Mexico requests additional BTS shows due to high demand for comeback tour

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has reached out to South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung, requesting additional BTS concerts in Mexico due to overwhelming demand. BTS, the globally popular K-pop group, is returning from a four-year hiatus with a 79-date world tour. The band is scheduled to perform three shows in Mexico City this May, but tickets sold out in under 40 minutes, leaving about one million fans competing for just 150,000 tickets. Some fans criticized Ticketmaster and resale platforms for high dynamic pricing, prompting investigations by Mexican authorities. Resale platforms StubHub and Viagogo have already been sanctioned for abusive practices. Mexico is a major market for K-pop, ranking fifth worldwide in Spotify streaming growth over the last five years. While the local promoter claimed that BTS’ schedule makes additional shows difficult, Sheinbaum’s letter emphasizes the high popularity of the group among Mexican youth. The tour starts with three nights in Goyang, South Korea on 9 April and will span Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Industry estimates suggest BTS and their label Hybe could earn over $1 billion from concerts, merchandise, album sales, licensing, and streaming.