Concert Travel Study

The climate impacts of concert travel and opportunities for the music community to take action

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Overview

For over 20 years, REVERB has led the green music movement, partnering with artists, fans, and the industry to reduce music’s environmental impact and empower action on critical environmental issues.

To better understand the impacts and opportunities of concert travel, we conducted a survey gathering insights from fans about their travel habits, the distances they covered, and their thoughts on how the music community could lessen its environmental impact.

The results were clear: concert travel is live music’s biggest climate challenge – and its greatest opportunity.

This study is part of REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project – a campaign to advance innovative climate solutions to directly eliminate carbon emissions created by the music industry.

Result Highlights

91%

Of fans surveyed said they are concerned about climate change

38X

Fan travel creates 38x more emissions than artist/crew travel, tour hotel stays, and gear transportation combined

80%

Of fans drive personal vehicles to shows, but nearly 90% said they are interested in lower-carbon options

89% of Fans are Ready for Action

Fans said they would be more interested in climate-friendly travel options if expanded infrastructure, incentives, and information were more readily available

Years

400+

Concerts

170+

Cities

35,000+

Music Fans

The Study

We conducted an in-depth survey of 35,000+ concert-goers across more than 400 concerts in over 170 cities throughout North America to better understand the climate impacts and opportunities around fan travel.

THE CLIMATE IMPACT OF CONCERT TRAVEL

Based on survey results and emissions data, we were able to estimate the carbon footprint of fan travel to concerts — a first of its kind effort.

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*Tour travel includes artist and crew transportation, gear transport, and hotel stays. Data collected from 48 tours across 6 years.

How Do Fans Get To Shows?

Here’s a snapshot of what fans reported in our survey:

Most fans drive personal vehicles to concerts, but some use multiple forms of transportation to get to shows, which is why the percentages add up to greater than 100%.

80% Personal Vehicle

9% Rideshare Service

9% Public Transportation

9% Walk or Bike

7% Air Travel

2% Rail Travel

1% High-Occupancy Vehicles

Most fans drive personal vehicles to concerts, but some use multiple forms of transportation to get to shows, which is why the percentages add up to greater than 100%.

80% Personal Vehicle

9% Rideshare Service

9% Public Transportation

9% Walk or Bike

7% Air Travel

2% Rail Travel

1% High-Occupancy Vehicles

80%

Personal Vehicle

Rideshare Service

Public Transportation

Walk or Bike

Air Travel

Rail Travel

High-Occupancy Vehicles

Modes of Travel: Climate Impact by the Numbers

Using an average concert attendance of 10,858 and analyzing the survey responses, we were able to estimate the emissions from fan travel for each mode of transportation for an average concert.

