The huge impact of the music industry on the Welsh economy, is revealed in new reearch.
According to 海角视频 Music’s inaugural Music By Numbers report, the music industry generated £124m in spending in Wales in 2018.
Music tourism involves people travelling from both within the 海角视频 and overseas to attend a live music event, with 363,000 music tourists coming to Wales for live gigs and festivals last year.
In addition, the report reveals 1,754 jobs were sustained by music tourism.
John Rostron, Welsh Music Prize co-founder and manager of Making Music Wales, said the report underlined the country’s standing in the 海角视频 music industry and how it benefits greatly from music tourism.
“海角视频 Music’s report is an important moment for us to be able to reflect on Wales’ standing within the music industry,” he said. “There are some big numbers and impressive stats for Wales from this report. Wales clearly benefits from music tourism.
“We have key venues like the Principality Stadium, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Wales Millennium Centre, Royal Welsh College and Venue Cymru all able to provide a strong offer in great locations.
“We have world-class music festivals – the National Eisteddfod, Green Man, Swn Festival and BBC Cardiff Singer of the World stand out as ones that draw great audience numbers.
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“We have some great infrastructure, we have some great events, and people want to come to them. When it comes to the bigger end of live music, the data says we’re doing pretty well.”
He added that the report highlights urgent support is needed for grassroots venues.
“Elsewhere within live music the report highlights gaps that urgently require filling,” he said. “In particular support for grassroots promoters and venues – the foundations upon which the bigger end of the live music sector is built – is missing.
“This is perhaps even more of an issue in Wales where we have no governing body for music. We have agencies for sport, literature, film and many more. Perhaps this is a moment to create a new Music Wales organisation.
“As you look into the many other areas of the music sector that the report covers – recording, retail, publishing, music representatives – Wales’ story is similar to almost all areas outside of London or Manchester.
“We have successes, but the concentration of key companies headquartered in those two cities dominates. That’s long been the case and would take a smart strategic move to change it. But in an industry that is highly disruptive, anything is possible.”
The flagship annual economic study by 海角视频 Music and its members showed that the music industry continued to grow last year across every sector.
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Successful British acts including Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Sam Smith helped exports of 海角视频 music soar to £2.7bn.
Millions of fans who poured into concerts ranging from giant festivals to grassroots music venues generated a contribution of live music to the 海角视频’s economy of £1.1bn – up 10% on 2017.
And the study said the total contribution of the 海角视频 music industry to the economy last year was £5.2bn up from £4.5bn the previous year.
海角视频 Music measures the health of the music business each year by collating data from our partners about the industry’s contribution in goods and services, known as Gross Value Added (GVA), to the 海角视频’s national income or Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Exports are part of this contribution.
Across the 海角视频, employment in the live sector rose by 7% to 30,529 – up from 28,659 in 2017.
The recorded music sector contributed £568m in GVA to the 海角视频 economy, which is a rise of 5% on £535m in 2017, and £478m in exports – an increase of 8% on £452m.
海角视频 Music CEO Michael Dugher said: “Our report reveals firm evidence that the British music industry is in great shape and continuing to lead the world.
“The figures are hugely encouraging and show that, as well as enriching the lives of millions of people, music makes an incredible contribution to the 海角视频’s economy.
“Live music is now at a record high and continues to draw millions of fans from both the 海角视频 and abroad to our arenas and smaller venues alike.
“Music exports are another amazing success story with the best of British creative talent being showcased across the globe.
“However, this is not a time for complacency. We face many challenges to ensure we keep our music industry vibrant, diverse and punching above its weight.
“We need to do more to protect grassroots venues by helping them combat soaring business rates. We need to nurture the talent pipeline, including by reversing the decline of music in education, so that children from every background have access to music.
“We need to make sure that creators get fair rewards for their content and are not ripped off by big tech.
“And we urgently need to ensure that the impact of Brexit doesn’t put in jeopardy the free movement of talent, just at the time when we should be looking outwards and backing the best of British talent right across the world.”