Concerts over sex: How fandom turned live music into the world’s top form of entertainment

Fans globally have named concerts the world’s top form of entertainment, outranking sports, movies and even sex.

According to Live Nation’s new Living for Live report, 2025 is shaping up as a record year for live music, with more than 130 million fans already buying tickets and stadium attendance tripling year on year. Festivals are selling out faster than ever and with 10 large-scale venues set to open worldwide in 2026, the movement is only accelerating.

The report, based on a survey of 40,000 people across 15 countries, points to a cultural reset in how people spend their time and express who they are.

“Live music has a unique power to bring people together,” Kristy Rosser, senior vice president and head of media and sponsorship for Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, said.

“Fans aren’t just attending a concert; they’re part of something bigger. They travel, they connect and they create memories that stay with them for life. Here in Australia, we see that passion every day."

Globally, 39% of people chose live music as their preferred form of entertainment, compared to 17% for movies and 14% for sports. In Australia, the trend is even stronger, with more than four in ten respondents choosing concerts over any other form of entertainment.

For fans, live music has become a defining part of identity. From bucket hats at Oasis to cowboy boots in the Beyhive, 77% of concertgoers say the crowd makes them feel part of something bigger, while 79% say what they wear is part of that expression.

Concerts are also driving real-world impact. Nearly six in ten Australian fans travel for shows each year, fuelling spending across travel, food and retail. From Beyoncé’s US$4.5 billion impact in the US to Oasis’s £1 billion reunion tour, live music is becoming a powerful economic engine.

The report also highlights the rise of AI and algorithms, describing concerts as the antidote to the increasingly digital nature of modern life.

Women rewriting records

When it comes to the power of pop on female fans, the evidence is clear. Female artists are leading the charge - Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter World Tour was named the top-grossing country tour ever, Olivia Rodrigo drew Lollapalooza’s biggest crowd and Karol G set Spain’s all-time ticket record. Lady Gaga also made history in Brazil with the largest concert ever by a female artist.

“With 76% of fans interested in live events headlined by women, female artists aren’t just part of the story - they’re defining culture’s biggest moments,” the report said.