UrbanEñe to Propel Spanish Urban Music Globally
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in partnership with the SGAE Foundation and Granca Live Fest, will host the third UrbanEñe platform from July 2-4 to connect Spanish urban music artists with international festival programmers and boost their global reach.
Spanish urban music is getting a new push to go global, thanks to an initiative from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The SGAE Foundation, in partnership with Granca Live Fest, the Canary Islands Government, the Island Council, and the city council, has announced the third edition of UrbanEñe. This platform is designed to help Spanish artists reach international markets, especially in Latin America.
UrbanEñe will take place from July 2 to 4, as part of the Granca Live Fest. The event aims to strengthen the Canary Islands' role as a cultural link between Europe and America. Its main goal is to help Spanish artists and bands break into international music scenes and export their music. Artists interested in participating must apply by March 17 through the SGAE Foundation's official channels.
A key feature of UrbanEñe is that it brings together programmers from famous international festivals, like Vive Latino in Mexico and Lollapalooza in Chile. These programmers will travel to the island specifically to discover new talent. Selected artists will not only perform short concerts for the Granca Live Fest audience but will also get access to a valuable network of contacts. Direct professional meetings will be arranged between artists' representatives and the directors of these major international events.
This direct interaction aims to lead to touring deals and collaborations, helping Spanish urban music grow worldwide. The SGAE Foundation, building on successful programs like FlamencoEñe and JazzEñe, is showing its continued dedication to making Spain's music industry more professional and sustainable.
An Evaluation Committee, made up of respected professionals and experts in urban music, will review all applications and select the participants. The four chosen artists for the official lineup will be announced in April. With this initiative, the Canary Islands strengthen their position as an important cultural hub, giving Spanish artists the tools they need to succeed in the global music industry.