Latest news with #musicTourism
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Manchester transforms Piccadilly Gardens to celebrate summer of live music
Manchester will play host to music-themed markets, pop-up shops, a festival bar and more as the city prepares for a summer filled with live music. Oasis are set to return to their hometown this weekend, to play five sold-out nights as part of their long-awaited reunion. The Heaton Park gigs are just part of a summer when 1.3 million music tourists are expected to visit the city. Manchester City Council have launched MCR Live '25 to celebrate the city's music. The event will see music-themed markets, pop-up shops, a festival bar and impromptu performances. MCR Live Hub has opened in Piccadilly Gardens (Image: Manchester City Council) Guitar-themed artworks and exhibitions will also take over the city's streets, squares, shop windows and other venues. Cllr Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester is already known the world over for our music and our fantastic music scene that draws people to the city from every corner of the globe. "With 1.3m music tourists expected in Manchester this summer along with the historic homecoming Oasis dates in Heaton Park coming up next week, the economic impact on the city will be significant - with bars, clubs, restaurants, shops and hotels all set to benefit. "We want everyone - Mancunians and visitors alike - to be able to enjoy this mammoth summer of live music so we're going all out to celebrate the massive contribution that music makes to the city with a fantastic programme of music themed events and activities across the city for everyone to get involved in all summer long." MCR Live Hub opened in Piccadilly Gardens on Friday (July 4) offering a range of drinks and eats. The hub will also host a range of surprise acts and DJ sets on the outdoor stage and will open all summer long - from 11am to 11pm. John Lowery from MCR Live Hub said: "After months of hard work, we're thrilled to be opening the doors to The Hub today. "We're delighted to be part of MCR Live '25 and our open-air venue in the heart of the city is the perfect spot to visit with friends and family this summer." Monday (July 7) also saw the opening of "Music for the Senses", an art trail with works made from old guitars, mosaics, installations and murals. Created by global art producer Wild in Art, they will also be displaying a selections of guitars donated by famous faces. Julie Gaskell (Image: Manchester City Council) Julie Gaskell, Head of Partnerships, Wild in Art, said: "I can't wait for people to see the trail and get involved. "It's a brilliant chance for people to explore Manchester's musical heritage whilst discovering some stunning pieces of art right across the city, painted by fantastically talented artists and placed in all kinds of locations from grassroots music venues to shop windows and even a railway station. "And all for free!" There will also be markets held in St Peter's Square running alongside the long-awaited Oasis concerts. You will be able to browse music-inspired prints, handmade jewellery, iconic Manchester merch, global street food and limited-edition Oasis-themed gifts. The markets will be held from July 9 to July 13 and from July 16 to July 20. Have a story? Get in touch at The Northern Quarter Block Party will see two stages with DJs and live acts throughout the day, complimenting the area's independent bars and cafes. The party will be held on July 11, 12, 19 and 20 from noon until 9.30pm. Manchester Central Library will be holding Oasis Week to celebrate the band's homecoming with a range of free activities. These include Liam and Noel look-a-like competitions, a big Oasis quiz, Supersonic film screenings and more. Northern music journalist and frontman of the Membranes and Goldblade, John Robb, will be holding a Q&A and book-signing to mark the release of his new book "Live Forever: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Oasis". It will run from July 14 to July 19. MCR Live Hub in Piccadilly Gardens (Image: Manchester City Council) READ MORE: Heaton Park map for Oasis' Manchester shows July 2025 READ MORE: See rare Oasis memorabilia at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester READ MORE: The WirrOrleans to perform at Eagley Jazz Club tomorrow Capri Beach Club will be bringing Mediterranean vibes and Balearic beats to Exchange Square in the city centre. You'll be able to enjoy a Manchester music-themed cocktail, mocktail or pint there from June 5 until August 25. On this year's Manchester Day, Saturday, July 26, there will be a programme of music-themed free fun for all the family. Highlights include a music-filled mini parade from St Peter's Square to the Cathedral.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Charli XCX give £10billion boost to UK's economy
TAYLOR Swift and Charli XCX fans helped pump £10 billion into the UK economy last year - as a growing number of overseas visitors get their hands on gold dust tickets. Big concerts from acts such as Dua Lipa and Sam Fender saw a massive 26 per cent spike in spending at concerts and festivals compared to 12 months earlier, a report reveals. 1 Music enthusiasts may even find it harder to get tickets for bands such as Oasis, whose tour starts on Friday, with soaring numbers of foreign visitors heading here to hear their favourite stars. A record 23.5 million 'music tourists' enjoyed live music concerts and festivals in the UK with nearly 22 million people from the UK and the rest from abroad. Taylor Swift's Eras tour helped boost numbers as fans flocked to gigs and travelled from all over the world. The overall number of people flying into the UK to see acts such as The Killers or Bruce Springsteen was up 62 per cent on the previous year, UK Music's Hometown Glory report reveals. There was a total of £5.1 billion spent directly by people attending gigs in the UK including the cost of travel, accommodation and meals while in the UK. A further £4.9 billion was spent indirectly on fencing and security or restaurants paying for ingredients. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'These numbers show just how powerful the UK is as a home for live music - attracting the biggest acts, drawing in millions of fans, and giving a real boost to local economies through tourism and jobs. 'Whether it's a massive stadium show or a packed-out local venue, music is bringing people together and making a huge difference.' UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: 'While music generates huge benefits for our local areas, there remain a number of challenges facing our sector such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure looming over venues, studios and other music spaces. 'From Lands' End to John O'Groats, all communities have the potential for thriving and diverse music sectors and can offer something unique. 'At a time when government is seeking growth, it is crucial to empower local leaders to make this happen to help boost our artists, creators, venues, studios and music businesses.'
