Lai Lin Thomala
Research expert covering Greater China
Live music in China - statistics & facts
Fueled by a post-pandemic desire to reconnect, live music has become the pulse of China’s cultural phenomenon, beating stronger than ever. Over the past few years, live concerts and music festivals in the country have grown into a 20-billion-yuan industry, attracting at least 35 million fans in 2023. The live music industry in China is in the midst of a dynamic evolution, rapidly expanding and diversifying.
From the explosion of concerts and music festivals to a renewed demand for live experiences post-pandemic, China’s live music industry is playing on a new frequency.
Concerts taking center stage
The Chinese live performance market was a lucrative business - about 50 billion yuan in box office revenue in 2023. Concerts and music festivals were the main industry drivers, with large-scale events alone contributing over a third of the industry revenue. Iconic stadium concerts, often feature homegrown talents or superstars from Taiwan and Hong Kong, could rake in at least one billion yuan in ticket sales.The festival fever
The growth of the music festivals sector was staggering. Events like the Strawberry Music Festival and Midi Music Festival have scaled significantly. What sets China’s festival scene apart was the surge in the number of events, with festivals popping up in smaller cities and regions. This geographic expansion reflected rising demand for live and immersive music experiences beyond the big urban hubs. Additionally, festivals were increasingly diverse, blending genres like rock, indie, EDM, and even traditional Chinese music.The encore of excess
Post-pandemic “revenge spending” was playing out dramatically in China’s live music industry. After three years of pandemic-related restrictions, fans were eager to make up for lost time by attending concerts and festivals. As a result, 2023 saw an unprecedented spike in ticket sales, with many events selling out within minutes. The pent-up demand for music festivals was especially strong among younger generations.Hitting the road for the rhythm
Chinese fans were increasingly willing to travel across the country to attend concerts and festivals. High-profile music artists and bands, like Jay Chou and Mayday, have drawn not only local audiences but also music lovers from other regions, creating a robust domestic tourism circuit. These events offer fans not just performances but also the chance to explore diverse regions. As the Chinese government increasingly supports cultural tourism, music tourism is poised to become an essential component of the country’s entertainment and travel industries.From the explosion of concerts and music festivals to a renewed demand for live experiences post-pandemic, China’s live music industry is playing on a new frequency.
