The 2023 editions of the Belsonic Festival in Belfast's Ormeau Park and the Emerge Music Festival in the city's Boucher Fields generated additional economic activity worth £30.8 million. They created almost 6,000 paid employment opportunities, according to an independent report. Together, these two entirely privately funded and held events attracted over 200,000 paying attendees, with a substantial number of patrons traveling to the events from out of state, and revelers coming from as far away as Australia, USA .and continental Europe.
Chris Carey, LIVE Chief Economist, the UK live music industry trade body and consultant to Sony Music, Spotify and London's O2 Arena, carried out the study alongside live entertainment consultant Tim Chambers. Chambers has held senior roles at Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, Ticketmaster and TicketWeb at music venue group UK Academy.
Belsonic, which was established in 2008 and has steadily grown to the position as Northern Ireland's largest live music event, generated £20.4 million of additional economic activity in 2023, due to sold-out headline shows from international artists such as Lizzo, Tom Jones, Lionel Richie, George Ezra, David Guetta and Florence and the Machine. The annual event returns to Ormeau Park in June 2024, with headliners including Take That, Sting, Shania Twain, Becky Hill and Limp Bizkit.
Pop-up music festival launched in 2022 and has quickly established itself as Ireland's largest electronic music festival. The 2023 edition featured more than 50 acts, both local and international, across 4 stages and 2 days. Headliners Carl Cox, Bicep, Camelphat and Charlotte deWitte played to a sold-out crowd, paving the way for a substantial expansion for the 2024 event, scheduled for August 24-25.
Festival Director Alan Simmsalso of The Limelight Belfast, CHSQ, Shine and many other live music companies in the city, commented: “These economic impact figures are striking and clearly indicative of the wider and hugely positive economic benefit for Belfast and beyond. Hospitality businesses, private transportation, public services and many other key areas of the local economy benefit from show nights, and the local tourism industry and hotel occupancy always see a strong boost, not to mention the thousands of employees and local suppliers used at these and our other events. “We are delighted to see our events contribute to the local economy so substantially, both with the big summer events and the many other concerts and events we produce throughout the rest of the year.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Conor Murphy said: “Events like Belsonic and Emerge are important economic drivers providing a much-needed boost to our local tourism and hospitality industry. By employing thousands of people each year, they also create a feel-good factor and a sense of pride that should not be underestimated.”
Sian Mulholland MLAChair of the NI Assembly All-Party Group for the Arts: “The arts play a crucial role in promoting social cohesion and inclusion. They provide a platform for shared experience and understanding. They bring people together across cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic status divides. We know that the value of the arts goes beyond mere entertainment; It extends to the very heart of our economy. Northern Ireland's creative industries contribute a huge amount of money to our economy every year, providing employment opportunities for thousands of people and driving innovation across a wide range of sectors. Belsonic and Emerge are two great examples of this. If this is what the arts can achieve with very little investment, let's imagine what a fully resourced sector could achieve. We need more investment. Not less.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councilor Ryan Murphy commented: “Belfast has been a city of music for hundreds of years, and we are currently the only UNESCO city of music on the island of Ireland, so it's great to see events like Belsonic and Emerge, as well as other local music festivals. internationally renowned Féile an Phobail, Belfast International, CQAF and East Side Arts Festivals who make such important contributions to both our city experience and our economy. Joe Dougan, Director of TSW Management, The Limelight / Shine / Belsonic, along with other members of the Belfast Music board, has contributed his expertise to our 'Music Matters: A Roadmap for Belfast'. That roadmap is to build on our UNESCO City of Music designation, put music at the heart of the city to make Belfast an even better place to live, work and visit, and support our musicians, our infrastructure music, our neighborhoods and maximizing Belfast's potential. enormous musical potential. Belsonic and Emerge have also engaged positively with elected members, residents and other stakeholders to improve their offering. “Music is a key part of our identity and cultural expression, so it is fantastic to know that substantial growth is planned for Emerge this year, during Belfast 2024, the largest cultural and creative celebration ever held in our city.”
Liam Hannaway, president of the Northern Ireland Arts Councilcommented: “The arts have a unique ability to bring people and communities together in a positive and transformative way. Belsonic, and more recently the Emerge festival, have become summer staples, annually attracting large audiences united by their love of music. The figures published today are to be welcomed and demonstrate the enormous contribution that the arts and culture scene makes to society and the local economy. Congratulations to the Belsonic and Emerge teams on another successful year.”
Gerry Lennon, chief executive of Visit Belfast, welcomed the figures:
“Events play a vital role in driving tourism growth and generating revenue that supports thousands of jobs across the city and region, creating attractive opportunities to visit and enjoy a vibrant and thriving city that boasts festivals and events throughout the year. “These two iconic music festivals have grown in strength and stature and help showcase Belfast as an outstanding, welcoming and exciting destination for local, national and international visitors and I congratulate everyone involved on this outstanding success.”
Photo, LR Deborah Collins (Belfast Visit), Alan Simms (Belsonic), Councilor Ryan Murphy (Mayor of Belfast), Minister Conor Murphy (Department of the Economy) and Liam Hannaway (Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland ).
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