EVENTFAQS Media today unveiled “India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative”, a first-of-its-kind whitepaper commissioned by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. The release took place during WAVES 2025, hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
The whitepaper was officially unveiled by Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (Broadcasting), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, alongside Deepak Choudhary, Founder & Managing Director, EVA Live and EVENTFAQS Media, following a power-packed conversation featuring industry stalwarts Mahesh Bhupathi (CEO, SG Sports and Entertainment), Samit Garg (Co-founder & MD, E-Factor Experiences), Owen Roncon (Chief of Business, BookMyShow), VG Jairam (Founder, Hyperlink Brand Solutions), and Kunal Khambhati (Founder & COO, District by Zomato).
Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Choudhary said, “India’s live entertainment economy is entering a golden era. The next decade presents a historic opportunity to build world-class experiences, foster local economies, and project India’s creative strength globally. With strategic policy focus and infrastructure investment, India can emerge among the world’s top five live entertainment destinations. This whitepaper is a roadmap to realise that ambition.”
The whitepaper outlines the rapid transformation of India’s live events sector, with key highlights including:
- A 15% year-on-year growth in the organised live events segment in 2024, generating an estimated incremental ₹13 billion.
- Massive rise in event tourism, with nearly half a million fans travelling intercity specifically for live events.
- Surging demand for premium experiences, with VIP and curated offerings doubling in volume year-on-year.
- The growing importance of Tier 2 cities like Chandigarh, Shillong, Vadodara, Jamshedpur, and Bidadi as live event hubs.
- Strategic consolidation and global investments, with major moves by players like Zomato, Warner Music, and Insider.
- The reestablishment of India as a key stop on global touring routes, reinforced by landmark events like Coldplay’s sold-out shows in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
The whitepaper also identifies critical focus areas for the industry’s future growth, including infrastructure development, streamlined licensing reforms, enhanced music rights frameworks, and formal industry classification under India’s MSME and creative economy policies.
Authored by Jagadeesh Krishnamurthy, Chief Editor, EVENTFAQS Media, the report is a result of extensive industry research, interviews with leading stakeholders, and insights curated over the past year. It serves as a comprehensive blueprint for policymakers, industry leaders, and investors working to unlock the full potential of India’s live events ecosystem.
“India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative” will be available for download starting May 3, 2025, on EVENTFAQS Media platforms.