Personal Gas-Powered or Hybrid Vehicle:  203.45 Metric Tons CO2e

Total Personal Vehicle Emissions per Average Show*

Total Personal Vehicles

3,321

Average Miles Round Trip

144

Average People per Vehicle

2.55

Metric Tons of CO2e Emissions per Passenger

0.02

*includes personal vehicles and rideshares

Personal Electric Vehicles: 4.69 Metric Tons CO2e

Total Electric Vehicle Emissions per Average Show*

Total Personal EVs

176

Average Miles Round Trip

121

Average People per Vehicle

2.59

Metric Tons of CO2e Emissions per Passenger

0.01

*includes personal vehicles and rideshares

Air Travel: 341.49 Metric Tons CO2e

Total Plane Emissions per Average Show

Total Flyers

749

Average Mileage Round Trip

2,532

Metric Tons of CO2e Emissions per Passenger

0.42

Flyers Also Used These Additional Modes of Transportation

Personal Vehicles

83.4%

Public Transport

11.9%

Walk or Bike

4.7%

The Average Concert Flyer Stays 2 Nights at a Hotel

Public Transportation: 5.59 Tons CO2e

Total Public Transportation Emissions per Average Show

Total Fans Taking Public Transportation

771

Average Miles Round Trip

Metric Tons of CO2e Emissions per Passenger

0.007

High Occupancy Vehicle  & Long Distance Bus: 4.47 Tons CO2e

Total High Occupancy Vehicle Emissions per Average Show

Total Fans Taking High Occupancy Vehicles

Average Miles Round Trip

213

Metric Tons of CO2 Emissions per Passenger

0.042

Walking & Biking: 0 Tons CO2e

Total Walk / Bike Emissions per Average Show

Total Fans Walking or Biking

315

Average Miles Round Trip

Metric Tons of CO2e Emissions per Passenger

The Average Fan

Drives 144 Miles Round Trip

Uses a Gas or Hybrid Personal Vehicle

Travels with 2.55 People Total in the Car

For concerts, fans overwhelmingly use cars to get to shows

Increasing public transit options, creating better biking or walking infrastructure, and encouraging carpools of 4+ people can help drive down this number!

Venue Travel Differences

Travel varies by the venue type. Below is a breakdown of the differences:

Arena

Amphitheatre

Stadium

Outdoor Stage

Club

Arena

Air Travel

79%

Gas Powered Vehicle

High Occupancy Vehicle

Public Transportation

Electric Vehicle

Bike and Walk

100%

Amphitheatre

Air Travel

83%

Gas Powered Vehicle

High Occupancy Vehicle

Public Transportation

Electric Vehicle

Bike and Walk

100%

Stadium

17%

Air Travel

57%

Gas Powered Vehicle

High Occupancy Vehicle

16%

Public Transportation

Electric Vehicle

Bike and Walk

100%

Outdoor Stage

Air Travel

78%

Gas Powered Vehicle

High Occupancy Vehicle

Public Transportation

Electric Vehicle

Bike and Walk

100%

Club

Air Travel

77%

Gas Powered Vehicle

High Occupancy Vehicle

Public Transportation

Electric Vehicle

Bike and Walk

100%

Desire For Change

94%

of concertgoers believe that it is important for fans, venues, promoters, and artists to take significant shared action to limit their carbon footprint

89%

of concertgoers said expanded infrastructure and increased communication or incentives from venues, promoters, artists and other industry leaders would help them choose lower-carbon travel options

A Demand for Lower-Emission Travel

Most people drive to concerts — Yet, they'd rather travel in a greener way

80% Use Personal Vehicles

ONLY 65% Prefer Using Personal Vehicles

This would reduce an estimated 800 cars and 116,000 miles driven for the average concert.

9% Use Public Transportation

33% WANT TO

Most people say that public transit is unavailable, difficult, or that they’re unfamiliar as the reason they don’t take it.

Demand for public transportation options far outstrips current availability.

9% Walk or Bike

28% WANT TO

28% of fans expressed interest in more bike paths and some commented that bike parking is critical.

What Do Fans Want?

89%

Of fans identified at least one potential intervention they were interested in to help reduce travel footprints

89%

Of fans identified at least one potential intervention they were interested in to help reduce travel footprints

50%

Want Priority Carpool Parking

47%

Want More Public Transportation Options

28%

Want More Bike Paths

16%

Want Priority Electric Vehicle Parking

14%

Want Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Paths Forward

Fans overwhelmingly want to reduce carbon emissions from travel. Venues, promoters, artists, industry leaders, businesses and government all can play a role in reducing the climate impacts of concert travel.

Communicate

Connect with fans ahead of shows via know-before-you-go emails, social media, newsletters, and dedicated sections on your website to provide information about public transit options or incentives for lower carbon travel at concerts

Provide

Work with local transportation authorities and/or private businesses to provide central hubs for bus travel to shows from partner locations like park and rides, bars, restaurants, and hotels.

Partner

You’re not alone! Whether it’s working with a local nonprofit to run a bike valet, connecting with town councils to create bike paths, or utilizing a private bus company to provide transportation, creative partnerships can reduce workloads and lead to better outcomes.

Incentivize

Make lower-carbon travel a positive for the planet and fans! Provide VIP parking for carpools with 4 or more people, offer discounts at concessions for fans that take public transit, or have drawings for prizes for fans that participate in carbon reduction efforts.