A Global Report Confirms Live Music is the World's Favorite Entertainment
ENTERTAINMENTMARKETING
Live Nation's "Living for Live" report spans 15 countries and reveals why live music now outranks sports, film, and streaming , and how fandom is reshaping culture, connection, and economies worldwide.
The digital age, for all its convenience, has failed to diminish one universal human craving: the communal, electrifying experience of live music. This is the resounding conclusion of Live Nation’s new report, Living for Live, a comprehensive global study that reveals live music has officially surpassed movies, sports, streaming, and nearly everything else as the world's most cherished form of entertainment.
Based on a massive survey of 40,000 people across 15 countries, the report captures a fundamental shift in how people choose to spend their money and, more importantly, how they define their identities and build connections in an increasingly digital world.
“This report confirms what we're seeing on the ground everywhere,” said Russell Wallach, Live Nation's Global President of Media and Sponsorship. “Live music isn't just growing, it's shaping economies, influencing brands, and defining culture in real time. Fans have made live the heartbeat of global entertainment, and it's now one of the most powerful forces driving connection and growth worldwide.
Concerts Over Everything: The Key Findings
The data paints a picture of a population deeply committed to real-life, shared emotional experiences.
The #1 Choice: Nearly four in ten people globally (39%) say if they could only choose one type of entertainment for life, they would choose live music, ranking it above both movies and sports.
The Ultimate Sacrifice: When posed with an even starker choice, a staggering 70% of respondents said they would rather see their favorite artist live than have sex.
Craving Reality: In an age of digital saturation, 93% of fans attend shows because they actively crave real experiences over virtual ones, with 80% preferring to spend their money on experiences rather than physical possessions.
Identity, Milestones, and Economic Impact
The influence of live music now extends far beyond the venue walls, reshaping personal and global behaviors:
Defining Identity: For 85% of fans, music defines who they are. What they wear, share, and experience at a show has become a primary way of expressing themselves and finding community.
New Milestones: Concerts are now being viewed as major life milestones. 75% of fans plan their annual calendars around live shows, and nearly 80% say concerts bring their family closer together. Remarkably, one in four people have gotten a temporary or permanent tattoo to commemorate a live music memory.
Economic Drivers: The fan movement is a literal economic force. Fans traveled an estimated 40 billion miles for concerts in 2024—a distance equivalent to 83,000 trips to the moon—creating massive ripple effects across local tourism, hotels, and restaurants.
The message from the Living for Live report is clear: what was once simply "entertainment" has become essential cultural infrastructure. Live music is the place where attention, loyalty, and emotional influence meet, and its power will only grow stronger in the next decade.