Southern California releases more new music than anywhere else in the US. Right now we are tracking 3,072 artists in the last 30 days whose strongest US listener city is Los Angeles or San Diego, and the list below is refreshed every day.
Why the numbers are so big
Los Angeles is both a talent hub and a listener hub. Artists who move there to work, and artists who grew up there, all show up in the same city chart. San Diego adds a smaller, more genre-diverse scene, with strong pockets of rock, hip-hop and Latin music.
How to scout it without drowning
- Start with the 5K to 50K monthly listeners band. Big enough to show real demand, small enough that nobody has locked them in yet.
- Look at release date first, listeners second. A track from this week from a small artist is a better outreach moment than a big artist's catalog.
- Check the label column. An artist-named label or "Independent" usually means one person handles the emails, and that person is often the artist.
Reaching out
Every artist below shares an email or Instagram publicly. Keep the first message short: one line on who you are, one line on the song you heard, one clear ask. Artists answer specific compliments far more often than generic pitches.
Data as of 2026-09-27. Contacts unlock with a free account (3 per week) or Pro.