2024 Concert Travel Trends

The demographics

The music preferences of different generations varied significantly between Gen-Z and Baby Boomers. Gen Z, for example, has a significant preference for pop music, with 37.1% of respondents agreeing that they want to see a pop concert this year. Comparatively, only 14.8% favoured rock and 12.9% favoured country.

Social media is likely to be blamed for Gen Z’s listening habits. TikTok, in particular, has emerged as a powerful tool for budding pop artists to promote and share music among younger audiences. On the platform, hits like Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘So American’ can quickly go viral overnight, propelling trending pop songs to the top of the charts for Gen Z listeners.

While a majority of those aged 25 to 54 consider pop to be their favourite genre, a higher proportion of these music listeners also enjoy different genres. For example, those aged 25 to 34 favoured country music more than any other age group, and music lovers aged 45 to 54 enjoy reggae more than other generations.

Those aged 55+ favoured rock significantly more than any other music genre, which could be attributed to how rock music was the dominant genre during their youth. Many of those in this age group grew up listening to iconic rock bands, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, among others.

Indeed, the 55+ age group see Bruce Springsteen as their most popular artist, with 13.4% of respondents favouring the rock legend. Comparatively, only 3.5% of Gen Z respondents are willing to travel to see his show.

The top 10 artists by mileage

The most popular genre of music that the average age group would travel to see is pop (32%), followed by rock (28%) and R&B (18%). When it comes to the specific artists that fans are willing to travel the furthest to see, Catfish And The Bottlemen came out on top at 355 miles.

The UK's top artists and the number of miles fans are willing to travel for them are:

Despite Taylor Swift topping the list of artists Brits want to see live this year (14%), her fans rank surprisingly low in their willingness to endure long travel for her shows. The survey found that fans would travel 238 miles to watch Taylor Swift perform, placing the star just outside of the top ten. Instead, acts like Catfish And The Bottlemen (354 miles), Charli XCX (290 miles), and Jungle (260 miles) boast some of the most devoted followers in the country.

For the fans who are willing to travel especially long distances (over 500 miles) for their favourite artists, Taylor Swift once again missed out on a spot in the top ten. Instead, Charli XCX (16.7%), the Jonas Brothers (15.4%), and Jungle (15.2%) claim the top spots.

Taylor Swift remains a highly popular artist, but her fans are less willing to travel long distances for her shows compared to other artists. Older music listeners are more aware of the controversies surrounding her music from previous years, so might be drawn to artists who are perceived as more authentic and relatable in their music and public image, such as Charli XCX.

The UK cities with the most superfans

When mapping out where the UK's most dedicated, travel-ready fans are, Belfast tops the list. The Northern Irish city has fans willing to travel the furthest distances in the country at an average of 495 miles.

The top UK cities with the most superfans and the number of miles fans are willing to travel are:

The travel experience

When it comes to watching live music, it turns out that superfans who are willing to trek hundreds of miles for their favourite artists consider the journey just as memorable as the performance. Nearly half of respondents (48%) consider the trip to a gig a large part of the concert experience, with over a third (35%) revealing that they love travelling for a concert. In fact, 41% of respondents considered the trip to be just as much fun as the actual gig.

But what makes the experience so enjoyable? According to the survey results, the top five must-haves for concert trips include:

1. Good company: 39%

2. Comfortable seating: 36.5%

3. Snacks: 29.6%

4. Rest stops along the way: 27.5%

5. Playlist of artist I’m going to see: 12%

Make the trip with Kia

The journey is just as important as the destination, and the thrill of a concert trip is an unforgettable experience for many music lovers. Travelling with friends and family to see a live gig combines the excitement of visiting a new city with the anticipation of witnessing a beloved artist take the stage. Whether you're navigating city streets or venturing off the beaten path on your journey, Kia’s new EV9 car delivers a well-rounded package that keeps you effortlessly connected on the go to optimise your experience. The rear-wheel drive EV9 ‘Air’ is capable of travelling up to 349 miles on a single charge* (WLTP ‘combined’ cycle), while all-wheel drive ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models can travel up to 313 miles on a single charge – enough for most superfans looking to travel across the country to see their favourite acts. With a long electric battery range, premium interior comfort, and intuitive driving assistance, you can sing along to your favourite artists in supreme comfort and style. Browse our entire range of Kia 4x4 and SUV cars today.