UK live music sees double-digit rise in attendance

The number of people who enjoyed live music events in the UK rose by 12 per cent in 2016 to 30.9 million.

In figures from the annual Wish You Were Here survey, live music fans generated £4bn ($5.2bn/€4.5bn) in direct and indirect spending in 2016 by flocking to concerts and festivals across the UK – a rise of 11 per cent on the £3.7bn they spent in 2015.

The Wish You Were Here report is compiled by UK Music, an industry-funded body established in 2008 to represent the collective interests of the recorded, published and live arms of the UK music industry.

TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL WISH YOU WERE HERE 2017 REPORT CLICK HERE

The total number of music tourists from the UK and abroad increased by 20 per cent in 2016 to 12.5 million, of which 11.6 million were UK citizens visiting live music events in other parts of the UK.

“This year’s report reveals more people than ever are enjoying live events and that music tourism is responsible for a record contribution to our economy,” said Michael Dugher, chief executive of UK Music.

“But the data also shows some of the challenges we face, particularly if we are to make sure our smaller venues thrive just as successfully as our big arenas.

“Overall, the hard evidence shows that live music is creating more jobs and revenue and attracting more tourists right across the UK.

“I hope that politicians and policy makers reading this report will see the huge boost that live music gives to our economy in every part of the UK.”

The key findings of the report include:

UK LIVE MUSIC IN NUMBERS 2016

• 30.9 million – total audience that attended live music events in the UK
• 3.9 million – total festival attendance in the UK
• 27 million – total concert attendance in the UK
• 18.4 million local residents attended local music events in the UK

UK MUSIC TOURISM IN NUMBERS 2016

• £4bn total spend generated by music tourism in the UK
• 12.5 million music tourists in 2016
• £656 million box office spend on tickets by music tourists in 2016
• 40% of live music audiences are music tourists
• 47,445 full time jobs sustained by music tourism
• £850 average spend by overseas music tourists in the UK
• £150 average spend by domestic music tourists in the UK

SMALL MUSIC VENUES IN NUMBERS

• 6.2 million total audience at small music venues
• 1.67 million tourist visits to small venues
• £367m total spend generated by music tourists visiting small venues