Shakira’s two-night stand in the Mexican city of Guadalajara had an economic impact of 900 million pesos (€42 million), according to preliminary data.

The Colombian singer-songwriter performed to 90,000 people across the 16 and 17 March shows at Akron Stadium, on her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour.

Data shows that Guadalajara surpassed 50% hotel occupancy, with more than 37,000 tourists travelling from other states to attend one of Shakira’s two shows, promoted by Ocesa.

In three days, an economic impact of approximately 900 million pesos was recorded, benefiting hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other sectors.

The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour continues tonight at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, where Shakira will make history

The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour continues tonight at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, where Shakira will make history by becoming the first artist to have seven consecutive shows at the venue.

The Mexican residency (taking place from 21–30 March) will be followed by one show in the Dominican Republic, three in Chile and two in her native Colombia.

The WME-repped act will then embark on her retooled US and Canada leg, produced by Live Nation. Stops include Charlotte, Montreal, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and more, before wrapping up on 30 June in San Francisco at Oracle Park.

Last month, Shakira was forced to postpone two shows: Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín, Colombia on 24 February due to safety concerns and Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru on 16 February after being hospitalised with an abdominal issue.

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Live music executives in Canada have warned the touring industry faces a “climate of uncertainty” due to Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.

The US president imposed sweeping tariff hikes on Canada and Mexico last week, although some have been paused until 2 April. He also raised levies on Chinese imports to 20%.

Trump, who has called for Canada to become America’s 51st state, previously said he was taking action “to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country”.

A 25% tax on steel and aluminium products from all countries was imposed last week, with Canada and the EU both announcing retaliatory tariffs in the developing trade war.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said 2 April would be a “liberating day” for the US, with a new wave of levies to be introduced.

“It’s going to be reciprocal — in other words, whatever they’re charging, we’re charging,” he said. “Then in addition to that, on autos, on steel, on aluminium, we’re going to have some additional tariffs.”

“The current tariff war will create a climate of uncertainty for venues in the United States who hire artists”

Amid the ever-changing situation, Robert Baird, president of Toronto-based BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting, advises on the likely consequences for live music.

“The current tariff war will create a climate of uncertainty for venues in the United States who hire artists: their funding may be in jeopardy and their clientele may be diminished simply because people will have less discretionary income,” he tells IQ. “A depressed economy due to the tariff will not allow for the flourishing of live performing arts.”

A former president of North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA), Baird also points to potential additional hurdles for international touring acts.

“I am concerned that there may be additional rules coming which would limit the entry of foreign artists into the United States, whether by increasing the costs of work permits or putting increasing impediments on the entry visa process,” he adds.

“We could see increased costs for goods and materials such as building materials, technology, food and beverage, and merchandise”

Chris May, general manager of Vancouver’s BC Place stadium, which has hosted acts such as Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and U2, as well as the finale of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, breaks down some of the more granular implications.

“The potential impacts of tariffs on the live events industry will depend on each venue or company’s specific operations,” he says. “However, as with many industries, we could see increased costs for goods and materials such as building materials, technology, food and beverage, and merchandise.

“Fortunately, BC Place has always prioritised working with Canadian suppliers whenever possible, which puts us in a strong position to mitigate the effects of tariffs and limit any associated cost increases.”

May offers his thoughts on how the situation could play out from here – both for better and for worse.

“BC Place is thankful to have strong relationships with many Canadian partners and suppliers, and we remain committed to supporting the local economy,” he notes. “However, the worst-case scenario would involve a decline in tourism to British Columbia, which could result in fewer visitors for events, especially those travelling from the US. Depending on the event, many of our attendees come from south of the border, contributing not only to our ticket sales but also to the local economy.

“While it’s difficult to predict how things will unfold, we remain optimistic and committed to maintaining BC Place as an open, inclusive space. We look forward to continuing to welcome our friends from the US and showcasing the beauty of our province.”

“The past few years have shown us how resilient and adaptable our industry can be in the face of global uncertainty”

BC Place is gearing up to welcome AC/DC next month in advance of a multi-night run by Canadian homegrown hero The Weeknd this July, and May is determined not the let the outside issues distract from the venue’s core focus.

