Live music contributes 1bn to UK economy

Large-scale live music events are contributing almost £1bn a year to the UK economy, the BBC has reported.

UK Music have stated that in 2009 there were at least 7.7 million visits to events, resulting in £1.4bn being spent. It added that the expenditure equated to the sustenance of around 19,700 jobs. Almost one-fifth of this figure was created by overseas tourists, spending 25 per cent more than non-tourists.

UK Music called on the government to create a strategy to boost live music tourism, increasing the number of visitors to the UK.

"The role of music in terms of creating jobs, in terms of sustaining businesses and in terms of attracting visitors to all regions of this country comes over loud and clear, said Feargal Sharkey, chief executive of UK Music.

"We will do all we can to work with policy-makers and tourism bodies to realise the potential of this considerable economic asset."

The body made several suggestions to the government, including a review the UK’s visa system for overseas performers, an industry-approved system for fans to trade tickets and the encouragement of live music at a grass roots level.