New data from UK Music reveals a record-breaking 2025, with 24.7 million visitors driving massive spending across festivals and arena tours.
The UK's live music economy reached a new peak in 2025, generating £11.2 billion in total impact. Large-scale events like Glastonbury and Boomtown, alongside major stadium runs, drew nearly 25 million attendees. Overseas interest saw the sharpest rise, with international arrivals jumping by over 26% year-on-year.
Spending was concentrated in key hubs, with London accounting for £3.4 billion and the North West seeing a 15% surge to £1.4 billion. The total figure is split between £5.7 billion in direct costs like tickets and travel, and £5.5 billion in indirect economic activity, including infrastructure and security.
Despite the growth, industry leaders are flagging serious friction points. UK Music CEO Tom Kiehl noted that ticket touting continues to drain fan budgets that should be supporting the local ecosystem. The surge in headline figures often masks the continuing pressure on the grassroots venues and rehearsal spaces that underpin the entire circuit.