U.K. music industry advocates who bear the burden of proof when justifying lawmaker aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic have a new resource at their disposal. UK Music have published their inaugural Music By Numbers report, providing a breakdown by sector of the national market in 2019.
Most of the key figures presented in the report correspond to the 2018 cycle. For instance, the authors estimate that the music industry contributed £5.2 billion to the U.K. economy that year. Export revenue for the industry that year was estimated at £2.7 billion, meanwhile, and employment in music reached an all-time high of 190,935.
Music By Numbers 2019 also warns of threats to U.K. music professionals. It reports that 35% of grassroots venues have closed over the past decade, and 30% fewer people have pursued studies in “A-level music.” Brexit, the authors note, will also threaten artists’ ability to travel inexpensively.
UK Music Chief Executive Michael Dugher and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport RT Hon Nicky Morgan oversaw the Music By Numbers report. It built upon methodology developed for the reports Measuring Music and Wish You Were Here, which it cites as “forerunners.” Music lawyers and accountants have been added to the sub-sector of music representatives, and the definition of the publishing sector has been revised, among other improvements.
Music By Numbers 2019 breaks down the aforementioned figures by sector in addition to other insights. It’s available in its entirety on the UK Music website.
Image credit: Alexander Popov
