Pay to play

The post-1995 generation is willing to spend cash for a good time－85 percent spend some money on their hobbies. About 10 percent report blowing over 10,000 yuan ($1,448) at a time for a single experience.

"Many of my friends skimp on food costs to save for concerts," 19-year-old Yunnan Normal University freshman Gao Yan says.

"One even bought a 2,000 yuan ($290) ticket for Jay Chou's April 15 concert in (Yunnan's provincial capital) Kunming."

Gao adores not only watching but also playing music.

The pop-ballad fan joined a campus guitar club after starting college and spends an hour a day practicing.

She's more into less-known indie performers like Tang Yao, Ma Di and Zhao Lei than superstars like Chou.

"Sometimes, I don't even want them to be liked by too many people," Gao says.

She spent 500 yuan on two concerts last year and got into another one for free by working as a volunteer.

The teen earns pocket money with part-time gigs like tutoring elementary schoolers and passing out flyers.