Live Nation Global Survey Finds Live Music is the World’s Favorite Form of Entertainment

Photo Credit: Live Nation

Live Nation’s new survey spanning 15 countries finds that live music now outranks sports, film, and streaming as the favored form of entertainment.

Live Nation’s “Living for Live” report, its largest global report to date, finds that live music has overtaken sports, film, streaming, and even sex as the world’s leading form of entertainment. Based on a survey of 40,000 people across 15 countries, the report notes a significant shift in how people spend their time and connect with others through live experiences and fandom.

“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.”

Nearly 40% (4 in 10 people) said if they could only choose one type of entertainment for life, they would choose live music, ranking it above movies and sports. Meanwhile, 70% said they’d rather see their favorite artist live than have sex.

Music defines the identities of 85% of fans surveyed, and 84% said live experiences give them “the most life.” The things they wear, share, and experience at concerts become part of how they express themselves and connect with others.

Fans overwhelmingly save, plan, and commemorate concerts—due in no small part to the price of attending live events, but that’s a detail Live Nation omits. Of those polled, 75% say they plan their calendars early around shows; 75% also said they have gotten either a temporary or permanent tattoo to mark a live music memory. Nearly 80% say concerts bring their families closer together.

In 2024, fans traveled a combined 40 billion miles for concerts, with 71% of them listening to music or artists outside of their native tongue. Nearly six in ten fans travel for shows annually, creating economic ripple effects across retail, hotels, and restaurants.

Meanwhile, in the age of digital saturation, a whopping 93% of fans say they attend shows because they crave real experiences over virtual ones. 80% of those surveyed said they would would rather spend money on “experiences” than “things.”

Given the number of artists who have complained about cell phones at their concerts in recent years, it’s not surprising to find that those attending concerts would rather enjoy the experience too. But fans want to commemorate the occasion too—sometimes by taking video or photos.

While it’s important to consider the source of the data revealed in Live Nation’s survey, it’s notable that music fans in the age of digital oversaturation are seeking more personal, in-person experiences. That desire for connection could also be a holdover from the COVID pandemic, when live events were shuttered for months to account for social distancing guidelines.

Link to the source article – https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/11/11/live-nation-global-survey-live-music/