Spain

  • capital city: Madrid
  • population: 46,439,000
  • area: 505,990 sq. km.
  • languages spoken: Spanish, plus six regional languages
  • annual record sales: $181,100,000 (USD 2014)
  • rank: 13th largest worldwide
  • currency: Euro € (EUR)
  • Spanish is the second most popular language in the world

Spain has a thriving local indie scene due to an historic lack of interest by major labels – its annual sales for international and domestic music are almost equal. And as an international hub for latin music, Spain has given birth to contemporary international stars including Pablo Alborán, Alejandro Sanz and Enrique Iglesias.

Who’s who in the Spanish music market

Jazzaldia - San Sebastián

Spanish Music Producers (Productores de Música de España)

Promusicae is the trade association that represents more than 90 percent of the Spanish recorded music industry and is the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) representative for Spain.

www.promusicae.es
c/ María de Molina,
39 6ª Planta
28006 Madrid, España
P: +34 91 417 0470
E: promusicae@promusicae.es

 

Independent Phonographic Union (Unión Fonográfica Independiente)

UFi is the national non-profit association of independent SMEs engaged in the production, editing and music distribution, and representation and hiring of artists in Spain.

www.ufimusica.com
Abdón Terradas, 4
28015 Madrid, España
P: +34 91 365 8303
E: comunicados@ufimusica.com
President: Inma Grass
Office manager: Naomi Planas

 

Society of Performing Artists (Sociedad de Artistas Intérpretes o Ejecutantes de España)

AIE is a collective, non-profit organization, authorized by the Ministry of Culture, whose purpose is to support and protect the rights of performing artists, both in Spain and abroad.

www.aie.es
Torrelara, 8
28016 Madrid, España
P:  +34 91 781 9854
E: comunicacion@aie.es

 

Spanish Association of Music Publishers (Asociación Española de Editores de Música)

AEDEM is a non-profit organization representing music publishers in Spain. Its objective is to promote the economic, social, cultural and professional interests of its members.

www.aedem.es
Espacio EDA
c/ Abdón Terradas, 4
28015 Madrid, España
P:  +34 91 121 4430 Ext. 4524
E: secretaria-tecnica@aedem.es
Technical secretary: Alex Torremorell

 

Professional Organization of Music Publishers     www.opemeditor.es

OPEM, Organización Profesional de Editores de Música, is a professional organization and member of the International Confederation of Music Publishers, representing leading international music publishers of Spain.

 

Spanish Society of Authors and Publishers     www.sgae.es

SGAE, La Sociedad General de Autores y Editores​, is a collective organization devoted to the defence and collective management of the intellectual property rights of our over 100,000 members. We protect and distribute the remuneration of our members for the commercial use of their works.

 

Spanish Record Producers Rights Management     www.agedi.es

AGEDI is the collecting management society of record and music video producers.

 

Comusica     www.comusica.com

Comusica is a nonprofit organization composed of manufacturers, importers and dealers of musical instruments throughout Spain.

 

Touring in Spain

Arenal Sound 2013

Spain’s recovering live music scene rose 12% in 2015 to €194.5 million euros with the regions of Catalonia, Basque Country and Valencia leading the way. Most of the sales are for large festivals featuring international touring acts.

However domestic indie acts have created a thriving local, live circuit of clubs and smaller concert halls.

If you are planning to perform in Spain:

  • An application for a work permit must be submitted by the Spanish promoter to the Spanish Ministry of Labour
  • Additionally, all citizens of non-European Union countries must obtain a visa from a Spanish consulate in their home country if they plan to work in Spain
  • A copy of the work permit application (stamped as submitted) from your promoter must accompany the visa application you make to the Spanish consulate at home
  • The consulate then contacts the Spanish Ministry of Labour – and the processing of the work permit in Spain is begun – if approved, the consulate is notified that it can issue the visa
  • Hint: Start this process as early as possible

For more information on Spain’s major urban regions, please see the Regions in Spain descriptions below.

For more information on live music festivals and conventions, please see the Spain’s Major Festivals tab below.

The 2012 Report on Spain (Spain – The Music Market) was prepared by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music and the Arts, and by Canadian Music Week (CMW) one of the premier music conferences and festivals in North America.

BIME Festival 2014

El Portal de Música     www.elportaldemusica.es

EPDM is a website were the official Top Selling Charts of Spain are published and new releases of PROMUSICAE member companies are publicized, regardless of their scope or music style and without any additional cost for producers.

