Music and political leaders throw support behind UK Music’s 2020 Music by Numbers report

19 November 2020 - Press release

Music industry and political leaders have voiced their strong support for UK Music’s 2020 Music By Numbers report

 
The report, published on November 18, was welcomed across the political spectrum, the music business and the wider creative sector.
 
The report measures the health of the music business by collating data about its contribution in goods and services to the economy.
 
Among those who welcomed the Music By Numbers report are:
 
Caroline Dinenage MP, Minister for Digital and Culture:
“The UK music industry is at the heart of our arts and cultural sector, which is the envy of the world. It is a key national asset and something that should make us all proud. Music enriches all of our lives, but it also makes a huge contribution to our economy.”
 
Andrea C. Martin, CEO, PRS for Music:
“At full power, the UK music industry is a true economic, social and creative force. The report clearly evidences this, showcasing the vital contribution of this country’s diverse songwriters, composers and music publishers to our economy and its impact globally.”
 
Ammo Talwar MBE, Chair of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce:
“Music by Numbers report once again show the resilience of the UK music industry. In the most complex year known to this thriving sector, we have collectively pulled together and look forward to 2021 with a clear collaborative roadmap to recovery.”

Peter Leathem, CEO, PPL:
“Music by Numbers reflects the contribution of music to our economy and culture. By licensing recordings and collecting royalties from around the world, PPL plays a key part in the music ecosystem, delivering an important income stream for its performer and record label members.”
 
Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum:
“Music By Numbers provides a stark reminder that music is a powerhouse business for the UK. The findings also highlight the industry's dependence on the creative talent of our artists, songwriters, musicians and performers. Collectively, they are responsible for almost half the entire industry's economic output.”
 
Amanda Maxwell, Chair UK Music Futures Group:
“Artist managers and freelance contractors of varying descriptions are vital to the ecosystem of the music industry. Without them, the industry would not run like the well-oiled machine that it is. Please don’t let these vital and incredibly hard-working individuals continue to slip through the cracks, professionally and personally. See them, listen to them and help them - we need them.”
 
Annette King, Chair, Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board:
“I am delighted to see that once again UK Music’s report, Music by Numbers, shows an increase in our music exports to £2.9 billion, an increase of 9%. In difficult times we have seen the power of music that impacts all of our lives and it is vital that we continue to support our leading artists and the global impact of the UK music industry.”
 
Crispin Hunt, Chair of The Ivors Academy:
“Music starts with songwriters and composers. Creators are the bedrock of the music industry - we generate half the industry’s GVA and make up over 70% of the workforce. 2020 has been tough and we need to put creators first to enable a strong recovery.”
 
David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition:
“This report shows that, driven by creators, the UK's music industry continued to be a global success in 2019. Coronavirus brought that success to a drastic halt in 2020, particularly for live activity.  MBN demonstrates our sector's economic value and why it must be supported towards a strong 2021 recovery.”
 
Felicity Burch, CBI Director of Digital:
“The UK is a home to a world-leading creative industry, that not only contributes hugely to our economy but brings communities together and shows the best of Britain around the world. This report highlights the strength of the music industry adding nearly £6 billion pounds to UK economy before the pandemic hit. The COVID crisis has been huge-setback to the sector but it is vital that UK remains a powerhouse for creative talent.”
 
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI, BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize:
“The UK Music By Numbers 2020 report underlines the tremendous contribution music makes to the UK’s economy, its culture, and its reputation overseas. It highlights the pivotal role that record labels play in securing British artists’ success at home and abroad. Next year’s report will tell a bleaker story, and we are calling on government to sustain and expand the support it is giving to the live sector, so that music can play its full role in powering the UK’s economic recovery.”
 
Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy:
“The UK has a world-leading music industry. We must use COVID-19 as an opportunity to reset out industry and support our music creators to unleash our potential and make the UK the best place on the planet for creativity and music creation.”
 
Horace Trubridge, General Secretary the Musicians’ Union:
"At a time when the live music industry in particular is on its knees and many musicians are in dire financial hardship, only carrying out about a quarter of their usual work, it is bittersweet to be reminded of the success of the British music industry in pre-Covid times.  With the right investment from the Government during the remainder of this pandemic, we will bounce back and be stronger than ever."
 
Baroness Jane Bonham Carter, Liberal Democrat Lords’ Spokesperson on Culture:
“Music by Numbers 2020 shows conclusively that our Music industry is a powerhouse in economic and soft power terms, through employment and exports. We need to support it and its superb, diverse talent as they face enormous challenges from the current pandemic and Brexit.”
 
John Smith OBE, Chair, PPL:
“2019 was a successful year for UK music, but there are challenging times ahead. We welcome the initial support of the UK Government and trust they will work hand-in-hand with us to help our industry come back stronger in 2021.”
 
Jo Stevens MP, Labour Shadow Culture Secretary:
"This report shows what we already knew - that the British music scene was a thriving and growing part of our economy and that it can be again. This has been an incredibly difficult year for the music industry and the thousands of talented performers, writers and artists that it employs and the government has let too many fall through the gaps in government support. Music is playing a crucial role in supporting many through these tough times and we know it can play a huge role in the country's recovery."
 
