New research spanning tens of thousands of fans worldwide explores why real-world experiences are gaining value as more of life moves online.
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, millions of fans will compare set-list predictions as merch lines wrap around venues and restaurants and bars fill before the show. Once the lights go down, they will share an experience that can only happen live.
In the U.S., it is expected to be the busiest week for Live Nation's fan attendance this year. The milestone reflects a much larger cultural shift playing out around the world. As more of life moves online, people are placing greater value on experiences that feel unmistakably real.
The Return to Real, a new global report from Live Nation for Brands, examines what is driving that shift and what it means for culture, commerce and brands. Drawing on multiple surveys of tens of thousands of fans worldwide, the research found that 93% of fans crave real experiences over digital ones, while 80% would rather spend on experiences than on things. Live music emerged as the world's favorite form of entertainment.
As technology becomes more deeply woven into everyday life, it is getting harder to tell what was made by a person, what was generated and what actually happened. At a concert, there is no question. The artist is on stage. You are in the room. Thousands of other people are experiencing the same thing alongside you.
"People can do almost everything from their phones now," says Russell Wallach, Global President, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. "That's exactly why the things worth leaving home for matter more than ever. The brands building lasting loyalty are becoming part of those experiences."
For brands, that opportunity comes at an interesting moment for loyalty. While 66% of fans say they engaged with loyalty programs more than a year ago, 64% say they feel less loyal to brands, and 71% say loyalty programs feel the same. More than 9 in 10 say live music benefits would make them sign up for or switch loyalty programs.
Brands across industries are already responding.
Reserved by Spotify is using its digital platform to connect fans with live experiences. "There's just no replacement for the live music experience," says Jon Ostrow, Spotify's Head of Business Development, Live Music. "Obviously, we're a digital platform, and we've got thousands who are thinking deeply daily about how to create a more robust digital environment, but we're starting to see how digital and live can go hand in hand, creating a better experience both offline and online."
Mastercard sees exclusive access becoming a new form of loyalty. "As people place greater value on real-world experiences, access has become one of the most powerful forms of loyalty," says Monica Biagiotti, EVP, Global Consumer Marketing and Sponsorships. "Whether it's traveling to experience a bucket-list concert, discovering a new destination through music, or sharing an unforgettable night with friends and family, these experiences create lasting memories. Through the Priceless Platform and our partnership with Live Nation, we're making those moments more accessible for millions of cardholders around the world."
Lowe's is extending loyalty beyond the store. "Products may bring someone through the door, but experiences are often what make them want to come back," says Amanda Bailey, VP of Customer Marketing and Loyalty. "Music connects people through emotion. Almost everyone has a song, an artist or a concert that means something to them. Live music gives us a chance to surprise and delight our loyalty members with experiences and benefits that make those moments even better."
Across industries, brands are finding new ways to make live experiences part of how they build customer relationships. The Return to Real explores what fans value about experiences they can see, feel and share for themselves, and what that shift means for brands.
Download The Return to Real here.
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
As Live Nation Enters Its Busiest Week of the Year, New Global Report Reveals a Return to Real
SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The IC Ecosystem Show (ICES 2026), one of the flagship theme shows of the 26th China International Industry Fair (CIIF 2026), is officially scheduled to take place from October 12 to 16, 2026, in Hall 5.2 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), China. Serving as a premier semiconductor exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, ICES 2026 will gather top semiconductor companies, technology innovators, equipment suppliers, and industrial end-users to drive cross-border collaboration and accelerate chip-intelligence convergence.
Mapping an End-to-End Industry Value Chain Driven by Applications
Rather than presenting products by category alone, ICES 2026 is organized around real-world industrial applications. The exhibition showcases technologies selected specifically for industrial-grade reliability, automotive-grade compliance, as well as AI applications and Embodied AI, closing the loop from core chips to industrial scenarios. Acting as a national strategic platform and a global semiconductor hub, ICES connects the complete value chain—from design and wafer fabrication to advanced packaging, equipment, and downstream system integration.
Five Dedicated Exhibition Zones for Ecosystem Synergy
ICES 2026 features five specialized exhibition zones designed to foster ecosystem-wide synergy and commercialization. The journey begins in the Integrated Circuit Design Zone, showcasing EDA tools and platforms, IP cores, IC design services, and core chip solutions, including HPC processors, memory chips, power management ICs (PMICs), and power semiconductors. Moving along the manufacturing ecosystem, the Wafer Fabrication Zone highlights logic and specialty process platforms, IDM and memory manufacturing, compound semiconductor manufacturing, and smart fab facilities. To complement this, the Packaging & Testing Zone presents advanced packaging technologies such as Wafer-Level Packaging (WLP) and System-in-Package (SiP), alongside specialized packaging for automotive electronics and MEMS, high-performance inspection and analysis, and next-generation processes such as glass substrates.
Furthermore, trade visitors exploring the Semiconductor Equipment & Materials Zone will discover core wafer fab equipment—including lithography, etching, thin-film deposition, cleaning, and CMP—as well as metrology and inspection systems, compound-semiconductor tools, silicon wafers, photoresists, electronic specialty gases, and key subsystems. Finally, the Application & System Integration Zone brings together leading end-user enterprises to showcase "Chip + Embedded Solutions" across Embodied AI, intelligent vehicles, smart home appliances, and wearable electronics.
High-Level Summit & Specialized Technical Forums
Alongside the static exhibition, ICES 2026 will host a comprehensive three-tier conference program, including a flagship industry summit, over 10 specialized technical forums, and exclusive executive networking events. Bringing together government officials, global industry executives, technology experts, and investors, the program will deeply explore policy developments, technology trends, and market dynamics. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in critical tracks focusing on the latest breakthroughs in automotive semiconductors, advanced memory technologies, the rapid evolution of embodied AI and industrial robotics, and the future of next-generation IC packaging and ecosystem integration.
Join the Global Semiconductor Ecosystem in Shanghai
As a vital part of CIIF 2026 — a 300,000-square-meter mega-event showcasing the complete smart and sustainable manufacturing supply chain including foundational materials, key components, cutting-edge manufacturing equipment and solutions — ICES 2026 serves as an essential platform for technical exchange, product debuts, and precision business matchmaking.
Visitor pre-registration for CIIF 2026 and the IC Ecosystem Show (ICES) is now officially live. Industrial professionals, trade buyers, and global technology providers are cordially invited to gather in Shanghai this October to unlock new market opportunities and shape the future of smart manufacturing.
Visitor pre-registration: https://www.ciif-expo.cn/ciifVisitor/AudienceEn/ExchSelect?registrationCode=Next-GenIC-pr
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
IC Ecosystem Show (ICES) 2026 to Drive Application-Led Innovation at CIIF in Shanghai
