Music in London

London is one of the major classical and popular music capitals of the world and is home to major music corporations, such as EMI, as well as countless bands, musicians and industry professionals. London has numerous venues for rock and pop concerts, including large arenas such as Earls Court, Wembley Arena and the O₂ Arena, as well as many mid-sized venues, such as Brixton Academy, the Hammersmith Apollo and the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Several musical festivals, including the Wireless Festivals, are held in London. The city is home to the first and original Hard Rock Cafe and the Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded many of their hits.

London was instrumental in the development of punk music, with figures such as Vivienne Westwood, based in the city. More recent artists to emerge from the London music scene include George Michael, Bananarama, Bush, East 17, the Spice Girls etc.

London is also a centre for urban music. In particular, the genres UK garage, drum and bass dubstep and grime evolved in the city from the foreign genres of hip hop and reggae, alongside local drum and bass. Black music station BBC Radio 1Xtra was set up to support the rise of home-grown urban music both in London and the rest of the UK.

The city is also home to many orchestras and concert halls, such as the Barbican Arts Centre (principal base of the London Symphony Orchestra) Cadogan Hall (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) and the Royal Albert Hall (The Proms). London's two main opera houses are the Royal Opera House and the Coliseum Theatre. The UK's largest pipe organ can be found at the Royal Albert Hall. Other significant instruments are found at the cathedrals and major churches. Several conservatoires are located within the city, including, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity College of Music. 

The majority of the UK's music industry revenue is concentrated in London. Musicians, songwriters and composers derive their income from a variety of sources. The PRS (Performance Rights Society) and the MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) assist this diverse group of about 10,000 London members in securing royalties and fees. Record companies, studios and publishers are located in the inner boroughs, while manufacturing and distribution companies are located in the outer boroughs. As London is a very diverse city, the number of musical genres in the music industry reflect this diversity. In 1999, total spending on music by London consumers and companies amounted to over 1.1 billion pounds. The largest amount of revenue came from consumers, followed by private corporations, and then the public sector. The London music industry generated about 32,000 jobs, with 13,350 being full-time. The primary source of income and employment involved live performance.