Music in Georgia

Music in Tourism

Music is a signature part of the visitor experience in Georgia, adding depth and character to destinations across the state. Music festivals and live performances build on our foundation of historic venues and music landmarks, drawing visitors, supporting local economies, and adding new texture to Georgia’s story. It’s a meaningful way for visitors to get to know us.

Music in the Arts

Each year, Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) supports approximately 60 organizations with grants for specific music projects or the operating costs of music organizations across the state. These projects enrich public school curricula and music offerings and support local community culture and tourism through festivals, local symphonies, and orchestras. Beyond these direct effects, through music education, we nurture our future workforce and cultivate creative industries to become Georgia’s next generation of music producers, composers, and musical talent.

GCA grants also reach a wide range of organizations across the music industry. These include facilities that host concerts, theater, and dance companies that hire live musicians, and groups that commission new works. Support also extends to organizations offering valuable services to musicians – like legal guidance on copyright issues. Each year, an average of 140 organizations directly benefit from this support.

Some of the regional and local organizations that have received support include:
•   Albany Symphony Orchestra
•   Coastal Jazz Association
•   Georgia Symphony Orchestra
•   The Lanier Chamber Singers
•   Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus

Music in Business

Georgia’s music industry supports jobs, manufacturing, and global trade across the state. From instrument makers to exporters serving international markets, our music-related businesses contribute to the state’s broader economy, carry Georgia’s brand abroad, and reinforce Georgia’s reputation as a business-friendly state where companies can grow and become part of ecosystems that thrive.

Manufacturing

We take pride in the Georgia-based music manufacturers that design and build instruments and equipment used by performers and venues worldwide. Companies such as Parkey Organ Builders in Braselton, Warrior Instruments in Rossville, and Manito Percussion in Hull are part of Georgia’s unique story, and they exemplify how skilled craftsmanship and specialized manufacturing support jobs and regional economies.

In South Georgia, Troy Acoustics expanded operations at a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) site that the community had prepared in advance for rapid site development, further demonstrating how music-related manufacturing intersects with broader industrial growth.

Trade

Thanks to Georgia’s robust connectivity with global markets, Georgia-based music companies are active in global trade. Benedetto Guitars, an internationally renowned maker of high-end jazz guitars, exports worldwide and is both Georgia Made™-certified and a recipient of the Georgia Export Award. Nearby in Pooler, Gretsch produces high-end custom drums and guitars with international reach.

In Savannah, JodyJazz manufactures saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces used by professional musicians globally, while in Athens, Echo Base produces vinyl records and merchandise serving the independent music industry, with growing interest in international markets.