Music + Live Performances
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Sector at a Glance
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Generated over £4.5bn (2019) for the UK economy in VAT alone.
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Over 30 million fans attend live performances annually.
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From intimate gigs in grassroots venues to a mass sing-along at an iconic stadium.
Sector Overview

Music + Live Performances

The UK’s Music and Live Performances industry boasts world-class venues, headline-grabbing tours and culture-defining acts. Our passionate, creative workforce of over 200,000 people builds and supports global superstars that are the pride of the nation. As an industry, we generated over £4.5bn for the UK economy in 2019 in VAT alone.

The impact of our economic contribution is not confined to a square mile in a capital city, but instead permeates the very fabric of every city, town, and village across the Four Nations. Grassroots music venues, major arenas, world-renowned comedians, touring artists, theatre companies and supply chain businesses make up the backbone of the economic benefits the sector generates, bringing wealth, direct investment, and culture to communities up and down the UK.

Unrivalled expertise means UK event professionals are perfectly placed to deliver safe, vibrant and memorable experiences. From classical concerts to electronica, acoustic sets to stadium anthems, touring comedy and theatrical shows, this industry creates, performs and delivers it all. A talent production line envied around the world means UK audiences can enjoy future global acts taking their first steps towards worldwide recognition in a club or bar near you. Over 30 million fans attend live performances annually, from intimate gigs in grassroots venues to a mass sing-along at an iconic stadium. They deliver communal socialising, allowing us to escape the day-to-day and lose ourselves in the music. The music and live performance ecosystem comprises large and small companies, corporate and independent spread across various functions. Everything starts with the artist, their manager and agent. Promoters will interact with venues and shows to arrange bookings. Production will build out those shows while ticket agencies sell them out. Professionalism and expertise is available in abundance: from designing light and soundscapes to ensuring crowd safety.

Sector News
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The events industry has an entry-level contradiction
The events industry talks constantly about talent shortages. But there’s an uncomfortable contradiction sitting underneath many of those conversations: businesses want experienced junior talent, despite being increasingly reluctant to create the opportunities that develop that talent. Across the industry, employers continue to say they struggle to find candidates with the right skills, operational understanding and commercial awareness. Yet at the same time, many entry-level roles now ask for previous event experience even though candidates haven’t had a chance to properly enter the sector.
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Businesses could gain £3,000 for employing young people
The UK government has launched the new Youth Jobs Grant to incentivise businesses to take on young people who are currently out of work, with a view to reducing the large number of those not in employment, education or training (NEET).
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Martin Rhodes MP to make ‘persistent and consistent’ case for events
Martin Rhodes MP, chair of The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events says he will work ‘persistently and consistently’ to ensure events gain recognition and support from government despite recent funding cuts at VisitBritain and London & Partners threatening international visibility. Speaking at The Meetings Show 2026, a month after news broke that VisitBritain’s grant-in-aid funding was being reduced by 41 per cent, the Labour MP for Glasgow, pledged to ensure the UK’s meetings and events sector continued to gain the attention it deserves.
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Hospitality has less than a year to prepare for Martyn’s Law, warns IoT specialist AddSecure
IoT specialist AddSecure is warning the hospitality sector to start preparing now for Martyn’s Law or risk serious legal consequences.
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