On September 19, KST, KBS released a fiery statement, grilling Real Madrid for arbitrarily canceling the upcoming Music Bank concert.
The concert, which was scheduled for October 12, 2024, was suddenly called off after Real Madrid FC and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium administration suddenly announced that all concerts to be held at the stadium were canceled until March 2025. They cited noise complaints from local residents as the reason behind this decision.
According to KBS’s statement, this announcement was made without notifying any of the parties involved in the Music Bank concert. The cancellation was announced on September 13, and even in the following six days, no explanations or apologies have been offered.
Before this article was published in the local media, local organizers in Madrid, Sonde3, KOREAN POWER, A.I.E, as well as the organizers in Korea, KBS Music Bank, did not receive any official notification from Real Madrid regarding the cancellation of the Music Bank concert, scheduled for October 12, 2024. This is a very shocking and incomprehensible action.
It has been 6 days since Real Madrid made the initial announcement of the cancellation of the Music Bank concert, and as of today, September 19, Real Madrid has not provided any official explanation or apology to Sonde3, KBS Music Bank, or the thousands of K-pop fans who were eagerly looking forward to the Music Bank concert at the Bernabéu. This is an even more unfair act.
— KBS
KBS’s statement also highlighted the disappointment and inconvenience of the artists who were a part of the concert lineup.
Furthermore, the K-pop artists who were scheduled to perform at the Bernabéu concert are still seeking confirmation regarding the event’s cancellation. If the concert at Bernabéu is canceled, it will cause great disappointment for the eight K-pop teams and artists who have eagerly and earnestly prepared to meet their fans in Spain after a nearly 20-hour journey from Korea to Madrid.
— KBS
KBS concluded its statement by putting forth three demands from Real Madrid to rectify this situation. Firstly, they asked for an official apology from the fans and artists who had been the most affected by this arbitrary decision. Second, they demanded that Real Madrid bear the ethical and financial cost of the losses suffered by all the parties involved in this situation.
We firmly demand that Real Madrid take full ethical and financial responsibility for the losses suffered by K-pop fans and K-pop artists, who have invested a considerable amount of time and money to attend the concert at the Bernabéu. Additionally, Real Madrid must take responsibility for the damage caused to the “Music Bank World Tour” brand’s image, which has been built over the last 15 years thanks to the love and effort of K-pop fans worldwide.
— KBS
And finally, the network urged the concerned authorities for a collaborative effort to reschedule the Music Bank concert in Madrid. KBS expressed its willingness to accommodate all necessary measures, including adjusting the duration of the event and minimizing the noise in order to reach a middle ground.
The Music Bank production team is willing to negotiate with the administrative authorities of Madrid and the officials of the Bernabéu stadium regarding any requests or alternatives, and together with the local organizers and the thousands of K-pop fans, they will take measures to avoid any inconvenience to the residents in the vicinity of the event venue.
We would like to express our utmost gratitude and sympathy to the K-pop fans in Madrid, Spain, and fans from 87 countries who were eagerly waiting for the Music Bank in Madrid concert on October 12. We sincerely hope that the latest negotiations with Real Madrid are successfully resolved so that K-pop fans can experience an unforgettable stage.
— KBS
Notably, the KBS Music Bank concert in Madrid boasted a star-studded lineup, including ENHYPEN, aespa, BOYNEXTDOOR, RIIZE, NMIXX, KISS OF LIFE, MAMAMOO, and P1Harmony. Thousands of fans from all over the world purchased tickets to watch these artists live and were left enraged by the unexpected cancellation of the event. Many have taken the matter to an online petition on change.org, which has garnered over 11,000 signatures from fans all over the world.
