Coldplay’s much-anticipated 2025 “Music of the Spheres” world tour stop in Mumbai has triggered a ticket scalping controversy, with tickets being sold for exorbitant prices on reselling platforms. Tickets, priced between 2,500 and 12,000 rupees, sold out within minutes on the official ticketing platform, BookMyShow (BMS), with over 10 million people vying for just 180,000 seats.
Fans faced digital queues lasting hours and website crashes, but what has sparked outrage are allegations of rigged sales. Reports surfaced that resellers had tickets available for five times the original price before they were even officially released. Some tickets have reportedly reached prices as high as 900,000 rupees on reselling sites.
A similar issue occurred earlier this month for Oasis’ UK concert, where tickets originally priced at £135 were being resold for more than £350. However, Coldplay’s ticket prices have eclipsed even those of Madonna’s VIP passes for her “Celebration” tour, priced at £1,306.75, and Beyoncé’s Renaissance concert tickets, which sold for £2,400.
The situation has reignited concerns over ticket scalping in India. Bots and automation tools are often used to bypass digital queues, allowing individuals to purchase multiple tickets and resell them at inflated prices. Fans are questioning whether BMS took adequate measures to prevent scalping or turned a blind eye. While BMS has denied any association with resellers and urged fans to avoid unauthorised sources, many remain sceptical.
Coldplay fans aren’t the only ones affected. Attendees of Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming concerts also faced similar issues when tickets, sold through Zomato Live, were resold at inflated prices shortly after selling out.
Ticket scalping is illegal in India, but experts say that legitimate ticket holders may be selling their tickets to capitalise on the high demand. Dwayne Dias, a graphic designer who managed to secure four Coldplay tickets for 6,450 rupees each, has already been offered up to 60,000 rupees per ticket. “If I wanted to, I could sell all the tickets and watch the concert in South Korea. The amount will cover my travel expenses,” he said.
The skyrocketing ticket prices reflect the growing demand for live music events in India. According to a recent report, music concerts generated 8,000 million rupees in revenue last year, with projections showing a 25% increase by 2025. Brian Tellis, co-founder of the Mahindra Blues music festival, commented on the evolving concert culture in India, noting that concerts have become part of the country’s “cultural currency.”
Artists like Ed Sheeran, Alan Walker, and Dua Lipa have performed in India in recent years, with Walker and Lipa returning for shows this year. Tellis explains that the demand for concert tickets has reversed the traditional revenue model. “A decade ago, sponsors covered 80% of production costs, and 20% came from ticket sales. Today, that ratio has flipped.”
Social media has only fuelled the frenzy. Days before and after the Coldplay tickets went on sale, Instagram reels showcasing the band performing hits like “Adventure of a Lifetime” and “Fix You” flooded timelines, amplifying the excitement. Influencers shared their love for the band, and Coldplay memes spread across platforms.
While some fans have called for government intervention to regulate ticket prices, Tellis disagrees. “This is entrepreneurship. It wouldn’t be right for the government to get involved,” he said. “If you want to control revenue, you’ll also need to control costs.”
The growing demand for international artists in India has transformed the live music scene, but the issue of ticket scalping remains a significant challenge, leaving many fans priced out of attending their favourite concerts.
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