“Our goal of providing exceptional experiences for our guests and continuing to host world-class events remains the same,” he tells IQ. “While tariffs may present some challenges, our team is proactively working on solutions to ensure we continue delivering value for both our fans and partners.

“The past few years have shown us how resilient and adaptable our industry can be in the face of global uncertainty, and we have come out the other side stronger. BC Place’s commitment to overcoming challenges and evolving with the changing landscape has always been key to our success, and we’re confident that we’ll continue to thrive despite any external challenges.”

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today (17 March) published its latest Interim Economic Outlook. It projects the tariffs will lead to global growth slowing to 3.1% in 2025 and 3% in 2026, while revising its inflation forecast upwards by 0.3 percentage points to 3.8%, compared to its Economic Outlook in December.

Due to being hardest hit by the tariffs, the impact on Canada and Mexico is expected to be the most substantial, with the OECD now predicting Canada’s economy to expand by 0.7% this year and next, down from the previous forecast of 2% for both years.

Meanwhile, Mexico is projected to contract by 1.3% this year and a further 0.6% in 2026, having previously been expected to grow by 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively.

The US’ forecast has also been downgraded to 2.2% for 2025 and 1.6% for 2026, compared to 2.4% and 2.1% in the last outlook.

“The global economy has shown some real resilience, with growth remaining steady and inflation moving downwards. However, some signs of weakness have emerged, driven by heightened policy uncertainty,” says OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann. “Increasing trade restrictions will contribute to higher costs both for production and consumption. It remains essential to ensure a well-functioning, rules-based international trading system and to keep markets open.”

“Today’s political reality creates an opportunity for our industry to help lead through these turbulent times”

Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) president and CEO Erin Benjamin says the trade war is quickly raising significant concerns within Canada’s live music industry.

“Tariffs are expected to have multiple direct and indirect impacts on live music businesses and organisations, including increased operational costs,” she says.

“Today, one of the greatest worries – which has broad economic implications – is that the trade war will lead to decreased overall consumer spending on entertainment, affecting ticket sales and attendance at live events.”

However, Benjamin is keen to accentuate the positives amid the ongoing uncertainty.

“These three things are as true today as they ever have been – Canada’s live music industry is a cultural and economic powerhouse, our incredible home-grown artists embody the essence of Canadian identity, and, concerts have always meant positive impact for tourism, job creation, artist development, and economic growth,” she says.

Benjamin references the CLMA’s public awareness campaign, #CanadaIsLiveMusic, which was recently launched “to better highlight the potential for growth our sector represents”.

“Today’s political reality creates an opportunity for our industry to help lead through these turbulent times,” she continues. “With new, compelling economic data in hand, #CanadaIsLiveMusic sends a strong signal that our industry is more than ready to be an even stronger catalyst for, and champion of, a resilient Canadian economy.”

In closing, Benjamin extends a warm welcome to Canada’s new prime minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as PM earlier this month.

“The CLMA welcomes Mr Mark Carney as the new leader of the Liberal Party, and looks forward to working with all political parties to harness the true power of live music, creating a legacy of cultural vibrancy, increasing jobs, economic resilience, and community connection for generations to come,” she finishes.

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Fyre Festival 2 is “becoming a reality”, claims founder Billy McFarland, after tickets for a planned sequel to the notorious event went on sale.

The inaugural edition was slated to run in 2017 in Grand Exuma in the Bahamas with the promise of luxury accommodation, gourmet food and music. But it spectacularly collapsed on its first day when ticket-holders arrived to find half-built tents, a dearth of performers and insufficient food.

McFarland was jailed in 2018 and fined $26 million for his part in the debacle after admitting defrauding investors and running a fraudulent ticketing scam, while Fyre was immortalised in two documentaries – Hulu’s Fyre Fraud and Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened.

But the disgraced 33-year-old entrepreneur has today (24 February) unveiled Fyre 2 for Isla Mujeres, Mexico, from 30 May to 2 June. A total of 2,000 tickets have gone on sale, priced from US$1,400 (€1,340) to $1.1m (€1.05m).

“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again. But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again,” says McFarland. “After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for Fyre 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history. Thank you to my partners for the second chance.”

“Fyre 2 really isn’t about the past, and it’s not really about me. It’s about taking the vision, which is strong”

Unlike the original, McFarland is linking up with established Mexican live event producer Lostnights on the festival. While the sequel was initially announced for 25 April, McFarland says: “We just need the extra month to give our partner time to get everything ready.”

