Karol G at Coachella was a global hit. Yet other foreign acts fear touring the U.S.

If I lived in another country, I am very doubtful I would come to the USA for any reason at this point.


Karol G at Coachella was a global hit. Yet other foreign acts fear touring the U.S.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/karol-g-coachella-global-hit-100000741.html
August Brown Sun, April 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM CDT



On the first Sunday night of Coachella, headliner Karol G told her American fans, and her global audience, to keep fighting.......................


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Pollstar’s Gensler estimates that the total number of concerts in the U.S. they tracked for the first quarter of 2026 was down about 17% from last year. That could be due to many economic factors — but slower international touring could be contributing.

“The U.S. is still incredibly lucrative market, the arena and stadium level buildings are vast and you can make more money here than any market in the world,” Gensler said. “But I’ve heard anecdotally that fewer people are going to South by Southwest, and tourism from Canada is way down, and that includes music tourism to California. As barriers go up, and the economic shock of gas prices impacts touring, it’s hard to know how that will all shake out.”



Talent firms who specialize in bringing young acts to the U.S. began noticing pullback before this year’s festival season. Adam Lewis is the head of Planetary Group, a marketing agency that produces and promoting musician showcases in the U.S., with a significant roster of artists from abroad. He said that performers who ordinarily would leap at the chance to play U.S. festivals are taking hard looks at the payoffs and risks.

“Artists are thinking twice, based on what the government is doing right now,” Lewis said. “You can look at the economics — the fees are cost prohibitive to get a visa. People are scared, at the bottom line. Artists and industry people are afraid to come to the U.S. for any music event. The money is going elsewhere.”..............................

Karol G at Coachella was a global hit. Yet other foreign acts fear touring the U.S.

'People are scared, at the bottom line. Artists and industry people are afraid to come to the U.S. for any music event. The money is going elsewhere.”.😭

www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-04-19T21:47:16.057Z

INDIO, CA, APRIL 12, 2026: Karol G performs at the Coachella stage on weekend one of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Karol G performs at the Coachella stage on the festival's opening weekend. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)