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sam Fender and Chappell Roan help bring £1.2bn tourism boost to North West
Tour shows from stars Sam Fender, Chappell Roan and the Foo Fighters helped boost music tourism in the North West by £1.2 billion last year, according to a new report. Live music in 2024 brought 3.3 million music tourists to the region, including some from overseas, as artists played sold-out shows in Manchester, Liverpool and across the region. Fans of a wide range of genres could see their favourites in the North West with Fender at Co-op Live, Roan at Manchester Academy and the Foo Fighters playing the Emirates Old Trafford last year. Festivals such as Parklife, Creamfields and Beat-Herder also brought a large number of fans to north-west England. The report, published on Tuesday by UK Music – an association which represents the country's commercial music industry – also found music tourism supported around 9,250 full-time equivalent jobs in the North West. The £1.2 billion boost to the economy from music tourism in the region included ticket sales, food and beverage sales, merchandise, venue parking, camping fees, accommodation and travel. Across the country in 2024, 21.9 million people in the UK were 'music tourists' according to the report, meaning they travelled at least three times the average commute for their region to see live acts. A further 1.6 million people travelled from abroad to the UK for gigs, which the report said was driven largely by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, but international acts including Bruce Springsteen and Burna Boy also made an impact. The report said the total of 23.5 million music tourists gave a £10 billion boost to the UK economy in 2024 in a record for the country as it continues to see success in the industry following the Covid pandemic. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hailed the nation as 'a powerful home for live music', adding: 'Whether it's a massive stadium show or a packed-out local venue, music is bringing people together and making a huge difference. 'We're incredibly proud of our music industry. It's one of our greatest exports, it inspires young people everywhere, and it's part of who we are as a country.' She added that the Government last week announced a £30 million 'music growth package', which will 'support emerging talent, protect the venues that give them a start and make sure our music scene keeps growing and reaching new heights'. Meanwhile Tom Kiehl, chief executive of UK Music, said the sector is still facing financial challenges. 'While music generates huge benefits for our local areas, there remain a number of challenges facing our sector such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure looming over venues, studios and other music spaces,' Mr Kiehl said. 'From Land's End to John O'Groats, all communities have the potential for thriving and diverse music sectors and can offer something unique. At a time when Government is seeking growth, it is crucial to empower local leaders to make this happen to help boost our artists, creators, venues, studios and music businesses.' The report launches the local music action charter, which UK Music said will 'help councils and combined authorities create locally tailored music strategies aligned with their specific priorities'. Councillor Liz Green, chairwoman of the Local Government Association's culture, tourism and sport board, said: 'These record-breaking figures show just how important live music is — not just for our local economies, but for the happiness of our communities. 'The report is a timely reminder that investing in local music isn't just good sense – it's a way to boost pride in place and breathe new life into our high streets. We're committed to working with local partners to make sure music continues to thrive in every corner of the UK.' Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Taylor Swift, Charli xcx and Springsteen among live music acts who gave UK £10bn lift in 2024
A wave of big-name acts including Taylor Swift, Charli xcx and Bruce Springsteen helped to attract a record of more than 23 million live music fans in the UK last year, leading to an unprecedented £10bn of spending across the UK economy. A report from the industry body UK Music estimates that 23.5 million 'music tourists' attended concerts and festivals last year, up almost a quarter on the 19.2 million in 2023. While the vast majority, 93%, were UK music fans, the number of overseas music tourists climbed to 1.6 million, a 62% annual increase. The Hometown Glory report credited Swift's Eras tour, the most commercially successful tour of all time, with helping to drive the figures to a 'new high', while festivals including Glastonbury, Download and Boardmasters also proved to be big draws. Other major acts who played in the UK last year included Sam Fender, Olivia Rodrigo, Girls Aloud, Chappell Roan, the Killers and Foo Fighters. