Staff Reporter
Shillong, April 30: Coldplay’s two-night ‘Music Of The Spheres’ concert in Ahmedabad has delivered a staggering Rs. 641 crore economic impact, according to a new report by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow Live. As India’s largest live music event to date, the concert not only drew over 222,000 fans from across the country but also catalyzed significant growth in tourism, hospitality, transport, and local employment. The report positions this event as a blueprint for India’s emerging concert economy—and raises the question: can Shillong become the next cultural boomtown?

The report, titled “India’s Rising Concert Economy: Coldplay’s Ahmedabad Tour Sets the Blueprint for India’s Next Cultural Boomtowns”, highlights how live entertainment is reshaping India’s economic and cultural landscape. It calls attention to Shillong, long revered for its rich music culture, which experienced a 65-fold increase in live event participation last year. The city’s rising stature was further confirmed when Ed Sheeran included Shillong in his six-city India tour in February 2025—an unprecedented milestone for a Tier 2 city.

The Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad became a defining moment for India’s entertainment sector. Hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the event drew audiences from over 500 cities and 28 states, transforming the city into a temporary cultural capital. Local infrastructure adapted to the scale, with metro systems and airports recording historic traffic volumes. Hotels saw prices spike dramatically within 48 hours of the event announcement, while local businesses thrived as concertgoers extended their stay, turning the experience into a multi-day tourism boost. The report also revealed that the concert created more than 15,000 jobs and contributed Rs. 72 crores in GST revenue to the central government.

The strategic collaboration between BookMyShow Live and local authorities enabled seamless planning, including crowd management, emergency services, and pitch preservation, setting new standards for stadium-based entertainment in India. Leaders across sectors, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praised the event for its cultural and economic significance, signaling a new era in India's global entertainment aspirations.

Speaking on the report, Raghav Anand, Partner at EY-Parthenon, noted that India's live entertainment industry crossed Rs. 12,000 crores in 2024 and is projected to grow at nearly 19 percent annually. He emphasized that rising consumer interest, improved infrastructure, and greater disposable income are fueling this growth, creating jobs and economic value across industries.

BookMyShow Live’s COO Anil Makhija stressed that decentralizing live entertainment is key to unlocking the potential of emerging markets.

He pointed to Shillong as an ideal next step, where government support and public-private collaboration could pave the way for more international acts, ultimately positioning the city as a hub for culture and tourism.

As Indian cities look to replicate Ahmedabad’s success, Shillong’s youth-driven culture, scenic appeal, and growing appetite for live performances make it a strong contender. With the right investments in infrastructure, streamlined regulations, and tourism promotion, Shillong could be well on its way to becoming the country’s next live entertainment powerhouse.

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