In recent weeks, India has witnessed a wave of concerts by international artists such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, drawing thousands of fans across multiple cities. However, musician Amit Trivedi has shared a different perspective on the growing trend of global artists performing in India, calling it a “pure business” move rather than a genuine cultural exchange.

Speaking to India Today, Trivedi stated that international musicians strategically choose India due to its massive population and lucrative market. “They [global artists] have understood that the population is high and there’s a big market here. They are very smart, they know the game well. They go where the money is. Unko koi lena dena nahi humse. Woh dhanda kar rahe hai bhaiyya (They have nothing to do with us. They are solely doing business here). Whether it’s Ed Sheeran, or Dua Lipa, whoever it is, they know that the market is huge here, and the consumption is very high here. [It’s] Pure business. They are happy in their first-world country,” he remarked.

When asked about the possibility of collaborating with Western musicians for his project Azaad Collab 2, Trivedi suggested that global artists would collaborate with Indian musicians only if it served their business interests. “They will happily collab, because unka dhanda hai, unka fayda hai. Mera fayda hoga toh karunga, dekhenge (It’s their business, and it’s profitable. If it benefits me, I’ll do. We will see),” he said. Trivedi recently launched Azaad Collab, where he worked with 22 Indian artists, including Armaan Malik, Jubin Nautiyal, Nikhita Gandhi, Javed Ali, and Neha Kakkar.

The growing presence of international artists in India has been evident, with Coldplay arriving on January 16 for their musical tour, performing in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Their concert on January 25-26, 2025, became India’s largest-ever music event. Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour covered multiple cities, including Gurugram, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Shillong. In 2024, artists such as Dua Lipa, Maroon 5, and Bryan Adams played to packed audiences across the country. Meanwhile, Green Day and Shawn Mendes are set to perform later this year.

While fans continue to embrace these international stars, Trivedi’s remarks shed light on the commercial aspect of these performances, highlighting the business-driven motivations behind their growing presence in India.