UK live music sector reaches record £7.6bn spend

The report attributes much of the growth to a blockbuster year for live music, led by major stadium and arena tours from artists including Oasis, Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish. Concerts accounted for £5.8bn of total spending, representing more than three-quarters of the market, while festivals contributed £1.8bn.

LIVE’s analysis suggests the industry’s post-pandemic recovery has evolved into sustained growth, with audiences continuing to prioritise live experiences despite broader economic pressures. Just 10% of the UK public reported not considering attending a live music event, while only 9% said they planned to attend fewer events than previously.

London strengthens dominance

London remained the UK’s leading live music market, accounting for 32.8% of all live music spending. The capital’s share increased by 3.9% compared to the previous year.

Manchester ranked second with 9.4% of revenue, boosted by major stadium shows and the continued impact of Co-op Live, while Glasgow, Birmingham and Cardiff completed the top five cities. Together, the five highest-performing cities attracted more than half of all live music spending during the year.

Among venues, Wembley Stadium staged a record 26 concerts between June and September, attracting more than two million attendees across performances from Oasis, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey, Blackpink, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park.

Oasis reunion fuels genre growth

Pop music remained the UK’s largest live genre, accounting for 28.7% of spending, although indie music narrowed the gap significantly, increasing its share to 20%. The report credits Oasis’ reunion tour as a key factor behind indie’s growth.

Alternative rock, rap, R&B and metal also recorded gains, while K-Pop entered the top ten genres following major UK performances by artists including Blackpink and members of the SM Town collective.

The report highlights increasing diversity within the live music marketplace, with growth extending beyond mainstream genres to include country, folk, reggae, soul and Afrobeat audiences.

Job growth stalls despite rising revenues

Despite record consumer spending, employment across the sector remained broadly flat. LIVE estimates that the industry supported 234,456 jobs in 2025, representing a marginal 0.1% decline compared with the previous year.

The report links the stagnation to rising operating costs, including increases to National Living Wage rates, National Minimum Wage rates and employer National Insurance contributions. Smaller venues and festivals were identified as being particularly vulnerable to these pressures.

Permanent roles fell by 0.6%, while casual employment increased slightly, meaning nearly four-fifths of the workforce now operates in casual positions.

Grassroots concerns remain

While the industry’s overall financial performance improved, LIVE warns that the benefits have not been evenly distributed.

The report notes that grassroot venues, independent festivals, emerging artists and smaller promoters continue to face significant challenges as inflation and operating costs outpace revenue growth. LIVE Trust, launched during 2025, was established to address some of those concerns through a £1 levy on tickets sold for larger shows, with proceeds directed towards grassroots music initiatives.

According to the report, more than 100 artists and 400 shows have adopted the contribution scheme since launch.

LIVE also highlighted ongoing policy engagement around ticket touting, business rates reform, touring barriers, sustainability requirements and venue security legislation as key priorities for the industry.

“2025 was another strong year for live music as we once again demonstrated our unique ability to reach all parts of the UK,” said LIVE CEO Jon Collins. “With one gig every 136 seconds, just 10% of the public not thinking about attending a gig, and a strong sector growth rate, we are uniquely placed to drive growth and deliver joy across the country.

“As these figures show, we can be a driver of growth in all regions, towns and cities across the country. Live music is a joyous experience and the desire to attend gigs remains strong, among both Brits and international visitors.

“Our sector is vibrant and culturally essential, but its long-term stability will depend on how effectively we, as an industry, with Government at our side, protect and nurture the ecosystem.”