The British band Coldplay has created a buzz in India with their upcoming Mumbai concert in January, selling out tickets in minutes. The ticketing platform even crashed due to overwhelming demand, leading to the addition of a third concert day.
Google Trends saw searches for “Coldplay” peak during ticket sales, with the highest interest coming from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Goa’s hippie culture and Maharashtra’s financial power played a significant role in this surge. Memes about ticket scarcity flooded social media, helping fans cope through humor, IANS reported.
The band’s growing fanbase is largely attributed to platforms like YouTube and streaming services, which have helped fans worldwide experience Coldplay’s live performances. Their 2005 Toronto concert from the Twisted Logic Tour remains one of their best performances.
The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is another driver of demand, especially among the young, high-earning urban crowd in India. This same phenomenon has been observed with recent iPhone launches and the Diljit Dosanjh concert. The desire to capture the moment for social media often overrides financial logic.
The attraction towards Coldplay also reflects India’s colonial hangover, with western music and trends often receiving more enthusiasm than homegrown Indian talent. Despite India’s rich musical history, artists like Ravi Shankar collaborating with The Beatles don’t receive the same attention in India, a reflection of the “Pizza Effect.”
Key Highlights:
- Coldplay’s Mumbai concert tickets sold out quickly, causing website crashes and the addition of a third day.
- Google Trends showed high interest from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
- FOMO and the influence of streaming platforms drove the surge in demand.
- The colonial hangover in Indian music tastes led to overwhelming interest in the event.