Brazilian municipalities under scrutiny for multimillion‑real‑R$ public contracts to music acts

In São Paulo, four cover bands formed between 2023 and 2024 received more than R$ 2.3 million in public fees over 15 months. The contracts, managed through producer Fabrício Raveli and agency J7, paid up to R$ 30 000 per show—far above standard rates—and were justified by alleged participation in corporate events and cultural lectures. The municipal government says selections follow technical and cultural criteria, but auditors have flagged weak evidence of notoriety and transparency.

A separate investigation covering the whole of Brazil found that between January 2024 and March 2026, about 100 artists accumulated over R$ 5 billion in fees from city and state governments. The report, titled “Farras,” highlights an oligopoly that channels funds to performers linked to the agribusiness sector, often without competitive bidding. Roughly R$ 483 million went to agricultural fairs, rodeos and similar events, while cultural projects for small‑scale farmers received only R$ 2.6 million. The dossier points to political alliances with right‑wing parties and a lack of proper registration in the national procurement portal.