Mismanagement threatens booming concert market in India
While the India's travel industry has shown impressive growth, challenge of managing large-scale events remains a significant hurdle
India played host to a stellar line-up of international and Indian music icons in 2024, with artists like Diljit Dosanjh, Bryan Adams, Dua Lipa and Karan Aujla amongst others, performing across multiple cities.
These concerts not only attracted massive crowds but also led to significant travel movements, as fans flocked in large numbers to cities hosting these events. According to the travel platform ixigo, Chandigarh, one of the cities where Diljit Dosanjh performed as part of his DIL-UMINATI India tour, saw an astonishing 300 pc year-on-year surge in flight bookings in October 2024. Similar trends were observed throughout the year, with fans travelling to concert venues in record numbers.
As India moves into 2025, another star-studded concert season is on the horizon. While the trend has undoubtedly boosted tourism and local economies, it has also sparked concerns.
Reports of thefts, mismanagement, venue damage, violent brawls, and even censorship of artists have surfaced, casting a shadow on the otherwise thriving sector.
While the country’s infrastructure and travel industry have shown impressive growth, the challenges of managing large-scale events and ensuring safety and sustainability remain significant hurdles.
Mismanagement and safety concerns
Last year, despite a stellar line-up of performances, the headlines were dominated not by the talent on stage but by chaos off the stage. Concertgoers and artists alike found themselves struggling with poor infrastructure, overcrowding, mismanagement, violent altercations, and even event thefts, sparking outrage on social media and news outlets.
Even the artists did not shy away from voicing out their frustrations. Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh made waves when he expressed his disappointment with India’s concert infrastructure. During his December 14 performance in Chandigarh, the singer voiced his anger over technical issues, especially with the stage setup, which he claimed prevented him from properly connecting with his audience.
In a bold statement, Dosanjh declared that he would refrain from performing in India until improvements were made. However, he later backtracked on this remark.
Similarly, Monali Thakur, an Indian singer, say her recent concert in Varanasi cut short due to safety concerns stemming from poor event organisation. The singer walked off the stage mid-performance, citing an improperly set-up stage that posed a risk of injury.
Thakur expressed her regret to the audience, assuring them that she would return for another show, provided the conditions were more suitable for both her and the fans.
Not just artists, even the fans have suffered due to poor organisation of concerts leading to a flagrant blackmarket of ticket sales, overcrowded concerts and poor safety and security measures at the concert venues. According to reports about 200 phones were stolen during the Karan Aujla’s concert in Delhi on December 15, 2024, while the next day, in the same city, several videos of fans fighting and engaging in violent brawls circulated on social media platforms.
“We booked fan-pit tickets for Karan Aujla’s concerts, despite that it was extremely overcrowded and there was barely any space to stand. Suddenly we saw two people starting to get violent with each other. In a matter of few minutes, a fight erupted involving numerous people, and the worst part, there was no one handle the situation,” Muskan Bhagra, a concertgoer tells India & You.
The mismanagement and unpreparedness of authorities was evident not just during concerts but also after. Following Diljit Dosanjh’s concert at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in Delhi on October 26 and October 27, 2024, Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium which is also used as a training facility for athletes, was left in disarray, with garbage, discarded beer bottles, and broken equipment scattered throughout. One athlete posted a video on Instagram, a social media platform, showing the damage, including broken hurdles, highlighting the lack of proper event management.
One of the athletes, visibly frustrated with the situation, took to Instagram to share a video that showcased the pitiful condition of the stadium. The incident raised concerns about the neglect of public spaces and the need for better planning to ensure such venues are preserved.
Censorship of artists
During Dosanjh’s tour across India, several states like Telangana, and Gujarat reportedly imposed restrictions on his performances, specific references in his songs, particularly those mentioning alcohol.
Telangana government banned the performance of Diljit’s songs that contained lyrics about alcohol consumption and also restricted the sale of alcohol at the venue. Similar restrictions were imposed in states like Gujarat, where the cultural and social norms surrounding alcohol consumption are much more conservative and where alcohol sale is banned.
During his shows in the respective cities, the artist cleverly pointed out the disparity between how the music industry and film industry are treated under the same laws. While the government imposes heavy restrictions on the music of certain artists, films with similar themes including alcohol consumption, relationships, and more, often get a free pass.
Adding to his commentary, Dosanjh also raised the issue of the double standards when it came to international artists. He pointed out that while Indian artists face these restrictions, international artists are often allowed to perform freely, even if their content is just as provocative.
By imposing such strict restrictions on artists’ performances, the government ends up discouraging many from touring or performing in India.
While the future of concerts in India remains bright, it will require careful planning and concerted efforts from both organisers and authorities to handle its rapid rise responsibly.
