UK: music, video and games revenues up 7.1% to £13.3bn
UK revenues from music, video and games rose 7.1% in 2025 to a record £13.3bn, according to ERA. Growth far outpaced the UK economy and marked a sharp acceleration from 2024.
Long-term expansion
Entertainment revenues have increased more than 120% over the past decade, compared with just 12% growth for the wider UK economy. Video, music and games have all grown many times faster than GDP, driven primarily by streaming and digital retail.
Sector performance in 2025
Video was the fastest-growing sector, up 8% to £5.44bn, followed by games (+7.4%) and music (+4.2%). Physical music formats stood out, growing 11.5%, while physical video declined more slowly than in previous years.
Streaming drives momentum
Streaming services and retailers continue to reshape consumer spending. ERA CEO Kim Bayley said their investment and innovation have entrenched a long-term shift in entertainment consumption, benefiting creators across music, film and games.
Music highlights
Music revenues reached an all-time high of £2.45bn. Streaming subscriptions grew 3.2%, while physical sales rose sharply, led by vinyl (+18.5%). Physical formats now account for 15% of music revenues.
Taylor Swift delivered the year’s best-selling album and vinyl release, while emerging UK artists gained momentum through coordinated industry support.
Video market trends
Video revenues climbed to £5.44bn, with streaming services growing 8.8%. Film downloads also increased, while physical formats declined at their slowest rate since 2010. Blu-ray continued to outperform DVD.
Wicked was the year’s top-selling video title, significantly ahead of 2024’s best seller.
Games growth and ownership
Games revenues rose 7.4% to £5.37bn, led by mobile gaming and full-game downloads. Physical console sales dipped slightly, but games remain the strongest ownership-based entertainment sector, with 45% of revenues coming from purchases.
EA Sports FC 26 was the year’s best-selling game.
Outlook
After slowing post-pandemic, the games sector rebounded strongly in 2025. ERA expects innovation across streaming, digital retail and physical formats to sustain momentum into 2026.