Ozzy Osbourne’s last concert contributed £28 million to the West Midlands economy

New analysis from the University of Birmingham has found that the Prince of Darkness’s last concert contributed £33.8 million to the UK economy, £27.6 million of which retained in the West Midlands.

On the 22nd of July 2025, Birmingham lost one of its most iconic sons. Ozzy Osbourne, Godfather of heavy metal, passed away at 76. But as well as an unrivalled musical and cultural legacy, he has left a significant economic impact on his hometown and region.

Now, new analysis from City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) at the University of Birmingham, has found that Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert, Back to the Beginning, contributed £33.8 million in gross economic output across the UK, £27.6 million of which was retained in the West Midlands.

Dr Matt Lyons, who conducted the analysis, said: “Ozzy was a proud Brummie and his legacy can be seen across the city. When you step off a train at New Street station, you are greeted by Ozzy the Bull, named for the legend himself after 2,000 names were put forward. Black Sabbath and Ozzy are credited as inventing the heavy metal genre when they started out playing in The Crown Pub on Station Street in Birmingham.

“As regional economists from the University of Birmingham, we thought we would do our bit to honour Ozzy’s legacy by estimating the economic impact of his last gig.”

The benefit concert, which took place at Villa Park on 5th July 2025, sold out 42,000 tickets in minutes, 20% of tickets were purchased by international fans, with prices ranging from £197.50 to £834.

To estimate the economic impact of the concert, the researchers used the SEIM-UK economic model, a methodology used previously for estimating the impact of megaevents such as the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Considering ticket sales, estimates of inward tourism spending on hotels, transport, food and other discretionary spending, the researchers arrive at direct spending of £21 million, close to other published figures.

The SEIM-UK goes beyond the direct impact of spending associated with an event, also capturing the indirect and induced (supply-chain and wage uplift) impacts that are related to the initial spending shock.

The analysis showed that including the additional areas of indirect and included impacts, resulted in Ozzy’s Back to the Beginning concert contributing £33.8 million in gross economic output across the UK, £27.6 million of which specifically impacted the West Midlands.

This analysis did not include £140 million raised for the charities Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice through shares of livestreams and merchandise sales.

Dr Lyons concluded: “The impact of the Prince of Darkness obviously goes far beyond the financial impact his gigs and TV shows have netted. Ozzy was always an ambassador of Birmingham, and in passing, becomes a symbol of the city’s working class resilience, creativity and ability to reinvent itself. The naming of Black Sabbath Bridge and Ozzy the Bull shows the civic embrace of Ozzy that transcends fandom of metal music.

“Ozzy is a global legend, and his gift of incredible music, and now his final economic impact will go on to benefit his home city far into the future.”