Asheville gets mention in Richard Florida ranking of U.S. music scenes

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

Asheville is the teal-colored blotch.

Social and economic theorist Richard Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class) explores the geography of music in America. Where does Asheville land in a data-based exploration of the concentration of musicians and music-related businesses in U.S. metro areas? Number 23.

From the article:

Other smaller metros that do better than expected are Kalamazoo, Michigan (the former home of the Gibson guitar factory, founded in 1902, and the site of some major classical music festivals) at 8th overall, and Albany, New York, at 14th. California’s Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Salinas all rank highly. Asheville, North Carolina — a sophisticated vacation and arts center — is 23rd overall.

***

…cities with vibrant music scenes mimic the process of innovation more broadly. Cities with flourishing music scenes often have underlying creative economic systems that are also supportive of technology and entrepreneurialism. Music clustering can provide a powerful lens not only into popular culture, but into the mechanisms that power our increasingly idea-based and talent-driven economy.

Read the full article here.