A concert, as described by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a public performance of music or dancing. These days it can mean so much more than that. Touring and concert culture has boomed since the early 20th century and have continued to hold their rein as a top sights to see every year within the pop culture community. Even within the last few years with ticket prices skyrocketing, artist followers and music fanatics have stayed loyal to their concert going habits.
Most music lovers know and agree that live music and concert performances are the best way to experience any artist. Since the early 1900s when live performances began to the 1960s when the birth of rock and roll, concerts have become a staple way to have fun, socialize, and enjoy your favorite music – or discover new music. Another intriguing aspect of touring and concerts is how different they can be show to show, artist to artist. While someone like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift might have outfit changes, large and intricate sets, props and stages, or incredible dance numbers, others might not. Artists like Coldplay or Ed Sheeran put on very different, somewhat slower shows in comparison, but they’re still thoroughly enjoyed by their concert goers. The music industry and touring world offers a great deal and variety to those interested, which is a main reason why it has stuck around for so long.
To get some feedback and information about a few of these top 20 concerts, I interviewed a fellow Bowling Green State University student, Charlotte Stoy. Charlotte is a second-year communications major at BGSU and has been to two of the concerts on our list, Harry Styles’ Love On Tour, ranked number 9 on the list, and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, which is ranked at number 1.
I asked Charlotte, who has been to six concerts, which concert was her overall favorite, and it was a tough choice for her, “The best concert I ever went to was Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. I think it was the best overall because of the anticipation and lead up to the tour after COVID-19. I think that it made it even that much more special through it all and the performance that she gave was like nothing I have ever seen before. We also had such amazing seats and it truly was an experience I’ll never forget,” (Stoy qtd. in Beech, 2025). We later got on the topic of the timelessness of concerts and live music as a whole, which was touched on above, to which Charlotte responded with this, “I think the love for the music keeps people coming back to concerts. Concerts can happen no matter what genre or how big or small the artist is which is what makes it so fun. You can share the experience of love for the music with people around you that love it just as much as you,” (Stoy qtd. in Beech, 2025).
In conclusion, this project was incredibly interesting to research and create, because music is a very large part of our culture. It’s fascinating to see the music and touring industry grow more and more each day, allowing people from all over the world to experience art together, even if it’s for one night only.
