The British music industry is experiencing an economic boom thanks to the global success of some of the biggest stars on the scene, with Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, and Charli XCX at the center of this golden wave.
According to a new report by the organization UK Music, in 2024 alone, music contributed €9.04 billion to the United Kingdom’s economy, creating 4,000 new jobs in the creative sector.
Dua Lipa leading the musical wave
Kosovo-born singer Dua Lipa has been the driving force behind this success. Her third album, Radical Optimism, not only dominated international music charts but also significantly boosted music exports through her worldwide tour.
In the UK alone, her concerts generated millions of pounds in revenue for the events, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
Taylor Swift, a global economic phenomenon
Another engine behind this boom was Taylor Swift’s highly publicized Eras Tour, which attracted more than 1.2 million fans across 15 concerts in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, and London.
This massive tour didn’t just boost the music economy — it also greatly benefited the host cities, increasing demand for hotels, transportation, and local services.
Charli XCX, experimental artistry that generates profit
Meanwhile, British artist Charli XCX, with her album Brat — which became a cultural and social phenomenon over the past year — contributed significantly to the industry’s revenues.
Through streaming, downloads, and physical sales alone, British music generated around €1.7 billion, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s most profitable exports.
An industry that employs and creates
Thanks to this golden moment, the number of full-time professionals employed in music — including musicians, composers, songwriters, producers, and sound engineers — has reached 220,000 people.
This makes the music industry one of the most sustainable engines of the UK’s creative economy.
The next challenge: Artificial Intelligence
However, success also comes with new challenges. UK Music’s Chief Executive, Tom Kiehl, warned about the potential impact that artificial intelligence (AI) could have on the future of music creation.
“It’s fantastic that the government recognizes music as a high-growth sector, but it must be judged on the progress it makes in regulating the use of artificial intelligence and easing touring in the EU. At the moment, the status quo on these two issues is against the interests of music,” said Kiehl.
Earlier this year, legend Sir Elton John and producer Simon Cowell joined calls to revise copyright rules, aiming to stop the exploitation of British creative talent by tech companies that use AI to generate content without permission.
