Taylor Swift’s epic Era’s Tour  was part of a blockbuster summer of live music that swelled UK tourism by attracting more than 23 million live music fans in the UK last year, leading to an unprecedented £10bn boost to the UK economy. The figure represents a 26% increase on the 2023 total spend of £8 billion, according to UK Music’s Hometown Glory report published today – with 4.3 million extra people attending concerts and festivals.

While the vast majority, 93%, were fans from the UK, the number of overseas music tourists climbed to 1.6 million - a 62% annual increase. The report credits Swift's Eras tour, the most commercially successful tour of all time, with helping to drive the figures to a new high, while festivals including Glastonbury, Download and Boardmasters were also big draws.

Other major acts that played in the UK last year included Sam Fender, Olivia Rodrigo, Girls Aloud, Chappell Roan, the Killers, Bruce Springsteen, Charlie xcx and Foo Fighters.

This year’s Oasis Live ’25 Tour starting on Friday is set to continue the success story.

The figure includes £5.1bn spent directly by music tourists on tickets, food and drink, merchandise, travel, parking and accommodation. It also includes £4.9bn classified as indirect spending such as on fencing and security at concerts.

While the additional 4.3 million music tourists who attended gigs and concerts last year helped fuel the record £10bn spend, the impact of inflation on accommodation, travel and food and drink, as well as soaring ticket prices, also played their part.

Music tourists also supported 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the live music sector in 2024 - up 16% on the 2023 total of 62,000. The jobs are a key part of the wider music eco-system that also includes the UK's world class music studios, record labels, music publishers and other music businesses.

The Hometown Glory report builds on UK Music’s work looking at regional economic trends and provides new insights and strategies to grow music scenes and industries at a local level across the country. 

The report outlines how music has the power to regenerate places, support skilled employment, and promote the UK’s global cultural leadership. It argues that supporting local music can be a key tool in strengthening communities and driving local and national pride, while simultaneously providing the support the music industry needs to thrive. 

Local music ecosystems stimulate the economy by boosting footfall, powering the hospitality and retail sectors, and creating vibrant places that attract residents, visitors, and investment. They also provide vital opportunities for those looking to enter the industry to learn their craft.

However, the UK music industry faces a number of significant challenges that jeopardise its world-leading status including the rising cost of touring in the UK and overseas, the threat of more closures to grassroots music venues and the cost-of-living crisis facing many music fans. 

The Express’s Strike A Chord crusade has reported how the Association of Independent Festivals’ 2025 Festival Forecast Report, 250 festivals ceased to operate between 2019 and June 2025. The new research identified 592 music festivals in the UK in 2025, of which 360 are green field festivals and 232 are single venue or multi-venue festivals.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:  “These numbers show just how powerful the UK is as a home for live music - attracting the biggest acts, drawing in millions of fans, and giving a real boost to local economies through tourism and jobs. Whether it’s a massive stadium show or a packed-out local venue, music is bringing people together and making a huge difference.

“We’re incredibly proud of our music industry. It’s one of our greatest exports, it inspires young people everywhere, and it’s part of who we are as a country. That’s why we announced a £30 million Music Growth Package last week - to support emerging talent, protect the venues that give them a start, and make sure our music scene keeps growing and reaching new heights."

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said:  “In 2024, our fantastic UK music industry pulled in 23.5 million music tourists who spent £10 billion to see their favourite acts and performers right across the UK.   

“But while music generates huge benefits for our local areas, there remain a number of challenges facing our sector such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure looming over venues, studios and other music spaces.

“From Lands' End to John O’Groats, all communities have the potential for thriving and diverse music sectors and can offer something unique. At a time when Government is seeking growth, it is crucial to empower local leaders to make this happen to help boost our artists, creators, venues, studios and music businesses.

“The Local Music Action Charter, launched in this report, will embolden local actors, particularly in the face of change and disruption, to support sustained growth, and enable those that form part of our local music industries to truly fulfil their potential.”  

Councillor Liz Green, chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said:   “These record-breaking figures show just how important live music is — not just for our local economies, but for the happiness of our communities. Councils up and down the country are proud to back the artists, venues and festivals that bring people together and put our towns and cities on the map. 

“UK Music’s Hometown Glory report is a timely reminder that investing in local music isn’t just good sense - it’s a way to boost pride in place and breathe new life into our high streets. We’re committed to working with local partners to make sure music continues to thrive in every corner of the UK.”

As well as the economic benefits of music, UK Music’s Hometown Glory report also reveals just how important live music is to people and their wellbeing. Polling of more than 2,000 people carried out by Whitestone Insight and commissioned by UK Music found:   

*42% of those questioned say it was important to them to have access to music events within reasonable distance of where they live. The figure is equivalent to more than 22m adults. 

*Six in ten (59%) feel that 'Local music should be better supported by the council’. A similar proportion (60%) agree that 'Empty or underused spaces in my town should be opened up for music and cultural use’. 

*Music is also widely seen as regenerative, with 62% who agree 'Music, nightlife, and music spaces (e.g. recording studios) should be part of how we bring life back to the high street’. 

*Coordinating public services is important to people too - with 50% of all adults saying that ‘I’d be more likely to go to music events if public transport matched event times better’, including 38% of over-75s. 

*Seven in ten (69%) agree that 'If new homes are built near a music venue, it should be the responsibility of the builder to make sure noise isn't a problem, not the venue's job to change or close’.