District of Columbia – 50 States of Music

$835.6M

Music Industry Contribution to State GDP

Economists Inc.

4,336

Jobs Supported

Economists Inc.

250

Music Establishments

A2IM/Economists Inc./NIVA

829

Royalty Recipients

SAG-AFTRA/SoundExchange

5,302

Songwriters

ASCAP/BMI/GMR/SESAC

Serving as early stomping grounds for many prominent artists, musicians, and composers

– such as John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Roberta Flack, Henry Rollins, and Dave Grohl – D.C. has played an outsized part in the establishment of several genres, including jazz, rap, go-go, punk, and EDM. A major hub for the arts, D.C. is loaded with musical venues, from the iconic 9:30 Club to the Kennedy Center, home of the National Symphony Orchestra. And the Levine School, the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program, and many other D.C. institutions are undoubtedly turning out the next wave of musical influencers.

Some
Notable
Musicians

  • Bad Brains
  • Duke Ellington
  • Ginuwine
  • Marvin Gaye
  • Minor Threat
  • Wale

Music Venues & Festivals

  • 9:30 Club
  • All Things Go Music Festival
  • Black Cat
  • Blues Alley
  • Bravo Bravo
  • Capital One Arena
  • City Winery DC
  • D.C. Armory
  • DC Comedy Loft
  • DC Improv Comedy Club
  • DC9 Nightclub
  • DAR Constitution Hall
  • Dupont Underground
  • Echostage
  • Eighteenth Street Lounge
  • Howard Theatre
  • Karma
  • Lincoln Theatre
  • National Theatre
  • Pearl Street Warehouse
  • Pie Shop
  • RFK Memorial Stadium
  • Songbyrd Record Café and Music House
  • The Anthem
  • The Hamilton Live
  • The Kennedy Center
  • Union Stage
  • Warner Theatre

Music Schools

  • Catholic University's Benjamin T. Rome School of Music

Notable Music Facts

Major Music Conferences

  • Future of Music Policy Summit
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