Arkansas – 50 States of Music

$307.5M

Music Industry Contribution to State GDP

Economists Inc.

6,825

Jobs Supported

Economists Inc.

558

Music Establishments

A2IM/Economists Inc./NIVA

1,083

Royalty Recipients

SAG-AFTRA/SoundExchange

10,367

Songwriters

ASCAP/BMI/GMR/SESAC

Arkansas boasts a rich and diverse music history,

home to legends like Johnny Cash, Al Green, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Levon Helm, and modern hitmakers including Evanescence and Ne-Yo. Mountain View, located in the Ozark Mountains, is the "Folk Music Capital of the World," and Helena in the Arkansas Delta hosts the King Biscuit Blues Festival each year, also broadcasting the longest-running daily blues radio show in the nation, "King Biscuit Time." In 2009, sections of US Highway 67 in Newport and Jackson County were designated as "the Rock 'N' Roll Highway," paying homage to the historical significance of the area, which featured regular performances by the likes of Elvis Presley, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Some
Notable
Musicians

  • Al Green
  • Evanescence
  • Johnny Cash
  • Levon Helm
  • Ne-Yo

Music Venues & Festivals

  • Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain
  • Barton Coliseum
  • Cajun's Warf
  • Dickey-Stephens Park
  • George's Majestic Lounge
  • Kings Live Music
  • Majestic Fort Smith
  • Maxine's Live
  • Meteor Guitar Gallery
  • Murphy Arts District
  • Nomads Southtown
  • Ozark Mountain Music Festival
  • Revolution Music Room
  • Simmons Bank Arena
  • Smoke & Barrel
  • Stickyz Rock 'N' Roll Chicken Shack
  • Temple Live
  • The Big Chill
  • Thirst N' Howl
  • Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
  • Walton Arts Center
  • War Memorial Stadium

Major Music Conferences

  • Northwest Arkansas Teach Music Conference
  • Arkansas Music Conference
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