AGP Executive Report

Chilean Metal: Santiago band ATER is taking its DIY approach overseas after more than 100 European shows; its new single “Sleep” is out, with third album “Everlasting” due in 2027. Live Music: U2 will skip Chile on its 2027 Latin American tour for the first time, after reported negotiations to bring the band to Santiago fell through. BTS Fever: The group praised Chilean fans after a concert, promising to return, while Chile’s military police commended their exemplary behavior. Books: Isabel Allende has won a €1 million Spanish literary prize under a pseudonym. Santiago Events: The city’s annual Zombie Walk brought retro horror to the streets. Folk Music: Chilean singer Laura Venegas-Rojas leads Quimantu on a UK date, with the group’s new album expected this autumn.

Live Music: BTS wrapped three sold-out Chile shows with a fan-first save: after a stage lift malfunction disrupted “2.0,” the group promised and performed an encore. Chile’s military police praised fans for their exemplary concert behavior. Concert News: U2’s 2027 Latin American tour will reportedly skip Chile for the first time, after talks to bring the band to Santiago fell through. The group has not commented, and it’s unclear whether venue restrictions played a role. Santiago Culture: Thousands of costumed fans joined the city’s annual Zombie Walk on Saturday, with this year’s parade themed around time travel ahead of Halloween. Literature: Chilean author Isabel Allende won a €1 million Spanish literary prize under a pseudonym.

Santiago Scene: Thousands of horror fans filled downtown Santiago for Chile’s annual Zombie Walk, this year led by a time-travel theme ahead of Halloween. BTS in Chile: The group wrapped three sold-out Santiago shows after a stage lift malfunction blocked some fans’ view; BTS promised an encore of “2.0” to make it right. The Chile dates came as the band became the first group to reach 10 billion Spotify streams in a year. Literature: Chilean author Isabel Allende won Spain’s €1 million Planeta Prize for La hora antes del alba, a sequel to The House of the Spirits that returns to Alba’s story and closes the saga. Music Business: Live Nation is moving to acquire a majority stake in Chilean concert promoter Bizarro, expanding its Latin American reach.

BTS in Santiago: The group brought three concerts to Chile this week as local military police praised fans for their exemplary conduct. BTS also set a Spotify record, becoming the first group to surpass 10 billion streams in a single year. Isabel Allende’s Prize: The Chilean author won Spain’s €1 million Planeta Prize for a sequel to The House of the Spirits; she says the new novel will close that story’s universe. Latin Game Creators: Xbox launched Game Camp Mexico to support developers across the region, including Chile, and spotlight emerging Latin American games. Cross-Cultural Music: “Muévete” brings Indian classical sounds together with Latin percussion and Spanish-language pop, with musicians from Chile, Venezuela and India collaborating on the track. Chile’s Live-Music Business: Live Nation is moving to acquire a majority stake in concert promoter Bizarro Chile, a major shift for the country’s concert scene.

Latin Sounds: “Muévete” brings Indian classical music together with Latin percussion and Spanish-language pop, featuring musicians from India, Venezuela and Chile. BTS in Santiago: Chilean authorities praised fans’ orderly conduct at the group’s return after nine years; one concert drew an estimated 76,000 people. Global Milestone: BTS became the first group to surpass 10 billion Spotify streams in a calendar year, powered by its album “Arirang.” Live Music: Slipknot’s 2027 tour includes a Santiago stop at Estadio Nacional, though that date currently has no second stage listed. Chile’s Music Business: Live Nation is moving to acquire a majority stake in local concert promoter Bizarro, extending its Latin American expansion. Art Abroad: Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña’s eco-feminist work is featured in a London exhibition.

BTS in Chile: Carabineros praised fans’ orderly conduct at the group’s first Santiago concert, part of its first Chile visit in nine years. The show drew an estimated 76,000 people, as BTS also made history as the first group to surpass 10 billion Spotify streams in a year. Latin Music: Karol G celebrated the North American leg of her tour, which sold more than one million tickets, with a live video for “Bby Wow.” Chilean Bodybuilding: Marianne von Gierke has died at 40, two weeks after competing at the 2026 Mr. Olympia; no cause of death has been announced. Live Music: Slipknot’s 2027 tour includes a Santiago stop at Estadio Nacional on September 12. Chilean Art: Cecilia Vicuña’s eco-feminist work is on view in London, bringing the acclaimed Chilean artist’s vision to a new audience.

BTS in Chile: BTS became the first group to reach 10 billion Spotify streams in a year, with its album Arirang accounting for more than half. The band is in Santiago for its “Arirang” world tour. Literature: Chilean author Isabel Allende won the €1 million Premio Planeta for her unpublished novel La hora antes del alba, presented by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Concert Business: Live Nation is moving to acquire a majority stake in Chilean promoter Bizarro, deepening its push into Latin America. Visual Arts: Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña’s eco-feminist work is on show in London, while the city’s new Paraíso fair spotlights Latin American art.

Chilean Sports: Bodybuilder Marianne von Gierke has died at 40, weeks after placing 13th at Mr. Olympia. The Magallanes-born athlete also worked as a trainer; her cause of death has not been announced. TV: Don Francisco’s latest return to Chilean television is prompting questions about whether the Sunday slot can reshape his legacy. Music Business: Live Nation is expanding in Latin America through a partnership to acquire a majority stake in Chilean concert promoter Bizarro. Film: Ventana Sur Proyecta has unveiled a new Latin American lineup, while Chilean director Patricio Valladares is developing a horror adaptation of Dante’s The Divine Comedy. Art: Cecilia Vicuña’s eco-feminist work is taking a new exhibition to London.

