The frenzy surrounding Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour in Mumbai left fans scrambling for tickets that sold out within hours, leading to frustration and sparking a broader conversation on India’s widening income inequality.
Author Chetan Bhagat and BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover joined the discussion, raising concerns about how people justify spending significant amounts on entertainment while many struggle financially. Bhagat, known for books like One Night at the Call Center and 2 States, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his surprise
. He questioned,
“On one hand, we see reports about Indian salary distributions, and on the other, there’s an almost manic rush for concert tickets. Who is buying these tickets, and how much of their monthly salary are they spending? Is this some YOLO mindset at play?”
On one hand we get figures of Indian salary percentiles and on the other there’s near mania for concert tickets. Who’s paying so much and buying all these tickets? What percentage of your monthly salary are people spending on these tickets? Some YOLO logic here? What?
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 22, 2024
Ashneer Grover responded by acknowledging the economic disparity but pointing out that such luxury experiences are becoming common among those who can afford them.
He drew a parallel to the growing trend of students studying abroad, stating,
“It’s a large country with significant disparities—why is an 80k-capacity stadium being filled surprising? Every year, 800,000 students go overseas, spending $50,000 on average.”
It’s a large country – and lot is disparity on either end – why is filling of 80k stadium surprising anyone ? 800k students go overseas every year – spending $50K on an average. Also now that most people who can afford have phones – things will fill up instantly as well.
— Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) September 22, 2024
The conversation quickly went viral, with contrasting opinions emerging online. One user argued that while education and smartphones could be seen as investments, spending on a Coldplay concert was merely a short-lived thrill, offering “flashy lights and no real substance.” Another user suggested that entrepreneurs often see such trends as opportunities to build successful businesses by adding value to what people desire.
Amid the chaos, tickets reappeared on resale platforms at inflated prices, frustrating fans further. BookMyShow issued a warning, stating that tickets bought from unauthorized sources would be invalid. The excitement over Coldplay’s concert follows similar debates regarding high ticket prices for other live events, such as Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-lluminati tour.
