India’s Concert Economy Boom: From Coldplay to INR 8,000 Cr Opportunities

India is getting concert-ready. 

The clamour for Coldplay tickets says a lot about the nation’s growing appetite for extraordinary music experiences. 

A travel agency cited that the surge in concerts has resulted in a travel rush as fans scramble to attend the live performances, creating a 300-350% surge in flight bookings.

India’s concert economy boom is not one to be taken lightly. 

We give you a lowdown of the concert landscape. We are also covering how India’s concert industry can evolve into a sustainable pillar of economic development, benefiting artists, businesses, and communities.

2025, the year the concert culture takes over India

While many world-famous bands and musicians have skipped India in the past, this trend appears to be changing now. 

A few months ago, Grammy winner and global pop icon Dua Lipa took to the stage in Mumbai for Zomato’s Feeding India Concert. 

2025 unfolds a remarkable lineup of international acts, including Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Green Day, and Blackpink. Consequently, India’s concert economy offers a potential of INR 6,000-8,000 crore spending spree, with 123% of fans choosing premium experiences at events.

Economists also revealed that there has been a significant push to spending ranging from around INR 1,600-2,000 crore in the last 2-3 months, from just the announcement of these concerts.

Concerts are becoming economic powerhouses

Concerts create ripple effects across industries, benefiting everyone from event planners to local businesses. More importantly, they also contribute to urban renewal, with new venues often sparking broader development.

Why does this growth matter? 

• Concerts often act as launchpads for emerging talent, fueling India’s creative economy 

• Rural and semi-urban areas are seeing increased interest in live events, diversifying the audience base 

• Collaboration with international artists attracts global attention, boosting India's cultural footprint 

How to capitalise on this trend? 

• Encourage partnerships between artists, brands, and local governments to tap into new funding sources 

• Diversify the types of events hosted, including festivals and hybrid online formats 

• Invest in digital infrastructure to support seamless event ticketing and promotion 

• Promote accessibility by offering tiered ticket pricing and targeting underserved audiences 

• Offer tax incentives for companies building event spaces in underdeveloped areas 

As per reports, the live music market is projected to reach $245.2 million by 2028. There was a total of 30,687 live events held across 319 cities in 2024, all of which resulted in a considerable 18% rise in live entertainment in the country. It’s not just the metro cities getting all the attention. The tier-2 cities, such as Kanpur, Shillong, Gandhinagar, and others, have experienced a 682% growth in live events. 

In India, the ticket revenue market is estimated to be worth INR 15,347 crore ($1.8 billion). While this market is split into cinema, music, and sports, the live music industry has not disappointed. 

With exponential growth in recent years, India’s live music industry revenue has registered a 20% year-on-year growth between 2017 and 2024. Currently, the music event segment alone is projected to be around INR 1,864 crore ($223 million). 

Paving a stable future for live events in India

The long-term success of the live concert industry depends on addressing underlying challenges. During his Chandigarh concert, Diljit Dosanjh called out the need for better live show infrastructure. 

Here are a few other factors that need to be in place for India to make the most of the concert economy boom. 

Developing a robust live show infrastructure 

From poor venue quality to limited seating capacity, not to mention insufficient safety measures, have raised alarms in the past, deterring both organisers and audiences. Improving these factors is imperative for attracting international artists, retaining local talent, and meeting the growing demand for live events. 

Modern multi-purpose venues that are larger and have versatile spaces will be needed to host live events year-round and ensure consistent revenue streams. 

Building a financially stable ecosystem 

A future-proof live events ecosystem needs more than investment in world-class facilities. It calls for supportive regulatory measures, flexible financial solutions, and public-private partnerships. 

Given how many of these events are large-scale, there is a need for working capital optimisation for both large corporate and small-scale businesses that are a part of this growing ecosystem. 

An event such as Coldplay has seen: 

• Restaurants get packed, and hotel rooms fill up (room rates peaked at a few lakhs per night after the Coldplay concert was announced) 

• Local transport to international flight bookings are skyrocketing (flight bookings to concert cities increased by 350% while train bookings for Coldplay concerts increased by 8.42%) 

• Requirements in event management, security, and hospitality also see businesses intensifying their investments and expanding their scale 

Timely, quick, and affordable access to financing is crucial for businesses to meet the scale of such grand concerts. 

FinTechs with tech-driven working capital financing solutions and small business loans are ensuring businesses can leverage frictionless digital financing solutions at the point of need.

Corporates can cover high costs like stage setups and international artist contracts, while small businesses can invest in inventory or equipment to cater to concertgoers. Affordable credit not only boosts participation but also ensures every player benefits from the economic potential of live events.

Unlocking India's potential as a global destination for live events

By prioritising infrastructure and financial stability, India can be uniquely positioned to tap into its growing concert economy while building an ecosystem that caters to the country's growth.

To sustain the momentum of India’s booming concert industry, public-private partnerships must champion innovation. These collaborations can fund advanced sound systems, seamless ticketing platforms, and modern infrastructure, ensuring a premium experience for audiences and artists. 

Timely financing for stakeholders, from event organisers to local businesses, will help every part of the ecosystem thrive. Such efforts will not only make concerts a shared celebration but also a powerful symbol of what can be achieved through collective effort.

Think Working Capital… Think CredAble!