19.07.2023: Stormzy, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa helped drive 4.9 million tourists to London in 2022, according to a new report from UK Music, the collective voice of the UK music industry.

The Here, There and Everywhere report reveals the huge contribution of music tourism to the London and the UK economy.

The new report outlines the impact of the eagerly anticipated resurgence of live music in 2022 – the first full year of post-Covid festivals, gigs and concerts in the UK, and shows the international reputation of the UK’s live music events.

The key findings for 2022 of Here, There and Everywhere for London include:

• Total number of music tourists attending live music events in London in 2022 was 4.9 million.
• Total number of foreign music tourists in 2022 was 500,000.
• Total number of domestic music tourists in 2022 was 4.4 million.
• Total music tourism spending in 2022 was £2 billion.
• Total employment sustained by music tourism in 2022 was 13,200.

The report also reveals the contribution of music tourism to the whole of the UK:

• Total number of music tourists attending live music events across the UK in 2022 was 14.4 million.
• Total number of foreign music tourists in 2022 was 1.1 million.
• Total number of domestic music tourists in 2022 was 13.3 million.
• Total music tourism spending in 2022 was £6.6 billion.
• Total employment sustained by music tourism in 2022 was 56,000.

The data also revealed that across the UK:

• Total attendance at UK festivals and concerts in 2022 was 37.1 million.
• A total of 6.5 million music fans attended festivals in the UK in 2022.
• A total of 30.6 million people attended concerts (which include everything from arena shows to grassroots gigs).

UK Music estimates that the £6.6 billion music tourism supported last year could increase significantly by 2030 – with the right support from Government, local councils and others to spread growth and job across the UK.

Music tourists were lured to the capital by festivals such as Wireless, Notting Hill Carnival, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day, All Points East, Kaleidoscope, as well as concert series like BST Hyde Park and Summer Series, and shows from the likes of Lady Gaga at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Erykah Badu at the Southbank Centre, Stormzy and Dua Lipa, who both performed at The O2, and both Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles headlining shows at London Wembley Stadium.

A key part of the report focuses on the action that towns and cities across the UK can take to use music to help turbo-charge their local economies and support jobs.

A special toolkit outlines how local authorities and others can utilise existing funding and spaces to help music thrive across the UK.

The report includes four recommendations for local councils on how to build their own music communities:

• Use data to ensure music is at the heart of planning and licensing policy.
• Create a register of available spaces and places to support music activities.
• Enshrine music and the local community in regeneration and development.
• Set up or support city-wide music advisory boards.

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:

“Music is one of our country’s great assets – not only is it vital to the economic success in London and across the UK, but it also generates huge amounts of soft power and helps put our towns and cities on the global map.

“In 2022, music pulled more than 4.9 million tourists into London and supported £2 billion of spending, almost a third of the total spending for the UK ‘s music tourism. This is testament to just how important a thriving musical ecosystem is for our capital.

“But while music generates huge benefits for London and elsewhere, the infrastructure and talent pipeline that it relies on still faces huge challenges. With a venue closing every week and one in six festivals not returning since Covid, it’s vital that we protect the musical infrastructure that does so much for our towns and cities.

“Post-pandemic, the role of music in transformative placemaking is more important than ever – and this report provides a valuable toolkit for local authorities to help them seize the benefits of being a “music city”.

“By harnessing the power of music, London and the rest of the UK can generate thousands more jobs, boost economic growth and attract even more visitors to the local area. This report shows how to turn that potential into reality.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:

“London is roaring back – and it is clear from this report that music and live entertainment is helping lead the charge with over 1m people enjoying live music in one week at the beginning of the month.

“From our major festivals and stadiums, to our unique grassroots venues, musicians and bands are playing a pivotal role in our economic recovery, generating £2 billion in spend last year and supercharging spending in London’s hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions.

“Music is inspiring and immersive, bringing together communities and with major artists like Stormzy, Fred Again and boygenius all set to perform at sold-out shows later this year, I am excited about what more is to come for the music industry as we continue to build a better and more prosperous London for everyone.”

Internationally successful bands and artists to have come out of London include Adele, Stormzy, Elton John, David Bowie, Blur, Amy Winehouse, Wham, The Clash, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Spice Girls, Sex Pistols, Billy Ocean, Soul II Soul and many more.

Grassroots, small and medium-sized music venues such as Tooting Tram and Social, Omeara, Oslo, Camden Assembly, The Lexington, Moth Club, Tufnell Park Dome and Servant Jazz Quarters have helped develop this talent, along with new acts such as Enny, Lola Young and Kamal.,Tora-i and cityboymoe.

Other organisations, businesses and events that support London’s music include the London Music Board, Urchin Studios, JBJ Studios, Banquet Records, Rough Trade, the London Music Fund, Tomorrow’s Warriors, The BRIT School, Boiler Room, LCCM and many more.

UK Music members include AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music.