Chicago is a major music center in the Midwest, ranking third nationally in music industry employment and payroll ($280 million in 2004)¹. The city is legendary as the birthplace of house music² and urban blues³, with Chess Records launching careers of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy. Chicago's diverse music scene spans blues, jazz, gospel, hip-hop, and electronic dance music, maintaining its position as a global music leader with a democratized, artist-friendly environment⁴.