Gus Canazio Joins Rock In Rio Producer Rock World As SVP of Booking

Live music veteran Gus Canazio has joined Brazilian event producer Rock World as senior vice president of booking, joining President, CEO Luis Justo, and chief artistic director Zé Ricardo.

Canazio joins Rock World, producer of events like Rock in Rio in Brazil and Portugal and The Town in Sao Paulo, along with partnering with C3 Presents in Brazil, after holding similar roles at ASM Global and the Intuit Dome.

“It’s an enormous challenge to take on this position,” Canazio says in the announcement. “As a Brazilian (even though I’ve lived in the United States since childhood), I grew up with Rock in Rio as an inspiration. I have great admiration for what Roberto Medina and his team created more than 40 years ago – a legacy that continues to inspire generations. I’m excited to contribute and to create unforgettable experiences and impactful moments for millions of fans around the world.”

Discussions to bring Canazio on board began back in 2015 at Rock in Rio Las Vegas when he was recruited as a booking consultant for the event.

“I’ve wanted Gus on our team for a while. He is an extremely capable professional with hands-on experience at major companies in the entertainment industry.” Ricardo says in the announcement. “He arrives at a very opportune moment, further amplifying our artistic conversations and giving us the fresh perspective of someone who lives this day to day abroad, anticipating scenarios and trends.”

Rock in Rio in 2024 celebrated 40 years with more than 700,000 in attendance at Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park, to see headliners Travis Scott, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Imagine Dragons, Mariah Carey, and Will Smith, and many more artists. Next year’s event is scheduled in Rio Sept. 4-7 and Sept. 11-13.