The Global Citizen Festival 2023, an annual music festival, was held on September 23, with fans and bands from around the world in attendance. An exercise that aims to end extreme poverty globally, it attracted quite a large audience, becoming the second most popular stream in the YouTube Non-Gaming category between September 23 and 24.
The gathering brings together global citizens, activists, world leaders, artists, corporate leaders, and philanthropists, among other eminent personalities, under one collective mission: to end extreme poverty. This year's iteration saw the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lauryn Hill, Anitta, D-Nice, Conan Gray, Sofia Carson, and Stray Kids come together with the common man at the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City to drive a cause close their hearts.
As per the official site:
"For the first time in a generation, the number of people living in extreme poverty is rising. The 2023 Global Citizen Festival campaign takes aim at the major issues perpetuating extreme poverty, including the impacts of climate change on the Global South, the inequities affecting women and girls around the world, and the global hunger crisis, and will call on governments to protect and defend advocates everywhere. The campaign will unite millions of voices, amplified by the world’s biggest artists, to demand urgent action from world leaders gathering in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly in September."
Viewership stats from the Global Citizen Festival 2023
This music extravaganza generated 875K Hours Watched, 388K Peak Viewers, and 143K Average Viewers over an airtime of six hours and five minutes. This made it the sixth most popular live broadcast on the red platform over the past week, both in terms of peak and average online viewers, showing just how big a reach the event had.
When only looking at the IRL section, the stream ended as the third most popular in terms of PV and the fifth most popular one in terms of AV. Moreover, despite the small number of streams held so far, it became by far the most successful broadcast on the Global Citizen YouTube channel.
What undoubtedly helped it reach such high numbers was the participation of BTS' Jungkook, who became the first K-Pop star to co-headline the festival. In fact, the live stream peaked when he entered the stage to get through his routine, not only sending the attending fans into a frenzy but also those watching at home.
He performed solo ahead of the release of his much-anticipated track 3D, which also features Jack Harlow. The single, dropping on September 29, will be followed up by an album, whose release has been given a 'latest by November' seal.
More about Global Citizen
Global Citizen is known to be the 'world's largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty.' Millions of people from around the world have played their part in driving lasting change toward sustainability, equality, and humanity by taking action every day.
The organization posts, tweets, messages, votes, signs, and calls to inspire those who can make things happen to act — government leaders, businesses, philanthropists, artists, and citizens — to improve lives together. It has taken over 33.5M actions since 2009 which, in combination with high-level advocacy work, have led to over $43.6B being distributed to its partners globally, impacting 1.29B lives in the fight to end extreme poverty.
Its famous Global Citizen Festival has been on the books since 2012 when 60K fans attended the show at the Great Lawn in New York’s iconic Central Park. It featured live performances by Neil Young with Crazy Horse, The Black Keys, Band of Horses, Foo Fighters, and K’Naan. Ever since, artists like Rihanna, Pearl Jam, JAY-Z, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Coldplay, and Billie Eilish have performed on a stage that has traveled the world and hugely impacted lives globally.