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Live music contributed £3.7 billion to UK economy in 2015, UK Music report finds

By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 13 June 2016

Cross-sector trade group UK Music has published its annual report on the contribution of live music and music tourism to the UK economy.

The ‘Wish You Were Here’ report finds that 27.7 million people attended live music events in the UK in 2015, and that 14% more people attended events in their local area than in 2014. Of the 27.7 million, 24 million attended gigs and concerts, 3.7 million festivals, while 10.4 million – 38% of the overall number – were ‘music tourists’. 767,000 of those tourists came from outside the UK (rather than them being just British people making a bit of an effort), an increase of 16% on the previous year.

Total direct and indirect spend due to music tourism was £3.7 billion, the report reckons, up 7%, and 39,034 people were being kept in full time employment thanks to all this musical travel. Foreigners coming over here and buying our tickets spent an average of £852 on their trip, which is an increase of 13%, including buying £38 million worth of tickets.

“The appetite for live music continues to grow”, says UK Music chief exec Jo Dipple. “Last year overseas music tourism increased by 16%, whilst British music events were attended by a staggering 27.7 million people in 2015. What this report shows, unequivocally, is the economic value of live music to communities, cities and regions”.

And the UK’s Secretary Of State For Culture, Media & Sport, John Whittingdale, commented: “This is a fantastic achievement and a great testament to both our live music industry and the musical talent it supports. This is no surprise given British artists account for just over one in seven albums purchased by fans around the globe”.

The report will be officially launched at UK Music’s annual summer party at the House Of Commons on Wednesday.