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Fines imposed on concert promoters for breaching noise limits at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium have reached €1.5 million, according to Spain’s Association of Musical Promoters (APM).
Gigs at the venue have been suspended since September following noise complaints from neighbouring residents.
According to a recent report by El Pais, all 16 concerts held at the stadium since April exceeded the 58 decibel limit, prompting fines from the city council ranging between €17,000 and €280,000. Penalties have included €142,000 and €146,000 for producers of Taylor Swift’s two Eras concerts in May, which were slammed as “disproportionate” by one promoter.
“We also did not manage to find out the criteria for the sanction,” they added.
Furthermore, the APM says the penalties were handed out despite the shows being held “under current regulations and with the corresponding permits”. The trade body also referred to its previous statement, insisting that responsibility for non-compliance lies with the stadium and the authorities.
The Bernabéu only reopened for concerts in April following a €1.76 billion renovation. As well as two nights with Swift, it hosted a record four-night stint by Karol G in July, plus performances by the likes of Duki, Manuel Carrasco, Luis Miguel and Aitana.
“Real Madrid is working actively, together with the Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council, for sustainability and coexistence”
The APM, which represents around 100 members, says the sanctions have had a “negative impact on Madrid’s economy and cultural image as a destination for large-scale events”.
“Since April 2024, penalties have increased both in number and amount, directly affecting the sustainability of live music in Madrid,” adds the organisation. “This increase not only represents a serious detriment to the promoter companies, but also to the entire music industry, which generates a multi-million dollar economic impact in the capital, benefiting sectors such as hospitality, tourism and commerce.
“The APM stresses the importance of ensuring a framework that allows for coexistence between live music and local residents, ensuring the sustainable development of culture in Madrid. It also reiterates the need to establish measures that reinforce the infrastructure and acoustic conditioning of venues to avoid new conflicts that compromise the viability of the industry.”
Cancelled shows included headline performances by Dellafuente, Aitana and Lola Índigo, as well as K-pop’s Music Bank World Tour. Índigo announced a rescheduled date at the venue this week for next June, only for it to be quickly pulled, with the club saying they were still working with the council on soundproofing measures.
“At the present time, the club is not in a position to confirm any dates for the holding of concerts at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium until the relevant tests are carried out to ensure that the promoters of the concerts will be in a position to comply with the regulations, once the measures put in place in coordination with public administrations have been implemented,” says a statement from Real Madrid.
“We would like to reiterate that Real Madrid is working actively, together with the Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council, for sustainability and coexistence, so that the activities at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium are carried out with full respect, not only for the law, but also for the environment and the neighbourhood.”
“We simply rent out the stadium and I would like you to know that the income from this would be around 1% of our annual budget”
The five-year renovation project was led by L35 Architects in collaboration with GMP Architekten and Ribas & Ribas, with British firm Arup appointed to “deliver architecture, façade engineering, acoustic and lighting design services to enhance the fan experience and future proof the facility”.
Arup, which had not responded to a request for comment at press time, has reportedly again been enlisted by the club to carry out acoustic studies as it seeks to make the stadium compliant with Noise and Thermal Pollution Ordinance (OPCAT) regulations by next June.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez played down the dispute at last week’s members’ meeting, claiming the organisation of concerts was “not a particularly lucrative activity” for the reigning European football champions.
“We simply rent out the stadium and I would like you to know that the income from this would be around 1% of our annual budget,” he said.
Elsewhere in Madrid, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano – home of Real’s city rivals Atlético Madrid – has already confirmed eight concerts for 2025, including Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons and Stray Kids.
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Spain’s Association of Musical Promoters (APM) has rushed to the defence of event organisers over the indefinite postponement of all gigs at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
The LaLiga football giants announced in September that they were pausing forthcoming concerts at the venue in response to noise complaints from neighbouring residents.
However, APM has accused stadium officials of “passing the buck” by allegedly attempting to lay the blame for the dispute at the feet of promoters.
“Music promoters have no control over the structure, fittings or soundproofing of a venue,” says the trade body. “All events held at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium have had the relevant permits and authorisations and have been managed in direct collaboration with the stadium’s management.
“The responsibility for acoustically conditioning a venue that coexists with an urban environment falls to those responsible for the venue, ensuring that the space complies with sound levels before it is used for live music concerts. Blaming promoters for noise problems is, as local residents rightly point out, ‘passing the buck’.”
APM, which represents around 100 members, is calling on the venue to assume responsibility and “adapt the stadium acoustically to the peculiarities of its surroundings, applying the necessary soundproofing measures and thus guaranteeing the well-being of residents”.
“The coexistence of live music culture and community well-being is vital for the development of our country”
“Madrid deserves to be a capital that hosts large-scale cultural events, respecting both the coexistence of neighbours and the vitality of its cultural sector so that this activity does not cease,” it says. “We express our commitment as highly qualified music promoters to continue producing quality shows in Madrid and to actively collaborate with the relevant institutions.
