The UK music industry is thriving – but there are still problems on the horizon

A report by UK Music says it contributed £5.2bn to the economy in 2018, but other issues are cause for concern, writes James Moore

Ed Sheeran will do just fine after Brexit, but what about acts lower down the earnings ladder? (Rex)

Trade body UK Music is billing its inaugural “Music by Numbers” report as the “definitive insight into the health of the British music industry”. Very healthy it is too.

The business contributed a sweet tune to the British economy in 2018, one worth £5.2bn, including £2.7bn of much needed export revenues. It also supported nearly 191,000 full-time jobs.

The live sector rocked up with £1.1bn, a 10 per cent rise, driven by a surge in festival ticket sales despite the venerable Glastonbury having one of its fallow years.