Photo Credit: Getty Images
For decades, Indian music fans of popular global icons grew restless waiting for any chance to view their favorite icons live in person, all on home soil. Today that will no longer wait-the lineup of various iconic international musicals, headed by Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, places this country in every possible way a force to contend with regarding worldwide concerts.
Coldplay’s highly-anticipated return to India has caused a ripple. Nine years since their last visit, the band’s “Music of the Spheres” tour includes two sold-out nights in Ahmedabad, each expected to draw upwards of 100,000 fans. Demand for tickets was staggering, with 13 million fans attempting to book seats on BookMyShow, crashing the platform.
Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran’s tour across India is his biggest one so far. Moving from Pune through Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi, his performances are sure to thrill audiences all over the country. Both acts signify India’s growing prominence as a lucrative stop for global tours.
Adding to that thrill is Lollapalooza India 2025 in Mumbai, featuring for the first time, Green Day and Shawn Mendes, alongside Louis Tomlinson, further solidifying India’s place in the global festival circuit.
But India’s potential begins and ends with its huge, young population: 1.4 billion people with an economy on the rise, offering a ready audience of growing disposable incomes. The statistics underwrite it: India’s music industry will grow from 19 billion rupees (£178 million) in 2021 to 37 billion rupees (£346 million) by 2026. The major labels and promoter players know it, parlaying that growth into bringing top-shelf talent to the country.
The recent success of K-pop and other cross-border collaborations has proved that India can indeed be a promising market for artists looking for newer pastures and fan extensions.
As international stars steal headlines, it is their arrival that opens the gates for Indian artists. Many global acts bring local musicians as opening performers, giving them a larger audience and a chance to collaborate. Independent singer-songwriters like Anoushka Maskey and Frizzell D’Souza have spoken about how opening for international acts has boosted their visibility and inspired them to aim higher. These collaborations offer Indian artists a chance to learn and grow, while also showcasing their talent to the world.
Challenges remain, hype aside. The paucity of world-class venues makes it difficult to host major events in India on a regular basis. There have often been complaints among the audience regarding infrastructure-sports stadiums serving as venues for concerts, too-and it’s highly vulnerable to ticket scalping.
The stakeholders of the industry need to develop the facilities and systems further for even bigger names like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. As Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and other big names grace the stage, it signals a new phase in India’s live music movement. With a growing fanbase, an increasing international attention base, and the local artists shining in this developing ecosystem, live music in India has never been brighter.
But it is not only a moment for the fans or the artists, it’s more of a movement-a sign of India rising to become a hub in the music and cultural sphere globally.
