Los Angeles invented the magic of movies and television and reigns as the undisputed entertainment capital of the world. While entertainment is one of L.A. County’s largest industries, there are several other thriving industries deeply rooted in Los Angeles, making it a dynamic, resource-rich destination to do business. Boasting a deep talent pool of industry thought leaders, L.A. is the ideal city to foster new ideas, amplify a brand, and elevate your next destination meeting and event.
Los Angeles is home to the best storytellers and story-makers anywhere – spanning the media of film, TV, and music. Regions such as Hollywood, the Westside and the Valley are home to major studios such as Disney, FOX, Paramount, Dreamworks, Sony, NBC Universal and Warner Bros. All five major broadcast networks have studio operations in L.A. and well known TV programs are taped here along with dozens of other network and syndicated shows. The music industry is also ingrained in L.A. as each major label has studios in the area along with a legion of independent labels.
Entertainment in L.A. is part of the larger “creative economy,” encompassing a range of creative field and disciplines that make L.A. the creative capital of America. Talents and technologies in digital media, related arts, video games, web development and social media have all established roots in Los Angeles with more than 2,200 innovative startups calling the area, home.
A significant number of L.A. colleges and universities support the creative industry with strong film, broadcast, animation and music programs. Prestigious learning institutions such as USC, UCLA, Cal Arts and Loyola Marymount offer unrivaled opportunities for relevant conferences and groups to visit their facilities, providing access to a deep pool of resources and thought leaders.
Known for distinct comparative advantages in aerospace and related industries, Los Angeles County boasts an expansive ecosystem of aerospace supplier firms with a deep reservoir of top skilled engineering talent and an unmatched capacity to research, create, design, build and export aerospace related technologies, products and services.
L.A. County is home to more than 300 companies in the aerospace vehicles and defense industry cluster, more than any other county in the nation. A key innovation industry in L.A. County, aerospace treasures include such as Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, conducting planetary and space science including robotic missions to Mars, and NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in nearby Palmdale, serving as NASA’s key center for atmospheric flight research and operations. Major aerospace companies with offices in L.A. County include Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon SpaceX and Virgin Galactic.
L.A.’s extensive field of bioscience research and development and numerous premier learning institutions are propelling a global impact in the bioscience industry. L.A. County is home to some of the nation’s finest research and teaching hospitals including the UCLA Medical Center, USC’s Keck School of Medicine, Keck Graduate Institute, the City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai Hospital and a number of other specialized research facilities, such as the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute. These prestigious universities are leading the charge globally on new technologies, cures and solutions while developing the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs.
The number one research university in the world, Caltech is doing significant work in the many areas of bioscience, and its scientists, researchers, students are working diligently on drug pumps, artificial retinas, 3D dental imaging, cures for HIV and other technologies including sensor arrays to deliver muscle commands to robotic limbs.
L.A.'s weather and landscape have served as inspiration to more than 20 automotive design studios that call the city home such as Tesla, Honda, General Motors, Kia, Volkswagen and Ford. Los Angeles has been influencing auto designers for decades, due in large part to its creative talent and one of the most famous art schools in the country, ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. And within L.A.’s advanced transportation industry, key businesses and talent are increasingly focused on alternative transportation options such as alternative fuels, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and prototypes of concepts that aim to significantly impact the world of transportation in the near future.
A plethora of talented engineers, PhD candidates and more come out of L.A.’s top tier university programs with several offering specific programs that meet the needs of the green economy, such as advanced materials, biofuels, energy efficiency, energy storage, and more. For example, Cal State L.A. is home to the largest university-located hydrogen fueling facility in the nation while UCLA features a research center dedicated to hydrogen engineering.
An industry as diverse as any other in L.A. County, fashion and lifestyle span the areas of apparel design, manufacturing and wholesaling, as well as textile, footwear, jewelry and leather goods. Nationally, L.A.’s fashion industry ranks number one in apparel, leather and related products, wholesale of accessories, the furniture industry and is a leader in textile manufacturing and beauty, makeup and skincare products, according to LAEDC.
Top fashion brands with an L.A. County presence include Forever 21, BCBG, Guess, True Religion, Lucky Brand, Hudson and more. The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) and the Otis College of Art & Design are two of the nation’s top fashion education institutions.
As true destination experts, L.A. Tourism offers award-winning experience, personalized service and seamless convenience. Want to learn more about Los Angeles or ready to plan your next event? Contact the L.A. Tourism Sales team to make your planning and decision-making easy, simple and stress-free. sales@latourism.org
