Traditionally, the saying goes that you move to the “big city” to find success. In the current age of the internet, where you’re at in the world has become slightly less of an issue. These days, you can create viral music content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube from the comfort of your bedroom and make it big. Regardless, there’s nothing that can beat the energy of big cities and the influential people you can meet there.
From Los Angeles to New York, there are several big cities in America that have thriving scenes for music such as hip-hop, pop, R&B, rock, and more. If you live in a rural area and want to meet someone that might be able to help you take that next step in your artistry and your music, continue reading. We’ve put together 8 big cities in the United States for aspiring artists to move to find success. To help out, we’ve even included the average cost of living in each of these cities as well.
Los Angeles, CA
Image via Cedric Letsch
There’s no question that this place is full of potential to make your dreams come true. Almost every popular artist who’s made it in the industry has touched down in LA at least once. The city is full of nightclubs, recording studios, and several music industry moguls who are on the move every day. However, because of its traffic and popularity, it’s also no surprise that it costs a lot of money to live there.
The average one-bedroom apartment costs about $3,276 a month here, so you may meet all the right people you need, but it won’t come cheap. The plus side to this busy area is that the LAX airport exists here. This means that anywhere you’d dream of going—this airport can take you. This means a lot to busy artists who need to fly out to different cities, you won’t have to worry about canceling.
New York City
Image via Luca Bravo
Just as it is on the West Coast, New York City is surrounded by label offices, up-and-coming artists, and insurmountable potential. Although the best night scenes exist in these big cities, it is super expensive to live just like LA. A one-bedroom apartment in NYC is upwards of $3,805 a month. And depending on the location, these prices definitely change. For example, living in Manhattan would be much more expensive than living in Brooklyn. The plus side to this is if you’re willing to spend the money, transportation to Manhattan is easily accessible, and you don’t need to drive if you don’t want to.
Atlanta
Image via Ibuki Tsubo
Atlanta is challenging New York and Los Angeles as a new music capital. The rise of hip hop in Atlanta really started back in the mid-1990s. Artists like OutKast, T.I., BigBoi, Ludacris, and more put the area on the map for Hip-Hop. Fast forward to today, Atlanta has given us artists like Gucci Mane, Lil Baby, 6LACK, The Migos, and other big names that are hitting charts like no other.
Not only does Atlanta offer plenty of opportunities, but the cost of living here is also far less than the other two mentioned. That’s not to say it isn’t still a bit pricey, but much more affordable to kickstart a career in this game. The average rent in Atlanta for a one-bedroom would be 1,812 per month. Given this, the downside of living here is that you are entirely dependent on your transportation. This makes traffic horrendous at times when you need to head downtown.
Houston, TX
Image via Adrian N
There’s been a reason people from LA have been making their way down to Austin and surrounding areas in Texas. The housing prices are very affordable and there is a big music scene that exists there. Rappers like Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Megan Thee Stallion, Maxo Kream, and more have come from this city. Out of all the places on this list so far, the cost of living here is lower than most. Giving an average price of 1,350 per month. But, just like in Atlanta, there isn’t much public transportation to get around. This makes traffic pretty hard to deal with, too. Also, the sales tax here is higher than in most places. Nature also takes its course here, with its humidity and heat, sometimes making living unbearable. Not to mention tropical storms.
Philadelphia, PA
Image via Charl Folscher
Rappers like Lil Uzi Vert, Meek Mill, Lil Skies, and even Will Smith hail from this city. It is neighbor to New York City, so if needed, you can make trips to the Big Apple for music work. Also, the cost of living is much less than the surrounding cities like Boston or D.C. Philly has the same average cost of rent per month that Atlanta does. On the plus side too, public transportation is big here, so if you feel uncomfortable driving in busy places, you can rely on the bus or train to take you where you need to go. However, due to its popularity, it is very crowded and makes finding jobs pretty hard. And if you aren’t from an already cold place, the winters can be abrasive.
Nashville, TN
Image via Chad Morehead
Known for its deep-rooted music scene, there are infinite opportunities for artists to be heard in Nashville. The night scene is always popping, and you’ll never struggle to find a music venue. Although they’re known for their country music, there is a huge variety in the music that exists there. Plus, there are many major labels that exist there such as RCA, Sony Music, Warner Music, etc.
If you need to hold a job while you kickstart your dream path, job opportunities aren’t thin in Nashville. If you need to grind to make ends meet, you won’t have a problem doing so. However, there is a very competitive job market, but if your goal is to become an artist then there will be many available jobs to you. Also, the cost of living is much lower than in most major cities. With an average of $1,200 per month. However, if you have issues with heat like other cities on this list, you should take into consideration that summers can be brutal.
Pittsburgh, PA
Image via Tyler Rutherford
Home to legendary rappers like Wiz Khalifa, Chevy Woods, and the late Mac Miller, Pittsburgh could be your next city to build your career. The nightlife in Pittsburgh is always active, and venues like Howl at the Moon and Thunderbird Cafe are great for hip hop and rap. There are other popular venues in the city that are open to all kinds of genres as well, such as Stage AE and Mr. Smalls.
On the downside, compared to other cities, the unemployment rate is at 7.1%, compared to the country’s average of 6%. Plus, opposite to Nashville, the winters here can be harsh. However, living costs in Pittsburgh are pretty affordable. For example, renting an apartment would only cost you around $1,500 which is affordable for a metropolitan area.
Miami, FL
Image via Ryan Spencer
To also shine a little light on the EDM scene, there’s no other place with more electronic music than Miami. But, they also offer some of the best South Florida rap such as Kodak Black, Lil Pump, Denzel Curry, and more. The melting pot of music you can find in Miami leads to a vibrant nightlife, and also leads to many opportunities to perform and show off your work.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about those dwelling winters but be mindful of the storms that follow with the nice weather. Also, Miami has a relatively high cost of living which can put a dent in your pocket. The average rent in Miami is around $1,700, but utilities can be pretty high also. Since it’s nice weather almost every day, your AC will probably be running every day, too. Worry not though, Miami’s unemployment rate is pretty low, and finding a job if needed wouldn’t be difficult.
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