Let's kick things off in 2025 with a big W for Georgia as Athens, GA has been ranked the #1, most underrated city in the United States for music. 

That's according to the latest music & culture study by Vio. This research analyzed live music offerings, Yelp ratings for music venues, and the prevalence of music stores, applying a weighted ranking system to determine the best cities for live music. We also analyzed music fans’ locations, behaviors and preferences, revealing the financial and emotional dedication fans pour into attending live music events. The study surveyed over 1,000 fans and analyzed key data points from popular concert destinations across the U.S.

Some Key Takeaways:

• Athens, GA outranks Bellevue, WA, Kansas City, KS, St. Paul, MN & Charleston, SC in the top 5 most underrated cities.

• Atlanta, GA ranks as the 10th best city for music lovers in the entire country. 

• Nearly ⅕ of music fans’ monthly income spent on concert travel.

  • Metal fans spend the most out of any genre at 18%.

• New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas are ranked as the top three cities for live music.

• 57% of Country and K-Pop fans spend more of their income on multiple concerts than any other genre.

Here's a sneak peak at the top 10:

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.

For the full report visit www.vio.com