Fort Wayne, Indiana, might not come to mind as a vital music industry hub, but it should. While cities like Nashville, LA, New York, and London soak up the spotlight, this small Midwestern city has quietly built a hidden network of professional-quality recording studios. Thanks in large part to Sweetwater.com, these Fort Wayne studios have access to some of the finest recording gear in existence and are out pacing some of the more larger and more well-known studios across the United States.

 

Located in Fort Wayne — and boasting a top-tier studio of its own — Sweetwater is one of the world’s largest online music equipment retailers. It’s also an employment powerhouse — currently with well over 2,000 highly trained, on-site employees. 

 

Many of them, especially in their sales department, come to the city with deep résumés that include Grammy nominations, arena-level touring, and A-list studio credentials. Combine that with the city’s already healthy music scene, affordable cost of living, and access to Sweetwater’s massive warehouse, and you get a community of independent studios that rival any other market.

 

We recently connected with six of Fort Wayne’s studio owners who are adding their own spin to the city’s thriving scene. From transplanted Sweetwater employees to Fort Wayne natives, they detail their distinct studios, personal journeys, and the magic that makes this city a recording haven.