SCOTLAND'S music industry generated £431 million of spending last year and sustained 4300 full-time jobs, new figures from umbrella organisation UK Music have shown.
Scotland saw the strongest growth in bringing music tourists to the UK, rising from 800,000 tourists in 2017 to 1.1m last year, a jump of 38%.
New festivals, such as Summer Sessions, were credited with helping to attract a growing number of music tourists.
Visitors spent £431m in Scotland on tickets, merchandise, drinks, food and accommodation, as well as indirect spending, such as costs created by organisers in running events.
READ MORE: Scots sizzle and dance in the sun at Glasgow's TRNSMT
The total contribution to the UK economy from the music industry was £5.2 billion, with 190,935 jobs credited, the report revealed.
"Although Glastonbury Festival did not take place in 2018 when the data for the report was collected, the rise in the number of other festivals across the UK, particularly in Scotland, such as TRNSMT and Sunday Sessions, boosted the numbers," UK Music said.
But the report warned that there is an "urgent need" for more investment.
"The risks to the UK music market of not acting now include the economic risk of the UK losing its place as one of the world's only net exporters of music, as well as vastly reducing the diversity of talent that benefits from investment," the report said.
"The DCMS (Department for Culture Media and Sport) should commit to developing policy work in partnership with UK Music with a view to introducing a tax credit system to help encourage greater investment into UK music production."
READ MORE: The Cure to play Scottish date for the first time in 27 years
It also warned that Brexit could have an impact on touring artists and called for the Government to "back plans for a single EU-wide live music touring passport".
UK Music CEO Michael Dugher said: "Our report reveals firm evidence that the British music industry is in great shape and continuing to lead the world.
"The figures are hugely encouraging and show that, as well as enriching the lives of millions of people, music makes an incredible contribution to the UK's economy."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here