NEW DELHI — When American rap megastar Post Malone takes the stage in India’s Assam state in December, in what will be its most high-profile international act yet, he will be capping a breakout year for live music in a country that has seen Coldplay play massive, lucrative stadium shows, and the start of a “concert economy” race between multiple states.
Post Malone’s gig is part of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s freshly minted 40 billion rupee ($464 million) Concert Economy Policy, which seeks to transform the state into a premier music tourism destination. Building new stadiums; creating a touring circuit between Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Jorhat; and incentives for international acts are all part of the initiative.