Some of the best memories that I have in my life are from going out to concerts and seeing all of my favorite bands and artists perform on stage. And I’m fairly certain that for the lot of you who are reading this, it’s probably the same as well. for a lot of music lovers around the world., very few things are able to beat out just being able to pay witness to your favorite musicians do the things that they are most skilled at – performing.
It doesn’t matter if you’re into Beyoncé, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Maroon 5, or Kenrick Lamar. It’s always a great time whenever you get to see your favorite artists perform live.
And as it turns out, going to concerts might do so much more than just bring you joy and memories that you can keep for the rest of your life. Scientists have said that going to events like these can do wonders for your life expectancy. Research says that going to concerts can add as much as 9 years to your life.
Music Adds Years To Your Life
There was a recent study that was carried out by Patrick Fagan from Goldsmight University together with a team from the O2. In this study, they aimed to determine just how attending concerts and music events could affect a person’s overall wellbeing. And what their studies revealed was downright surprising. Their research showed that going to a concert just once every two weeks could actually increase a person’s lifespan to as much as 9 years.
“Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness, and well-being–with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key,” Fagan said. “Combining all of our findings with O2’s research, we arrive at a prescription of a gig a fortnight which could pave the way for almost a decade more years of life.”
Music Is Happiness
The study that was carried out by Fagan and O2 showed that just seeing around 20 minutes of live music per week can increase a person’s overall wellbeing by as much as 21%. The number here is inclusive of feelings of self-worth, mental stimulation, and closeness to other people. Supplementary research also showed that there is a direct correlation between concert attendance and wellbeing.
People attending concerts at least once a week showed the highest levels of happiness, contentment, productivity, and self-esteem. Thus, the research suggests that regular attendance in music events is key to building long-term improvement in a person’s overall wellbeing and health.
“We all know just how good it is seeing your favorite band or artist live, but now we have the proof,” explained Nina Bibby, CMO at O2. “Life doesn’t come with catch up and through Priority Tickets, O2 customers have access to over 5,000 live shows in more than 350 venues across the UK every year.”
Concerts Aren’t Always Available To Everyone
For a vast majority of people in the world, going to a concert once every couple weeks or so is just completely out of the question. There are many other factors surrounding a person’s life that might prevent them from attending concerts on such a regular basis. For instance, work might prevent people from spending whatever free time they might have at concerts and shows. Most people have lots of responsibilities that require their time and attention.
Not to mention that concerts can cause a serious dent in a person’s day-to-day budget when done frequently enough. It might just be too expensive for most people.
And unfortunately, staying at home and listening to your favorite songs on your Spotify isn’t necessarily going to generate the same outcome. A survey has revealed that 67% of British people say that listening to music at home is significantly less satisfying than being able to see their favorite artists perform live.
“Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness, and wellbeing – with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key,” Fagan explained. “Combining all of our findings with O2’s research, we arrive at a prescription of a gig a fortnight which could pave the way for almost a decade more years of life.”
Whatever the case, you should grasp any opportunity you can to catch live musical performances. Who knew that music could have such a profound and impactful effect on a person’s overall wellbeing?
