Coldplay’s upcoming concerts in Mumbai have become a nightmare for fans as ticket prices skyrocket on resale markets. Originally priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 12,000, some tickets are now being sold for as much as Rs 900,000 ($10,800). Over 10 million fans tried to grab 180,000 tickets through BookMyShow (BMS), causing site crashes and long queues.
Resellers wasted no time, listing tickets at five times the original price. This sparked outrage, with many accusing the system of being rigged. This issue isn’t unique to India—concerts worldwide, like Beyoncé’s and Madonna’s tours, have faced similar scalping problems.
Ticket scalping is illegal in India, but that hasn’t stopped resellers from using bots to buy tickets in bulk. BMS warned fans to avoid unofficial sources, but many believe their anti-scalping measures aren’t enough, leaving real fans without tickets.
It’s not just Coldplay—other concerts, like Diljit Dosanjh’s, have seen similar resale chaos. International concerts in India have become status symbols, with ticket prices soaring due to demand from affluent fans. The live music scene in India is booming, generating ₹8,000 million in revenue in 2022 and expected to grow by 25% by 2025.
Social media has played a major role in driving up excitement for Coldplay’s concerts. Clips of their performances, especially fan favorites like Fix You and Sky Full of Stars, have gone viral, adding to the frenzy. Influencers and celebrities have further fueled the hype.
However, India still struggles with outdated venues. Coldplay will be performing at the DY Patil Stadium, which is smaller compared to global venues. As the concert industry grows, India must tackle ticket scalping and improve venue standards to keep attracting big international acts.
