Rs 10,000 daily: Kunal Kamra breaks silence on cost of reaching audiences on BookMyShow

In a high-profile fallout between comedian Kunal Kamra and ticketing platform BookMyShow, the conversation has shifted from politics to platform power. Following a letter by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) youth leader Rahool N Kanal urging BookMyShow to cut ties with Kamra over his remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the platform removed Kamra’s upcoming shows and delisted him entirely.

While political backlash may have triggered the move, the comedian's response has added a deeper layer to the debate—one that centers around advertising economics, artist rights, and access to audiences. Kamra, in a detailed and sharply worded statement, said he understands BookMyShow’s business priorities and its need to maintain a cordial relationship with state authorities. However, he pointed out the unfair advantage held by platforms that not only take a revenue cut but also control access to an artist’s audience.

“Dear BookMyShow,” Kamra wrote, “I understand that you need to maintain a cordial relationship with the state, and I know that Mumbai is a major hub for live entertainment. Without the state's cooperation, iconic shows like Coldplay and Guns N' Roses wouldn't be possible. However, the issue at hand isn't about whether you can or will delist me—it's about your exclusive right on listing our shows.”

A 10% cut, and thousands more on ad

BookMyShow typically takes a 10% commission from artists for listing their shows. But Kamra highlighted a lesser-known reality for solo performers: the added financial burden of promotion. “No matter how big or small a comedian is, we are all compelled to spend between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 a day on advertising to reach our own audience. This cost is an additional burden that we, as artists, must bear,” he stated.

In the current climate, where algorithms dominate visibility and social media ads determine ticket sales, comedians are no longer just artists—they are one-person marketing agencies.

According to the industry experts, many budding artists spend up to Rs 3–4 lakh per show cycle on promotion across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Google. Yet, if delisted, they lose access to the audiences they themselves built—audiences acquired through their own investments.

Kamra put it bluntly: “As a solo artist, especially in the world of comedy, we are both the show and the production. For instance, if I performed at the Pune Comedy Festival with 30 other artists, that would be considered comedy's collective data. But my solo shows—that's my audience.”

‘Give me the audience I paid to reach’

Kamra has not called for a boycott, uninstall campaigns, or hashtag protests. Instead, he has made a simple ask: access to the data generated from his solo shows via BookMyShow. “What I'm requesting is simple: please ensure that you hand over the contact information of the audiences you've collected from my solo shows so that I can continue living my life with dignity and work towards a fair livelihood.”

The request goes to the heart of what makes live performance sustainable in the digital age. In an environment where artists pay not only with their talent but also their wallets to build a base, ownership of that base becomes critical—especially when platforms decide to cut ties.

He ends with a stark ultimatum: “With that in mind, I request one of the following: Do not delist me, or provide me with the data (contact information) I've generated through your platform from my audience.”

The price of dissent, or the cost of control?

While some celebrated BookMyShow’s decision as a move toward maintaining public harmony, others questioned the precedent it sets.

A netizen summed it up, “Kunal Kamra didn’t ask for a boycott. He didn’t trend hashtags. He didn’t call for app uninstalls. Because he’s not from the BJP IT Cell. He made one clear, respectful ask: "If you've delisted him, at least let him access the audience he built on your platform.”

“No trolling. No outrage. Just a direct, dignified demand. You may hate him. You may disagree with him. But this is a bold, different move — and a completely fair ask.”

At the intersection of comedy, commerce, and controversy, Kunal Kamra has opened a debate on how platforms operate in India's live performance economy. Whether BookMyShow responds to his request or not, the industry has been forced to reckon with an uncomfortable truth: the digital stage isn’t always fair—even if you pay to stand on it.