Spatial Analysis of Musician Locations in Metropolitan United States

Abstract

Based on variables inspired by Richard Florida's Creative Class theory, cities in metropolitan United States that rate highly in indices for talent, technology, and tolerance have boasted high numbers of musicians. Although this concept is plausible, Florida's proposed relationship has been under scrutiny (Markusen, 2006). It has been stated by Ann Markusen that it is not necessarily the creative class that influence the musician location within metropolitan areas, but rather a stronger influence in the dependency of musician location in metropolitan areas, as in musical venues and other centers of musical creation. The maps created for this analysis display musician location to Florida's Creative Class, as well as musician location to a new set of variables called "Scene Index," inspired by Markusen's theory for musician locations in metropolitan areas. The purpose of this study was to compare variables within Florida's Creative Class theory to the Scene Index.