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said: 'These numbers show just how powerful the UK is as a home for live music, attracting the biggest acts, drawing millions of fans, and giving a real boost to local economies through tourism and jobs.' Spending on music tourism hit a record £10bn last year, up by about 25% over the £8bn spent in 2023. The figure includes £5.1bn spent directly by music tourists on tickets, food and drink, merchandise, travel, parking and accommodation. It also includes £4.9bn classified as indirect spending such as on fencing and security at concerts. While the additional 4.3 million music tourists that attended gigs and concerts last year helped fuel the record £10bn spend, it has also been boosted by the impact of inflation on accommodation, travel and food and drink as well as soaring ticket prices. This year, Oasis fans are expected to splash out more than £1bn on the reunion tour, more than £766 a person across the 17-date tour. The report highlights the dominance of London, which is home to big arenas such as the O2 and Wembley, which drew 7.5 million music fans and accounted for £2.7bn of the total £10bn in revenues. The capital was followed by the north-west of England, with 3.3 million visitors and £1.2bn in revenues, and the south-west of England, with 2.5 million music tourists and £1.1bn. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Overall, the live music industry supported 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs last year, up from 62,000 in 2023, according to UK Music. However, the report also highlights the increasing pressure on the industry, with 250 festivals having ceased to operate between 2019 and June this year. 'While music generates huge benefits for our local areas, there remain a number of challenges facing our sector such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure looming over venues, studios and other music spaces.'
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sam Fender and Chappell Roan help bring £1.2bn tourism boost to North West
Tour shows from stars Sam Fender, Chappell Roan and the Foo Fighters helped boost music tourism in the North West by £1.2 billion last year, according to a new report. Live music in 2024 brought 3.3 million music tourists to the region, including some from overseas, as artists played sold-out shows in Manchester, Liverpool and across the region. Fans of a wide range of genres could see their favourites in the North West with Fender at Co-op Live, Roan at Manchester Academy and the Foo Fighters playing the Emirates Old Trafford last year. Festivals such as Parklife, Creamfields and Beat-Herder also brought a large number of fans to north-west England. The report, published on Tuesday by UK Music – an association which represents the country's commercial music industry – also found music tourism supported around 9,250 full-time equivalent jobs in the North West. The £1.2 billion boost to the economy from music tourism in the region included ticket sales, food and beverage sales, merchandise, venue parking, camping fees, accommodation and travel. Across the country in 2024, 21.9 million people in the UK were 'music tourists' according to the report, meaning they travelled at least three times the average commute for their region to see live acts. A further 1.6 million people travelled from abroad to the UK for gigs, which the report said was driven largely by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, but international acts including Bruce Springsteen and Burna Boy also made an impact. The report said the total of 23.5 million music tourists gave a £10 billion boost to the UK economy in 2024 in a record for the country as it continues to see success in the industry following the Covid pandemic. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hailed the nation as 'a powerful home for live music', adding: 'Whether it's a massive stadium show or a packed-out local venue, music is bringing people together and making a huge difference. 'We're incredibly proud of our music industry. It's one of our greatest exports, it inspires young people everywhere, and it's part of who we are as a country.' She added that the Government last week announced a £30 million 'music growth package', which will 'support emerging talent, protect the venues that give them a start and make sure our music scene keeps growing and reaching new heights'. Meanwhile Tom Kiehl, chief executive of UK Music, said the sector is still facing financial challenges. 'While music generates huge benefits for our local areas, there remain a number of challenges facing our sector such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure looming over venues, studios and other music spaces,' Mr Kiehl said. 'From Land's End to John O'Groats, all communities have the potential for thriving and diverse music sectors and can offer something unique. At a time when Government is seeking growth, it is crucial to empower local leaders to make this happen to help boost our artists, creators, venues, studios and music businesses.' The report launches the local music action charter, which UK Music said will 'help councils and combined authorities create locally tailored music strategies aligned with their specific priorities'. Councillor Liz Green, chairwoman of the Local Government Association's culture, tourism and sport board, said: 'These record-breaking figures show just how important live music is — not just for our local economies, but for the happiness of our communities. 'The report is a timely reminder that investing in local music isn't just good sense – it's a way to boost pride in place and breathe new life into our high streets. We're committed to working with local partners to make sure music continues to thrive in every corner of the UK.'