Naomi Pohl, Deputy General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union:
"This report reminds us how truly fantastic the UK music industry is.  We punch well above our weight globally in terms of talent, make a major contribution to the British economy and support 200,000 employed jobs as well as a huge freelance community of creators and performers.  We can only hope that, with the right support from the Government during the Covid-19 crisis, and the incredible dedication and passion of all those who work in and love music, we can retain the talent and get them back to work safely as soon as possible."
 
Nigel Elderton, Chairman, PRS for Music:
“A world-leading music industry with a decade of sustained growth doesn't happen by accident. COVID-19 has now shaken that industry to its core and we urge the government to continue supporting music creators nationwide, investing in one of the UK’s most successful creative exports.”
 
Paul Clements, CEO of the MPA:
“Music by Numbers continues to demonstrate UK music’s extraordinary financial impact on our economy. Now focused on COVID-19 recovery and trade, music will provide a catalyst for growth. Great British music should be at the forefront of government’s recovery agenda.”
 
Paul Craig, Chair, Music Managers Forum:
“It's been a year of severe disruption and distress, but these 2019 findings should provide policymakers with ample evidence of music's importance to the UK's cultural and economic future. Once the current circumstances have passed, it is vital we can reset the dial and come back even stronger.”
 
Paul Pacifico, CEO, AIM:
“This year’s Music by Numbers figures underline the fact that the UK Music industry’s strong growth continued in 2019 with yet another positive increase in GVA to the UK economy. The growth in music revenues across the board reflects the strength and dynamism of the community of independent music entrepreneurs whose businesses cut across all the areas covered in the report. We must make sure these vital businesses are able to recapitalise and reinvest their way out of the crisis when the time comes. The report clearly demonstrates that government support in key areas that cannot currently function will enable the industry to bounce back as soon as the economy re-opens, with an industry ready to respond as soon as restrictions are lifted.”
 
Paulette Long OBE, Deputy Chair UK Music Diversity Taskforce:
“Great to see an 11% increase in our contribution to the UK economy. However, with the current challenges of COVID-19, let's show exactly how creative and resilient our industry can be, as we find new innovative ways to support our community and recharge the growth of our sector.”
 
Penny Blackham, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Music Board, said:
“South Yorkshire had an acclaimed and thriving music scene pre-Covid, including established venues like The Leadmill and our network of DIY and grassroots venues doing invaluable work in our communities providing early career entry opportunities for hundreds. We were also nurturing the next generation of musical talent through our educational music hubs and organisations like Barnsley Youth Choir.
 
“UK Music’s report shows how much value the music industry brings to the economy and I sincerely hope this contribution is not overlooked by the Government. The sector must be protected and strategy must be developed with inbuilt government support so it can continue to thrive and provide in the future.
 
“It is heartbreaking to think that some of these venues and organisations will not survive the financial pressures of the pandemic. The music industry will play a huge part in revitalising our towns and cities and driving economic and cultural recovery in the wake of the pandemic but it is vital that the industry and people working in it have the support needed to get through enforced closures and social distancing regulations, so we still have a music scene to enjoy and an industry to deliver economic recovery when life returns to normal.”
 
Pete Wishart MP, Co-Chair of the APPG on Music:
“This report continues to highlight what a national asset the music industry is in the UK. The music industry supports jobs, it contributes hugely to our economy, and it adds greatly to our creativity and wellbeing as a nation. 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for us all, but none more so than in the arts and creative sector. It is vitally important that we support the music industry to encourage post-Covid revival. For many of us, it has been music that has kept us going throughout the darkest days of 2020, and it is vital that we give the industry our support going forward.”
 
Phil Bowdery, Chair, Concert Promoters Association:
“The Music By Numbers report shows that pre-COVID-19 the live music industry was growing rapidly, up 17% in 2019 and delivering increasing value to UK plc. The pandemic literally stopped the show. Targeted help is needed to support our proudly entrepreneurial sector through this economic uncertainty and return it back to growth.”
 
Roberto Neri, Chair of the MPA:
“The UK music industry continues to impress the world with a mighty £2.9bn of export revenue. The setback and turbulence of 2020 highlights protecting intellectual property and safeguarding livelihoods is paramount for our industry to continue to grow and flourish.”
 
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region:
“As a UNESCO City of Music, Liverpool and the wider City Region has music in our DNA. It’s a major part of our visitor economy that is vitally important and must be supported. It’s why I brought forward the Liverpool City Region’s Music Fund back in June, which has supported more than 50 music industry businesses, including venues, studios and promoters. But that alone isn’t enough to support a sector that makes such a huge contribution to the UK economy so I support UK Music in calling on Government to do their part to support the industry towards recovery.”
 
Tim Davie, Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council and BBC Director General:
“The UK’s music industry is a key part of our world-leading creative industries, which are a £111 billion sector and pre-Covid one of the fastest growing parts of the economy. This report makes clear the music industry’s significant economic contribution to that growth. It also showcases the importance and vibrancy of the UK’s music industry at home and around the world and shows the impact our home-grown talent has on the UK’s global reputation.”