Data

Lyft data reveals: What is ‘brat’?

Sarah Conlisk - Oct 24, 2024

What exactly is “brat”? Ever since Charli XCX’s Brat was released in June — and became a cultural phenomenon — it’s been a common question. But while there has been no shortage of attempts to explain “brat,” none have been grounded in data. 

Until now. To commemorate this seasonal shift from brat summer to brat autumn, the release of Charli XCX’s remix album, and the last days of her Sweat Tour, Lyft dug into its data to answer the question … with science! Here, based on the transportation habits of Charli XCX concertgoers, is the definitive definition of what “brat” actually means.

Brat is… going to bars 

When a Charli fan gets into a Lyft ride, there’s a 10% chance they are heading to or from a bar. That’s 40% more often than fans of Taylor Swift or Chappell Roan (7%) — and 200% more often than Billie Eilish fans. 

Brat is… staying out late 

Charli fans also stay out the latest: 14% of their rides occur between midnight and 5 a.m. That’s roughly 40% more late-night rides than fans of other major female artists. Meanwhile, the fans that turn in earliest? Swifties.

Brat is… *not* getting to the venue early

Not only do Charli fans stay out late, but they also get to the venue late. Only 12% of them get to the concert venue an hour before an event is supposed to start. Meanwhile, Swifties are very punctual, with over a quarter of them getting to the venue on the early side.

Brat is… getting outside

Charli’s recent outdoor concert at Storm King in upstate New York showed that Charli fans like to party inside and out. And the Lyft data goes even further: Charli fans are the most likely to get out in nature. 

Beyond brat

Of course, it’s not just Charli fans who have idiosyncratic rideshare behavior. Here’s what other fans are up to.

Swifties take rides with their friends: Roughly 1 out of every 20 rides by a Swiftie is an XL.

Sabrina Carpenter fans hit the gym: They are 60% more likely to go to the gym than other fans. 

Chappell Roan fans seek self-care: One out of every 60 rides by a Chappell Roan fan is to a salon — more than any other artist. 

Billie Eilish fans go shopping: 3% of all rides by Billie Eilish fans are to malls or clothing stores, nearly twice the share of other fans’.