On a warm January evening, the ground at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai shook — not from a cricket match, but from the thunderous cheers of over 55,000 Coldplay fans swaying to “A Sky Full of Stars”. A few days and a couple more Coldplay concerts later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s rising ‘concert economy,’ pointing to the country's youth, rich musical heritage, and a growing hunger for live experiences.
“In a country with such a large pool of youth who are consumers of concerts, there are many possibilities for the concert economy,” he said.
For many young Indians, live concerts have become more than just events, they have become pilgrimages of sorts. The buzz around music festivals, world tours, and homegrown gigs signals the arrival of something bigger than fandom — the making of a new economic growth house.
However, issues like inadequate infrastructure, red tape, political disruptions, and a shrinking network of grassroots venues plague the ecosystem supporting live music. Even as independent artists strive to find space, cities wrestle with zoning laws that do not prioritise cultural activities. Beneath the glitter of booming ticket sales and skyrocketing venue bookings, deeper questions remain: Is India ready to build a thriving concert economy? Or will old challenges clip its wings before it can soar?