When you think of Atlanta, one of the first things that comes to mind is the music. We have one of the most diverse music scenes in the country, producing some of the biggest artists we know and love, from Ciara and OutKast to 21 Savage and Usher. A big reason for that is how music is celebrated here. Open mics at venues like Eddie’s Attic and street concerts on Edgewood Avenue happen often because music is intertwined with the city’s culture. But during the pandemic, people couldn’t put on or attend these events.
One of the first things to shut down when COVID-19 hit was live events and concerts. While many artists found ways to put on virtual concerts for their fans and still profit, venue employees lost their jobs across the city. Security, merchandise sellers, stage crews, and tour managers are all needed to ensure events run smoothly. While many places, like restaurants and gyms, opened back up during the pandemic because of social distancing rules and vaccinations, concert workers were still sidelined. Many of these workers had to turn to other jobs, putting their professions on hold. According to Pollstar, the live music industry lost more than $30 billion in 2020, with concert venues unable to reopen safely during the pandemic.
Another aspect still feeling the effects of the pandemic is music festivals in Atlanta. A fan favorite, Music Midtown, had been happening annually for three decades until recently. The festival was set to return in 2022 after missing two years, but something had changed.
Gov. Brian Kemp had been reelected and signed the Constitutional Carry Act, a law allowing open and concealed carry without a permit, so residents could carry handguns in public without a license or background check. According to at least one local journalist, that law conflicted with safety requirements to put on the festival. “Music Midtown is about to be canceled. My understanding is that it is because Georgia’s gun laws make it impossible to bar firearms from Piedmont Park, a condition required by many artists’ concert riders. An announcement is coming, I am told by a reliable source,” tweeted George Chid, a politics reporter for The Guardian.
The festival did return in 2023 with a new lineup, including big artists like Guns N’ Roses and The 1975. The gun laws did not change, but the festival did take extra precautions. When I went that year, everyone underwent airport-style searches before entering, and the festival website emphasized that “weapons or explosives of any kind” were strictly prohibited. Fans also faced issues buying tickets. Prices were higher, the artist lineup was shorter, and many felt the event wasn’t worth $300 or more.
In 2024, the festival announced that it’s going on hiatus for unknown reasons. While local music fans speculated the reasoning behind that decision was due to being unable to recover from the pandemic, that was never confirmed.
Madison, 17, had been looking forward to her first festival experience at Music Midtown this year, but when it was put on hiatus, she felt deeply disappointed. What was meant to be an exciting moment turned into a letdown, leaving her and others frustrated and saddened by the unexpected change. She wasn’t the only one.
After speaking with eight local teenagers, all avid music fans, the majority felt Atlanta’s music scene has seen significant changes, especially in ticket prices. For example, resale prices for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tickets in Atlanta soared to over $800.
There are wider industry issues, including bots and scalpers inflating prices. This led Congress to draft H.R.3950 – TICKET Act. This would require sellers of event tickets to disclose comprehensive information to consumers about ticket prices and related fees.
Industry challenges also inspired Georgia lawmakers to introduce a bill to regulate the secondary ticket market. GA SB-183 aimed to introduce transparency in pricing and restrict automated bots. Both laws are still pending.
“I wanted to go to a show here for my favorite band, The Driver Era,” said Rachel, 17, sharing her frustration about Atlanta’s ticket prices. “But I ended up driving to Nashville. Even with travel, it was still cheaper than Atlanta.”
In addition to ticket prices, fans reported a decline in concert etiquette post-pandemic. According to the teens I’ve spoken with, people aren’t respecting personal space, are excessively using their phones to record concerts, and disrespect the venue’s atmosphere. Fans have also noticed a shift toward overcrowding and poor manners. For instance, at a Billie Eilish concert in 2022 at State Farm Arena, a few attendees fainted due to overcrowding, and one fan even had to ask Eilish for an inhaler. A viral TikTok documented that and showed fans camping for days beforehand without taking proper measures to hydrate and rest so that they were prepared for the show. These changes in concert culture reflect how some fans prioritize access to events over safety and respect for others.
Live music remains a significant part of Atlanta’s cultural identity. Artists from across the nation continue to come to venues like the Tabernacle, Variety Playhouse, and Fox Theatre, drawn by the city’s musical history and dedicated fan base. These venues, while adapting to new challenges, remain essential spaces for both emerging and established artists to connect with their audiences.
For many residents, live concerts are more than just entertainment. They celebrate local talent, support creatives, and help foster connections. Even with changing dynamics, that’s truly what keeps the music scene here together: the love people have for their community and the music that surrounds it.
Michelle, 19, confirms: “Since the pandemic, Atlanta’s music scene has changed in big ways. Live music feels more important now than ever, and it’s something that will keep growing, no matter the challenges.”
