Best Cities for Music Lovers

Whether it’s famous venues in big cities or hidden gems in smaller towns, certain places create experiences that draw music fans again and again. But which cities offer the best opportunities for live music in the US?

Our study includes both well-known destinations like New York and Las Vegas, along with underrated music hubs such as Athens and Kansas City. We’ll also look at how different fans travel for music — whether following their favorite artists across the country or attending international performances.

These insights show that music fans are willing to invest a lot of time, money, and miles to connect with the sounds they love.

Key Takeaways

• Music lovers say New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas are the best cities to visit, due to unparalleled access to live performances.
• Punk, folk, and metal fans travel the furthest to attend concerts.
• Fans spend an average of 17% of their monthly income when they travel for a concert.
• K-pop and punk fans are the most likely to be superfans (extremely enthusiastic and dedicated supporters, such as those who travel to multiple stops on the same tour).

Uncovering the Best Music Scenes

To identify the best music scenes in the US, we analyzed the quantity and quality of music venues, bars, and stores, along with the number of hotels offering live music. To find the most underrated music cities, we used the same criteria but adjusted for population size, uncovering places that may not grab national headlines but offer surprisingly vibrant music scenes.

When it comes to the top music destinations, New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada, lead the way. These cities offer unparalleled access to live performances, from intimate jazz clubs to massive arenas hosting world-famous acts.

Among the cities flying under the radar, Athens, Georgia, emerged as the most underrated music city in our study. Known for its indie rock roots and college-town energy, Athens was the birthplace of legendary bands like R.E.M. and The B-52s. Today, it continues to nurture up-and-coming artists through intimate venues, making it a great destination for music lovers seeking new sounds.

Bellevue, Washington, came in second, likely thanks to its annual Jazz & Blues Music Series that brings national and regional talent together each fall. Third-place Kansas City, Kansas, stays true to its deep blues heritage, with live music remaining a cornerstone of the local culture. These cities may not have the same name recognition as larger hubs, but their distinct musical offerings make them hidden gems worth exploring.

Music Fans on the Move

From local venues to international stages, music lovers are willing to travel far and wide to see their favorite artists live — but what motivates them to hit the road beside the main act? We surveyed over 1,000 music fans to find out.

Fans of punk, folk, and metal music were the most likely to have journeyed 100 miles or more to attend a concert. Millennials led the way, with 68% making such trips, followed by Gen X (64%), Gen Z (61%), and baby boomers (57%).

Some fans take their passion even further — 13% of music lovers have traveled internationally for a concert. Latin, blues, and gospel fans were the most likely to have crossed borders to see their favorite artists perform live. Let’s now take a closer look at metal fans and how they do concerts on the regular.

Metal fans are some of the most dedicated music lovers. They often travel far to experience the intensity of live performances and spend about 18% of their monthly income to do so. More than 1 in 10 (13%) consider themselves superfans, traveling to multiple stops on the same tour.

Concert trips can be pricey. On average, fans spend 17% of their monthly income on these experiences, including tickets, lodging, meals, and transportation. Looking at spending by genre, K-pop fans have shelled out the most to attend concerts — 40% of their monthly income.

When asked why they travel for concerts, fans pointed to a variety of motivations. Trips with friends topped the list (37%), which shows that concert travel is often as much about shared experiences as it is about the music.

Other common reasons included attending the closest concert available (35%) and celebrating a special occasion (22%). For some, the lure of an exclusive performance (14%) or the chance to see a show at an iconic venue (10%) made the trip worthwhile.

From City to City

For some fans, attending one concert just isn’t enough. In this section, we explore the superfans and groupies who follow their favorite artists from show to show, often traveling across cities — or even countries — for the experience.

Fans of K-pop and punk music were the most likely to be superfans, deeply committed to following their favorite artists wherever they perform. These genres inspire passionate fan bases that go beyond music, building tight-knit communities that thrive on shared experiences.

Taylor Swift, notorious for her strong fan base, had the most superfans of all. But would you guess that Phish had more superfans than Beyoncé? If you’ve been to a Phish concert, it might not surprise you — their fans are one of the things they’re most famous for.

Interestingly, baby boomers were the most likely to identify as superfans (18%, making them 33% more likely to be superfans than Gen Z). This could be due to their greater access to both time and financial resources as the oldest and most established generation — two major elements needed to attend multiple shows and travel extensively.

When we asked music fans why they attend multiple shows of the same tour, the top reason was simple: to see the artist as many times as possible (73%).

However, fans also used these trips to make memories with different groups of people (29%), explore new cities (21%), or experience unique venues (20%). For the most dedicated, the hope of meeting the artist (11%) is also a motivating factor.

Country and K-pop superfans spend the most on multiple concert experiences, shelling out an average of 57% of their monthly income each.

The Journey Continues: Music, Fans, and the Road Ahead

Music fans aren’t just listeners — they’re explorers traveling across cities and borders to connect with the sounds and artists they love. Whether it’s Athens, Georgia’s indie rock scene, or a blues night in Kansas City, these destinations offer experiences that leave lasting impressions.

Our study highlights not only the top cities for music lovers but also the dedication of superfans who go to multiple shows, build memories with friends, and seek out unique venues. No matter where your musical tastes lie, there’s a city waiting to amplify your next adventure.

Methodology

To identify the best cities for music lovers, we began by analyzing the five largest cities in each US state. Using internal data from Vio.com, we gathered information on the number of hotels offering live music. We also leveraged Yelp data to assess the number and average ratings of various music-related venues, including music venues, karaoke and piano bars, and music, instrument, and vinyl stores. Each metric was weighted as follows:

• Number of hotels with live music per 100,000 residents: 17%
• Percentage of hotels in each city with live music: 7%
• Number of music venues per 100,000 residents: 35%
• Average rating of music venues: 2%
• Number of karaoke and piano bars per 100,000 residents: 23%
• Average rating of karaoke and piano bars: 2%
• Number of music, instrument, and vinyl stores per 100,000 residents: 12%
• Average rating of music, instrument, and vinyl stores: 2%

For the concert travel analysis, we surveyed 1,003 music fans. Respondents included 53% women, 46% men, and 1% who identified as nonbinary or nonconforming. The age breakdown was as follows: 15% baby boomers, 22% Gen X, 47% millennials, and 16% Gen Z. Respondents could select multiple genres to represent their music preferences.

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