 

Asociación de Promotores Musicales   www.apmusicales.com

The Association of Music Promoters (APM) is the main representative of the industry live music in Spain. Its members represent 80% of private promoters in the country and are responsible for major national and international tours and festivals held.

 

Spanish-language music publications

Magic, Revue Pop Moderne www.magicrpm.com

Rock and Folk www.rocknfolk.com

Les inRocKuptables www.lesinrocks.com

 

Spain’s official tourism portal   www.spain.info/en/

Key Regions in Spain

Madrid population 5,804,000

Key Venues/Clubs: La Boca Club www.labocaclub.com, Café Central www.cafecentralmadrid.com, Café Jazz Populart www.populart.es, Costello Club www.costelloclub.com, Galileo Galilei www.salagalileogalilei.com, Honky Tonk www.clubhonky.com, El Junco Jazz Club www.eljunco.com, Gruta 77 www.gruta77.com, La Riviera www.salariviera.com, Siroco www.siroco.es, Sala Caracol www.salacaracol.com, Sala Clamores www.salaclamores.es, El Sol www.elsolmad.com

Key Radio Stations: Antena-6 FM 89.4, Europa FM 91.0, Los 40 Principales FM 93.9, Cadena 100 FM 99.5, Kiss FM 102.7, Maxima FM 104.3, Radio Circulo www.radiocirculo.es

Colleges and Universities: Universidad Complutense of Madrid www.ucm.es, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid www.uam.es, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid www.uc3m.es, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos www.urjc.es


Barcelona population 4,233,000

Key venues/clubs: BeCool www.salabecool.com, Bikini www.bikinibcn.com, Harlem Jazz Club www.harlemjazzclub.es, Jamboree www.masimas.com/jamboree, Luz de Gas www.luzdegas.com, Palau de la Musica www.palaumusica.org, Razzamatazz www.salarazzmatazz.com, Sala Apolo www.sala-apolo.com, Sidecar Factory Club www.sidecarfactoryclub.com

Key Radio Stations: 7 de Radio 917 FM 91.7, Radio Pica FM 96.6, Ràdio Vilamajor FM 98.0, Radio Linea 4 FM 103.9, Máxima FM Barcelona FM 104.2, Radio Bronka FM 104.5, RAC 105 FM 105.0, FlaixFM FM 105.7, Ràdio Flaixbac FM 106.1, Radio Kanal Barcelona FM 106.9

Colleges and Universities: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya www.upc.edu, Universitat Pompeu Fabra www.upf.edu/en, Universitat de Barcelona www.ub.edu/web/ub/en, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona www.uab.cat/en


Valencia population 1,561,000

Key venues/clubs: Barraca Bar www.barracamusic.com, Black Note www.blacknoteclub.com, Sala Republicca www.republicca.com, Sala Wah Wah www.wahwahclub.es, En Babia www.en-babia.com, La 3 www.la3club.es, Kraken krakenrockbar.wordpress.com, Loco Club www.lococlub.org, Cormorán www.cormoran.es

Key Radio Stations: Fun Radio Valencia FM 91.1, Radio Valencia FM 93.1, Los 40 Principales Valencia FM 94.2, Radio 7 Valencia FM 95.4, Máxima FM Valencia FM 95.7, La Radio FM 97.7, Tot Radio FM 104.1, Alzira Radio FM 107.9

Colleges and Universities: Escola d’Art y Superior de Disseny de Valencia www.easdvalencia.com, Universitad Cardenal Herrera www.uchceu.es, Universidad Católica de Valencia www.ucv.es, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia www.upv.es, Universitat de València www.uv.es


Seville population 1,533,000

Key venues/clubs: La Caja Negra, es-la.facebook.com/lacajanegrasevilla, Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo www.caac.es, Fun Club www.funclubsevilla.com, Malandar www.salamalandar.com, Naima Café Jazz www.facebook.com/NAIMA-CAFE-JAZZ-120322509833/, Sala X www.lasalax.com, Teatro Central www.teatrocentral.es

Key radio: Play FM 88.8, Máxima FM Sevilla FM 96.5, Elite Radio FM 100.8, Rock FM 105.7

Colleges and Universities: Universidad Loyola Andalucía www.uloyola.es, Universidad de Sevilla www.us.es, Universidad Pablo de Olavide www.upo.es

Spain’s major festivals

BIME Conference and Festival

BIME (Biscay International Music Experience) Europe’s leading music conference and festival is held in north-central Bilbao, the capital of the Basque region of Spain.

BIME LIVE, the autumn music festival features world-class artists from around the world.

