Last week, LiFTED posted an article about the electronic music festival Circoloco Mumbai getting shut down just hours before the show was supposed to begin. This was because the authorities had tightened regulatory protocols after two overdose deaths happened at a techno show the week before.

While that was an electronic event, it was only a matter of time before the problems trickled down to the Hip Hop world. This past Saturday, the Royal Stage Boombox festival, with French Montana, Raftaar, and others was supposed to happen at the Roadpali Sports Ground in Panvel, India. One day before the event, it was canceled. Organizer Radio Mirchi explained, “After months of meticulous planning, the decision to cancel has been made following an official directive from the authorities.”

This is an ominous sign for live music in India, which was staking its claim as home to massive shows like Rolling Loud India and Lollapalooza. Cancellations are not only terrible for fans because they don’t get to see their dream artists, but also for the organizations who have to deal with refunds, losing money, and upset sponsors. Hopefully, things can be worked out between the government, who wants its citizens to be safer, and organizers, who have invested heavily in the live music scene only to see it crumble away in a relatively short amount of time.