Imagine you have a free evening. You’re feeling energized, open to new experiences, and ready to break away from your usual after-work habit of slumping on the couch and scrolling through your phone. The world is full of possibilities! So, would you rather: a) go to a concert, or b) have sex? As with most “would you rather” questions, the sensible answer is, “It depends.” Any thoughtful adult would ask: What kind of concert is it? Who’s the sexual partner? Is either option likely to be enjoyable?
Few people would choose a triple bill of Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Korn over a magical evening with Jonathan Bailey. But tweak the options, and the decision becomes less obvious. However, when gig promoter Live Nation posed this question to 40,000 people, they didn’t provide any details—and the response was overwhelmingly in favor of concerts.
Live Nation’s global “Living for Life” report surveyed 40,000 individuals aged 18 to 54 across 15 countries. It found that concerts are now the world’s top form of entertainment, outranking sports, movies, and even sex (which I recently heard referred to as “inty,” much to my dismay). When asked to choose just one form of entertainment for the rest of their lives, 39% of respondents picked live music, compared to 17% for cinema and 14% for sports events. They were also more than twice as likely to prefer seeing their favorite artist perform live (70%) over having sex (30%).
Of course, it’s no surprise that a PR survey commissioned by a concert promoter would heavily favor gigs. And in the playful spirit of “would you rather,” if your favorite artist is someone like Paul McCartney, it’s easy to see why watching him perform might beat an ordinary sexual encounter. Though the choice between live music and sex is obviously simplistic, it’s interesting to consider given the current state of both.
In recent years, attending concerts has evolved from a shared experience into something of a competitive sport. Live Nation notes that stadium attendance has “tripled year-over-year,” and festivals sell out faster than ever. Securing tickets now requires military-level strategy, quick reflexes, and deep pockets (or a generous credit limit). Even if you succeed, simply showing up and enjoying the show isn’t enough anymore. Among pop fans, there’s an expectation to maximize your investment by attending multiple shows (even traveling abroad), studying the setlist in advance, and knowing all the fan chants and responses established by previous audiences.
I’m still haunted by my experience at the Taylor Swift Eras tour: it felt like a choreographed performance involving 72,989 people, and I was the only one who didn’t know the moves. That 18-month, $2 billion phenomenon demonstrated how far people will go to feel part of a cultural moment and see their favorite artist, even if the music itself seems secondary to the spectacle.
On the other hand, sex—a relatively affordable and accessible pleasure—is struggling. According to a 2020 YouGov survey, about a quarter of Brits had sex in an average week, while just under a third were sexually inactive. In the U.S. in 2021, 26% of adults reported not having sex at all in the past year, up from 20% in 2010. In both countries, this decline is largely due to reduced sexual activity among younger people. Compare that to the booming market for stadium tours and the fierce competition for tickets. Of course, it’s not as simple as choosing one over the other—”would you rather se…Would you rather attend the Eras Tour five times or remain a virgin? This question hints at which experience is seen as the more dependable source of pleasure.
Sex and live music have more in common than you might realize. Both involve testing a connection in real life—whether it’s with a person or a performer—after building up expectations in your mind. You arrive with a sense of how things might go, hoping to be delightfully surprised. The outcome, good or bad, often hinges on whether your energy and expectations align with theirs. In both cases, you might end up with someone else’s hair in your mouth, and afterward, you’ll likely crave a cigarette and some quiet time alone. Drugs and alcohol can either improve or spoil the experience, though they certainly help make the worst moments more bearable.
The magic of both concerts and intimacy lies in finding that perfect balance between the familiar and the new, between similarity and difference, effort and ease. It doesn’t happen often, but the memory of when it did—and the hope that it can happen again—drives us to keep trying, whether that means going on another date or buying another ticket.
Of course, there are clear differences between the two. A promotional survey comparing sexual and musical experiences reveals that pursuing one is far more complicated than the other. With dating often marked by bad behavior, disappointing encounters, and even open hostility, it’s no surprise many people would rather go to a concert.
For me, reliving my favorite concert—Carly Rae Jepsen in the packed basement of XOYO in London—would be an easy choice over an average one-night stand. But I’ve also been to many shows, including performances by artists I love, that I couldn’t wait to end. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood, the environment was off-putting, or they were playing experimental new material I didn’t enjoy. The variables are countless and nearly impossible to predict. A concert could be exhilarating, a night you’ll always remember that renews your faith in live music—or you might find yourself eager to leave before the encore. Either way, you won’t find out by spending another night alone on the couch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about whether live music is more appealing than sex designed to be clear concise and natural
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does the question Is live music more appealing than sex even mean
Its a provocative way to compare two powerful pleasurable human experiences It asks if the emotional high and connection felt at an incredible live concert can rival or even surpass the pleasure of sex for some people
2 Is this based on a real study or is it just an opinion
Its largely a matter of personal opinion and feeling However some studies have shown that listening to music you love can trigger a release of dopamine the same feelgood chemical released during sex and eating which is why the comparison is often made
3 Who would actually think live music is better than sex
This is highly subjective but its often said by passionate music fans concertgoers and musicians who have experienced a transcendent moment at a show where they feel a deep collective connection and pure joy that is uniquely powerful
4 What are the main benefits of going to a live music show
Key benefits include a strong sense of community and belonging a powerful emotional release stress reduction the creation of core memories and the pure shared energy of a performance you cant get from a recording
5 Isnt this just an exaggeration people use
For many yes its a hyperbolic statement to express how deeply moving a great concert can be Its not meant to be a literal scientific comparison for everyone but rather a testament to musics profound impact
Advanced Practical Questions
6 Can the appeal of live music and sex be scientifically compared
Not directly as they are fundamentally different experiences Science can measure similar brain chemical responses but the subjective emotional and personal contexts are worlds apart One is a shared often public artistic experience while the other is typically private and intimate
7 What are some common problems or downsides of live music events that sex doesnt have
Live music can involve high costs crowded and uncomfortable venues loud volumes that can damage hearing unreliable sound quality and opening acts you might not enjoy Sex doesnt typically come with these logistical hurdles
