Concert economy: Government launches Live Events Development Cell; aims to make India global hub by 2030

The ministry of information and broadcasting has set up a Live Events Development Cell (LEDC) to support the structured growth of India’s live entertainment industry and strengthen the country’s emerging concert economy, according to an official release.The LEDC will function as a single-window facilitation mechanism aimed at streamlining processes for the sector and positioning India among the world’s leading live entertainment destinations by 2030. The move comes at a time when the organised live events market has expanded rapidly, with the sector valued at Rs 20,861 crore in 2024 and growing at 15 per cent. It is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 18 per cent, outpacing several traditional media segments.The cell was constituted in July 2025 under the directions of Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. It brings together representatives from the Central and State governments, industry bodies and major event companies to coordinate policy support and sectoral expansion.The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the WAVES Summit in May 2025, where he highlighted the live entertainment industry’s untapped potential as a driver of investment, tourism and cultural influence. According to the ministry, the sector currently supports over 10 million jobs, with a single large-format event generating more than 15,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are increasingly emerging as key growth centres. Citing a BookMyShow report for 2025, the ministry said Visakhapatnam saw a 490 per cent rise in live entertainment footfalls, while Shillong and Guwahati recorded growth of 213 per cent and 188 per cent, respectively. Overall consumption across music concerts, sports and theatre rose by 17 per cent, with more than five lakh people travelling to other cities to attend events, reported news agency ANI.Industry participants say the presence of global artistes alongside large domestic tours reflects growing market maturity. To address infrastructure gaps and ease of doing business, the ministry has also formed a Joint Working Group with private stakeholders, including District by Zomato. The LEDC aims to double the sector’s size, generate 15–20 million jobs and place India among the top five global live entertainment hubs.