Salvador’s New Year Festival Enters Day 2 as City Defends R$13 Million in Artist Fees

Overview

• The second night runs Sunday at Arena O Canto da Cidade with Edson Gomes, Claudia Leitte, Simone Mendes, Pablo and Tony Salles, with gates at 3 p.m. and shows from 7 p.m.
• City hall released contracts showing more than R$13 million in artist fees, led by Ivete Sangalo and Jorge & Mateus at R$1 million each and DJ Alok at R$850,000.
• In a briefing at the opening, Bruno Reis said private sponsorships pay nearly all fees and argued the festival generates jobs, hotel bookings and tax revenue.
• Organizers highlighted on-site services that include a medical post with 20 observation beds and a resuscitation unit, along with leisure and gastronomic areas.
• The opening night drew large crowds and fueled talk of summer hits, with fans backing songs by Léo Santana and Pedro Sampaio as Santana asserted pagodão belongs within MPB.