The podcast explores the financial challenges faced by the Indian music festival industry and raises questions about the profitability of these events. It discusses the diverse roles involved and the struggle for profitability. The chapter also explores the factors that international artists consider when deciding to perform in India and the rising trend of people paying for tickets to experiences.
Ticket sales cover around 50-60% of total project costs for music festivals, with sponsorships filling the remaining gap.
Organizing a music festival involves fixed costs such as venue, artist fees, and licenses, making it challenging to achieve profitability.
Deep dives
Rising Popularity of Music Festivals in India
The Indian music scene is thriving, with a significant increase in live event attendees in 2023 compared to the previous year. Premium event goers also doubled in number. While metros contributed the most, there was substantial growth in tier 2 cities, with ticket sales increasing by 225%. However, despite the growing popularity and large audience turnout, the profitability of music festivals remains a challenge for organizers.
Economics of Running a Music Festival
Ticket prices alone do not cover the cost of setting up a music festival. On average, ticket sales cover around 50-60% of the total project cost, with sponsorship revenue filling the remaining gap. The fixed costs of organizing an event, such as securing the venue, production design, artist fees, and licenses, are a major factor in the overall expenses. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between ticket prices and sponsorships to ensure financial viability.
Factors Influencing Ticket Pricing
Ticket pricing for music festivals varies depending on factors such as location, timing, genre, and artist lineup. While multi-stage festivals with international headliners may have ticket prices ranging from INR 2,000 to INR 3,000 per day, the sweet spot for general admission tickets is generally around this range. Additional revenue is often generated through VIP and VVIP ticket categories, where prices can be significantly higher.
Challenges and Costs of Organizing Music Festivals
Organizing a music festival involves numerous challenges, including securing the required permissions and licenses, which can vary based on the location and scale of the event. Costs are often fixed or semi-fixed, as many expenses, such as artist fees, venue bookings, and production design, need to be committed to early on. Additionally, organizing larger festivals requires significant manpower and resources. Despite these challenges, there is optimism for the industry's future growth in India.
The Indian music festival scene is booming. The total number of attendees increased 80% over the last year to 13.5 million in 2023. Despite this growth, organisers face financial challenges. But then if the organisers are not making any money then who is? What is the commerce of music concerts? Listen to host Shabori Das in the latest episode of The Morning Brief podcast as she tries to understand the economics of running a music festival in India with Karan Singh, CEO, Sunburn Festival, Jairam VG, Founder, Hyperlink Brand Solutions, Jay Shah, Vice President Cultural Outreach at Mahindra Group, and Dhruva Patodia, Founder, Sort My Scene. Tune in!