Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s immense potential for hosting live concerts, citing the Coldplay concerts held in Mumbai and Ahmedabad as prime examples of the country’s growing significance in the global entertainment scene. Speaking at the Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Modi encouraged both state and private sectors to invest in improving infrastructure and skills to harness the concert economy’s full potential.
India’s Growing Popularity as a Concert Destination
Referring to the recently concluded Coldplay concerts, PM Modi expressed how the band’s shows in Mumbai and Ahmedabad served as proof of the massive scope India has for live concerts. “In the past few days, you must have seen the amazing pictures of Coldplay concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. This is proof of how much scope India has for live concerts,” he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted that international artists are increasingly drawn to India, reinforcing the country’s appeal as a major destination for live performances. Modi also pointed out that the concert economy contributes significantly to tourism and creates large-scale employment opportunities. “Big artists from around the world are also being attracted towards India. Concert economy boosts tourism and creates large-scale employment,” he added.
Coldplay Sets New Records in India
British rock band Coldplay captivated audiences during their Music of the Spheres World Tour, performing five concerts in India. The band’s final performance in Ahmedabad on Sunday set a new record for the largest ticketed concert in the country, attracting a crowd of 1,34,000 attendees. This surpassed the previous record by over 60,000, a remarkable achievement in India’s live music scene.
The band, led by frontman Chris Martin, began their Indian leg of the tour with three concerts in Mumbai before heading to Ahmedabad for two back-to-back shows at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Fostering India’s Global Creative Presence
In addition to the Coldplay success, PM Modi also drew attention to the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), scheduled to take place in India next month. He underscored the significance of this summit in showcasing India’s creative capabilities on the world stage and the potential economic benefits it could bring. “Next month, India will host the first-ever World Audio Visual Summit, or WAVES. It will be a major event, showcasing India’s creative power to the world,” Modi said.
The summit, according to the Prime Minister, will not only highlight India’s creative industries but also contribute to boosting the country’s economy by generating significant revenue and enhancing its global image.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Modi’s remarks following Coldplay’s record-setting concerts in India signal the country’s growing prominence in the global entertainment industry. With new opportunities emerging in the concert economy, Modi’s call for improved infrastructure and collaboration between the private sector and state governments is aimed at transforming India into a hub for international live performances. The upcoming WAVES summit and the success of events like Coldplay’s concerts reflect the vast potential for growth in this sector.
