Music is fundamental to people's life in Britain.  A wide variety of music is broadcast hundreds of national and local radio stations throughout 24 hours a day: orchestral, choral, opera, jazz, folk, rock and roll and pop music.  In Britain, consumers buy more than 200 million albums and 85 million singles a day.

Pop music is by far the most popular form of music, and British creativity and originality, in producing new groups and new styles, leads the world. Courtesy of pop music, the music industry is Britain's third biggest invisible earner after banking and finance.

Britain is also a European leader in the dance music scene, which has a major following in clubs all over Britain and abroad, through dance bands like Massive Attack, Fatboy Slim, Jazz/funk bands like Jamiroqui and indie bands such as Radiohead.  British pop, rock and dance styles are increasingly influenced by rap and reggae.

Contemporary British music is a confluence of several strands of musical expression from all over the world including Thailand. It has a huge following among young people and the British Council is committed to promoting this element of multicultural Britain and its creative industry.

Check out the British Council's Selector for suggested listening, listings for magazines, books, and websites as well as interviews with UK artists, to find out more about the eclectic UK scene from UK Garage and ragga chants, to drum 'n' bass basslines, hip hop, electronica, and Asian-infused club music