SCOTLAND’s music industry generated more than £400 million of spending last year, as well as sustaining over 4000 full-time jobs, research has suggested.
The statistics were released in a report by the industry umbrella organisation UK Music, which also issued a caution about the potential impact of Brexit, urging the creation of an EU-wide music passport.
UK Music’s figures showed that the sector generated spending of £431m and sustained 4300 full-time posts.
Scotland also saw the strongest growth in bringing music tourists to the UK, with numbers rising from 800,000 visitors in 2017 to 1.1 million in 2018, an increase of 38%.
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Only London, the South East and North West of England brought in more tourists to the country.
Successful British acts such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Sam Smith also helped exports of UK music soar to £2.7 billion last year, to the report.
New festivals such as Summer Sessions were credited with helping to attract a growing number of music tourists alongside a long summer which encouraged festival visits.
The £431m spent by tourists in Scotland went on tickets, merchandise, food and accommodation.
There was also indirect spending, such as the costs racked up by organisers in running the various events.
The total contribution to the UK economy from the music industry was £5.2bn, with 190,935 jobs credited, the report revealed.
“Although Glastonbury Festival did not take place in 2018 when the data for the report was collected, the rise in the number of other festivals across the UK, particularly in Scotland, such as TRNSMT and Sunday Sessions, boosted the numbers,” UK Music said.
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However, the report warned that there was an “urgent need” for more investment.
“The risks to the UK music market of not acting now include the economic risk of the UK losing its place as one of the world’s only net exporters of music, as well as vastly reducing the diversity of talent that benefits from investment,” the report said.
“The DCMS (Department for Culture Media and Sport) should commit to developing policy work in partnership with UK Music with a view to introducing a tax credit system to help encourage greater investment into UK music production.”
The report also warned that Brexit could have an impact on the UK’s touring artists and called for the Government to “back plans for a single EU-wide live music touring passport”.
UK 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 UK’s economy.”
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