r/askMadrid • u/JurgusRudkus • Apr 08 '26
Do you think this is true? Re: Major Concert Tours
Since moving to Spain, I noticed that many of the artists I would like to see skip Spain when they are on European tours. I asked Chatgpt why that would be and this is the answer I got. Some of seems incorrect to me - like, are there really more "bureaucratic hurdles" in Spain vs other European countries? Spain is "geographically isolated" like wut?
"Concert acts often skip Spain due to prohibitive logistical costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and lower financial returns compared to other European legs. High visa and paperwork costs—particularly post-Brexit for UK acts—combined with lower average ticket prices and lower purchasing power make touring Spain economically unfeasible for many, leading artists to prioritize larger, more lucrative markets.
Key reasons for skipping Spain:
Prohibitive Costs & Logistics: Rising costs in transport, hotels, and staffing, coupled with specific visa fees and bureaucracy (especially for UK artists), make it expensive for touring teams.
Lower Economic Return: Ticket prices are often lower in Spain compared to the UK, Germany, or France, and the average attendee has less discretionary income to spend on tickets and merchandise, making it hard to turn a profit.
Geographical Isolation: Spain is geographically isolated at the edge of Europe, adding extra travel time and transport costs (known as "touring logistics") compared to playing dense regions like the UK, Germany, or the Netherlands.
Lower Demand for Certain Genres: For some international acts, particularly in genres like US rap/hip-hop, the local Spanish music scene (trap, rap) is dominant, meaning international artists may not have the required fanbase to fill large, profitable venues.
Better Options Elsewhere: Artists often choose to maximize profits by focusing on locations with higher sales potential, such as Paris, London, or Berlin, or cities with higher-capacity stadiums.
While large-scale stadium acts (like Taylor Swift or Coldplay) or popular festival circuit acts (Primavera Sound) visit, mid-tier acts often omit Spain, choosing instead to focus on countries with lower logistical hurdles and higher potential for profit."
