It is an exciting time for the creative industries in Newcastle and Gateshead, with a new centre for writing on the cards, the North East being recognised as the fastest growing screen sector in the UK, and as for music, we are literally making all the right noises.
The regional ambition is huge, with goals to generate between 2000 and 4000 music-related jobs and boost the local economy by £750 million through the sector over the coming years.
In 2024, music development agency, Generator, and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, launched the Newcastle Gateshead Music City initiative to drive forward this ambition which has been backed by the regional combined authority and local authorities.
Last year also saw Generator and Warner Music UK announce plans to open a new studio in the city to boost opportunities for local musicians and further grow the industry in the region. The space will include recording studios, editing suites, podcasting studios and other collaborative spaces for the development of creative content, providing a physical space for ambition to grow.
This will be a vital piece of physical infrastructure and act as a catalyst for further investment and confidence in Newcastle as a growing player in the music industry.
Local hero Sam Fender’s recent three-night stint at St James’ Park also highlights the impact that music tourism can have on a city. As well as bringing the vibes, the sold-out shows brought an estimated £16.5 million to the local economy, with approximately 150,000 fans descending on Newcastle for a weekend that has been dubbed the ‘Geordie Bank Holiday’.
With more major events like this coming to the city over the coming months, Newcastle is on the right trajectory. And that’s important because the North East currently sits at the bottom of the table of English regions in terms of visitors, jobs, and revenue generated through music tourism. UK Music’s Hometown Glory report found that music events in the North East attracted 714,000 visitors, 3080 jobs and generated £364 million in 2024.
Positively, these figures represent a growth of £180 million year-on-year, with 1,300 new jobs created in a clear indication of the massive potential for growth when we have the right partners in place to make music a key pillar of the region’s strategic plan.
UK Music’s report also highlights the challenges facing the industry. While concertgoers are spending more on attending gigs than ever before, this has done little to mitigate the impact of rising costs faced by grassroots venues, which have been closing at worrying rates across the country. Last year the UK lost one grassroots music venue every two weeks according to Music Venue Trust’s Annual Report.
These issues were top of mind at UKREiiF this year, where a discussion on the potential of the music industry in the North East highlighted the need for more high-quality infrastructure, including large-capacity arenas, major events and conference facilities to make sure the region is on the map for global tour managers and conference organisers.
We need only look at the success of the Fender shows and of course the MOBO Awards, which were spectacularly hosted in Newcastle this year. The profile generated from the MOBOs was huge and now, the Mercury Prize will be hosted here in October, the first time the event has ever been held outside of London.
To celebrate the Mercury Prize, Generator will coordinate a week-long regional fringe programme in the lead up to the awards, celebrating the depth and diversity of Northern talent while creating new opportunities for local artists, venues, and communities. And who knows, with the iconic BRIT Awards heading to Manchester in 2026, we might see more of these high-profile events coming to the North East in the years to come.
Supporting the UK’s regions is at the heart of the government’s recently published Creative Industries Sector Plan, and we hope that with the North East’s growing music scene and reputation for hosting major events, we will see further investment into our creative industries sector and new platforms for local people to showcase their talents to the world.
