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Indian police probe alleged Coldplay ticket scam

Ticketing giant BookMyShow denies claims it colluded with secondary platforms to scalp tickets on the black market

By James Hanley on 01 Oct 2024

Coldplay


image © Anna Lee

Police in India are investigating an alleged ticket touting scam relating to Coldplay’s forthcoming concerts in Mumbai.

The British band will perform their first full-length gigs in the country since 2016’s Global Citizen Festival when their Music of the Spheres Tour stops at Mumbai’s DY Patil Sports Stadium on 18, 19 & 21 January next year.

Indian ticketing giant BookMyShow (BMS) said 13 million people attempted to buy tickets for the gigs, which sold out within minutes of going on sale last month. However, tickets, which were priced between 2,500 rupees (€27) to 12,000 rupees (€129), quickly reappeared on secondary ticketing platforms at huge mark-ups – leading to a public outcry.

Lawyer Amit Vyas filed a criminal complaint against BMS and others, accusing the company of colluding with resale sites to scalp tickets on the black market.

“The sale of the concert tickets was controlled by BookMyShow in such a manner that the genuine customers… were intentionally logged out of the platform seconds before… the time when the tickets went live, or were not allowed to access the platform to buy tickets for the concert,” reads the allegation.

“However, simultaneously, the tickets were made available to Viagogo in bulk, which started black-marketing these tickets at very high prices.”

BMS has denied the claim, saying: “BookMyShow has no association with any such unauthorised ticket selling/reselling platforms including but not limited to Viagogo and Gigsberg or third-party individuals for the purpose of reselling Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India.

“Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice”

“Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice,” it continues. “We have not only filed a complaint with the police authorities but are also proactively working with them to provide complete support in the investigation of this matter in any manner that may be required.”

Viagogo has also rejected accusations of collusion, with a spokesperson telling the Indian Express: “Viagogo is not working with BookMyShow. Tickets listed on Viagogo come from a range of sources, including multinational event organisers, corporate ticket holders, season ticket holders, sponsors and fans who simply can no longer attend an event.”

According to local media reports, Mumbai police’s Economic Offences Wing questioned an executive from BMS’ parent firm Big Tree Entertainment about the case for several hours yesterday (30 September) as part of its preliminary inquiry.

India was one of a number of new territories – alongside Hong Kong, UAE and South Korea – to be added to the all-conquering Music Of The Spheres World Tour after ticket sales for the epic trek sailed past 10 million.

Launched in March 2022, the run was recently confirmed by Billboard Boxscore to have grossed more than $1 billion and is already the biggest rock tour of all time. Coldplay, who are represented by Wasserman Music’s Marty Diamond and Larry Webman in North America and WME’s Josh Javor for the rest of the world, will also play 10 nights at London’s Wembley Stadium next summer – a record for a single tour.

The band have pledged that 10% of proceeds from the 2025 UK dates, which also include two nights at Hull’s Craven Park Stadium, will be donated to the Music Venue Trust.

 


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