“Fyre 2 is real. My dream is finally becoming a reality,” he told US morning TV show Today. “Fyre 2 really isn’t about the past, and it’s not really about me. It’s about taking the vision, which is strong.

“We’re going to have artists across electronic, hip hop, pop and rock. However, it’s not just music. We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration. We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning.”

McFarland, who is unsure whether he will be able to attend the event in person due to travel restrictions imposed on him, said artists would be announced over the next few months.

“I think what makes Fyre so cool is that we are selling the experience of Fyre,” he continued. “I want to be one of the first festivals that can sell out with no artists.”

“You’re taking a risk because I made a lot of bad decisions and messed up the first festival”

Asked whether A-list acts would be involved, he said he was not involved in booking the lineup, but added: “I really hope so and I expect so from our conversations.”

He did concede, however, that there was risk involved for those buying tickets.

“It’s 2,000 people taking the risk, seeking the adventure, and wanting to be there for the moment,” he said. “I think it’s always a risk. You’re taking a risk because I made a lot of bad decisions and messed up the first festival. Until it’s experienced, there is a risk component to it.”

McFarland and his partners have pledged that a minimum of $500,000 from the festival and 10% of profits would go towards the $26m in restitution that he still owed.

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Mexican music star Carin León has broken the attendance record at WiZink Center in Madrid with his debut performance in Europe.

The Latin Grammy-award-winner drew 17,426 people to his 31 October concert, achieving the highest attendance of more than 1,200 concerts held at the iconic venue.

The record sees 35-year-old León unseat American heavy metal band Metallica, who held the previous record for 17,267 attendees at their 2018 concert at WiZink Center.

León’s concert in Madrid was the first stop on the European leg of his Boca Chueca Tour, which also visited London (UK) and Amsterdam (NL) and concludes tonight in Paris (FR).

The record sees 35-year-old León unseat American heavy metal band Metallica

The AEG Presents-promoted trek also visited 23 cities in North America between July and October, and included a stop at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The tour came on the heels of the star’s historic achievement as the first Latin artist to perform at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival in the same year. In addition, León was honoured with the keys to the City of Coachella, California.

The Música Mexicana star is due to return to North America in April 2025 for two arena shows in Florida and another in North Carolina.

Carin León is represented by UTA worldwide, except in Latin America.

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Colombian superstar Shakira has shattered on-sale records for the Latin America leg of her 2025 Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women Don’t Cry Anymore) World Tour.

The star sold out 13 stadiums on the continent last week, with nearly 700,000 tickets sold in less than two hours, according to Ocesa.

More than two million fans had registered for the Latin America leg of the tour – the 47-year-old’s first outing since the 2018 El Dorado World Tour.

Due to the demand, new dates have been added for Monterrey’s BBVA Stadium, Guadalajara’s Akron Stadium and Mexico City’s Seguros Stadium.

The 20-date tour will kick off on 11 February 2025 at Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and visit Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia.

The stint will see Shakira deliver four stadium dates in her native Colombia at Metropolitan Stadium (Barranquilla), Atanasio Girardot Stadium (Medellin) and two at El Campin Stadium (Bogota).

More than two million fans had registered for the Latin America leg of the tour

It will mark the first time she’s performed in her hometown of Barranquilla in 19 years.

Before heading to Latin America, the star will kick off the North American leg of the tour on 2 November at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

The 17-date stint will stop at arenas across the US before wrapping up on 15 December at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

North America and Latin America are currently the only markets confirmed for the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, which is in support of her LP of the same name that dropped in March – her first new album in seven years.

Following its release, the set landed at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums chart, a feat that made her the first woman to secure No. 1 albums in four different decades. It recently scored a Latin Grammy nomination for album of the year.

Shakira is represented by WME worldwide.

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American jam band Goose are launching their own destination festival called Viva El Gonzo in Mexico, next year.

Taking place between 8-10 May 2025 in San José del Cabo, the festival promises “an immersive discovery journey where attendees can choose their own adventure” with an “all-in-one ticket purchase [that] includes festival access as well as customizable lodging, wellness offerings, beach access and more in Cabo’s tropical desert oasis,” according to a statement from the band.

