🎶 UK Live Music Hits a High Note! 🎶
2024 has been an epic year for live music in the UK, with spending skyrocketing to a record-breaking £6.7 billion! Big concerts are back with a bang, mostly thanks to the likes of Taylor Swift and Charli XCX drawing huge crowds. Taylor’s mega Eras tour lit up cities such as London, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, contributing an estimated £1 billion to the UK economy. Talk about superstar power!
British favourites like Sam Fender and Dua Lipa also played a massive part in this musical boom, as fans flocked to gigs rather than festivals. Concerts stole the spotlight, accounting for 75% of live music spending, with a 12.2% increase in income as folks opted for single-day events over weekend festivals.
But, while the big names are thriving, smaller venues and festivals are facing tough times. A “grassroots crisis” looms, with rising costs and intense competition putting pressure on organisers—78 festivals called it quits last year. Rising labour and energy costs have also pushed ticket prices higher, forcing many to pick and choose their must-see artists.
Despite these challenges, the passion for live music remains strong, especially among Gen Z and millennials. So, here’s to the memories created, the music we love, and the hope that every stage, big or small, continues to rock on! 🎤✨