Live music worth a record £6.1bn to the UK economy

THE value of the UK's powerhouse live music sector smashed through the £6 billion barrier for the first time last year, according to new analysis today.

- ENTERTAINMENT

The 2023 annual report from LIVE, the body representing the industry, said its contribution to economic output rose 17% in 2023 to a record £6.1 billion, more than a third higher than pre-pandemic figure.

London, which has some of the biggest venues in the UK, including the O2 in Greenwich, and Wembley Stadium, accounted for just over 30% of total live music revenue, followed by Manchester on 7.4% and Glasgow with 5.5%, Major gigs in London last year included Elton John's run of 10 shows at the O2 on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, and the UK leg of Beyoncé's Renaissance tour, which included five sell out nights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.