Lights, sound, action! Tracing the dynamics of concert culture in India

"I have anticipated this for a long time. Even before the concert was announced, I wrote a message to myself saying ‘Just want to scream Viva la Vida at Coldplay concert'. I guess I manifested it," shares Dehradun-based engineering student Anushree Verma, who will travel to Mumbai to attend the British band's concert in January 2025.

Coldplay's music has shaped her and her sister's teenage years. "Their songs were an introduction to a world full of amazing instruments and a sky full of stars. It has always been a dream to watch them perform live because they are the kings of stadium tours. When they came to India earlier, we were too young, but this time, we both didn't want to miss this opportunity," she expresses excitedly.

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Coldplay's ‘Music of the Spheres' world tour will reach India in January 2025, and Indian fans couldn't keep calm as soon as the concert was announced - a fact that was reflected when the tickets were sold out within seconds. The same phenomenon occurred for Diljit Dosanjh's ‘Dil-Luminati' tour, as many fans were left disappointed when all shows were sold out as soon as the tickets went live.

Also Read: Coldplay India 2025: 1.3 crore fans logged in to book tickets on BookMyShow for Mumbai concert at DY Patil Stadium

India is witnessing a drastic demand and rise in popularity of music concerts, both for Indian and international artists. Earlier this year, Ed Sheeran's record-breaking concert in Mumbai saw a footfall of around 50,000 fans according to media reports. Dosanjh and Armaan Malik also joined the artist on stage, creating a special experience for attendees. Festivals like Lollapalooza and Sunburn that offer live music experiences are also a great hit among Indians. Concerts of Indian music legends like Sunidhi Chauhan are attracting huge crowds in the country.

But why do fans choose to attend concerts when they can listen to their favourite music artists through their devices?

Urvi Mishra, an avid concert-goer, says, "A concert is an experience to see your favourite artists perform before you. The first concert I ever attended was an AR Rahman gig. Everyone around me was so ecstatic. It's a different experience vibing on the same wavelength and frequency with so many people at the same time." According to her, other elements like celebrity guests also add to the charm of music concerts.

Harshit Agarwal, a Bangalore-based software engineer, finds the live atmosphere at the venue one of the most appealing things about a music concert. "I can hear the same songs on Spotify also, but at a concert, the speakers, the stage and thousands of people singing the same song make the song more enjoyable. I remember my first concert. Nucleya had come to perform at our college fest. I was already a big fan of Nucleya. It was a surreal experience with all the visuals he plays along with his amazing songs. After that, I have attended several concerts and had a great experience," he shares.

While the concert culture in India has recently come into the limelight, the country's trust in live music experiences is not new.

Manojna Yeluri, an artist rights, entertainment and IPR lawyer and founder of Artistik License, observes, "Live music and concerts have always been a part of the Indian music experience. Whether its club gigs, community performances, house concerts, stadium shows, or music festivals, the idea of experiencing a music performance in person, alongside other fans and community, is not new. Over the years, we've witnessed India playing host to several international acts, while also being the home ground for stellar experiences like the Mahindra Blues Festival, Echoes of Earth and Control Alt Delete just to name a few. The truth is that nothing beats the experience of live music. This has suddenly surged post the pandemic, as artists and audiences alike are craving that IRL (in real life) engagement with each other and their community."

Attending a live concert isn't just about music. It's a community experience, an avenue for self-expression and much more.

Shruti Shah, a Mumbai-based psychologist and founder of Holistic Mind Therapy, says that the growing popularity of such experiences can also be traced to several psychological factors.

She reveals the following factors that may be driving people to be a part of concerts and other social experiences:

• FOMO (Fear of missing out): Social media amplifies the sense of missing out when others are attending events and sharing their experiences. This can push individuals to attend concerts just to stay in the loop or be part of the trend.
• Social media validation: People often seek social validation by sharing their concert experiences online, which gives them a sense of belonging. Platforms like Instagram create a highlight-reel culture, encouraging individuals to curate exciting, event-filled lives.
• Escapism and emotional release: Concerts offer a break from daily life. The energy of live music, the crowd and the shared experience create an immersive environment where people can express their emotions freely, whether it's joy, excitement or even a sense of nostalgia.
• Collective experience and community: Attending a concert with friends or like-minded people creates a sense of community. Humans have an innate desire for connection, and concerts can fulfill this need by offering shared, positive experiences that strengthen social bonds.
• Identity and self-expression: Music often plays a role in identity formation. By attending concerts, individuals can reinforce their personal identity or social image by aligning with specific artists or genres that resonate with their values or personalities.
• Peer pressure: Concerts, especially big festivals, have become status symbols. There's a subtle pressure to participate in these events because peers are doing the same, leading to an unconscious urge to follow the crowd.

"All these factors make concerts not just about the music, but about the experience and its psychological impact," remarks Shah.

Perhaps it's an amalgamation of all these and other socio-economic-cultural factors that are driving Indian fans towards concerts, even if they have to travel to other cities to watch their favourite artist perform live.

Surge in travel bookings during concerts

Dosanjh's ‘Dil-Luminati' tour is set to take place in multiple cities across India, starting with Delhi on October 26. According to data shared by ixigo earlier this month, India is witnessing a surge in travel bookings as fans flock to highly anticipated concerts.

Chandigarh, one of the destinations for Dosanjh's concert, has seen a 300 per cent YoY surge in flight bookings. Other ‘Dil-Luminati' concert cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore have recorded an average 100 per cent YoY growth in flight bookings on their respective concert dates.

Source: ixigo

Similarly, Mumbai, which will host Coldplay's concert between 18-21 January 2025, has experienced a staggering 350 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in flight bookings.

Source: ixigo

Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo, shares, "We've observed a significant shift in Indian travellers' preferences, with more people willing to spend on experiences like music concerts and festivals. The passion for live performances is driving fans to travel, and this surge in bookings across flights, trains, and buses shows how music tourism is becoming a major force in the country."

Navigating legal challenges associated with concerts

While concert culture has gained immense popularity in the country, recent events like high ticket prices, ticket scalping (unethical re-selling), online frauds, etc., have also highlighted economic and legal challenges.

Also Read: Coldplay tickets row: PIL in Bombay HC seeks guidelines against black marketing, ticket scalping

Explaining the situation, Yeluri says, "The recent debacle with alleged ticket scalping in the case of Coldplay's show slated for 2025, and upcoming concert shows of Diljit Dosanjh, has brought visibility to the lack of regulation in the space of ticket booking platforms. A recent PIL that's been filed questions the rise of these irregularities and lack of ethical practices. Ultimately, these irregularities and unethical activities seek to exploit the fandom of artists, which is probably what's most heartbreaking."

"With the lack of regulation and accountability, there might always be hurdles that fans might experience when seeking to purchase tickets to their favourite shows. I think it's always helpful to research the authenticity of tickets - ideally, not engaging in practices that only further exploitation and scalping," she concludes.