Pixel P&L: The Economics of India's 'Hockey Stick' Concert Boom

Welcome to another Pixel P&L edition. This issue takes 6 minutes to read.

If you only have one, here are the 5 most important things:

• India's concert market boom is making notable progress with 18% year-over-year growth, highlighted by a remarkable 682% increase in "Tier 2" city events. Learn why below.

• Female gaming influencers face a 32% gender pay gap compared to male counterparts, according to new research analyzing 2,414 creators.

• Counter-Strike 2 hit an unprecedented 1.86 million concurrent players while its esports scene thrives with major tournaments drawing millions of viewers.

• Sony has raised PlayStation 5 prices across Europe, UK, Australia, and other regions citing "challenging economic environment". 

• Trump administration abruptly reverses electronics tariff exemptions, creating uncertainty for gaming hardware supply chains. Learn more below.

📊 Gaming Stocks Today

Trump Admin Reverses Course on Electronics Tariff Exemptions

The Trump administration has abruptly reversed course on tariff exemptions for Chinese-made electronics announced just last Friday, creating significant uncertainty for the gaming industry's supply chain.

President Trump's Truth Social post directly contradicted his Commerce Department's earlier statement that indicated that smartphones and laptops would be spared from the sweeping 145% tariffs on Chinese imports.

"NOBODY is getting 'off the hook,'" Trump declared, adding that his administration would review "Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN" under National Security Tariff Investigations.

The gaming industry remains vulnerable as component manufacturers who supply parts for both phones and gaming hardware now face renewed tariff threats. Companies depending on the same semiconductor and display suppliers as Apple and other tech giants must recalibrate their sourcing strategies amid this sudden policy shift.

🌏 On Our Radar: India's Concert Market Boom

Is the next global live music powerhouse emerging in South Asia? 

India's concert scene is exploding with Coldplay breaking world attendance records (223,000 fans), Ed Sheeran selling 120,000 tickets across six cities, and local star Diljit Dosanjh moving 200,000 tickets in under 10 minutes.

The numbers reveal massive potential: 18% year-over-year growth in live entertainment, 682% increase in "Tier 2" city events, and over 477,000 fans traveling outside their hometowns for shows. This builds on foundations laid by pioneering festivals like NH7 Weekender, which helped develop India's live music culture in the early 2010s.

Unlike Western markets that developed gradually, India is experiencing "hockey-stick growth" driven by a surging middle class, post-pandemic socializing, and improved venue infrastructure. While the club circuit remains underdeveloped, promoters who struggled for years with logistics are finally seeing results.

These results are most evident in India's second-tier cities, where Dosanjh's touring strategy revealed untapped audiences with surprising purchasing power. Smart artists will increasingly look beyond Mumbai and Delhi to the dozens of million-plus population centers hungry for live entertainment – potentially creating more sustainable touring models than the stadium-focused Western approach

⚡Quick Bytes

Gaming Influencers Face 32% Gender Pay Gap, Study Finds

Female gaming content creators earn significantly less than their male counterparts, with women making approximately 32% less per sponsored collaboration, according to new Collabstr data analyzing 2,414 gaming influencers. The report shows women average $160 per sponsorship compared to $234 for men, with the gap narrowing slightly to 27% on Twitch. Researchers attribute the disparity to content style differences and possible gender-based pricing tendencies in the gaming industry.

Counter-Strike 2 Hits Record Player Count Amid Thriving Esports Scene

Valve's Counter-Strike 2 reached an unprecedented 1.86 million concurrent players on Steam, surpassing its previous high of 1.82 million set in March. The milestone coincides with major tournaments including IEM Katowice 2025, which attracted a peak viewership of ~1.3 million, and BLAST Open Spring 2025, which drew over 850,000 viewers. With multiple high-tier competitions scheduled, 2025 is emerging as a landmark year for one of gaming's most enduring competitive titles.

Sony Raises PlayStation 5 Prices in Multiple Regions Amid Economic Pressures

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced immediate price increases for PlayStation 5 consoles across Europe, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions, citing "a challenging economic environment." The price of the PS5 Pro remains unchanged.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: A Finnish game designer reveals how Cities: Skylines transcends gaming to become a revolutionary platform where millions actively participate in urban planning, demonstrating how virtual city-building is inspiring real-world development and democratizing the future of urban design.

🎮 Play:  "No Man’s Sky," a stunning comeback story in game form, this cosmic playground lets you chart your own path across countless worlds, whether as trader, explorer, pirate, or simply a traveler seeking the next breathtaking vista

📚 Read: David Taylor's fascinating look at platform evolution shows Roblox top games getting younger while Fortnite's are aging. If you care about where gaming platforms are headed, this is a must-read

💡Did You Know

When Tony Hawk was offered $500,000 by Activision to buy out his name rights for their upcoming skateboarding game in the late 1990s, he rejected the lump sum in favor of royalties. The licensing deal ultimately ran for 16 years until 2015, with the Tony Hawk franchise generating over $1.4 billion in sales worldwide. The games transformed Hawk from "best skateboarder in the world" to household name, with Hawk later reflecting, "Some people just thought of me as a video game... this is way beyond anything I'd ever wanted or expected."

📜 Quote of the Day

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