UK music continues to thrive, but streaming growth is slowing down. The latest BPI stats highlight a vibrant scene with both emerging and established talents making waves.
The UK recorded music market has achieved growth for the 11th consecutive year, as reported by the BPI for 2025. British artists are making significant strides both domestically and globally, with exciting new talents like Olivia Dean, Lola Young, and Skye Newman at the forefront of this revival. The overall consumption of recorded music, encompassing both sales and streaming, rose by 4.9% over the past year, reaching a remarkable total of 210.3 million albums or their streamed equivalents.
While this performance is commendable, it represents a decline from the previously seen double-digit growth in streaming. The BPI’s analysis indicates that the audio streaming market exceeded 200 billion streams for the first time, accumulating 210.3 billion streams in the year. Streaming has increased by 5.5% year-on-year, now accounting for a record 89.3% of overall music consumption, up from 88.8% in 2024.
In terms of physical formats, vinyl LP sales have seen an 18th consecutive year of growth, with an overall increase of 1.4%. It’s noteworthy that early-year challenges in reporting led to a mid-year dip, but a strong fourth quarter, partly fueled by high-profile releases, turned the tide. This increase in physical album sales marks the second consecutive year of growth, with more than 400,000 units added following revisions from the Official Charts Company.
Key breakthroughs occurred in 2025, thanks in part to robust investments from UK record labels. Notable highlights included Lola Young achieving the second biggest single of the year with “Messy”, while Olivia Dean made history by being the first woman to reach No.1 on both the singles and albums charts in the same week. Other artists like Chrystal, Skye Newman, and Liverpool rapper EsDeeKid also found success.
UK rock sensations like Sleep Token celebrated their first No.1 album in both the UK and US, while Olivia Dean’s single “Man I Need” climbed into the Top 5 on the US Hot 100. Additionally, established stars like Ed Sheeran continue to showcase their global influence, with his collaboration “Sapphire” topping charts in India.
The 2026 Grammy nominations further solidified UK talent’s impact, with Olivia Dean and Lola Young nominated for Best New Artist, a first in four years for two British artists in this category. Also recognized were acts like Wet Leg, FKA twigs, and Skepta, receiving nominations across various genres.
Dr. Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO, emphasized the importance of British music on the global stage, illustrating the substantial talent present in the UK. She urged policymakers to prioritize the success of this vibrant sector, advocating for a supportive environment for artists and labels alike.
In the singles domain, US artist Alex Warren dominated the charts with his hit “Ordinary”, while female artists collectively made a notable impact, occupying eight of the year-end Top 10 tracks. This illustrates the continuing evolution and dominance of women in the UK music scene.
Overall, the UK music industry’s performance in 2025 highlights both the challenges and triumphs of a vibrant marketplace, one that continues to adapt and flourish amidst shifting consumer behaviors.
