Post Malone show largely sponsor-funded; Guwahati set to become next concert hub: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on December 7, clarified that the state government will bear minimal expenditure for the upcoming Post Malone concert in Guwahati, as a majority of funds have already been raised from private sponsors. 

Speaking to the media, Sarma said the event, which has drawn attention from music lovers across the Northeast, is being primarily supported by an external government-associated agency.

“This entire programme is being sponsored by an outside government agency. Initially, we thought the government would put money but now, because of the response from private sponsors, there is no requirement for the Assam government to spend. Maybe a small amount we will put, but most of the funding has come through sponsorship,” he said.

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Calling the concert a unique opportunity for the Northeast, Sarma highlighted that audiences are expected not only from Assam but also from Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. “We are not that young, so we are not going to see Post Malone,” he joked, adding, “But definitely, for the first time, people from America and the UK are coming. Earlier, we used to go to Shillong for such events, but this time people from Shillong, Nagaland and Itanagar are coming to Guwahati.”

The Chief Minister expressed optimism that if Guwahati continues to host such large-scale events over the next few years, the city could establish itself as a major destination for concert tourism in India. 
“After 4–5 such shows, I think Guwahati can emerge as a hub for the concert economy like Shillong. Today, Shillong has firmly established itself as a strong centre for the concert economy. For Assam, it is the beginning, and we have miles to go,” he said.

The Post Malone concert, featuring the Grammy-nominated American rapper, has stirred excitement among youths and artists across Assam and the Northeast, marking one of the region’s biggest international music events.