A new report from the BPI has found that UK music is the country’s leading source of cultural pride, ranking ahead of film, sport and literature in a nationwide survey.
The study, based on more than 2,000 respondents and published in the All About The Music 2026 yearbook, shows 27% of the British public view music as the cultural output the UK can be most proud of. That places it comfortably ahead of film and TV (19.3%), sport (18.9%) and literature (15.6%).
British music leads national pride rankings
The findings underline the strength of public support for homegrown music across the UK.
Among those surveyed:
- 74.7% said British music is a source of national pride
- 73.9% believe UK artists improve the country’s global reputation
- 66.5% actively try to support British artists
- 63.1% agree the UK “punches above its weight” globally in music
The research was conducted by AudienceNet and forms part of the BPI’s annual industry report, now in its 47th edition.
Demand grows for greater government support
The report arrives at a time when the music industry is pushing for stronger protections and investment, particularly around intellectual property and AI.
According to the study, 67.9% of music listeners believe the UK government should do more to support domestic artists and the wider industry.
Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive, said::
“It’s encouraging to see that the public holds British music in such high regard and is so committed to seeing its continued success. The UK is a creative superpower both economically and culturally, as can be seen across our many world-leading creative industries.”
“Music speaks to the human experience in a unique and powerful way and is there for us at every moment in our lives. As we’ve seen over the last year with numerous new artists breaking through on the world stage, British music has a truly global impact – its importance and power as a cultural asset and economic force cannot be overstated.”
Global success driven by new and established artists
The findings reflect a strong year for UK artists internationally, with names such as Olivia Dean, Lola Young and Myles Smith gaining traction globally, alongside established acts including Harry Styles and Charli XCX.
The yearbook also highlights wider market growth, including more than 200 billion annual audio streams in the UK for the first time and an 11th consecutive year of growth in album equivalent sales.
Independent sector and streaming growth
Independent labels continue to play a growing role in the UK market. In 2025, independent releases accounted for 29.5% of album equivalent sales, with strong performances across physical and digital formats.
Streaming also reached new milestones, with nearly 6,000 tracks surpassing five million audio streams in the UK over the year.
A defining year for uk music
The All About The Music 2026 report positions UK music as both a cultural and economic force, supported by public sentiment and global demand.
