Nominees included Ne-Yo, Sugarland, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Steven Lance Ledbetter, Ludacris, Earl Klugh, T-Pain, Vaushaun “Maestro” Brooks, Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh" Crawford, Bobby Valentino, Polow Da Don, Lady Antebellum, Gnarls Barkley, Keyshia Cole, Usher, Anthony David, India.Arie, Anthony Hammond, Anthony Hamilton, Janelle Monae, Soulja Boy, Big Boi, Andre 3000, T.I., Young Jeezy, Sean Garrett, “DJ Montay” Humphrey, Trisha Yearwood, Jennifer Nettles, Patty Loveless, Little Big Town, Phil Tan, Casting Crowns, After Edmund, Karen Peck & New River, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Taj Mahal, and Danger Mouse.
This year marked a record number of GRAMMY® nominations from Georgia, with artists, writers, producers and engineers earning 56 nominations.
Among the other major music facts in Georgia:
In the past 20 years, Georgia’s music industry has experienced unprecedented growth in the number of music recording establishments, record labels and other professional services connected with the commercial music industry.
According to the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, the current estimated economic impact of the music industry in Georgia is approaching $2 billion dollars annually. An earlier study developed by Georgia State University credited the industry with creating 11,000 jobs and generating $54.3 million in tax revenues.
Georgia also dominates regional radio. With the region’s only top radio market, Georgia sets the agenda for what music is played and consequently consumed throughout the region.
The City of Atlanta harbors regional offices of the nation’s top three performing rights societies, the American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and SESAC. Atlanta is also home to one of the Recording Academy’s twelve regional chapters.
Major recording artists and producers with Georgia ties include: Gregg Allman, Akon, Dallas Austin, Chuck Leavell, R.E.M., Jermaine Dupri, Ciara, Elton John, Ray Charles, Alan Jackson, James Brown, Jessye Norman, B-52’s, Bryan-Michael Cox, Toni Braxton, Byron Cage, Kenny Rogers, Van Hunt, Jeff Foxworthy, Jagged Edge, Toomp, Brendan O’Brien, Bill Anderson, Montel Jordan, Kelly Price, Otis Redding, Monica, Bow Wow, Ann Nesby, Collective Soul, Luther Barnes, Indigo Girls, Young Joc, Johnta Austin, Kendrick Dean, Chris “Tricky” Stewart, Mastodon, Shawn Mullins, Peabo Bryson, Lil Jon, Allman Brothers, Third Day, Freddy Cole and Travis Tritt.
Georgia’s music industry includes over 1000 establishments, a significant number of which are recording studios, including several that have been awarded GRAMMYS®, Dove Awards, American Music Awards, Emmys and Oscars for their contributions to stellar music and film recordings.
For more information on Georgia’s music industry, view the complete Music Industry Impact Study or contact us.