Music critic Gino Castaldo says Rome’s absence from many major European tour schedules has little to do with its audiences and everything to do with how Italy’s music world is organised. His comments follow renewed questions about why the capital, despite its global cultural reputation, hosts fewer major international acts than Milan or Bologna.
Milan remains the centre of Italy’s contemporary music industry. Most management firms and promoters are based there, giving the city stronger international connections and making it the natural landing point for global tours. Castaldo also notes that non-classical music receives no public funding in Italy, placing the entire sector at a disadvantage compared with state-backed classical institutions.
Rome still has bright spots. The Auditorium Parco della Musica revitalised the city’s concert scene with multiple halls, festivals, and a clear digital presence. Its success shows Rome’s potential, even within a system that continues to favour the north.
