Introduction to Lady Gaga’s Concert
The American Pop Icon Lady Gaga organized a free concert on Saturday at the legendary Copacabana Beach in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The show is the largest in the pop star’s career so far. "We write history tonight. … Thank you for writing history with me," said Lady Gaga about a screaming crowd.
The Concert Attendance
The beach and the coast were full hours before the concert started. Concert organizers said that around 2.1 million participants were there. "I arrived here at 7:40 a.m. this morning," 22-year-old Alisha Duarte told the AFP news agency. "So far it is going well. It will be more complicated this evening when it gets super full, but we’ll survive – Lady Gaga is worth it!"
Increasing the Economy through Concerts
In the past, Rio officers have big concerts on Copacabana Beach. Last year a Madonna show moved 1.6 million people from all over Brazil on the same beach. The city expects a similarly large turnout for the Lady Gaga event. The large-scale services are part of an effort led by the town hall to increase economic activity. Officials appreciate the concert to send around 600 million reais (100 million US dollars, 88.5 million euros) to the local economy, almost 30% more than the free Madonna concert last year.
Economic Benefits and Future Concerts
The concert brings activities to the city during the off-season, filling hotels and increasing expenses in bars, restaurants, and retail. Similar concerts should take place every year in May at least until 2028. This is part of the town hall’s plan to boost the local economy and make the most of the city’s resources.
Safety Precautions and Lady Gaga’s Return to Brazil
About 3,300 military personnel, 1,500 police officers, and 400 military firefighters were used for the Lady Gaga concert as part of the safety precautions. They also used drones as well as monitoring and face recognition cameras. The 39-year-old singer, known for hits such as "Bad Romance" and "Poker Face", recently appeared in Brazil in 2012. It was supposed to appear at the Rock in Rio Festival in 2017, but had to cancel for health reasons.
