Rock in Rio is preparing new editions in Latin America.
The festival's creator intends to take it to Peru and Mexico, and says that, despite the European crisis, the Spanish edition will be maintained. Lisbon will host attractions starting this weekend.
247 - Businessman Roberto Medina, creator of Rock in Rio, said that Peru and Mexico may be the next countries to host editions of the most celebrated music festival in Latin America in 2014. Meanwhile, business isn't going so well for the European leg of Rock in Rio. However, in an interview with the EFE news agency, the businessman ruled out canceling the festival in Spain due to the European crisis. The Lisbon edition, the first held outside of Brazil, began this Saturday with the heavy sound of Metallica, Sepultura, and Mastodon. The main attractions of this edition will be Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, and The Offspring. From June 1st to 3rd, Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder, Brian Adams, and Maroon 5 will perform in the Portuguese capital.
Medina told EFE that talks with Peruvian authorities have made the most progress. Negotiations are also underway with Colombia, another Latin American candidate to host the event. The festival will also be held in Argentina in 2013.
"Since the sponsorship market is somewhat smaller in Peru, as is the population for concerts, if we hold the festival there, it will be over a weekend, something like Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," the businessman projects. "In Mexico, no, it would be the Brazilian model of seven days."
In Lisbon and Madrid, on the other hand, the effects of the crisis are already a cause for concern for the organizers of Rock in Rio, especially Spain, "a country less accustomed to dealing with recessions than Brazil or Portugal," says Medina.
Medina, who sold half of the company that owns the Rock in Rio brand to billionaire Eike Batista, is also considering taking Rock in Rio to Berlin and the United States. "The United States is a big challenge because communication is very complex," Medina comments. "As someone who works in advertising, I'm intimidated by the US."
Rock in Rio was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1985, and later expanded to Portugal and Spain. Medina says he would like to see the Rolling Stones play at the festival. Since its inception, the event has had ten editions, four in Rio and Lisbon, and two in Madrid. The next stop is Buenos Aires next year. Rock in Rio in Madrid takes place from June 29th to July 7th.