UK Live Music 2023 Report shows the sector’s contribution to the economy last year exceeded £6bn

Our annual industry valuation report shows live music continued to recover from the pandemic and tackled challenges including high inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, and post-Brexit touring issues to achieve a year-on-year uplift of 17% since 2022 and an increase of 35% on the pre-pandemic, 2019 figures. Live music also supported jobs for nearly 230,000 people last year – 20,000 more than the entire attendance of Glastonbury Festival and an increase of 9.4% since 2019. The increased economic impact reinforces the industry’s position as a key economic driver for the UK with the data analysis from research agency CGA by NIQ covering more than 55,000 gigs, concerts, festivals and events. 

The data shows how live music’s social, cultural and economic contribution is experienced right across the UK. In 2023, London accounted for nearly a third (30.6%) of total live music revenue while Manchester took the second highest at 7.4% and Glasgow took the lead in Scotland with 5.5% of the UK’s share. Other cities in the top 10 included Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Belfast.

Despite the positive headline figures, significant challenges remain for grassroots music venues, small festivals, and up-and-coming artists which are vital to the future of the live music industry. Festivals and grassroots music venues closed down at an alarming rate with 36 festivals cancelled and 125 grassroots music venues permanently shut last year. LIVE is calling on the Government to reduce the current rate of 20% VAT on tickets which is damaging and uncompetitive compared to other European markets. LIVE supports the recommendation in the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report on Grassroots Music Venues (May 2024) that Government should introduce a temporary cut to VAT to stimulate grassroots music activity while undertaking a comprehensive economic analysis of the impact of a cut to VAT on all concert tickets.

Download the full report here. 
 
LIVE comes together at our Main Members’ Meeting 

Although a relatively young organisation, LIVE’s network of members stretches far and wide across the live music sector. Over 60 of those members came together at our biannual LIVE Main meeting this week, to step back and take a look at our work over the past two quarters. It’s been a big one, with the arrival of a new Labour Government, giving us the opportunity to make good on three years spent building connections within that party, and make policymakers aware of the cultural and economic significance of our sector. 

That strong political relationship gives us the ability to showcase the efforts across our five workstreams –  Touring, Green, Venues, Festivals, and Workforce – and to be ambitious about what’s next for LIVE. Alongside taking forward the LIVE Trust, we’ll be working behind the scenes to make sure that touring artists and crew get the reform in travel arrangements that’s so urgently needed and reshaping the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill to avoid faulty, rushed legislation causing problems further down the road. Using the momentum provided by our new LIVE Green Coordinator, Ross Patel, we’ll be taking sustainability work to the next level. And we’re committed to continuing the fight against discrimination, bullying, and harassment in live music, so that no-one’s left out of everything our industry has to offer. 

To get around the table for our next Members’ meeting, email grace@livemusic.biz. In the meantime, keep updated on our work via our website. 
 
PM commits to tackling touts
 
During Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons on Wednesday, the PM was asked by Labour MP, Emma Foody about the ‘profiteering at fans’ expense’ by those who chose to relist Oasis tickets ‘online for thousands of pounds’.  In his reply, the Prime Minister said, “It is depressing to hear of price hikes, and I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music and ending extortionate price resales. We’re starting a consultation to work out how best we can do this.”
 
This consultation has been planned for some time and is based on a Labour manifesto commitment.  Expected in the Autumn, the paper is likely to now go beyond secondary ticketing to incorporate questions around the technology used to manage the customer journey and the use of dynamic pricing.  LIVE will be pushing hard to ensure that Labour’s proposals, developed in opposition, to cap secondary ticketing are brought through speedily and in a robust manner.
 
EU Touring: both sides gear up ahead of complex negotiations
 
An article in the FT this week appeared to throw cold water on the idea that the Government could make speedy progress on EU touring reform.  In a classic case of “read the whole article not just the headline”, the piece, “EU rules out loosening post-Brexit curbs on UK touring musicians” actually makes clear that the EU are getting ready to negotiate and this is part of setting out a tough initial position.  It even goes on to quote a senior EU official saying that the EU was open to  compromise and that “[They] have a track record of finding solutions”.  As ever, on this issue, we need to keep highlighting the opportunities open to both sides from reform – easier access to the UK for EU artists and EU venues and festivals benefiting from UK talent.
 
Commenting for LIVE, Jon Collins said, "Venues, festivals, and artists across both the UK and EU are suffering under the current touring arrangements. It is widely recognised that improvements to these touring rules are needed to bring major economic and cultural benefits to both European member states and the UK. We welcome the renewed impetus from both sides to solve this issue, and recognise negotiations are needed to find a solution. We agree with the EU Domestic Advisory Group's view that the solution to touring problems could be delivered without the need to revise the Trade and Cooperation Agreement."

LIVE Talks: From Melas to Stadiums: Exploring Opportunities within South Asian Live Music hosted by Sania Haq (Founder, Bye 2 Stereotypes) 

South Asian live music events are an integral part of the UK’s cultural tapestry, with a rich and diverse ecosystem that caters to various tastes and communities. These events range from vibrant community Melas and smaller, intimate performances to grand-scale stadium shows featuring renowned artists. With landmark moments such as Glastonbury’s dedicated South Asian space in 2024 (The Arrivals) and international artists like Diljit Dosanjh selling out major UK venues like The O2, the South Asian live music scene is thriving. The time to get involved in South Asian live music events is now.

This session will provide an in-depth exploration of the South Asian live music landscape in the UK. It will also highlight the challenges faced by artists and event organisers within this vibrant yet complex scene, and how to navigate these.
 
Sania has over a decade of hands-on experience working within the South Asian music industry through BollyCo, a dance and entertainment company she helps manage. This is coupled with 12+ years within research, seven of which she spent leading on AudienceNet’s music and entertainment-related work, working closely with clients such as the IPO, IFPI, Sony, UMG, Warner, Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, the BPI and ERA, among others. More broadly, Sania is also an award-winning Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) practitioner and Cultural Consultant. In 2023, Sania set up Bye 2 Stereotypes, a brand through which she provides research, training and strategic support to organisations wanting to engage diverse audiences or address inequalities within society and the workplace

Date: Thursday 24th October
Time: 12pm – 1pm UK
Location: Online (Zoom)

Sign-up free here.