Wales makes millions off music tourism

A NEW report has revealed the huge role music tourism plays in the Welsh economy.

UK Music’s inaugural Music By Numbers report shows the music industry generated £124m in spending in Wales in 2018.

Music tourism involves people travelling from both within the UK and overseas to attend a live music event, with 363,000 music tourists coming to Wales for live gigs and festivals last year.

In addition, the report reveals 1,754 jobs were sustained by music tourism.

John Rostron, Welsh Music Prize co-founder and manager of Making Music Wales, said the report underlined the country’s standing in the UK music industry and how it benefits greatly from music tourism.

“UK Music’s report is an important moment for us to be able to reflect on Wales’ standing within the music industry,” he said. “There are some big numbers and impressive stats for Wales from this report. Wales clearly benefits from music tourism.

“We have key venues like the Principality Stadium, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Wales Millennium Centre, Royal Welsh College and Venue Cymru all able to provide a strong offer in great locations.

“We have world-class music festivals – the National Eisteddfod, Green Man, Swn Festival and BBC Cardiff Singer of the World stand out as ones that draw great audience numbers.

“We have some great infrastructure, we have some great events, and people want to come to them.

“When it comes to the bigger end of live music, the data says we’re doing pretty well.”

He added that the report highlights urgent support is needed for grass-roots venues.

“Elsewhere within live music the report highlights gaps that urgently require filling,” he said. “In particular support for grass-roots promoters and venues – the foundations upon which the bigger end of the live music sector is built – is missing.

“This is perhaps even more of an issue in Wales where we have no governing body for music. We have agencies for sport, literature, film and many more.

“Perhaps this is a moment to create a new Music Wales organisation.

“As you look into the many other areas of the music sector that the report covers – recording, retail, publishing, music representatives – Wales’ story is similar to almost all areas outside of London or Manchester.

“We have successes, but the concentration of key companies headquartered in those two cities dominates.

“That’s long been the case and would take a smart strategic move to change it. But in an industry that is highly disruptive, anything is possible.”