BTS in Santiago: “Hooligan” has passed 100 million YouTube views as the group plays three shows in Chile this week. Chilean Stories on Screen: Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, is set in Chile on the eve of the 1973 coup and features Mariana di Girólamo. Live Music: Live Nation is taking a majority stake in Chilean concert promoter Bizarro, deepening its Latin American push. On the Way: Guitarist John 5 brings his tour to Santiago’s Blondie on Nov. 12. TV Comeback: Don Francisco is returning to Chilean TV with a Sunday slot, raising questions about whether the beloved host can reshape his legacy. Festival Watch: Travis Scott, Charli XCX and The Killers are set to headline 2027 South American Lollapaloozas.

K-pop in Chile: BTS bandmates surprised Jimin in Chile for his birthday, giving local fans a memorable moment with the group. Books and Music: Shakira quoted Chilean writer Isabel Allende on women’s solidarity during her Madrid residency, linking the author’s words to her message of empowerment. Latin American Cinema: Ventana Sur’s 2026 Proyecta forum unveiled 12 projects from emerging filmmakers, backed by leading regional producers. Live Music Business: Live Nation is expanding in Chile through a majority stake in concert promoter Bizarro, while Travis Scott, Charli XCX and The Killers are set to headline 2027 South American Lollapaloozas. Chilean Television: Don Francisco is back on TV with a new Sunday slot, prompting fresh questions about the presenter’s enduring legacy.

BTS in Chile: Jimin marked his 31st birthday in Chile, where bandmates surprised him during the group’s tour. BTS is also celebrating 5 billion Spotify streams for Arirang, with Santiago shows set for October 14, 16 and 17. Live Music: Live Nation is taking a majority stake in Chilean promoter Bizarro, with founder Alfredo Alonso staying on to lead its creative strategy; the deal aims to grow Latin music and local artists. On Screen: Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal says learning cello for upcoming film Behemoth! was the biggest challenge of his career. Chilean Film: Red Hangar, directed by Juan Pablo Sallato, won the World Competition’s top prize at Belgrade’s FEST. Coming to Santiago: A Perfect Circle will perform with Puscifer at Hipódromo de Chile on November 29. Art: Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña’s eco-feminist work is featured in a London exhibition.

Live Music: Live Nation is taking a majority stake in Chilean promoter Bizarro, with founder Alfredo Alonso staying on to lead its creative direction. The partnership aims to expand Latin music and artist opportunities in Chile. Lollapalooza 2027: Travis Scott, Charli XCX and The Killers will headline the Santiago festival, set for March 12–14 at Parque O’Higgins. Pedro Pascal: The Chilean-American actor says learning cello for his upcoming film Behemoth! was the toughest challenge of his career. Chilean Arts: Santiago-born artist Cecilia Vicuña’s eco-feminist work is featured in her first major UK exhibition at London’s Whitechapel Gallery. Horror Films: Chilean director Patricio Valladares has wrapped The Divine Comedy, a supernatural reimagining of Dante’s Inferno.

Chilean Horror: Filmmaker Patricio Valladares’ supernatural film The Divine Comedy, a modern take on Dante’s Inferno, has revealed its first look after wrapping production. TV Comeback: Don Francisco is returning to Chilean television, prompting fresh questions about how new projects might reshape the legacy of Sábado Gigante. Live Music: Dutch rock band The Gathering has released a live album celebrating Mandylion and is due to play Santiago on Oct. 17. Rosalía also joins Fontaines D.C. on their new orchestral ballad, ahead of the band’s Chile festival dates. Lollapalooza Chile: Charli XCX, Travis Scott and The Killers will headline the 2027 festival. Arts and Tourism: Centro del Vino Concha y Toro has been named South America’s leading wine tourism experience at the World Travel Awards.

Music: Rosalía joins Irish band Fontaines D.C. on “Where Is Gone?,” a new orchestral ballad from their Oct. 16 album. The band is also set to play festival dates in Chile, Argentina and Colombia. Live Shows: Dutch rock band The Gathering brings its reunited Mandylion lineup to Santiago’s Movistar Arena on Oct. 17, following the release of a live album celebrating the record’s 30th anniversary. Chilean Screen: Cannes-winning production house Quijote Films is expanding into scripted series, investing in development and building a pipeline of original projects from Chile and Los Angeles. Festival Watch: Lollapalooza Chile has unveiled its 2027 lineup, led by Charli XCX, Travis Scott and The Killers.

Don Francisco’s TV Return: The Chilean-born host is back on Univision after an 11-year break, reviving a career built on 53 years of Sábado Gigante as audiences decide whether his variety-show style still fits today. Quijote Films: The Cannes-winning Chilean producer is expanding into scripted series, investing up to $250,000 in development and building a team to create original projects. Lollapalooza Chile: Charli XCX, Travis Scott and The Killers will headline the 2027 festival, one of the country’s biggest live-music events. Music Business: Live Nation has made a majority investment in Chilean promoter Bizarro, aiming to expand a partnership that has helped grow the country’s concert scene.

Latin American Cinema: Sudbury’s Abya Yala Film Festival runs Oct. 15–18, with films from Chile among its regional lineup. Festival News: Lollapalooza Chile 2027 has named Charli XCX, Travis Scott and The Killers as headliners. Music Industry: Live Nation has taken a majority stake in Chilean promoter Bizarro, a major shift for the country’s live-music business. Television: Don Francisco is returning to the Sábado Gigante studio for a new Univision show. Arts & Books: Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña is featured in a new interview, while Sex and Dissent examines feminist resistance in Chile and three other countries.