One in every 10 songs streamed around the world is by a British artist [report]

The British music industry is celebrating new data from the British Phonographic
Industry that one in every 10 songs streamed around the world in 2020 was by a British artist.

This share of global streaming (10.1%) is more than four times greater than its share of global GDP (2.2%).

The figures came from the analysis of 14 music markets, including Australia. The others were Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA, which together account for around three quarters of global recorded music consumption.

The BPI report highlighted how streaming has not only given British music more of a global profile – in new previously out-of-reach markets such as Asia, South America and Africa – but has created new stars.

Jorja Smith, Joel Corry and Gerry Cinnamon alongside rap and hip hop acts such as Dave, Aitch, AJ Tracey, Headie One, J Hus and KSI are achieving hundreds of millions of streams each year in the UK and beyond.

Streaming now accounts for four-fifths (80.6%) of UK music consumption

In 2020, the UK recorded music market grew by 8.2% with 155.4 million albums or their equivalent (AES) either streamed or purchased by fans.

Audio streams surged by 21.9% to 139 billion. Streaming equivalent albums totalled 125.2 million, up 20.2% year-on-year.

The Top 10 streaming artists in 2020 – with leading British acts including Lewis Capaldi, Harry Styles and Dua Lipa – each achieved over half a billion streams in the UK alone.

But below them in the Top 200, there were many artists achieving more than 200 million streams.

Even artists ranking between 500th – 1,000th achieved between 43 million and 21 million UK streams.

8,000 different acts now exceed the one-million streams threshold annually.

The UK remains the world’s second-leading exporter of music (after the US), and third-largest recorded music market.

The report comes post-Brexit as the UK has left the European Union and begins a new era as an independent trading nation.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI said: “As the UK charts its new course as an independent trading nation, music serves as a symbol of the UK’s economic potential and creativity.

“A new wave of homegrown talent, backed by labels’ support, is taking British culture and business to every corner of the world.

“This is a new tune for a new age of opportunity.

“We are excited by the possibilities that streaming offers for our artists and for the continuing growth of British music.”

The BPI noted that support for artists by record labels was fuelling the growth.

The major labels alone signed 153 artists in the UK in 2019 (up 38% on 2010), contributing to a total roster of 640 acts signed to majors in the UK – up 68% on 2010.

Record labels are the leading investors in artists’ development.

In 2019, investment in A&R by independent and major labels rose to above £250 million (A$442.6 million).

Labels also market their artists in the highly competitive 24/7 global streaming market – with over £150 million ($265. 5 million) spent by UK record labels on international marketing and promotion in 2019.