Behind the Spotlight: India’s Live Music Challenges

Despite the growth of India’s music scene, serious live music challenges continue to hinder the industry’s full potential, with a surge of international artists gracing the country’s stages. Music festivals and concerts have become cultural highlights, drawing massive crowds of enthusiastic fans. However, beneath the glitz and glamour lies a murky side of the industry that often goes unnoticed—shady dealings, cash-based transactions, and a lack of regulation that tarnishes an otherwise vibrant ecosystem.

The Invisible Players

One of the biggest challenges in the industry is dealing with middlemen and questionable event organizers. These individuals often operate in the shadows, playing a pivotal role in securing gigs for artists and venues but at a significant cost. Many musicians have recounted stories of last-minute payment changes, sudden “deductions,” or even outright refusal to pay after a performance.

Additionally, transparency is frequently lacking when it comes to ticket sales and revenue-sharing arrangements. Contracts, when they exist, are often informal or filled with loopholes that favor organizers over artists. For performers, this creates an atmosphere of distrust, making it difficult to plan careers or build reliable partnerships.

The Cash Conundrum

Cash transactions are another troubling aspect of the live music scene. At many events, artists, vendors, and even organizers rely heavily on cash payments, bypassing formal financial systems. While this may seem convenient, it opens the door to several problems, including tax evasion, fraud, and a lack of accountability.

Concert attendees, too, are often forced into this system, with many festivals operating on cash-only terms for food, beverages, and merchandise. The lack of digital payment options not only alienates a tech-savvy audience but also raises suspicions about where this untraceable money goes.

Inadequate Infrastructure

Even as India becomes a hotspot for global music tours, its event infrastructure leaves much to be desired. From inadequate restroom facilities to overcrowded venues, attendees often find themselves enduring subpar conditions. Poor crowd management has led to incidents of stampedes, injuries, and in extreme cases, even fatalities.

For artists, these issues translate into a compromised performance experience. Without proper sound systems, lighting, or stage setups, even the most talented performers struggle to deliver their best. This lack of infrastructure is especially glaring when compared to international standards, where artist and audience comfort are given top priority.

The Trust Deficit

The cumulative effect of these issues is a deepening trust deficit within the industry. Musicians question the integrity of organizers, fans feel cheated by substandard experiences, and even sponsors grow wary of supporting events that might attract negative attention.

Thoughts

To overcome these live music challenges, the industry must focus on transparency, regulation, and better infrastructure. Transparency, regulation, and better infrastructure are not just desirable but essential for the industry to reach its full potential. Only by shining a light on these darker elements can we hope to create an ecosystem that benefits everyone involved—from artists and organizers to fans and sponsors.