/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176720502969673337.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176700690216638325.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176718261771824708.webp)
What is the story about?
India’s live entertainment industry has crossed a tipping point. What was once viewed as a niche, passion-driven activity is now emerging as a full-fledged economic engine—driven by scale, spending power and a sharp rise in ticketed experiences across the country.
Executives across the live events ecosystem say the growth is no longer incremental. It is exponential.
“There is absolute hockey-stick growth in live entertainment in India,” said Naman Pugalia, Chief Business Officer – Live Events at BookMyShow. “This is not just about concerts anymore. India is firmly moving towards becoming a global entertainment hub in terms of scale.”
From passion projects to big business
The transformation of the concert economy is rooted in its rapid commercialisation. Live events are no longer restricted to sponsored college festivals or sporadic metro shows. They are now ticketed, professionally produced, brand-backed businesses operating at scale.
BookMyShow currently lists around 35,000 live events across the country, reflecting 17% growth over last year. The expansion spans cities, genres and formats—from international stadium concerts to domestic artist tours and multi-day festivals.
“This kind of secular growth across cities, towns and genres tells you this is no longer a fringe industry,” Pugalia said. “It’s a mainstream consumption category now.”
Concerts as economic engines
The scale of the opportunity is best illustrated by the economic impact of marquee events. According to BookMyShow, the two Coldplay concerts held in Ahmedabad earlier this year attracted nearly 2.5 lakh attendees travelling from close to 500 cities across 28 states and five Union Territories.
The result: an estimated ₹641 crore economic impact for Gujarat, including ₹72 crore in direct tax collections, apart from hotel bookings, transport demand, food services and local commerce.
“That’s when you realise how massive the music and concert economy really is,” Pugalia said. “Live entertainment doesn’t just sell tickets—it drives tourism, infrastructure usage and tax revenues.”
Industry executives say such events are increasingly being viewed by state governments as economic catalysts, not just cultural showcases.
Scale beyond metros
While global artists and stadium shows grab headlines, the growth story is playing out just as strongly outside India’s biggest cities.
Shoven Shah, Founder and CEO of Tribe Vibe Entertainment, said nearly 80% of his company’s business now comes from tier-two and tier-three markets. Towns like Kanpur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Warangal and Vizag are witnessing strong turnout for ticketed concerts by Indian artists.
“We’ve done shows where 8,000 people bought tickets in cities that had never seen a concert of that scale before,” Shah said. “That tells you disposable incomes and aspiration levels have changed.”
This widening geographic footprint is expanding the addressable market for live entertainment and making the business less dependent on a handful of metro venues.
Why the boom is structural
Industry leaders point to a confluence of long-term drivers behind the surge: rising incomes, nearly a billion smartphone users, exposure to global content through streaming platforms, and a shift in how Indians spend their leisure time.
“Outings are no longer limited to movies or religious tourism,” Pugalia said. “People are actively seeking experiences—music, comedy, sports, festivals. Options that didn’t exist earlier are now available, and audiences are embracing them.”
The result is a virtuous cycle: higher attendance enables larger productions, which attract global artists and brands, further accelerating growth.
Also Read | Indians fiercely consumed live entertainment in 2025: BookMyShow report
A new chapter for India’s entertainment economy
The live events industry still faces bottlenecks—particularly venue shortages and infrastructure constraints—but few doubt the direction of travel.
From being seen as discretionary indulgences, concerts and festivals are now generating measurable economic returns, creating jobs, driving tourism and unlocking brand investments.
As Shah put it, “We’re at a good stage—but this is just the beginning.”
For India’s concert economy, the music has clearly shifted—from passion to profits.
Watch accompanying video for entire discussion.
Executives across the live events ecosystem say the growth is no longer incremental. It is exponential.
“There is absolute hockey-stick growth in live entertainment in India,” said Naman Pugalia, Chief Business Officer – Live Events at BookMyShow. “This is not just about concerts anymore. India is firmly moving towards becoming a global entertainment hub in terms of scale.”
From passion projects to big business
The transformation of the concert economy is rooted in its rapid commercialisation. Live events are no longer restricted to sponsored college festivals or sporadic metro shows. They are now ticketed, professionally produced, brand-backed businesses operating at scale.
BookMyShow currently lists around 35,000 live events across the country, reflecting 17% growth over last year. The expansion spans cities, genres and formats—from international stadium concerts to domestic artist tours and multi-day festivals.
“This kind of secular growth across cities, towns and genres tells you this is no longer a fringe industry,” Pugalia said. “It’s a mainstream consumption category now.”
Concerts as economic engines
The scale of the opportunity is best illustrated by the economic impact of marquee events. According to BookMyShow, the two Coldplay concerts held in Ahmedabad earlier this year attracted nearly 2.5 lakh attendees travelling from close to 500 cities across 28 states and five Union Territories.
The result: an estimated ₹641 crore economic impact for Gujarat, including ₹72 crore in direct tax collections, apart from hotel bookings, transport demand, food services and local commerce.
“That’s when you realise how massive the music and concert economy really is,” Pugalia said. “Live entertainment doesn’t just sell tickets—it drives tourism, infrastructure usage and tax revenues.”
Industry executives say such events are increasingly being viewed by state governments as economic catalysts, not just cultural showcases.
Scale beyond metros
While global artists and stadium shows grab headlines, the growth story is playing out just as strongly outside India’s biggest cities.
Shoven Shah, Founder and CEO of Tribe Vibe Entertainment, said nearly 80% of his company’s business now comes from tier-two and tier-three markets. Towns like Kanpur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Warangal and Vizag are witnessing strong turnout for ticketed concerts by Indian artists.
“We’ve done shows where 8,000 people bought tickets in cities that had never seen a concert of that scale before,” Shah said. “That tells you disposable incomes and aspiration levels have changed.”
This widening geographic footprint is expanding the addressable market for live entertainment and making the business less dependent on a handful of metro venues.
Why the boom is structural
Industry leaders point to a confluence of long-term drivers behind the surge: rising incomes, nearly a billion smartphone users, exposure to global content through streaming platforms, and a shift in how Indians spend their leisure time.
“Outings are no longer limited to movies or religious tourism,” Pugalia said. “People are actively seeking experiences—music, comedy, sports, festivals. Options that didn’t exist earlier are now available, and audiences are embracing them.”
The result is a virtuous cycle: higher attendance enables larger productions, which attract global artists and brands, further accelerating growth.
Also Read | Indians fiercely consumed live entertainment in 2025: BookMyShow report
A new chapter for India’s entertainment economy
The live events industry still faces bottlenecks—particularly venue shortages and infrastructure constraints—but few doubt the direction of travel.
From being seen as discretionary indulgences, concerts and festivals are now generating measurable economic returns, creating jobs, driving tourism and unlocking brand investments.
As Shah put it, “We’re at a good stage—but this is just the beginning.”
For India’s concert economy, the music has clearly shifted—from passion to profits.
Watch accompanying video for entire discussion.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-1767027654390254.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176697507247654309.webp)