Ed Sheeran in a kurta, Dua lipa performing to Bollywood remix, and Chris Martin apologizing for colonialism – concerts have become India’s hottest sensation and this wave is not going to fade anytime soon. India hosted a staggering 30,687 live events in 2024, an impressive 18% rise from 2022. This surge has led India to become a goldmine for Indian and International artists, fueled by the ever-expanding appetite for concert culture among the nation’s youth.
In 2024, India witnessed performances from top Indian artists like Diljit Dosanjh, Arijit Singh, and Sunidhi Chauhan, alongside international sensations such as Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Cigarettes After Sex, Maroon 5, and Dua Lipa. 2025 will be nothing less than a non-stop party with artists like Shawn Mendes, Linkin Park, 21 Savage, A.R. Rahman, Martin Garrix, and Green Day taking the stage. Most of the audience at these shows is the young, affluent Gen Z population. Most of the audience at these shows is the young Gen Z population, whose consumption patterns preference for instant gratification and quick commerce. Live events like concerts are a result of this consumption pattern as youth craves for immediate and sharable experiences.
Growth of India’s Concert Economy:
- Growth in Number of Live Events:
- Shows an 18% rise in live events from 26,057 in 2022 to 30,687 in 2024.
- Growth in Spending on Live Events:
- Based on the Bank of Baroda report, spending surged from around ₹2,000 crore in 2022 to a projected ₹6,000 crore.
Next Driving Impetus of the economy?
Ginormous concerts can surely be the next driving impetus of the economy in the coming years, fueling the hospitality, transportation, merchandise, marketing, security, media and streaming and sponsorship businesses. The concerts also create a ton of jobs in metropolitan cities as they are merging as the major hubs for events. As per a report by the Bank of Baroda around Rs 1,600 crore and Rs 2,000 crore was spent on live events in just three months. The report also mentioned that if the concert sector continues to grow, annual private spending on concerts could reach Rs 6,000-8,000 crore. This spending ends up creating colossal impacts on GST flows and Tourism.
Ticketing partners – BookMyShow, Paytm Insider, District by Zomato are making a lot of money in the concert economy, reaching over 15 million users monthly and selling over 100 million tickets since its inception. Paytm Insider 50 million tickets in 2024 alone. With over 70% of tickets sold online, the ticketing platforms are key players in this rapidly growing sector.
With all these observations, it is definitely safe to say that India is on track to become the next big sensational pop star in the world of concerts, with its jaunty, growing audience and a booming live music culture.
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