I know a place

Route 1's FRIDAY QUESTION wants to prove it knows as much as the brainiacs at the Geography Bee with this week's query --
What city has been the most influential in the history of popular music?
Rick T. -- That's a no-brainer! Memphis, Tenn. Home of the King of Rock N Roll, Elvis Presley!
Kerstin H. -- Nashville. Because I love country music and that's where a lot of country music comes from.
Ken B. -- Seattle
Brian C. -- While Liverpool spawned the British Invasion, and it's hard to argue against Nashville (Music City), I'd vote for New York City. One big reason: 1619 Broadway. That's the address of the Brill Building, where songwriters and music publishers churned out countless hits. Imagine a single building where Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Howie Greenfield and Neil Sedaka, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich were all at work, writing songs that are classics 40-50 years later. Then, if you need a tiebreaker, consider that New York City is where Ed Sullivan hosted his TV show, which made or broke the careers of countless bands.
Annika H. -- Nashville.
Matt K. -- Elkader, Iowa
Erik H. -- There are so many places that have spawned great music, making this FRIDAY QUESTION one of the most difficult to answer. I have considered many alternatives, but my answer remains Memphis.
The earliest Delta blues singers gravitated to the Mid-South's primary city. Mixed with some jazz and country, this Memphis music became rockabilly and of course, rock 'n' roll.
Memphis wasn't finished. Stax and associated labels produced a gritty, powerful R&B alternative to the pop-oriented Motown sound. In Booker T. & The MGs, Memphis possessed arguably the tightest band of all time.
Later, Alex Chilton and Big Star demonstrated the resilience of great pop songs and Tav Falco's Panther Burns blazed a roots rock trail still followed by lesser acts.
We recently watched Craig Brewer's "Hustle & Flow" on DVD. It demonstrated that a lively hip-hop scene has ensured Memphis' preeminent place among musical cities.