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UK music

UK Music’s inaugural Music By Numbers report reveals the key role music plays in the economy in 2019.

The key facts in Music By Numbers 2019 include:

  • The UK music industry contributed £5.2 billion to the UK economy in 2018, up from £4.5 billion the previous year.
  • The total export revenue of the music industry was £2.7 billion in 2018, up from £2.6 billion in 2017.
  • Employment in the industry hit an all-time high of 190,935 in 2018.
  • Music tourism alone contributed £4.5 billion spend to the UK economy in 2018 - up 12% from £4 billion in 2017.

Successful British acts including Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Sam Smith helped exports of UK music soar in 2018 to £2.7 billion.

Millions of fans who poured into concerts ranging from festivals to grassroots music venues generated a contribution of live music to the UK’s economy of £1.1 billion - up 10% on 2017.

UK Music chief executive Michael Dugher said the findings show the industry "is in great shape and continuing to lead the world."

Read the report here