Spain Establishes Initiative to Promote Spanish Music Globally

In response to the growing influence of Spanish-language music globally, the Cervantes Institute and Spain's Culture Ministry have announced the establishment of a new body called Music by Spain. This initiative aims to enhance the international presence of Spanish music, leveraging the soft power that the genre has cultivated over the past decade. The initiative will be supported by the Es_Música Federation, Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), alongside the Cervantes Institute and the Culture Ministry, led by Minister Ernest Urtasun.

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The Culture Ministry has allocated an annual budget of 100,000 euros to facilitate the operations of this Export Office. Its primary functions will include organizing trade fairs, exploring new strategic markets, and conducting trade missions to promote Spanish music. Urtasun emphasized that this initiative represents a significant advancement for the music industry, providing essential tools for better coordination among institutions, companies, and artists on a global scale.

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The Music by Spain initiative aims to democratize access to international opportunities for Spanish music professionals. It will produce analyses of international trends and market opportunities while disseminating information about various programs, calls, and networks relevant to the industry. Additionally, the Cervantes Institute is developing a global map of Spanish-language music to centralize data on consumption patterns, which have previously been managed by private companies.

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The rise of Spanish-language music has been notable, particularly in the United States, which is the largest entertainment market globally. According to Luminate’s final 2025 report, Spanish-language music achieved nearly 9 billion plays, closely approaching country music's 122.5 billion plays. Furthermore, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) reported that Spanish was the language of 21% of the 500 most streamed songs on Spotify in 2023, ranking second only to English. On YouTube, Spanish songs accounted for 21% of the 100 most listened-to tracks worldwide and 7% of the most viewed video clips in history, totaling 13 billion views.

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While the initiative has been largely welcomed, some critics argue that the focus on promoting Spanish music may overlook the diverse musical expressions within Spain's regional cultures. They suggest that a more inclusive approach could better represent the country's rich musical heritage.

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Minister Ernest Urtasun stated, "These are tools that bring together information, support, and market intelligence, making it possible to better coordinate the efforts of institutions, companies, and artists on the global stage." The Cervantes Institute’s Director of Culture, Raquel Caleya, highlighted the importance of centralizing data on Spanish-language music consumption to better understand its global impact.

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The Music by Spain initiative is set to launch its first activities in the coming months, focusing on establishing connections with international markets and promoting Spanish music at various global events.

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