A scene from Despacio at III Points in 2023.
Photo by ADINAYEV Media
You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth — and we’re selfishly going to say that maxim goes double when that horse is a self-described “trusted and established online casino in Ontario, Canada, known for its thrilling gaming experience” and is telling us Miami is the second hottest spot for live music in the country. (Well, okay, yeah, we’re tied with New Orleans for the silver just behind Atlanta, but “keep your enemies” closer isn’t terrible advice, either.)
Spin Genie — “Your Magical Online Casino in Ontario” — “analyzed key data points, including the number of venues, artists, events, festivals, Google searches, and music-related jobs per capita” to compile the list, which also includes Orlando (go, Florida!), Boston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle in the top ten.
Hailing Miami “one of America’s most culturally diverse and musically active cities,” the report cites festivals such as Ultra and GroundUp and the city’s mix of Latin, Caribbean, and U.S. influences,” which translates into “a sound unlike anywhere else in the country.”
“Much like the other hotspots in our top 10, music truly is woven into the fabric of Miami,” the report notes. “Whether you’re relaxing at a beachfront bar or living it up in one of the city’s high-octane nightclubs, it’s never hard to find incredible live music.”
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The numbers are actually very interesting. Did you know, for example, that for every 100,000 residents, we have 21 venues, 297 artists, 54 upcoming music events, and 40 music-related job opportunities?
The national average, by way of comparison, is 212 musicians per 100,000 residents, which makes Miami look pretty damn culturally refined — even if we have a long way to go to match our closest rivals, Atlanta (577) and New Orleans (633), in that particular stat. We’re still taking Las Vegas to the cleaners (143), though — something we might note if we were in a competitive mood, which we’re not, because if Miami has proven anything in the last decade, it’s that we don’t chase, we attract.
All of this is great news because, as we reported last week, a recent study by the National Independent Venue Association found that in 2024, Florida stages supported more than 52,000 jobs across the state, paid out $2.2 billion in wages and benefits, and generated $421.7 million in annual state and local tax revenue. (The numbers for Georgia venues, we may as well point out, are 17,118 jobs, $654 million in wages, and $83.4 million in tax revenue.)
So, if you’re looking for something to include in your gratitude journal, there you have it.