Presented by 100x Hospitality, Viva El Gonzo will feature three consecutive nights of performances by Goose, as well as sets from The War on Drugs, Tycho, Dawes, LA LOM, LP GIOBBI and more.

Goose, known for their genre-blending sound and exploratory live performances, will deliver two sets each night.

“We’ve got some wild stuff planned, and we’re really looking forward to sharing this adventure with everyone who takes the ride with us”

“We’re stoked to be headlining Viva El Gonzo in such a beautiful spot like San José del Cabo,” says Rick Mitarotonda of Goose. “This festival is going to be something special — a chance for us and our fans to dive into the music, the vibe and the incredible surroundings. We’ve got some wild stuff planned, and we’re really looking forward to sharing this adventure with everyone who takes the ride with us.”

The band says Viva El Gonzo is the first event of its kind in Cabo, offering a “multifaceted experience where music, art, and culture intertwine”.

The venue is located minutes from the Sea of Cortez (also known as Gulf of California) and will host multiple stages, pop-up experiences, wellness events, and an eclectic marketplace of local vendors and cuisine, “all designed to create a sensory-rich environment that reflects the festival’s ‘choose your own adventure’ ethos,” according to a statement.

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Oasis have expanded their 2025 reunion tour by announcing a handful of stadium dates in North America.

Produced by Live Nation and SJM, the run will see the Gallagher brothers play stadiums in Toronto, Chicago, East Rutherford, Los Angeles and Mexico City next summer, supported by special guests Cage The Elephant.

The confirmed shows at the new Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Canada (24 August) and in the US at Soldier Field, Chicago (28 August), MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (31 August) and Los Angeles’ Rose Bowl Stadium (6 September) will represent their biggest ever headline concerts in the territory. They will also perform in Mexico at GNP Seguros Stadium on 12 September.

The Britpop legends built up a solid following across the Atlantic during their commercial peak in the 90s, but famously fell short of reaching a similar level of success as in their native UK.

“America. Oasis is coming. You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along”

“America. Oasis is coming,” says a statement from the group. “You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along.”

The general ticket onsale will begin on Friday 4 October at www.ticketmaster.com. As with the UK shows, Twickets will serve as the official resale partner.

Plans are also underway for Oasis Live ’25 to visit other continents outside of Europe and North America later next year.

The Oasis Live ‘25 Tour was the biggest concert launch ever seen in UK and Ireland, with more than 10 million fans from 158 countries attempting to buy tickets for the group’s first shows since 2009.

However, the unprecedented demand soon gave way to a dynamic ticketing controversy that has prompted multiple inquiries. There was widespread media coverage of fan anger after customers were offered “in demand” tickets for more than twice the advertised face value under surge pricing after queuing online for several hours.

“Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model will not be applied to the forthcoming sale of tickets to Oasis concerts in North America”

A statement from Oasis’ management says that dynamic pricing will not be employed for the US, Canada and Mexico shows.

“Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model will not be applied to the forthcoming sale of tickets to Oasis concerts in North America,” it reads. “It is widely accepted that dynamic pricing remains a useful tool to combat ticket touting and keep prices for a significant proportion of fans lower than the market rate and thus more affordable.

“But, when unprecedented ticket demand (where the entire tour could be sold many times over at the moment tickets go on sale) is combined with technology that cannot cope with that demand, it becomes less effective and can lead to an unacceptable experience for fans.

“We have made this decision for the North America tour to hopefully avoid a repeat of the issues fans in the UK and Ireland experienced recently.”

The full list of 2025 tour dates announced so far is as follows:

July

4 – Cardiff, UK – Principality Stadium

5 – Cardiff, UK – Principality Stadium

11 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

12 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

16 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

19 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

20 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

25 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

26 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

30 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

August

2 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

3 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

8 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

9 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

12 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

16 – Dublin, IE – Croke Park

17 – Dublin, IE – Croke Park

24 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium

28 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field

31 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

September

6 – Los Angeles, CA – Rose Bowl Stadium

12 – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros

27 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

28 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

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Veteran singer Luis Miguel has claimed the highest-grossing tour among Latin acts, unseating previous record holder Bad Bunny.

The ongoing Luis Miguel Tour grossed US$318.2 million and sold 2.2 million tickets in its first 146 shows, according to Billboard.

