All 50 U.S. states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, ranked by their contributions to American popular music.
http://www.ranker.com/list/u-s-states-ranked-by-musical-importance/cvhicago,
California
1 out of every 8 people in the U.S. live in California, so by sheer volume its contributions to American music dwarf most other states'. West Coast Rap (Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre) really just means rap from California. Iconic acts like The Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, The Doors, Carlos Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, The Eagles, Journey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, The Pointer Sisters, War, Teena Marie, Cher, and even contemporary pop giants Maroon 5, The Black Eyed Peas, Sara Bareilles, and Jason Mraz all hail from sunny California.
Georgia
For the last 100 years, Georgia has been a center of Southern culture, largely thanks to Atlanta, the biggest city in the South. Georgia has left an indelible imprint on soul, rap, and rock music. James Brown, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, and Usher all hail from Georgia. That alone should solidify the state's place in the top ten, but when you factor in Southern rap icons Outkast and Goodie Mob, later generating Gnarls Barkley (along with soul singer Cee Lo Green) and Southern rock bands like the Allman Brothers and alternative rock pioneers R.E.M. and The B-52s, its no wonder music fans have Georgia on their minds.
Illinois
Let's start with full disclosure: I am proud to call Chicago home today, as you can probably tell by my username. But even if I didn't live here I would have to pay tribute to the tremendous influence Chicago-based musicians have had on American music, particularly blues and jazz. Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters changed musical history in developing Chicago Blues. Jazz legends Benny Goodman and Miles Davis also called Chicago home, as did crooners Sam Cooke and Nat King Cole, funk giants Earth, Wind, & Fire and Chaka Khan, and contemporary artists R. Kelly, Kanye West, and Jennifer Hudson.
Louisiana
New Orleans is a city unlike any other, and home to many jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Prima, Harry Connick Jr, Professor Longhair, John Boutte, and countless other masters of their form. But even small towns in more remote parts of this state have changed the landscape of American music, bringing us artists like Jerry Lee Lewis, Tim McGraw, and Hunter Hayes. Louisiana also brings us huge acts in rock and hip-hop like Lil' Wayne. The distinctive blend of Creole culture makes Louisiana sounds like Brass bands, jazz mambo, and New Orleans bounce immediately identifiable.
Michigan
Detroit-based Motown Records was synonymous with American popular music from the 1960s to the 1980s. Label giants like Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas all came from the Detroit area, and that only scratches the surface of the non-stop parade of talent to come through Motown labels. Beyond Motown, Michigan also was home to Aretha Franklin, Madonna, John Lee Hooker, Bob Seger, KISS, Mitch Ryder, and of course Eminem. I think you could convincingly make the argument for any of the top 6 states here to take the number one spot, but there's no question in my mind that Michigan deserves a top 3 position.
New Jersey
In sheer number of musicians, New Jersey can't compete with neighbor New York, and it lacks a cosmopolitan center even as big as southern neighbor Philadephia, but when New Jersey decides to produce a big musician, they go BIG. Bruce Springsteen big. Frank Sinatra big. Whitney Houston big. Those three artists alone would be sufficient for New Jersey's place in the top 20. Throw in a number of artists whose chart dominance may not have been as long lasting, but who ruled the #1 spot for several years and influenced countless others: Bon Jovi, The Fugees (and of course solo artists Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean), Queen Latifah, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, Dionne Warwick, Ricky Nelson, Ice-T, and The Rascals. Bada-bing. Top 10.
New York
New York City is such a mecca of all kinds of American culture it can't help but have an indelible imprint on music. This is the home of rap, disco, Broadway, and- believe it or not- salsa music. Yes, salsa's roots are in Cuban and Puerto Rican mambo, as well as musical styles from Mexico, Columbia, and throughout Latin America, but the term "salsa" was first used by NY DJs, and salsa giants Tito Puente, Willie Colon, and Marc Antony among many others called New York home. So did The Notorious B.I.G., Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, George Gershwin, Nas, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand, 50 Cent, The Beastie Boys, Aesop Rock, Grandmaster Flash, Lady Gaga, and Norah Jones. Even far from New York City, Buffalo has brought us artists like Ani DiFranco and The Goo Goo Dolls.
Tennessee
Tennessee's musical contributions can be divided into three main areas: Nashville country, Memphis soul, and Elvis. The King of Rock, although originally from Mississippi, is forever associated with his home in Graceland. Nashville is ground zero for mainstream country. Memphis has faded in musical importance but for a time its local label Stax Records competed with Motown for radio dominance, and it pioneered hard-edged soul music through the 60s and 70s. Besides its labels, influential artists like Tina Turner, The Carter Family, Dolly Parton, Jimmie Rodgers, and Ernie Ford all grew up in Tennessee.
Texas
As the third most populous state in the union, Texas has had an outsized influence on American music in practically every genre. Perhaps what Texan musicians do best is fuse country and folk roots with other styles (rock, pop, blues, soul). This is exemplified by Texan Buddy Holly's work and the development of rockabilly, but also evident in the music of Texas greats Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, T-Bone Walker, and Freddie King. Throw in the woman synonymous with tejano music, Selena, and the current Queen Bee herself- Houston artist Beyonce- and you've got a significant contribution to American music.
Virginia
Virginia is not an obvious choice as a center of American music, but the urban coastal areas and D.C. suburbs have created a vibrant cultural scene that has changed radio pop of the last twenty years in particular. I would argue that 2000's radio pop would be unrecognizable today if not for the influence of Virginia-based hip hop producers the Neptunes (including later solo artist Pharrell Williams), Missy Elliott, and Timbaland. If you prefer more classic artists, how about country great Patsy Cline? Or jazz chanteuses Ella Fitzgerald, Ruth Brown, and Pearl Bailey? Add in Chris Brown, blues artist Robert Cray, and 90s favorites The Dave Matthews Band and D'Angelo, and Virginia earns its spot in the top ten.