16.11.2020: Music tourism generated a £4.7 billion spending boost for the UK in 2019 – and live music events could be the ‘shot in the arm’ when it comes to the post-pandemic recovery, says UK Music.
The figures come ahead of a major report on Wednesday from UK Music, the collective voice of the music industry, setting out the music industry’s economic contribution to the UK.
The report will show more than 12.6 million music tourists came to the UK in the year before the pandemic hit, up 13% from 11.2 million in 2018, generating £4.7 billion in spending,up 13% from 11.2 million in 2018 and sustaining 45,633 full-tome equivalent jobs.
Music tourism involves people travelling from both within the UK and overseas to attend a live music event.
The new figures in UK Music’s Music By Numbers report are for the 12 months up to December 31 2019. They do not reflect the devastating impact of the Covid-19 just weeks later in early 2020.
The pandemic and social distancing restrictions meant venues were forced to close as the pause button was pressed on huge swathes of the music industry. London was particularly hard hit.
In London, the Music By Numbers report will show:
• The music industry generated £1.5 billion pounds in spending in the capital in 2019 – up 20% from £1.2 billion in 2018.
• 4.1 million music tourists came to London for live gigs and festivals in 2019 – up 45% from 2.8 million in 2018.
• 10,697 jobs were sustained by music tourism in London in 2019 – up 16% from 9,252 jobs in 2018.
• The number of overseas tourists hit 385,000 in 2019 – up 20% from 322,000 visitors in 2018.
UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“These figures show just how vital the music industry is to London, attracting millions of tourists and generating billions for the capital’s economy. London saw huge benefits from music tourism last year, but the impact of the pandemic means there has been a gaping hole in 2020.
“Music is an integral part of our capital’s cultural and economic fabric, and it’s mission-critical that we get the live sector back up on its feet as soon as we can.
“The music industry should be at the forefront our the post-pandemic economic and cultural recovery – and a thriving live music scene could be the shot in the arm that London needs to get itself going once again.”
Amy Lamé, Night Czar said:
“London’s music scene is the envy of the world, with gig-goers usually flooding to our city to see some of the biggest and best names at our arenas or up-and-coming stars at our grassroots venues.
“Sadly the music industry has been devastated by the impact of Covid-19, but its long history of success means it can play a vital role in our economic and social recovery.
“We must do everything we can to support people across the industry to ensure that, when the time comes, they are ready to help drive our economy and creativity forward again.”
In Northern Ireland, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 901 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 81 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 234 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 193 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 41 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 217 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 17 in 2019
In Wales, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 1,843 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 143 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 440 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 371 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 69 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 415 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 25.4 in 2019
In Scotland, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 4,757 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 453 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 1,265 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 992 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 273 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 1,189 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 76 in 2019
In the North East, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 662 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 60 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 242 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 234 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 13 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 226 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 16 in 2019
In the North West the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 4,976 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 477 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 1,492 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 1,274 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 217 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 1,404 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 88 in 2019
In Yorkshire and the Humber, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 2,918 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 264 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 754 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 608 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 145 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 709 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 45 in 2019
In Yorkshire and the Humber, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 2,106 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 212 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 596 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 485 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 111 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 561 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 35 in 2019
In the East Midlands, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 2,545 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 208 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 516 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 371 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 145 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 491 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 25 in 2019
In the West Midlands, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs (FTE): 2,453 in 2019
Music tourist spend (£m): 252 in 2019
Number of music tourists (‘000s): 877 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts (‘000s): 775 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals (‘000s): 102 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists (‘000s): 835 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists (‘000s): 42 in 2019
In the South East, the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs: 5,371 in 2019
Music tourist spend: £553m in 2019
Number of music tourists: 1.0m in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts: 658,000 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals: 371,000 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists: 979,000 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists: 50,000 in 2019
In the South West the Music By Numbers report will show:
Music tourism jobs: 6,402 in 2019
Music tourist spend: £528m in 2019
Number of music tourists: 1,016,000 in 2019
Number of music tourists at concerts: 517,000 in 2019
Number of music tourists at festivals: 499,000 in 2019
Number of domestic tourists: 974,000 in 2019
Number of overseas tourists: 43,000 in 2019
Read More
Back to news