Inspiring Conversations with Gina Boykin of Live Music Junkiez LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Boykin.

Gina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Live Music Junkiez started pretty organically from my love of discovering live music around Atlanta — especially the free shows that many people don’t realize exist across the city.

I would go to these performances and share videos with friends and colleagues, and they were always amazed by the talent I was finding. Many of the artists were incredible, yet most people had never heard of them simply because they didn’t know where to look. It also made me realize how common the misconception is that you have to spend a lot of money to experience great live music.

That realization led me to start sharing lists of free and affordable concerts happening around Atlanta and highlighting the artists performing at those shows. What began as a simple way to share discoveries with friends quickly grew into something much bigger.

Even today, I regularly hear from music fans who say they’ve struggled for years to figure out where to find live music around the city and how helpful it is to finally have a platform that brings everything together in one place.

Today, Live Music Junkiez highlights more than 200 live music events happening across Metro Atlanta each week through Instagram, the website, podcast interviews with artists, and festival coverage. The goal is simple: help people discover great live music they might otherwise miss while helping talented musicians reach new listeners and bring more people to their shows.

Over time, it’s evolved into something I like to call Atlanta’s music matchmaker — connecting music fans with their next favorite artist, venue, or live music experience.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. When I first started Live Music Junkiez, I was simply listing a few free live music events around Atlanta and sharing artists I was discovering. At the time, I didn’t realize how large and diverse the Atlanta live music scene really was — or how quickly the platform would grow and evolve.

Another challenge was that I didn’t come from a social media or music industry background. My degree and professional career are actually in business, so much of this journey has involved learning along the way — from building a social media presence to understanding how the music ecosystem works.

I’ve also learned that the platform serves three different audiences — music fans, musicians, and venues — each with their own needs and perspectives.

Along the way, I’ve learned a lot through trial and error, networking, and guidance from people in Atlanta’s music community who have been generous with advice and mentorship.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Live Music Junkiez is a platform dedicated to helping people quickly and easily discover live music happening across Metro Atlanta. Through LiveMusicJunkiez.com and our social platforms, we track and share hundreds of concerts, festivals, and performances across the city each week, making it simple for music fans to quickly find shows they might otherwise miss — often within minutes.

One thing that sets the platform apart is our focus on accessibility and tools like the Weekend Live Music Guide. While many platforms focus on major venues, we highlight the hidden gems — breweries, intimate stages, and community spaces. On LiveMusicJunkiez.com, you can find curated lists of free and affordable shows happening each week, making it easy to plan a night out without breaking the bank.

Through Instagram, the website, podcast interviews, and festival coverage, we also aim to tell the stories behind the artists and venues that help shape Atlanta’s live music scene. What we’re most proud of is the community that has formed around the platform. I regularly hear from people who have discovered new artists, visited venues for the first time or attended shows they wouldn’t have known about otherwise. At its core, Live Music Junkiez is about connecting people — helping fans discover great shows while supporting the musicians and venues behind Atlanta’s live music culture.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When I first started Live Music Junkiez, I didn’t really think of it as taking a risk. It began as a passion project — simply sharing free live music events I was discovering around Atlanta. At the time, I had no idea it would grow into something much larger.

As the platform expanded, the biggest risk became the time and energy it required. Keeping up with hundreds of events each week, creating content, and staying connected to the community is a significant commitment, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to hear from artists who say the platform has helped bring new listeners to their music and more people to their shows.

I’m constantly learning through books, seminars, and research, and one quote that has stuck with me is “done is better than perfect.” That mindset has helped me stay focused on taking action and continuing to build something meaningful, even while figuring things out along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://livemusicjunkiez.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/livemusicjunkiez
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livemusicjunkiez
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@livemusicjunkiez
• Other: https://livemusicjunkiez.com/podcast