India's Rising Concert Economy Gets Rs 641-Crore Push From Coldplay Tour: Report

When Coldplay lit up Ahmedabad, it wasn’t just a concert — it was an economic blockbuster. The British rock band's spectacle did more than light up a stadium; it delivered a Rs 641-crore economic windfall, putting the spotlight on India’s untapped live entertainment potential, according to a latest report by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow Live.

In a country where cricket once ruled the stadium scene, concerts are now becoming serious business — and this one proved that India isn’t just ready for global acts, it’s ready to lead the show. 

"As we witness the dynamic growth of India’s live entertainment sector, which has surpassed the Rs 12,000-crore mark in 2024 and is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of around 19% over the next three years, the increasing consumer spends are fueling this transformative journey," said Raghav Anand, partner and leader – digital, media and convergence, EY-Parthenon.

Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres tour was more than a concert — it was a case study in how India can rock the global stage, literally and financially.

The two-night spectacle drew 222,000 fans from over 500 cities, bringing Ahmedabad’s infrastructure to a roaring test. Hotels that usually charge Rs 15,000 a night saw rates skyrocket to as high as Rs 90,000. Metro and airport records were shattered, while Western Railway had to roll out special superfast trains from Mumbai.

In just three days, the city witnessed a Rs 392-crore direct economic boost and contributed Rs 72 crore in GST revenue to the government — proving live entertainment is fiscal firepower.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi even referenced the Coldplay event during the Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, calling India’s concert economy a “vast opportunity” given the country’s rich heritage and youthful demographic.

Coldplay’s tour showed that with coordination between organisers and authorities, India is ready for the big league — and more importantly, that concerts can be a strategic lever for economic growth, tourism, and cultural soft power.

The report urges governments and private players to use public-private partnerships to develop event infrastructure and streamline processes through single-window clearance portals, making it easier to host large-scale global events across Indian cities.

Establishing a PPP facilitation unit and offering incentives such as tax reliefs and expedited permits can foster collaboration between public and private sectors. Simplifying regulatory frameworks through a single-window clearance portal and enhancing inter-departmental coordination will make it easier to host global events, it said.

"A collaborative approach between industry stakeholders and government authorities to streamline regulations will continue to play a big role in realising this untapped potential", said Anil Makhija, COO - live entertainment and venues, BookMyShow.

The ripple effect wasn’t confined to tickets and tourism. According to the report, for every Rs 100 spent on tickets, concertgoers spent Rs 585 more on travel, food, shopping, and accommodation. Over half the attendees extended their visit, boosting the local hospitality sector, while 38% engaged in retail activity — most of them under the age of 28, bringing fresh spending power to local artisans and markets.

More than 9,000 of the 15,000 personnel involved were from Ahmedabad, making it a homegrown employment generator too, the report further added.

Beyond numbers, the concert flipped perceptions. Nearly 78% of attendees now consider Ahmedabad a concert-worthy city. 66% said they would return, while 29% hoped for more such events in the city. More than a third explored local attractions, merging culture with commerce.

India is no longer warming up in the wings of the global entertainment arena — it’s headlining. With the right mix of policy support, infrastructure, and private innovation, concerts like Coldplay’s could become common across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, the report added.