MAM
The Advertising Club to host Effie India Awards ’21 on 29 Oct
Mumbai: The Advertising Club is all set to host the Effie India Awards 2021, virtually, on 29 October at 7 p.m.
This year The AdClub has surpassed all its previous records to receive 950 entries, the highest ever, with as many as 51 Agencies participating. Post conducting three town hall meetings with the stakeholders, it was decided to conduct the judging online for the first time and to
add four new categories, said the organisation in a statement. “The Ad Club and the Effie committee also express their sincere gratitude to 520 jury members for their time and support. As many as 317 marketing professionals, 132 planners, 19 media professionals, and 52 specialists have graced the judging process this year,” it added.
“We are delighted to host the Effie Awards again. We are overwhelmed how the industry has rallied together to enter 950 cases of work in a year that was severely impacted due to sustained lockdown and work from home,” said Advertising Club Effie India Awards chairperson Mitrajit Bhattacharya. “The quality of work this year has been exemplary and we are excited to present the best to you on the 29 October. Watch the show online from the comfort of your home or office.”
The Effie India Awards presentation celebration, for the past 21 years, has become a calendar event for the industry with the gala evening attracting over 1500 professionals from the world of advertising, marketing, media, research, PR and communication. The India awards
have also emerged as the third-largest Effie in the world, in terms of participation.
The ‘presenting sponsor’ for this year is Viacom18’s Colors, ‘powered by’ sponsor is MX Player and the ‘category sponsor’ is Aditya Birla Capital. The curated and much-anticipated event will be live-streamed on The AdClub website www.theadvertisingclub.net and The AdClub’s Facebook and YouTube social media sites. The links would be amplified using Twitter and other available media, said the statement.
“A hallmark of Effie Awards India, in its yet another glorious year, is the investment of quality efforts by marketing thought-leaders in ideation, execution and brand-building while driving engagement in tandem with delivering tangible business results. More power to them,” said The Advertising Club co-chairperson Effie India Awards Pradeep Dwivedi.
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
