Concert Boom In India: Is FOMO Driving This Trend?

India's excitement for live performances of music goes to all new heights of excitement, with the popularity of such concerts being touted at heights of unparalleled phenomena. With fans going restless in trying out their best possible opportunities for reaching their favourite place, that is an experience of all time. Although the event's ticketing partner officially declared the events sold out, an unexpected number of tickets suddenly appeared on these unofficial platforms, often costing five to ten times their original value.

This situation has propelled live music in India to an all-time high in terms of excitement and has only grown. When Coldplay revealed their three-day stint in Mumbai, tickets were gone in a flash, sending fans into a frenzy to secure a place. What’s particularly concerning is the connection between these legitimate ticket vendors and resellers, which brings up issues of fairness and transparency.

Concertgoers hoping to see Coldplay are being exploited, with some paying significant amounts, inadvertently fueling the rising black market. The recent spike in enthusiasm surrounding concerts, particularly with announcements from artists like Diljit Dosanjh and Coldplay, has intensified this change even further.

Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla: Fans Willing to Spend Big – A Look at Social Media Buzz

It’s not just Coldplay grabbing headlines; Punjabi music icons Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla are showing that when people truly connect with an artist, they’re ready to open their wallets wide to get a taste of that experience. For example, Take Diljit's "DIL-UMINATI" tour, whose tickets sold out in seconds—practically in seconds—and the resale market, which has been raring to go, has had ticket prices reaching unbelievable levels.

This is important for any brand: if they love it, passionate and loyal audiences will splurge on an experience. In that trend, Karan Aujla's recent concerts in Delhi have been outstanding. The star power of the young singer has reached a crescendo, resulting in the capital witnessing yet another hasty sell-out; he swiftly added two more shows for the demand.

The fervour generated by these shows conveys a clear message to the brand, whether it be for music, luxury goods, or unique experiences: they have customers who will pay that extra dollar for those they care about. Brands face a challenge when capturing consumers' hearts because the possibilities when it comes to spending by the fans are limitless; as such, brand loyalty and one-of-a-kind experiences take centre stage. Social media would certainly be one major part of the buzz associated with these events.

From countdowns on Instagram to the Twitter discourse regarding ticket purchases, conversations have been quite electric. When Diljit posted his dates for the concert, the whole social media exploded. Fans simply yearn to see him in action, and he becomes a global superstar. Now, the excitement will turn high as Coldplay announced their tour in India, and the ticketing site crashed, leaving many fans disappointed, and kick-starting waves of memes, reactions, and talks on social media.

How Black Markets and Peer Pressure Impact Concert Culture   

Let's be honest: not everyone at a concert is a true fan. Many go simply because it's what everyone seems to be doing these days. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is real, especially as social media keeps us updated with endless highlights from the event. The surge in live performances has led to a booming black market for tickets, with shady vendors taking advantage of the limited availability and eager fans.

Reselling tickets for major artists like Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh have become the norm, with prices skyrocketing well above face value. For devoted fans, inflated costs may seem like the only way to attend, turning what should be a joyful outing into a pricey adventure. This only added to the frustration and allowed resellers to exploit fans' desperation. Ironically, many of those going to the concert might not even know Coldplay's music, but they'll still show off their attendance on social media as if it were a badge of honour.

It underscores how much peer pressure can push extravagant spending by eager consumers who want to buy their way into what's deemed "cool."

The problem of black market ticket sales refuses to go away, forcing louder calls for more strict regulation to deal with resales that are not sanctioned.

For now, it seems concert mania will be unstoppable unless supply can catch up with demand and black marketeers start running out of steam. FIRs are reported to be filed against those illegal ticket sales for Coldplay's concert, and officials are considering cancelling those tickets sold through unauthorized channels, restating their stand against such channels.

Whether they will revoke the tickets remains to be seen, but the current situation puts India in an awkward spot, mainly with rumours spreading around that the concert is going to be cancelled. This uncertainty might give international stars a reason to pause before including India in their future tours.

At their core, concerts should be a celebration of live music shared experience that connects people and ignites a passion for the arts. Now that this culture continues to evolve, it is also time to pause and reflect. With the children caught in the very excitement, often spending large amounts of money merely to gain a ticket, one should ask oneself: are we here because we truly love music or simply finding our way to social approval on endless circles of likes and Instagram reels? Concerts are created to inspire and put long-lasting memories in unifying, but this only materialises if we embrace experiencing it as something more important than a race to the finish line for the next viral moment.

Views expressed by the author are their own.