Six in ten Londoners (61%) would like to see Arts subjects prioritised in the classroom – with 41% wanting more children have the opportunity to participate in music lessons at school.
At a time when the arts’ share of A-level entries has fallen since 2010, a new study by The Royal College of Music reveals that Londoners place enormous value in music’s contribution to society in the capital – and its cultural and economic value as one of the UK’s greatest exports to the world.
- Nearly one in two people in the capital (45%) rated London as the best city in the world (from a list of 20) for music and theatre – ahead of New York, LA, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin – while 26% also rated London as the top city in the world for creativity and innovation.
- Music featured top of the list of factors that made the UK a world leader in terms of excellence and innovation (37%) – followed by medical research (31%), technology (30%), sport (29%) and theatre (28%).
- Tied into this, 45% of Londoners said they regarded music as the UK’s greatest export to the world – followed by British film and TV (41%), scientific innovation (35%) and sport (34%).
Also Read: As Music GCSE Results Roll In, One In Three Parents Call for More Music Lessons at School
- Music’s perceived value to Londoners went beyond economics and excellence. In an increasingly divided world, more than one in two Londoners (57%) felt music was the most effective tool for uniting people and reminding them what they have in common – followed by sport (46%) and film (33%). 51% of those surveyed chose music because of its power to inspire hope and transcend language barriers (49%).
- Looking closer to home at the things that make community life in the capital more vibrant, interesting and inclusive, music and the Arts again topped the poll. Across London, 55% of Londoners said live music performance played a key role in enriching city life, as did the pivotal role played by London’s grassroots clubs and small venues (30%). Beyond live music, the city’s museums (40%), public libraries (37%) and galleries (30%) were all seen to play a key role in making community life in London more vibrant, interesting and inclusive.
James Williams, Director at the Royal College of Music comments: “Our survey shows that Londoners place an enormous economic, social and cultural value on music and support for music education. The Royal College of Music is an important contributor to the music education ecosystem working in partnership with schools, music education hubs, amateur music organisations, out of school provision, and professional ensembles. All these elements play a vital role in supporting talented young musicians. We are so lucky that across the Capital there are myriad opportunities for audiences to engage with live music performance – from stadiums to grassroot venues and concert halls, including a new season of autumn concerts from September taking place at the Royal College of Music in South Kensington. We invite people to come and experience performances from the talent of tomorrow, as well as from top artists today. The season includes lunch-time concerts, informal coffee morning events and tickets at affordable prices to make our concert programme open and accessible to everyone.”
For information on the Royal College of Music’s autumn season visit: https://www.rcm.ac.uk/events/
Founded in 1882, the Royal College of Music (RCM) is a world-leading music conservatoire where 900 undergraduate and postgraduate students are taught in a creative environment informed by heritage and driven by innovation. In 2025 the Royal College of Music was ranked the Global No. 1 institution for Performing Arts and Music for the fourth year running in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.