Music & Culture: Major concerts and their community impact

As the world moves further into 2025, the global music industry is witnessing a resurgence in large-scale live events. Major concert tours and festivals are not only returning at full capacity but also evolving in purpose and impact. From chart-topping artists like The Weeknd and Shakira to reunion tours by iconic bands such as Oasis and Radiohead, the next 12 months promise to be historic for music lovers worldwide.

But these concerts are doing more than entertaining. They’re transforming local economies, highlighting sustainability, and strengthening social bonds in the communities they touch.

Global Stages: Tours Redefining the Concert Experience

Some of the most highly anticipated tours of late 2025 and early 2026 feature artists with massive global appeal and cultural influence.

Photo: The Weeknd via Instagram

The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour has already broken records as the highest-grossing R&B tour in history, generating over $635 million in revenue. With upcoming shows in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, the tour has become known for its immersive, cinematic production and futuristic themes.

Photo: Shakira via Instagram

Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour is making headlines across the Americas and Europe. With 80+ stadium shows, it is both a musical spectacle and a cultural celebration of Latin heritage and womanhood. Her performances resonate deeply with audiences seeking representation and empowerment in mainstream pop.

Meanwhile, Oasis’s Live ’25 Tour marks a reunion two decades in the making. The legendary Britpop band’s return has sold out venues across five continents, reconnecting generations of fans and rekindling interest in 90s rock nostalgia.

K-pop icon G‑Dragon is also back on the global stage with his Übermensch World Tour, combining high fashion, visual art, and philanthropy. He has pledged to donate proceeds from his South Korean shows to wildfire relief efforts, further blurring the lines between performance and purpose.

Radiohead, long known for their innovation and political engagement, recently announced their first world tour in seven years. Expectations are high for a return that will likely include commentary on climate change, technology, and modern life.

Economic Impact: Music as a Local Growth Engine

Beyond ticket sales, large-scale concerts generate significant local economic benefits. Hotels, restaurants, transport services, and retail businesses all see increased activity when major tours come to town.

Taylor Swift’s recent Eras Tour offered a clear example. On average, fans spent $1,300 per person on lodging, travel, merchandise, and food. In total, the tour injected an estimated $5 billion into local economies across North America.

Similarly, Coldplay’s concerts in Australia earlier this year led to an 80% increase in hotel occupancy rates in Melbourne and Sydney. Local tourism boards and city governments now routinely partner with promoters to prepare for and benefit from such economic surges.

As cities around the world gear up for the next wave of major shows, they’re not just planning for traffic—they’re planning for temporary economic booms.

Sustainability and Responsibility in Touring

Large concerts are energy-intensive, and artists are increasingly aware of the environmental cost of touring. In response, some are making sustainability a core part of their concert planning.

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour has set a new benchmark. The band has reduced carbon emissions by over 50% compared to their previous tours by integrating kinetic dance floors, solar-powered lighting, and green transportation. They also commit to planting one tree for every ticket sold.

Metallica, known for their global reach and extensive logistics, are now using renewable-powered vehicles and shipping solutions on their M72 Tour. Trucks powered by biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen are transporting equipment across continents more sustainably than ever before.

Festivals are also adapting. Glastonbury in the UK is now fully powered by renewable energy, while Coachella in California has introduced interactive, energy-producing installations to educate attendees about clean energy practices.

Still, the industry faces challenges. A 2022 European study estimated that music festivals generate more than 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Travel remains the largest contributor. Despite progress, much work remains to make large-scale events truly climate-responsible.

Photo: Wix Media

Social and Cultural Resonance

Live music does more than entertain, it connects people. The psychological concept of “collective effervescence” refers to the shared emotional highs that audiences experience at concerts. This sense of unity has measurable mental health benefits, from elevated mood to reduced loneliness.

In 2023, a study showed that concertgoers experience increased happiness and social fulfillment for up to a week after attending a live event. This suggests that concerts have lasting emotional value beyond the performance itself.

Moreover, the content of many modern shows is deeply cultural. Shakira’s tour celebrates Latin identity, The Weeknd’s explores modern isolation and transformation, and G‑Dragon’s reflects on Eastern philosophy, masculinity, and self-reinvention.

These themes resonate strongly with diverse audiences, making concerts a platform for social dialogue as well as entertainment.

Looking Ahead

As 2025 winds down and new tours are announced for 2026, one thing is clear: live music is more than just a soundtrack. It is a catalyst for economic growth, a space for cultural expression, and a force for collective emotional wellbeing.

In the coming months, cities will welcome not only world-class performers, but also millions of fans, millions of dollars, and perhaps millions of meaningful memories.