“The coexistence of live music culture and community well-being is vital for the development of our country. We, music promoters, will continue to work for an open and culturally active city, while waiting for the actions that unfairly effect an industry that only seeks to contribute to the development and well-being of Madrid to cease.”
The Bernabéu only reopened for music bookings last year following a five-year, €900 million renovation, and hosted the only Spanish dates of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024, as well as a record four-night stint by Karol G in July and performances by Duki, Manuel Carrasco, Luis Miguel and Aitana.
However, Madrid police reported noise levels as far exceeding the permitted decibel limit, with locals alleging the shows had turned the stadium into a “torturódromo” (torture-drome). Postponed dates included headline shows by domestic artists Dellafuente, Aitana and Lola Índigo, plus K-pop’s Music Bank World Tour.
“Despite the soundproofing conditions of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and the reinforcement measures that have been undertaken, compliance with said regulations by the various organisers and promoters has been affected by the great challenge that it has meant for them to take into account all its precepts,” said a statement from Real Madrid.
The UEFA Champions League holders added they would “continue to work to ensure that the right conditions for sound production and broadcasting are met during concerts to enable concerts to be held in our stadium”.
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Real Madrid has announced it is rescheduling all concerts at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium following noise complaints from local residents.
The Spanish football club says the decision is part of a series of measures it has been taking “to ensure strict compliance with current municipal regulations” during gigs.
The world-famous Bernabéu reopened for music bookings last year following a five-year, €900 million renovation. In 2024, it hosted the only Spanish dates of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, as well as a record-breaking four-night stint by Karol G in July and performances by Duki, Manuel Carrasco, Luis Miguel and Aitana.
However, Madrid police reported noise levels as far exceeding the permitted decibel limit, with locals alleging the shows had turned the stadium into a “torturódromo” (torture-drome).
“Despite the soundproofing conditions of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and the reinforcement measures that have been undertaken, compliance with said regulations by the various organisers and promoters has been affected by the great challenge that it has meant for them to take into account all its precepts,” says a statement from the UEFA Champions League holders.
“Real Madrid will continue to work to ensure that the right conditions for sound production and broadcasting are met during concerts”
Affected dates include headline shows by domestic artists Dellafuente, Aitana and Lola Índigo, plus K-pop’s Music Bank World Tour.
“Real Madrid will continue to work to ensure that the right conditions for sound production and broadcasting are met during concerts to enable concerts to be held in our stadium,” adds the club.
“New dates and details will be announced soon for Dellafuente and Aitana, initially scheduled for November 15 and December 28 and 29, 2024 respectively, and for Lola Índigo, scheduled for March 22, 2025. In the case of Music Bank, which was to take place on October 12, 2024, it is definitively cancelled.”
It continues: “In addition to concerts, the Bernabéu is prepared to host a large number of events and shows, which will continue to take place as part of the stadium’s operation project.
“Real Madrid will continue to collaborate with the Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council for sustainability and coexistence, and its objective will always be to ensure that the stadium’s activities guarantee its commitment to the city of Madrid and are beneficial to its surroundings.”
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Spanish artist Dellafuente has sold out a one-off show at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium just in the presale.
The trap star reportedly shifted all 75,000 tickets within an hour for the 15 November date, organised by promoter and music management company MAAS to celebrate Dellafuente’s decade in the music industry.
Affordable ticket prices of €32-65 have been credited for helping make the Granada-born singer-songwriter the first domestic independent artist to sell out the recently renovated home of the UEFA Champions League holders. The concert will be Dellafuente’s only remaining concert of 2024.
Real name Pablo Enoc Bayo, the 32-year-old previously sold out three shows at Granada Sports Palace in 2022 and two nights at Madrid’s WiZink Center in 2023, where he was joined by fellow Spanish rapper Morad. He also attracted 15,000 people to a secret free gig on Granada’s Explanada del Paseo del Salón last month.
The Bernabéu will also welcome Karol G from 20-23 July, with the Latin superstar becoming the first artist to fully sell out four consecutive nights at the Spanish stadium.
“We have been working discreetly, but continuously, with Real Madrid to reach an agreement that allows us to reduce the noise”
Earlier this summer, it hosted two nights of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, as well as shows by Luis Miguel, Duki, Manuel Carrasco and Vintage Culture.
However, Público reports that all major concerts at the stadium held up to the end of May had exceeded noise limits set by municipal regulations, leaving promoters facing fines of up to €20,000 in the most serious cases.
Following protests by local residents, Real Madrid and the city council reached an agreement in June to install noise barriers and limit the number of concerts at the venue to 20 per year.
“Measures had to be taken to guarantee the residents’ rest and peace of mind,” said Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida. “The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is also important for everything it can contribute to the city of Madrid. We have been working discreetly, but continuously, with Real Madrid to reach an agreement that allows us to reduce the noise.”
