The United Kingdom remains the world’s second-largest music export market, even as its share of global on-demand audio streaming slips to 4% in the first half of 2026, according to new data from Luminate.

British music continues to command a significant international audience despite growing competition from emerging streaming markets and the increasing popularity of non-English-language artists.

According to Luminate’s latest music consumption data, U.K. artists accounted for 4% of global on-demand audio streams during the first half of 2026, down from 4.2% in the corresponding period of 2025 and 4.3% in 2024.

The decline represents a 0.3-percentage-point reduction over two years, equivalent to a 7% relative decrease in the country’s global streaming market share.

However, the figures come as worldwide streaming consumption continues to expand, with artists from previously underrepresented markets gaining greater access to international audiences.

Despite the increased competition, the U.K. ranked second globally for music exports during the first half of 2026, according to Luminate’s Export Power Rankings, which measure artists’ streaming performance outside their home countries.

The country’s sustained international influence reflects a musical legacy stretching from The Beatles in the 1960s to contemporary British stars such as Olivia Dean.

Cross-border collaborations are also becoming increasingly important as music consumption becomes more globalized. Previous examples include Coldplay’s collaboration with South Korean group BTS on the 2021 hit “My Universe” and Gorillaz’s partnership with Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny on “Tormenta” in 2023.

U.K. Music Listenership and Spending Increase

While British artists face growing international competition, domestic music consumption continues to strengthen.

Luminate survey data found that 79% of U.K. respondents identify as regular music listeners, compared with 76% in 2025, an increase of three percentage points.

The findings also indicate that British consumers are spending approximately 10% more time listening to music each week than they did a year earlier.

Generation Z leads weekly consumption at an average of 15.2 hours, followed closely by Millennials at 14.6 hours.

The increased engagement is accompanied by substantial consumer spending. Respondents reported spending an average of £83 per month, approximately US$110, on music-related purchases and activities in 2026.

That translates to approximately £996 annually per respondent at the reported monthly rate, highlighting the economic importance of highly engaged music consumers.

Independent Record Store Buyers Show Stronger Genre Preferences

Independent record stores remain an important part of Britain’s music culture, particularly among consumers interested in alternative and guitar-driven genres.

Luminate’s survey found that shoppers who regularly purchase music from independent record stores are considerably more likely than average music listeners to engage with Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Punk, Folk, and Singer-Songwriter music.

Among independent record store buyers, 34% reported listening to Indie Rock, compared with 17% of average music listeners, making the genre twice as prevalent within that consumer segment.

Alternative Rock attracted 28% of independent record store buyers, compared with 15% of average listeners, representing an 86.7% higher reported listenership rate.

Punk recorded 20% versus 12%, while Singer-Songwriter music attracted 34% of independent record store buyers compared with 20% of average listeners.

Folk music also performed strongly among independent record store shoppers, with 28% reporting listenership compared with 18% of average music listeners.

The results underline the importance of independent retail outlets in supporting genres that may not always dominate mainstream streaming charts.

Britain has a longstanding independent music tradition, with influential labels and retailers such as Rough Trade contributing to the development and international visibility of alternative music.

British Music Remains Competitive Internationally

The latest findings suggest that the U.K.’s music industry continues to benefit from both international demand for British artists and strong domestic consumer engagement.

Although the country’s global on-demand audio streaming share declined from 4.3% to 4% between the first halves of 2024 and 2026, its position as the world’s second-largest music exporter demonstrates its continued international reach.

Meanwhile, rising listening hours, increased participation in music consumption, and significant spending among U.K. consumers point to a resilient domestic market.