Held concurrently, BIME PRO is music industry conference dedicated to exploring opportunities for music in gaming, apps, digital and new technologies. Over 4,000 professionals from 25 different countries come together for 3 days of meetings and showcases.


Primavera Sound

Beginning in 2001, Primavera Sound festival and its companion event, the PrimaveraPro conference, have kick-started the festival season in Spain.

Now established as one of the world’s great indie festivals, with audiences of close to 200,000 and over 300 performances centred around Barcelona’s Parc del Forum, Primavera Sound offers something for everyone.

PrimaveraPro , an international conference for music industry professionals combines day-time talks, conferences, workshops, showcases, and b2b meetings with evening concerts by newcomer bands from participating countries.

Festival alumni include: Pixies, Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Kendrick Lamar, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Portishead, Pet Shop Boys, Pavement, Echo & The Bunnymen, Lou Reed, My Bloody Valentine, Patti Smith, James Blake, Cat Power, Public Enemy, Franz Ferdinand, Television, Devo, The White Stripes, and LCD Soundsystem.


Sónar

Created in 1994, Sónar is the international festival of advanced music and new media art that takes place in Barcelona, Spain during three days in June.

Each year, Sónar takes the pulse of the current electronic music landscape, combining a series of conferences and talks by creative, cultural and technology professionals (Sónar+D), with spectacular performances by leading international artists, together with numerous and legendary ‘Off Sónar’ after-parties.

Festival alumni include: Daft Punk, Kraftwerk, Super Collider, Goldfrapp, Richie Hawtin, Björk, LCD Soundsystem, Grace Jones, M.I.A., and Pet Shop Boys.


WOMEX

An international platform for the world music industry, WOMEX is the annual five-day trade fair, showcase festival, conference, film program, and award ceremony.

In 2015, WOMEX attracted over 2,500 delegates representing 1,500 companies from 90 countries and saw than 60 showcase acts with 280 artists from 50 countries on 7 stages.

The 22nd edition of WOMEX will take place in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, from Wednesday, 19 to Sunday, 23 October 2016.


Azkena Rock Festival

If hard rocking metal, punk and classic rock turns your crank then Azkena Rock Festival is for you. Starting out in 2001, the festival is held in the Basque region capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the north of Spain.

The festival is produced by Last Tour who also have a hand in high profile Spanish festivals such as BIME, Bilbao BBK and Madrid Live.

Festival alumni include: Pearl Jam, Iggy & The Stooges, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Kiss, Violent Femmes, Eagles of Death Metal, Tool, The Black Crowes, and ZZ Top.


Arenal Sound

The Arenal Sound Festival is six days of sun-drenched indie, rock, pop and electronic music performed on the Playa El Arenal beach, in the town of Burriana.

In addition to camping, the unique Beach Club Live offers sailing, jet skiing, parasailing, kite surfing and scuba diving along with 24-hour a day DJs on the beach for upwards of 60,000 ‘sounders’ a day.

In addition to many Spanish acts, international festival alumni include: The Cranberries, Simple Minds, The Charlatans, Meerkat, Love Of Lesbian, Metropol, Metronomy, White Lies, Die Antwoord, Azealia Banks, The Wombats, Peace, The Kooks, John Newman, and Tom Odell.


Heineken Jazzaldia

Born in 1966 as the San Sebastián Jazz Festival and still running strong with over 100,000 visitors, Heineken Jazzaldia is one of the most established Jazz festivals in Europe.

Running six days, with over 60 performances in multiple venues, the festival is a combination of free and ticketed events.

Festival alumni include: Phil Woods, Chick Corea, Max Roach and Clark Terry, Ray Brown, Elvin Jones, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Toots Thieleman, B.B. King, Mavis Staples, Patti Smith, Buena Vista Social Club, Esperanza Spalding, Oscar Peterson, and Diana Krall.


Festival Internacional de Benicàssim

FIB, the Benicàssim International Festival was first held in August 1995. For over 20 years, performers from rock, indie, alternative and electro genres have appeared at the summer festival near Valencia, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

The festival embodies the principles of environmental responsibility through programs of action to reduce its ecological footprint and protect the environment.

Festival alumni include: The Chemical Brothers, Jesus & Mary Chain, Suede, Blur, Björk, Mercury Rev, Oasis, The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, The Cure, Radiohead, Beck, Moby, Kraftwerk, Lou Reed, Franz Ferdinand, Depeche Mode, Arctic Monkeys, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, New Order, Tame Impala, and Florence and the Machine.

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