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The famous football rivalry between La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid is spilling over into international touring following the refurbishment of the latter’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Home of the 14 times European champions, the Bernabéu (cap. 65,000 for concerts) reopened for music bookings last year following an extensive renovation. It will host the sole Spanish date of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour on 30 May and three nights with Karol G from 20-22 July, as well as performances by Duki, Manuel Carrasco, Luis Miguel (two shows) and Aitana.
The venue has both a retractable roof and pitch – enabling it to stage live music shows all-year-round (the Aitana show is scheduled for 28 December).
Elsewhere, Civitas Metropolitan Stadium – home ground of Real’s city neighbours Atlético Madrid – has three upcoming shows by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and two concerts by Metallica, plus dates with Estopa and Morat, bringing the number of stadium gigs in the Spanish capital in 2024 to an unprecedented 16.
FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou is currently out of action due to renovation, with work expected to be completed in 2026. However, the club’s temporary home – the city’s 56,000-cap Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys – attracted nine concerts in 2023, including the likes of Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and Madonna. It has four shows announced for 2024: Springsteen (two nights), Rammstein and Estopa.
Nouvelles du Monde notes that Barcelona’s proximity to the French border has traditionally boosted tourism, but Madrid now benefits from its peninsular centrality.
“Madrid is becoming more competitive, and even more so this year with Barça at the Estadi”
“Madrid is becoming more competitive, and even more so this year with Barça at the Estadi,” Live Nation Spain president Pino Sagliocco tells the publication, while Tito Ramoneda, president of The Project, declares “a new era begins”.
Doctor Music’s Neo Sala, however, notes that although the Madrid stadiums have “much improved their infrastructures”, that is “not decisive for international tours, in which other factors must be taken into account account: geographical, strategic and technical”.
The Bernabéu hired former Live Nation Spain partnerships director Rocio Vallejo-Nágera in 2023 as head of large events and concerts.
“We are treating it like a new stadium,” she told IQ last year. “Up until now, there have been some concerts here – Bruce Springsteen in 2016 and the Rolling Stones in 2014 – but it hasn’t really been a big thing to do at the Bernabeu. It wasn’t built for football, not music, because the production tunnels were too narrow, etc. So we’ve changed that, and that’s why I’m here.
“I think in the past 10 years, Madrid has become one of the main cities for global tours. Some years ago, maybe Barcelona was a little bit more blooming, but I think Madrid is taking its place in the international touring agenda as a main place to visit.”
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Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is “open for business” for live music bookings as its extensive renovation nears completion.
Former Live Nation Spain partnerships director Rocio Vallejo-Nágera came on board last month as the European football giants’ head of large events and concerts. She will oversee the opening of the newly refurbished venue, which has been operating at reduced capacity, before the end of the year.
Speaking to IQ, Vallejo-Nágera says the four-year project will be finished by December, with an official reopening event planned for the end of 2023. The stadium will have both a retractable roof and pitch – enabling it to stage live music shows all-year-round – while its capacity for concerts will be around 65,000.
“We are treating it like a new stadium,” she says. “Up until now, there have been some concerts here – Bruce Springsteen in 2016 and the Rolling Stones in 2014 – but it hasn’t really been a big thing to do at the Bernabeu. It wasn’t built for football, not music, because the production tunnels were too narrow, etc. So we’ve changed that, and that’s why I’m here. We’re open for business”
Vallejo-Nágera, who will be a panellist for ILMC’s The View from the Top panel at 2pm on Thursday 2 March, worked on projects such as Ballantine’s True Music Festival and Joker Festival, Dcode Festival, Download Madrid and Elrow Town during her time at Live Nation.
“In the past 10 years, Madrid has become one of the main cities for global tours”
“Because I come from the music industry, all the Spanish promoters already know me,” she says. “We’re already working on dates for 2024, so it’s super-exciting.
“The stadium is going to be unique and very special. Since it’s a retractable pitch, we can do concerts every other week when we don’t have in-house [football] matches. We can have a match on a Sunday and then have a concert just a few days later. Of course we have to respect the football calendar, but apart from that there is no limit. Madrid is in a great place at the moment.”
The Spanish capital is also home to the Metropolitano Stadium, home to Real’s local rivals Atletico Madrid, and Vallejo-Nágera says the city boasts a thriving live music scene.
“I think in the past 10 years, Madrid has become one of the main cities for global tours,” she says. “Some years ago, maybe Barcelona was a little bit more blooming, but I think Madrid is taking its place in the international touring agenda as a main place to visit.
“Maybe before, Spain was a country you could leave out of a global tour, but you wouldn’t do that now, I think we have become one of the main markets for global tours. And it’s not just American or British artists anymore – Latin music is growing so much and that works very well in Spain, and local acts are now filling arenas.”
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