BREXIT, AI THREATS CLOUD BRITAIN’S £8BN MUSIC INDUSTRY – REPORT
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Britain’s music industry contributed £8 billion ($10.5 billion) to the UK economy in 2024, but the combined effects of Brexit and artificial intelligence (AI) have cast uncertainty over its future, according to a new report released on Wednesday.
The annual report by UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the nation’s music sector, revealed that UK tours by global superstars like Taylor Swift and Take That significantly boosted the industry’s economic performance last year.
The report also credited the international success of artists such as Charli XCX and Lola Young for driving music export revenues.
However, it noted that growth had slowed compared to the double-digit surges recorded in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UK Music’s Chief Executive, Tom Kiehl, warned that the sector now faces mounting challenges and called for “urgent government action” to safeguard its progress.
He said the government would be judged by the “progress it makes in regulating artificial intelligence and unlocking EU touring”, both of which have become major pressure points for British artists and music businesses.
The report highlighted that the impact of Brexit, including higher touring costs, increased bureaucracy, and fewer EU clients booking UK recording studios, remains severe and is “still bad and getting worse.”
It also underscored growing anxiety about AI’s role in the creative industries, revealing that two-thirds of British music creators see AI as a threat to their careers, while 90 percent believe legal protections should be enforced to prevent their work from being used without consent or payment.
The UK government’s proposed Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would create a copyright exception allowing AI developers to access certain content without permission has drawn strong criticism from the cultural sector.
Industry leaders warn that such a policy could erode artists’ rights and devalue human creativity, exacerbating existing economic and regulatory pressures on the UK’s music landscape.
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