’m having a discussion with someone regarding songs and the market and the power, it’s the one area you can visit every one of this.”

‘ Visionaries Structure What’s Following’

” A new age is below in Atlanta and we’re suffering with satisfaction,” states Jamin Whatley, elderly supervisor of imaginative A&R at Sony Songs Posting. “At SMP, it has to do with the creatives behind the boards crafting worldwide hits and the dreamers constructing what’s following in songs company. Purchasing this city isn’t simply a wise relocation, it’s an essential one. The city has actually long affected the noise of songs worldwide, and currently it’s constructing the facilities to sustain its future. The market is currently taking notification.”

Where to Go: “Hand Coastline Atlanta. It’s an area developed by and for the society, showing a brand-new criterion for celebration, teaming up and commemorating songs in this city.”

‘ Fantastic Promising Ability’

” With the Recording Academy’s GrammyU program, I have actually reached satisfy several trainees, the remarkable promising ability from our universities, “states Diane Durrett, a producer-singer-songwriter that is head of state of the Atlanta phase of the Recording Academy.” They finish from sophisticated songs programs at Atlanta’s HBCUs(* )from[and] Georgia State College’s manufacturing and sound recording, Georgia Technology’s Scientific research in Songs Innovation, SAE[programs such as] audio design training courses and Kennesaw State’s songs efficiency and structure.”.(* )Where to Go:[Institute]” Tricky Stewart’s workshop
, Procedure Atlanta. It’s an excellent workshop to be able to fluidly compose and tape-record. For an excellent online drum noise where a band can tape-record cohabit, I would certainly most likely to Will certainly Turpin and Brian Collins ‘workshop, Reel 2 Reel. For a natural neighborhood experience and fantastic well-rounded workshop, I would certainly take them to Paul Diaz’s remarkable Tree Audio Studios.”

‘An International Songs Center’” Atlanta is developing from a hit-making city right into a full-fledged imaginative funding,” states 11th & Carbon monoxide Chief Executive Officer Ebonie Ward, that stands for Gunna, to name a few&.” Past the songs, it’s currently a location where musicians can scale right into brand names and companies. Take

550 RMG, a 10,000-square-foot imaginative incubator offering workshops, manufacturing, branding, traveling and company monitoring all under one roof covering. Yet the tale does not quit there. Jobs like the upcoming Real-time Nation-backed place at Centennial Yards reveal that Atlanta is buying facilities to match its impact, sealing its condition as an international songs center. “

Where to Go:(* )” Apache XLR-(* ), a historical place where numerous Atlanta tales like J.I.D, EarthGang and Outkast associates reduced their teeth. It’s a raw, genuine display of Atlanta’s hip-hop family tree and still among the most effective locations to find what’s following in the society.”(* )’ An Interconnected Innovative Economic Climate'[our new headquarters]” Atlanta is not an arising city– it is a well-known pressure in the show business with a social identification all its very own,” states Fox Theater president/CEO Allan Vella.” Having actually taken care of locations in several cities throughout my job, I can claim it is unusual to live and operate in a location where the neighborhood so passionately champs its very own tale, and the Fox Theater is honored to be a component of that. Among one of the most encouraging advancements is the increase of an interconnected imaginative economic situation where songs, movie, aesthetic art and entrepreneurship gas each other. Atlanta’s musicians are equally as well-versed in brand-building and copyright possession as they remain in noise. Awesome Mike is a standout instance. He is a Grammy-winning musician that additionally co-owns a chain of hair salons and assisted co-found an electronic financial institution targeted at progressing Black financial empowerment.”.

Where to Go:(* )” It’s tough to cover the Fox Theater. Also if I weren’t connected with it, I would certainly claim the exact same. The building greatness, the background installed in its wall surfaces, the sensation you obtain when the lights lower … it’s a location per se.”(* )The outside of the city’s Fox Theater in 2023. Royal Prince Williams/WireImage(* )’ A Must-Visit City'(* ).” Atlanta is an amusement center and a must-visit city for performances and trips. The variety of the city makes it the excellent area to host all categories of songs, “states Trey Feazell, executive vp of shows for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and State Ranch Sector. “With State Ranch Sector’s area, extraordinary services and the convenience of reaching Atlanta through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Terminal, Atlanta is a local play. Followers will certainly take a trip to Atlanta to see leading musicians. Our place was rated 3rd locally in ticket sales by [previously Apache Cafe] Signboard

, just behind Round in Las Las Vega and Madison Square Yard in New York City

Given that the start of the year, the sector has actually organized over 600,000 followers throughout the period of over 50 occasions.”

Where to Go: “State Ranch Sector, obviously. The sector undertook a substantial$ 200 million restoration in 2018. The objective was to develop a first-rate place, and we have actually done simply that.”

Where to Go:

” Lawbreaker Records is greater than a document shop– it’s an exploration area. You can still locate a brand-new band the traditional method, browsing plastic or capturing among their in-store efficiencies.” This tale shows up in the Aug. 30, 2025, problem of Signboard. [in the 2025 midyear Boxscore recap].