This puts the Mexican artist, who first rose to fame in the 1980s, above Bad Bunny’s World’s Hottest Tour ($314.1m) and Karol G’s Manana Sera Bonito Tour ($313.3m).

Miguel’s tour kicked off last summer with 10 shows at Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena, and then another 10 at the venue of the same name in Santiago, Chile.

Those 20 dates brought in a combined $28.1m and sold 227,000 tickets, already establishing it as the third-highest-grossing outing of his career.

Since then the 54-year-old has visited the US and Latin America twice and Spain once. In his native Mexico, Miguel earned $57.5m in 20 shows.

The ongoing Luis Miguel Tour grossed US$318.2 million and sold 2.2 million tickets in its first 146 shows

By the end of 2023, he had performed 66 shows to 900,000 fans which brought in $141m and charted as his biggest tour yet.

In the early months of 2024, the singer added another $73m in stadiums across Latin America and another $65.6m in North American arenas through mid-June.

Twelve shows in Spain earned $27.6m, and his return to Central America in August padded the tour with another $10.7m in five shows.

The Luis Miguel Tour, produced by Fenix Entertainment, Cárdenas Marketing Network (CMN) and Iglesias Entertainment, is the singer’s first global trek in five years.

The tour is currently re-visiting Mexico, with 29 dates left including a 10-show run at Mexico City’s Arena Ciudad de Mexico between 8-24 October.

His previous tour, Mexico Por Siempre Tour (2018-19), grossed $101.4m and sold 965,000 tickets.

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Mexico’s biggest promoter Ocesa has hailed a successful first year of VIBRA, its initiative for fans with hearing disabilities.

Through VIBRA, more than 1,000 hearing-impaired fans have benefited from state-of-the-art sensory vests and interpretation in Mexican Sign Language (LSM).

The vests include six sensors ‘strategically’ placed on the back, chest and hip, converting music into vibrations that the user can feel.

The system features a transmitter that can connect directly to the show’s main audio console, ensuring an interference-free, high-fidelity experience.

The system features a transmitter that, with the artist’s permission, connects directly to the show’s main audio console

This allows people with hearing disabilities to identify and enjoy the different frequencies, from the deepest bass to the most subtle voices.

In addition to sensory technology, LSM interpretation has been an important part of VIBRA’s success, according to Ocesa.

Specialised interpreters not only translate the lyrics of the songs but also capture and convey the artist’s emotions.

VIBRA was launched under Ocesa’s Foundation, which was founded in 2023 to provide vulnerable communities with access to live entertainment events.

As part of the Foundation’s ticketing initiative, beneficiaries of civil associations (nonprofit organisations) are invited to attend concerts, festivals and plays free of charge.

So far this year, 15,628 people have benefitted from free tickets, and a total of 52,326 people have benefitted since the Foundation opened.

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Rapper Natanael Cano has smashed Mexico’s attendance record after attracting more than 310,00 people to his performance at the 2024 San Luis Potosí National Fair (FENAPO).

The 23-year-old, who has almost 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify, is considered an innovator in the new wave of regional Mexican music, specifically the corridos tumbados genre, and surpassed all previous records at Foro-Teatro del Pueblo on 28 August.

Considered one of the country’s most important fairs, the three-week-long FENAPO also featured international acts such as Black Eyed Peas, Maluma, Steve Aoki and Vanilla Ice.

The attendance record was confirmed by state governor Ricardo Gallardo Cardona on social media, as well as state civil protection.

“This night will always be etched in our memory”

“310 thousand thanks,” Cardona wrote on his Facebook account. “Natanael Cano breaks a record at the best fair in Mexico, #FENAPO2024. This night will always be etched in our memory.”

Days earlier, on 23 August, Cano’s Tumbado Tour sold out the 65,000-cap GNP Seguros Stadium (formerly Foro Sol) in Mexico City, which was livestreamed on Disney+. The Mexican is represented by WME.

In June last year, Argentina’s Los Fabulosos Cadillacs set a new Mexican attendance record by drawing 300,000 fans to a free show in Mexico City. The eight-piece band performed in the Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square), known as the Zócalo – the world’s second largest public square after Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Previously, Mexican band Grupo Firme drew a then record 280,000 to the square in September 2022.

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