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.
Music + Live Performances Sector Industry Events
September 26
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PLASA Focus London
The UK’s market-leading trade event for live entertainment technology returns to London in September 2026.
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October 26
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EAFN Show 2026
The EAFN Show is a one day annual event bringing together hundreds of event professionals from across the East of England.  There are conference sessions where professionals discuss key topics and a trade exhibition where those involved in the industry can share expertise, network and identify new opportunities that can benefit their businesses, the  environment, the events industry and the regional economy. The event also provides the opportunity to network with event organisers, venues and suppliers from across the East of England and beyond. We also have a host of excellent performers from our region to entertain you and the bar provides refreshments, breakfasts and lunches to sustain you as you enjoy the day. The Show returns to Burgess Hall on Wednesday 7th October 2026 thanks to our headline sponsors Gofer Ltd and Arena Events Group PLC .
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October 26
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The East Anglian Festival Network’s Exhibition and Conference
EAFN26 – The East Anglian Festival Network’s annual free one day exhibition and conference (Headline Sponsors: Gofer Ltd and Arena UK and Europe) brings together event organisers, venues and suppliers from across the East of England to share expertise, network and identify new supply chain opportunities to benefit the environment, the audience, the event industry and the region’s economy. EAFN26’s headline sponsors are: Gofer Ltd – one of the UK’s leading event power suppliers based in Suffolk and Arena UK & Europe – The UK’s Leading Events Infrastructure Supplier EAFN26 is being held at the Burgess Hall in the beautiful Riverport town of St Ives, Cambridgeshire. EAFN26 is free to attend for event organisers, venue owners, venue managers, event suppliers, event managers and operations or logistics managers working in the event sector and anyone else interested in connecting with our region’s event industry. Registration prior to the event is required. […]
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