This divide has everything to do with regional music tastes. Take Kendrick Lamar: The California rapper commands roughly 10% of streaming activity in his home state's cities. But he also dominates in places like Detroit, Portland, and Phoenix — cities far from California but culturally receptive to his West Coast sound. Meanwhile, he gets minimal play in Southern strongholds like Memphis and Nashville, where country music reigns.
This divide highlights the influence of regional music preferences. Take Kendrick Lamar, for example: the California rapper accounts for roughly 10% of streaming activity in his home state's cities. However, he also enjoys significant popularity in cities like Detroit, Portland, and Phoenix, far from home, where listeners embrace his West Coast sound. In contrast, he gets minimal play in Southern strongholds like Memphis and Nashville, where country music reigns.