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UK recorded music exports up 72.3% since 2010

By | Published on Thursday 7 September 2017

BPI

UK record industry trade group the BPI will confirm at its Annual General Meeting later today that British recorded music exports are currently at their highest levels this century, the organisation having started monitoring its members overseas earnings in 2000.

Fans of foreign lands and bold stats will definitely like the next sentence. The international income of BPI member labels rose by 11.1% in 2016 to £364.6 million, which is 72.3% up on 2010 figures, and means that recorded music has contributed nearly £4.4 billion to UK’s overseas earnings since 2000.

Fans of foreign lands and lovely lists will probably get a bigger kick from the next sentence. According to the BPI’s analysis of the available data, the ten biggest export markets for UK recorded music, starting with the biggest, are: USA, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Sweden and Belgium.

Fans of foreign lands and quotes from BPI boss Geoff Taylor will be particularly pleased with the next sentence. Says Taylor: “With Britain leaving the EU, the UK needs businesses that are true global superstars; music by brilliant British artists such as Ed Sheeran, Adele, David Bowie, Coldplay and Sam Smith is streamed and purchased the world over, boosting the UK’s balance of payments”.

Fans of foreign lands and quotes by UK culture ministers with a focus on all things digital, like that Matt Hancock, are in for fucking treat with this next sentence. Says Hancock: “This fantastic economic success is a huge testament to the UK music industry and the wealth of talent and creativity underpinning it – not only is music a crucial factor in bringing international investment to our shores but it is also the introduction to British culture for many people around the world.”

Government has a role to play in enabling the UK record industry’s success abroad, the BPI added alongside today’s new stats. Partly through existing and ongoing government support for expanding British music businesses via funding initiatives like MEGS and the various music industry trade missions. And partly by not fucking up Brexit.

Fans of Brexit, robust copyright and concluding quotes should probably sit down before reading this concluding quote. Adds Taylor: “The global digital streaming market represents a huge new opportunity – government can help to seize that opportunity by making sure our artists can tour freely post-Brexit and that [other] countries robustly protect music rights”.



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