Indian states fight for slice of 'concert economy' amid boom

Officials spending big to get benefits of hosting gigs by likes of Coldplay

20250617 Coldplay

Coldplay performs at D. Y. Patil Sports Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Jan. 18: Indian states are looking to gain a slice of the spending that comes with hosting large-scale concerts. © AP

NEETA LAL

NEW DELHI -- When American rap megastar Post Malone takes the stage in India's Assam state in December, in what will be its most high-profile international act yet, he will be capping a breakout year for live music in a country that has seen Coldplay play massive, lucrative stadium shows, and the start of a "concert economy" race between multiple states.

Post Malone's gig is part of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's freshly minted 40 billion rupee ($464 million) Concert Economy Policy, which seeks to transform the state into a premier music tourism destination. Building new stadiums; creating a touring circuit between Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Jorhat; and incentives for international acts are all part of the initiative.

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