In 2018, nearly 30 million people attended live music events in the United Kingdom (UK), up from 29.1 million the year before. The live music sector has experienced significant growth during the past decade before coming to a drastic halt amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020.
Music festivals in the UK
Festivals have become a vital part of the UK’s live music industry. Since 2012, UK festival attendance figures have almost doubled, reaching a record 5.2 million in 2019. This boost in visitor numbers comes as no surprise, considering that the UK is home to some of the most recognized and celebrated music festivals worldwide. Glastonbury, the largest festival in the UK, draws thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad every year. Despite Glastonbury’s ticket prices also rising every year, tickets are usually sold out within minutes.
Live music is a money maker
Music fans spend good money to see their favorite acts perform on stage, making live music not only an integral part of the cultural scene but also an essential driver of economic growth. In 2019, music tourism contributed approximately 4.7 billion British pounds in direct and indirect spending to the UK economy. While many regions profit from an increase in audience sizes and spending, London saw the highest music tourist expenditures across the UK in 2019.
Size of the live music audience in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2018 (in million attendees)*
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UK Music. (November 12, 2019). Size of the live music audience in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2018 (in million attendees)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 24, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/278038/attendance-at-festivals-and-concerts-in-the-uk/
UK Music. "Size of the live music audience in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2018 (in million attendees)*." Chart. November 12, 2019. Statista. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/278038/attendance-at-festivals-and-concerts-in-the-uk/
UK Music. (2019). Size of the live music audience in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2018 (in million attendees)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 24, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/278038/attendance-at-festivals-and-concerts-in-the-uk/
UK Music. "Size of The Live Music Audience in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2011 to 2018 (in Million Attendees)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Nov 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/278038/attendance-at-festivals-and-concerts-in-the-uk/
UK Music, Size of the live music audience in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2018 (in million attendees)* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/278038/attendance-at-festivals-and-concerts-in-the-uk/ (last visited January 24, 2022)
