Most influential American city on the music scene by decade (populations, states)

[staceywinters]

Originally Posted by SWV

60's- NYC
70's- San Fran/NYC
80's- LA/NYC (Rock & Hip Hop
90's- LA/NYC (R&B, Pop, Hip Hop)
00's- Chicago/Atlanta

Atlanta was WAY better in the 90's. You had Goodie Mob, Outkast, LaFace Records, SoSo Def, Ghost Town DJ's. Im my opinion, Atlanta is WACK now.

[theATLien]

Originally Posted by staceywinters

Atlanta was WAY better in the 90's. You had Goodie Mob, Outkast, LaFace Records, SoSo Def, Ghost Town DJ's. Im my opinion, Atlanta is WACK now.

It doesn't change the fact that it is the most influential

[imaterry78259]

Yep , it all started in New Orleans.

[cisco2007]

I don't think that I saw anything about Nashville on here. Alot of rising country pop stars in 00's

[Gtownoe]

Originally Posted by staceywinters

Atlanta was WAY better in the 90's. You had Goodie Mob, Outkast, LaFace Records, SoSo Def, Ghost Town DJ's. Im my opinion, Atlanta is WACK now.

I don't think people outside of the south can appreciate Atlanta's music from back then.

I grew up in KY, and it seemed that anybody from KY, TN, SC, MS, or AL was listening to music from Atlanta, Memphis, and Florida (Luke, Trick Daddy).

I grew up listening to Pastor Troy, Outkast, 8Ball and MJG, Three Six Mafia, Goodie Mob, Lil Jon (before he went pop), etc etc.

Anybody remember the crunk era? The real crunk era where you could push somebody down or start a fight in the crowd just bouncing off of the music.

Man I was stupid when I was younger...ha ha.

[DinsdalePirahna]

50's NYC, LA, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis
60's LA, NYC, Detroit
70's LA, NYC (Plus the southern Rock Scene Alabama, Florida, Georgia+)
80s LA, NYC
90's LA, NYC, Seattle
00's Your home studio anywhere USA, cranking out throw away disposable pop.

[staceywinters]

Originally Posted by Gtownoe

I don't think people outside of the south can appreciate Atlanta's music from back then.

I grew up in KY, and it seemed that anybody from KY, TN, SC, MS, or AL was listening to music from Atlanta, Memphis, and Florida (Luke, Trick Daddy).

I grew up listening to Pastor Troy, Outkast, 8Ball and MJG, Three Six Mafia, Goodie Mob, Lil Jon (before he went pop), etc etc.

Anybody remember the crunk era? The real crunk era where you could push somebody down or start a fight in the crowd just bouncing off of the music.

Man I was stupid when I was younger...ha ha.

I was born in Alabama but grew up on Long Island City, NY. I grew up listening to all kinds of hip hop; Wu-tang, Ghetto Boys, Outkast , Goodie Mob, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Crucial Conflict, A Tribe Called Quest and Scarface. Hip hop was WAY better back in the days. Hip hop is DEAD now.

[TelecasterBlues]

as far as today goes...there's way too much crap going on. FM/Top 40 radio isn't really all that relevant anymore, cds are on the way out, MTV and music on television is dead along with the music video, recording companies are on the way out, the internet and downloading is king, sattelite radio and internet radio are gaining steam, iPOD/laptop/smart phone culture is key, we have myspace artists and whatnot now with artists localizing through social networks, people are doing big things with little equipment due to increased availability(IE laptop musicians..no longer do you need a pro studio and a label's guidance to create a high quality recording), many scenes and genres are buzzing without any proper media connection, we're separated into regional differences as opposed to national trends, etc.

People who are looking at Top 40 tunes, leftover rap/r&b, and Disney songs are missing the point completely. Right now, it's more about what you can find as opposed to what finds you...things have reverted away from huge media outlets and it's much more about loving music itself for what it really is and discovering new things. Top 40 and mainstream music isn't terrible just because that's all there is right now in terms of popular music...it's terrible because the really good stuff comes from bands that have found alternative ways to support their work. Musicians are now choosing not to explore the conventional route anymore since they're able to financially cupport themselves through the internet, organizing their own tours, and selling their own merchandise...no more middle man. We're in the baby stages of what is turning out to be an era for those who are either musicians themself or just flat-out love music as true fans. These are good times if you're able to see what's going on and understand where the future is headed.

I would say that Austin fits today's musical trends and movements the best just in that it's a bit more new/low-key/ecclectic by nature, just like the modern musical styles that it supports. SXSW has become huge and keeps getting bigger along with the city itself, Austin is easily one of the top players for this decade; definately at the forefront for 2006 on up. Maybe it's not so much the clear winner for most influential city of the '00s...but it's definately going to be the clear cut winner for '10-'20. Portland also comes in a close second for many of the same reasons, and NYC will always be very important too.

It's a screwy musical world out there at the moment..but it's a really, really good one and I love everything that's happening out there. I really look forward to seeing what else is just around the corner.

[The Mayor of Mil-Town]

1920s-40s Chicago and New York
1950s Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis
1960s NYC, Detroit, San Francisco
1970s LA, New York
1980s NYC, Nashville, LA,
1990s Seattle, Chicago, LA
2000s ????

[MplsTodd]

1950s: Memphis (Sun Records), NYC
1960s: LA (Byrds, beachBoys, Spirit); NYC (Dylan, L Spoonful, Simon&Garf, Velvet Und); Detroit (Motown); Memphis (Stax); San Fran (Dead, Jeff Airpl)
1970s: NYC (Television/Ramones/TalkingHeads); LA (Eagles/JacksonBrowne); Philly (TSOP); Miami (KC & Sunshine, Bee Gees); New Jersey (Springstein, DB's, Feelies)
1980s: Athens (REM, B-52's); Minneapolis (Prince, Replacements, Husker Du)
1990: Seattle (Nirvanna, Pearl Jam,etc)