The UK's live music sector generated a record £11.2 billion for the economy last year, driven by the Gallagher brothers' Oasis reunion and major international acts, according to figures released by UK Music. The total represents an 11% increase on the £10 billion recorded in 2024.
The industry body reported 24.7 million music tourists attended concerts and festivals across the UK last year, up 4.8% on 2024. The vast majority — 85% — were domestic tourists, defined as UK music fans who travelled more than three times the average commute to attend an event. Overseas music tourists rose 27% to 2.1 million from 1.6 million in 2024, helped by artists including Coldplay, Lana Del Rey and Oasis, who played only in the UK last year.
The Oasis Effect
UK Music gave particular credit to the Gallagher brothers' reunion tour, where Oasis played for the first time in 15 years, for what it called the most profitable run of gigs in British history. Fans spent more than £1 billion on the reunion tour — or more than £766 per person across the tour — despite a scandal over ticket pricing.
The band's five shows at Manchester's Heaton Park alone pushed music tourist spending in the north-west up 16% year on year to £1.4 billion. London's music tourism spending rose 27.4% from £2.7 billion to £3.4 billion, and the capital accounted for more than 30% of total spend last year.
Other major acts in the UK last year included Coldplay, Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Chris Brown, Sam Fender and the South Korean artists Blackpink and Stray Kids. Glastonbury, which featured Neil Young, Olivia Rodrigo, Charli xcx and the 1975, also helped fuel a bumper summer.
Where the Money Goes
The £11.2 billion figure included £5.7 billion spent directly by music tourists on tickets, food and drink, merchandise, travel, accommodation and meals while travelling to events, and a further £5.5 billion spent indirectly on fencing and security at concerts. UK Music said the record spend was also boosted by inflation and soaring ticket prices.
The number of full-time equivalent jobs in live music rose 3% last year, from 71,760 to 74,000.
Government Response and Industry Concerns
Ian Murray, the creative industries minister, said, "These record-breaking figures are a testament to what the UK's music industry does better than anywhere else in the world." He added, "That's why this government is committed to backing the entire music ecosystem in its upcoming plan for music: protecting fans from the exploitation of ticket touts, supporting the grassroots venues and studios that are the lifeblood of our future talent, and working to improve opportunities for UK artists to tour in Europe."
Tom Kiehl, the chief executive of UK Music, said, "The billions spent are a huge shot in the arm for towns and cities right across the UK." However, he added, "The government must support music fans by delivering on their manifesto pledge to tackle the menace of ticket touts who charge exorbitant prices for resale tickets, squeezing the amount of cash fans have to spend on gig-going."
UK Music said it did not have data for overall gig attendees, but the total would be far higher once local fans were included.
Why This Matters:
The £11.2 billion music tourism figure demonstrates the UK's competitive advantage in a high-value creative sector that generates substantial economic activity across the country, not just in London. The 16% spending increase in the north-west from Oasis shows how major cultural events can deliver tangible regional economic benefits. But the record also reflects inflation and soaring ticket prices — fans spent more than £766 per person on the Oasis tour. The ticket tout issue remains unresolved, with industry leaders pressing the government to deliver on manifesto commitments. The sector's growth depends on maintaining the UK's appeal to international artists and tourists while ensuring domestic fans aren't priced out by secondary market exploitation. The 3% jobs growth is positive, but the sector's long-term health requires action on grassroots venues and post-Brexit touring barriers that make it harder for UK artists to perform in Europe.