India has been witnessing a surge in music concerts featuring international sensations such as Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran, as well as homegrown talents like Diljit Dosanjh and AP Dhillon. However, the excitement surrounding these events has been marred by reports of poor management, scuffles between concertgoers, and rampant black marketing of tickets.
The chaos amid the rhythms makes one wonder if India is ready to host such mega-events.
Despite the growing popularity of music tourism in India, industry insiders caution that the country still has a long way to go in terms of developing the necessary infrastructure, preparation, and hosting capabilities to support such large-scale events.
Are we ready?
According to Mohit Bijlani, Team Innovation, the event company behind Karan Aujla's India tour, infrastructure needs development to fully support the demand for large-scale concerts.
"But significant progress is being made. Investments in modern venues, improved logistics, and enhanced crowd management systems are paving the way for a world-class live music experience. This positive momentum, combined with continued investment and collaboration, will solidify India's position as a premier destination for international and domestic musical events," he shares.
The 2024 Year-End report by BookMyShow revealed a significant surge in music tourism, with the platform hosting 30,687 live events across 319 cities, translating to an impressive 18% growth in India's live entertainment consumption this year.
That being said, Varun Rajput from the music group Antariksh feels the surge in music tourism is limited to "few select cities".
"Delhi faces a lack of world-class music venues, poor air quality during winters, and bureaucratic hurdles that make securing permissions a cumbersome process. On the other hand, cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai typically contend with traffic congestion and inadequate parking facilities," he shares.
https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=Dailyhuntapp&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1867405614126625038&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fm.dailyhunt.in%2Fnews%2Findia%2Fenglish%2Ffor%2Byou%3Flaunch%3Dtrue%26mode%3Dpwa&sessionId=7d7fa44f50b540bb0ec092a6332510dcee7968d5&siteScreenName=Dailyhuntapp&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px
When it comes to fights at the concert, Jashoda Madhavji, Dream N Hustle Media, which often organises music tours in the country, shares, "It is important to remember that a purchased ticket guarantees a safe and enjoyable experience, not the right to disrupt the event or endanger others. Furthermore, relying solely on social media for information can be misleading, as such platforms often present incomplete or biased accounts of events. While event security personnel work diligently to maintain order, enhancing collaboration with state law enforcement could further improve the management of serious disruptions. This collaborative approach would ensure that any violations of public order are addressed swiftly and effectively, prioritising the safety and security of all attendees".
Not all is bleak
While reports of chaos and disorganization at music concerts may have made headlines, industry insiders view these incidents as minor setbacks in the larger narrative of India's thriving music scene, which is growing exponentially - and all it requires is more meticulous planning to ensure seamless execution.
Aman Kumar, White Fox, the company behind AP Dhillon's tour in the country, feels India is ready and emerging as a major market for global music tours.
"With artists like Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Diljit Dosanjh performing here, it's clear that India's potential as a concert destination is being recognised globally... The infrastructure, crowd management, and arenas are evolving to meet international standards, driven by both demand and experience.... As the industry expands, we're seeing improvements in venue design, event management, and overall audience experience, making India a preferred stop for mega music tours," Aman shares.
Echoing the same, Deepak Choudhary from EVA Live, the event company behind Bryan Adams and Arijit Singh's India tour, shares that the country's readiness to host such mega-concerts is a mixed bag.
"While crowd management has improved and ticket sales demonstrate strong demand the country needs a substantial increase in the number of suitable arenas and improved infrastructure to fully capitalise on this growing demand. The government's responsiveness to this need will be crucial in determining whether India can consistently support these large-scale events. A more realistic projection might be the construction of 10-15 stadiums over the next five years to reach globally accepted standards for such events," he says while concluding.
