Fans in India are expressing outrage after Coldplay concert tickets, originally priced between $30 and $417, sold out in mere minutes and reappeared online for as much as $11,000.
The band’s highly anticipated performances in Mumbai in January 2025—marking their first-ever shows in India—have prompted a police investigation into alleged ticketing fraud. Authorities are seeking a statement from the CEO of the ticket vendor, BookMyShow.
More than 700,000 users attempted to purchase tickets on BookMyShow, causing the site to crash. Many fans were left disappointed as the tickets vanished almost instantly, only to be found later on third-party sites at inflated prices.
Local lawyer Amit Vyas filed a complaint with the Mumbai police, alleging potential collusion between BookMyShow and “black marketeers” to profit from ticket sales. “I spoke to nearly 100 concert-goers, and none were able to secure tickets,” he noted, raising concerns about the fairness of the ticketing process.
In response, BookMyShow issued a strong denial, stating, “We have no association with scalping or black marketing and oppose these illegal practices.”
While the resale of tickets on unauthorized platforms is illegal in India, it remains a widespread and largely unregulated issue. Similar controversies have affected the global music industry, with high-profile events like the Oasis reunion and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour also facing scrutiny over ticket resale practices.
The investigation is ongoing as fans hope for clarity ahead of Coldplay’s January shows.
