People are now more than twice as likely to choose a concert with their favorite artist over sex, according to Live Nation’s Living For Live Report 2025. In a survey of 40,000 fans across 15 countries, 70% said they would pick a live show, compared to just 30% who chose sex.
Live music has officially claimed the crown as the world’s most beloved form of entertainment, according to Live Nation’s largest global report to date. The survey which was conducted across 15 countries, reveals that concerts have also surpassed sports, film, streaming, and even sex in emotional impact, personal value, and global demand.
“Live music isn’t just growing, it’s shaping economies, influencing brands, and defining culture in real time,” said Russell Wallach, Live Nation’s Global President of Media and Sponsorship. “Fans have made live the heartbeat of global entertainment.”
According to the report.
In 2025 alone, more than 130 million fans have already bought tickets. Stadium attendance has tripled year-over-year, festivals sell out faster than ever, and with 10+ new large-scale venues opening worldwide in 2026, the movement is only accelerating.
If limited to one type of entertainment for the rest of their lives, live music is the #1 global consumer choice – Live music (39%), Movies in theatres (17%), Professional sports events (14%).
Fans are fueling a global travel economy, with 6 in 10 people journeying for live music every year to see a concert.
Concert culture is deeply personal, with 85% saying music defines who they are and 77% feeling part of something bigger in a live crowd.
This isn’t just about entertainment preferences; it’s about emotional resonance. For 84% of fans, live experiences give them “the most life.”
Concerts Have Become Identity Statements
Music is no longer just background noise—it’s a core piece of identity.+x=x=
- 85% say music defines who they are.
- What fans wear, capture, and share at concerts has become part of how they express themselves socially and culturally.
Live events have evolved into a stage for personal storytelling, self-branding, and connection.
Shows Are the New Life Milestones
Concerts are now planned as major life events.
- 75% plan their calendars around shows well in advance.
- 1 in 4 fans have gotten a permanent or temporary tattoo to commemorate a live music memory.
- Nearly 80% say concerts strengthen family bonds.
Fans aren’t just attending shows—they’re memorializing them.
A Borderless Global Music Culture
Fans around the world are embracing artists beyond their own languages and borders.
- In 2024 alone, fans traveled 40 billion miles for concerts—equivalent to 83,000 trips to the moon.
- 71% now listen to artists outside their native tongue.
- 84% believe live music unites people across borders.
The global stage has never been more interconnected.
When Fans Travel, Economies Surge
The live music boom is creating economic ripple effects worldwide.
- 6 in 10 fans travel annually specifically for concerts.
- Stadium tours and festival weekends now act as catalysts for tourism, hospitality, retail, and local job growth.
Shows have become cultural and economic anchors for cities.
A Craving for Real, Shared Experiences
In an era dominated by screens and algorithms, fans are seeking authenticity.
- 93% attend shows because they crave real, in-person experiences over virtual ones.
- 80% prefer to spend money on experiences rather than material goods.
Concerts offer what digital culture can’t replicate: collective emotion.
Live Music Is Now Cultural Infrastructure
What was once simply entertainment has evolved into a powerful force shaping identity, economics, and community worldwide. As Live Nation’s report concludes, the next decade of culture will be built live.
About the Study
- Live Nation Living for Live Global Study 2025: 40,000 respondents, ages 18–54, across 15 countries.
- Live Nation Custom Global Study 2025: 1,000+ heavy social media users, ages 18+, across 8 countries.
