UK entertainment revenues from music, video, and games soared to £13.25 billion in 2025, a staggering 7.1% increase. The music sector thrived, especially in physical sales with vinyl leading the charge.
According to the latest figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), the combined revenues for music, video, and games in the UK reached £13.25 billion in 2025, marking an impressive 7.1% increase over the previous year. This milestone demonstrates the resilience of the entertainment sector, outpacing the predicted 1.5% growth for the overall UK economy by a wide margin.
The growth rate for entertainment sales is even more remarkable when viewed in the context of the last decade; revenues have surged by more than 120% since 2015, compared to the UK economy’s modest growth of just 12% during the same period. In particular, the gaming sector has expanded significantly, with revenues rising by 86%, while music saw a growth of 124%, and video revenues skyrocketed by an astounding 171%.
ERA’s CEO, Kim Bayley, emphasized the role of streaming services and retailers in driving this growth, stating that their influence has solidified the entertainment market’s trajectory. Despite challenges in the broader economy, these platforms continue to capture a larger share of consumer spending, benefiting creators across various domains.
Breaking it down further, the music sector alone achieved a record high of £2.45 billion in 2025, bolstered by a 3.2% increase in streaming subscriptions, leading to a total of £2.04 billion. Physical music sales also experienced a boost, climbing 11.5% to £368.1 million, with vinyl sales increasing by 18.5% and other physical formats like cassettes seeing a remarkable 95% growth.
Notably, Taylor Swift maintained her dominance in the music industry, with her album ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ becoming the biggest-selling album and the top-selling vinyl of the year. Emerging UK artists like Olivia Dean and Lola Young also found success, thanks to a concerted effort from record labels and digital services to promote homegrown talent.
In the video sector, revenues grew by 8% in 2025, reaching £5.43 billion, while subscription video on demand (SVoD) services such as Netflix and Prime Video contributed significantly to this increase. The top-selling video title was ‘Wicked’, which saw impressive sales of nearly one million copies.
The gaming industry had a remarkable year, with revenues up 7.4% to £5.36 billion. Mobile and tablet games were a key driver of this growth, with revenues jumping 8.8% to £1.88 billion. The biggest-selling game of the year was EA Sports’ FC 26, moving nearly two million units.
Overall, the data highlights a significant and sustained growth in the entertainment sector, driven by technological advancements and an ever-expanding range of choices for consumers. As streaming services continue to enhance their offerings, the future looks bright for the UK entertainment market.
