NYC scoops top spots on Billboard’s top music venue list
The Big Apple is still the biggest stage around.
The metro area was essentially named the City of Live Music — as it recorded a sweep of top spots on “Billboard’s 2025 Top Music Venues” list.
MetLife Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Forest Hills Stadium and the Brooklyn Paramount were named, respectively, the best stadium, arena, amphitheater and music club in the eastern United States.
Williamsburg’s famous Brooklyn Bowl was even named the region’s “Best Food and Music Pairing,” making the New York area the most honored on the list.
“Why is New York music the best? Because New York is the best!” Larry Miller, the director of the music business program at NYU Steinhardt, told The Post.
“New York is a beacon of live entertainment experience in the United States and around the world.”
The Big Apple took home five out of Billboard’s 28 categories — totaling about 18% of the awards .
MetLife Stadium — which sits 10 miles from Manhattan in New Jersey, and has been the scene of mega concerts from Beyonce to Bruce Springsteen — won the the top stadium in the region due in part to its “striking exterior facade.”
And while its been a place to watch some pretty poor football lately — its cutting-edge video boards and fully immersive audio systems make it a champion for concerts, Billboard said.
Madison Square Garden — which has a concert history that includes being the site of Led Zeppelin’s legendary “Song Remains the Same” concert film to Billy Joel’s 104-show residency — nabbed the No. 1 spot for East Coast arenas thanks to its “power and allure” that makes it among the highest-grossing venue in the county.
Last year alone, MSG sold a whopping 2 million tickets across 145 shows.
Forest Hills Stadium — where the Beatles famously played to 16,000 in 1964 — clinched the title for East Coast amphitheater, with Billboard emphasizing how the venue “[harmonizes] with the surrounding neighborhood’s charm.”
Finally, the Brooklyn Paramount — which reopened last year to continue a century-long history that once saw greats like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald play there — stole top billing for the region’s clubs and theaters due in large part to its lore.
“Stepping into the building is like walking into a time machine, with its intricate stone carvings, Art Deco flair and a marquee that evokes old-school charm,” Billboard wrote.
The ranking for the ornate early-20th Century facility is notable to Miller, considering the location’s short time open following a major renovation project.
“It’s fantastic. It’s absolutely remarkable what they were able to do with the restoration, the transformation, the guest experience, the quality of the sound, the sightlines, the quality of the bars, the presence of the history of the place,” Miller gushed.
Although it wasn’t didn’t nab a regional accolade, even the Brooklyn Bowl made the list, making it tied for the smallest venue to be acknowledged along with Belly Up in California. Both can fit just 600 partiers.
The independent venue, tucked in Williamsburg, won the title for “Best Food And Music Pairing” — also making it the only Big Apple venue included on Billboard’s list not to be operated by either LiveNation or AEG.
Owners of even smaller venues across the five boroughs have raised concerns that the monster entertainment companies have usurped the live music industry over the years, leaving nothing but crumbs for halls like Our Wicked Lady in Bushwick — a 200-person concert hall that is fighting to stay alive amid skyrocketing prices and tamer nightlife.
One of the winners on the Billboard list is more controversial than others — though Forest Hills Stadium has plenty of supporters, it is battling lawsuits from residents who say the open-air stadium consistently exceeds noise limitations.
Last summer was lapped with noise violations at 11 of its 36 concerts.
“What Billboard doesn’t seem to know is that the stadium has been a terrible neighbor and has been breaking city noise laws,” Andy Court, President of the Concerned Citizens of Forest Hills, raged to The Post.
According to Miller, however, the venues all earned their top spots because of their consuming and mystical energy.
“The garden is by far hands down the world’s most famous arena for a million different reasons,” he said.
“World-class experiences technically could include incredible sound and lights and fantastic sightlines and great experiences are really important. But just as important is feeling the soul of the place when you walk in there. You feel that when you walk into the Garden and you feel that when you walk into the Brooklyn Paramount,” Miller continued.
“We’re lucky that we live in a market where, yes, you’re going to large venues where the biggest acts in the world can play, but you can also get a great experience along with your ticket and your opportunity to buy a $100 sweatshirt.”
