Latin America Beckons Touring Acts

As Mexico City becomes incorporated into US tours, other Latin American promoters implore big-name acts to stop in their countries as well. They cite more stable governments, improved economies, and big new arenas, but agents and managers are still finding the high-cost of travel and equipment transportation prohibitive.

"With a population of 40 million, Mexico City has a variety of venues and, certainly, the breadth of audience to attract virtually any kind of act. Mexico has also benefited from new arenas in smaller cities like Monterrey, Guadalajara and Acapulco.

According to Moran (of promoter CIE USA), business in Mexico has seen brisk growth, particularly since 2002. Last year, his company did 105 shows in Mexico, drawing more than 1 million people and a box office of nearly $30 million."

While this is well and good for U2 and maybe 10 to 20 other acts, is there any possibility for Latin America as an untapped region for developing acts? Will it be possible for an American or European artist to "get huge" in Bogota first or will the bands have to wait until they are big enough to fill a massive corn field in Uruguay?