Is India ready to create history with a BTS concert? ARMY weighs in

India Today

a day ago

Remember when BTS once said, 'Indian BTS ARMY, aap humare dil mein rehte hai (you live in my heart),' and promised to hold a concert in India? Well, it's been five years since that heartfelt moment, and now, there's finally a reason to believe it might actually happen. HYBE, the company managing BTS, is making its way to India. With plans to set up operations here by late 2025, it's a big move that has sparked fresh hope among fans. With such news coming in, do you think India is embracing their newfound concert culture?Concert culture in India has always had a bit of a slow start. Music festivals, international tours, and global artist performances were, for the longest time, something we admired from afar. India, despite its massive population and love for music, often got left off the global tour maps. Why? Well, there were many reasons, but contrary to popular belief, it wasn't because of the lack of fans. It was more about the logistics and technical nitty-gritty.advertisementAccording to an old The Times of India report, India lacked the kind of infrastructure required to support a global tour. We didn't have world-class venues, highly skilled production crews, or the right technical equipment needed to match the scale of these performances.But that was years ago. Today is a different story. In the past couple of years, a wave of international A-list artists have begun making their way to India. From packed music festivals to full-blown arena shows, we've seen it all. But apart from the fun and excitement, let's analyse these concerts. Were they really as successful as we believe them to be? Not in spirits, but in terms of technicalities - how did we do?
Do you remember Coldplay's Ahmedabad concert? It was their biggest show ever. Yes, and it happened in India. The concert set a new benchmark, not just in terms of fan turnout, but in execution. India not only managed to host the grand event seamlessly but also made history with the biggest turnout online. If you don't know, Coldplay's Music of Spheres concert was also live for fans on OTT. And this concert has put India back on the tour map for other artists. And yet there's one thing missing: K-pop.Despite the rising popularity of K-pop in India, only a handful of artists have performed here. Jackson Wang's Lollapalooza India performance remains a highlight, but full-scale K-pop concerts? We haven't seen them yet. The reason why big groups like BTS don't perform in India is that their concerts are renowned for their spectacular stage designs, often featuring multiple levels, extended runways, and dynamic set elements. They utilise state-of-the-art lighting, high-quality sound systems, and striking visual effects, including large LED screens that display captivating visuals and real-time graphics. While it is not impossible to manage, it requires India to put in significant effort to arrange for proper arenas, logistics, and crowd management. Similarly, more efforts are needed to streamline complex bureaucracy, permits, and arrange for robust security. This doesn't mean that we don't have potential. K-pop artists can and might now come to India for concerts.On June 30, K-pop powerhouse HYBE (home to BTS) officially announced plans to open a subsidiary in India, with operations expected to begin by late 2025. Naturally, this has sparked huge speculation and excitement among fans, especially now that the Bangtan Boys are back from their military service and already planning tours. The question remains: Are we ready for BTS if or when it decides to come to India?BTS is the biggest K-pop boy band in the world. They have a huge fan following, and they are known for hosting massive concerts. Concerts like these require a lot of work, technical support, energy and preparedness, and good management. Can we handle the fan fever?For many Indian ARMYs (BTS fans), the answer is a resounding yes.advertisement'Of course. I do not doubt this because please remember BTS was supposed to host a Mumbai concert in 2020 before the pandemic hit. So a BTS concert in India is not a dream, it is a possibility. And India is definitely ready for a show of that scale,' says Bhavna, an avid concert-goer and BTS fan.Anvita Singh, another BTS ARMY, agrees but adds a note of caution. 'I think the country has the capability to manage the concert since it has previously hosted various international music festivals, including the likes of Lollapalooza and more," she says.However, she continues, "BTS is a different ballgame altogether. It has a massive fan base and things could get out of control if proper facilities and infrastructure aren't in place. After all, we are talking about arguably the biggest boy band in the world. So safety considerations for managing that kind of crowd should also be kept in mind. Bottom line: we can do it if we are thorough and rigorous about the set-up. But I don't know if we should. Because if we have the Lollapalooza example, we also have that tragic KK concert too."advertisementAre we ready, then? Yes, and we have the numbers to prove it. According to a year-end report by online ticketing platform BookMyShow, India had "30,687 live events across 319 cities," showing an 18 per cent growth. We have over 1.4 billion people, millions of BTS fans, and a huge digitally active youth population. it's a market that makes sense. And with HYBE's move into India, the wheels are definitely in motion.The fans are ready. The excitement is real. But hosting a BTS concert is not just about demand, it's about delivery. Safety, logistics, infrastructure, and planning will all have to be world-class to handle the scale of such an event. If India can get those pieces right, then yes, a BTS concert is just not possible, it's inevitable. When it happens, it won't just be another concert. It'll be a cultural moment.- EndsMust Watch