While nightclub attendance is on the decline, interest in dance music is “not declining” — with unlicensed events growing by 34% last year

Free parties now account for 15% of all electronic music programming across the UK, according to the latest annual report from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

The fourth Electronic Music Report was published earlier today (February 12), pointing to both positive figures for the industry, as well as some worrying ones.

It found that free parties have risen in popularity in the UK in recent years, arguing that dance music fans are “not declining”, but changing their habits to find more affordable and accessible options.

The report reveals that free parties have risen in prominence by 34% year-on-year, though their growing popularity has led to some fear from promoters and struggling venues.

“We are seeing free parties rise, mid-tier venues disappear and audiences pushed out of licensed spaces – not because demand is falling, but because the sector is being squeezed by sustained economic pressure,” says NTIA CEO Michael Kill.

The report suggests that this is a response to “the loss of formal, licensed spaces”, also revealing that the UK has lost 36% of its nightclubs since March 2020, with just 823 now remaining.

At the same time, it found that daytime electronic music events have increased by 83% since 2022, while activity at venues outside of nightclubs such as art galleries and record stores has also grown dramatically.

The report reveals some positive figures, noting that UK electronic music generated £2.47 billion in economic activity in 2025, up 3% year-on-year, and also found that audience demand is higher than ever, with electronic music event programming growing by 10.5% since 2020.

The NTIA found that, for the first time, the majority of UK electronic music events (51%) now take place outside of London – with figures showing that the North of England saw the strongest growth between 2022 and 2025 (93%).

“Electronic music remains one of the UK’s most powerful cultural and economic assets, but the domestic ecosystem that sustains it is now in crisis,” Kill says. “This report shows extraordinary resilience, but resilience is not a policy.”

Read the latest Electronic Music Report here.