British music’s enduring popularity around the world delivered another increase in overseas income for UK recorded music exports in 2024, reaching a record annual high of £794.2m, reports the BPI, the representative voice for the UK’s world-leading record companies and label businesses. 

This is the highest level of annual recorded music exports since the BPI began its yearly survey of record label overseas income in 2000 (£364m) and is more than treble the amount of over a decade ago in 2013 (£243m).

Continuing growth has been enabled by record labels’ long-term investment in new talent and established acts – between 2020-2024 label businesses invested over £2bn in artist A&R and marketing. As a result, we are seeing a new generation of UK artists establishing themselves globally alongside the likes of Adele, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, and Ed Sheeran – notably artists such as Charli XCX and Central Cee, and most recently Sam Fender, Myles Smith, Lola Young, Jade, and The Last Dinner Party, among others – new stars who all shone at this year’s BRIT Awards.

However, the UK faces challenges in a slowing and increasingly competitive global market. Income from sales and streams of music overseas rose year-on-year by just 1.9% in 2024, compared to 7.6% the year before, and there were fewer UK artists at the top end of the worldwide streaming market.  Although the UK remains the world’s second biggest music exporter, in 2024 no British artists ranked among the 20 most-streamed artists globally, compared to three artists the year before.

The BPI estimates that UK acts account for around 8-9% of global streams, a remarkable cultural and economic impact given the UK represents about 1% of the world’s population, but below the average of around 10% in more recent years. It places in context how the UK is now competing not just against traditional heavyweight music markets, such as the US and Canada and those in Europe, but also fast-growing territories including those across Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive, said:  

“It’s brilliant to see British artists, backed by their labels, continue to shine on the world stage, including a new generation of talent such as Charli XCX, Lola Young, and Myles Smith, among others. Their emergence shows we are on the cusp of future success, but if we are to realise this potential in an increasingly competitive global market and keep British music a headline act, we need the right environment, where the industry comes together to deliver growth to the UK, and we have a Government that values not just the cultural power of British music but also the foundations of its success: creative arts education, labels that are supported and encouraged to invest in talent, successful programmes like the Music Export Growth Scheme, and a gold standard copyright framework that safeguards creativity and rewards human artistry.”

The UK’s success in 2024 stretched far beyond its biggest superstars, with around 600 British artists each accumulating over 100 million audio streams worldwide. This included over 30 acts, such as The Japanese House, Nothing But Thieves, IDLES and Shygirl, who were previously supported in their overseas marketing by the BPI-administered Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS), which boosts British music exports by supporting independent small-to medium-sized music companies in building the careers of their artists in overseas markets. This partnership between industry and HM Government has, over the past decade, supported more than 450 artists in generating a return on investment of nearly £14 for every £1 received from Government. This is in addition to industry funding from record labels and music companies.  Across all MEGS recipient acts there were a collective 15.9 billion global streams amassed in 2024, up 11% on the total for this cohort in 2023.

Please see Notes to Editors for more details, including the top ten exports for the UK by value, as well as more information on overseas growth by region.