Record Growth for UK’s Music Industry

1 November, 2018

There’s never been a better time to work in the music industry with the number of careers reaching an all-time high, and a record £4.5 billion contributed to the UK economy last year.

That’s according to a new report from UK Music, which has our BIMM students and staff celebrating the news the music industry now employs 145,815 people, up 3% year-on-year.

Released today, 2018’s Measuring Music report – which charts the impact of music throughout 2017 and beyond – also shows a 2% hike in overall growth for the music industry, meaning more and more people are finding success in one of the UK’s most exciting creative sectors. 

A significant amount of that success is down to the worldwide invasion of British artists: 2017 saw Ed Sheeran score the biggest selling album of the year with Divide, while Harry Styles, Rag’n’Bone Man and Sam Smith also featured in the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) Global Top 10 for 2017. UK Music’s report also name-checks the contributions of managers, publishers, sound engineers, and – most important of all – the talented individuals who make up our schools and colleges, for whom we must nurture.

Nurturing talent –  including our BIMM degree and diploma students –  is a principal theme of this year’s report. UK Music CEO, Michael Dugher, said: “If we want to produce the next generation of global British stars for the future, we’ve got to think about, plan and invest in that future. We have to make sure that every child, regardless of what background they come from or how much money their parents have, has the opportunity to access music, to enjoy its transformative power and to try out a career in the industry if they want to.”

Fortunately, at BIMM we’ve been doing just that, with a host of scholarships available to all students, and continued financial support to make sure everyone who passes through our doors has the opportunity to thrive – and that’s precisely what the majority of our students have done. 

According to our own employability figures, 86% of BIMM students find work up to six months after they graduate from BIMM, and 83% of those work in the music and creative industry in Europe. In addition, two-thirds (66%) find work through industry connections they make at BIMM.

The above figures include critically-acclaimed bands like Pale Waves, who met at BIMM Manchester before going on to open for The 1975 at Madison Square Garden last year, and BIMM London drumming graduate Charlie Fiske, who has a role in the blockbuster Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. That’s not to mention the hundreds of students who have set up their own businesses or who now work in management roles, and all those who have found opportunities after volunteering at festivals like The Great Escape and Glastonbury.

Mel Thornton, BIMM’s Group Head of Careers & Employability: “News of rising employment in the music industry is of particular interest to everyone within the BIMM community; lecturers, staff, alumni and professional industry mentors – all of whom are committed to ensuring that students are informed, experienced and ready to contribute to the music industry after engaging with a wide range of careers support, industry mentoring and work experience. For continued positive growth in employment, it’s also essential we support UK Music’s Talent Pipeline report which is campaigning to have more music education in schools, inspiring young people to learn how to be music artists, executives and entrepreneurs – a vital element of the music industry.”


There has never been a better time to embark on your career in music, with record growth and exciting opportunities in an industry that’s fast-paced, ever-changing and equally rewarding at the same time. See UK Music’s website for the full report, or visit the BIMM homepage to make the first step towards a life-changing career in music.

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