Concert tour

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Audience view of Ed Sheeran's 2022-24 +-=/x Tour in Copenhagen. Wiki Ed Sheeran 2022-tour CPH IMG20220803204722.jpg
Audience view of Ed Sheeran's 2022–24 +–=÷× Tour in Copenhagen.

A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific tour with a particular album or product. Especially in the popular music world, such tours can become large-scale enterprises that last for several months or even years, are seen by hundreds of thousands or millions of people, and bring in millions of dollars in ticket revenues. A performer who embarks on a concert tour is called a touring artist. [1] [2]

Contents

Taylor Swift's 2023-24 Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour of all time. Eras Tour - Minneapolis, MN - Speak Now act - 2.jpg
Taylor Swift's 2023-24 Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour of all time.

Different segments of longer concert tours are known as "legs". [3] The different legs of a tour are denoted in different ways, dependent on the artist and type of tour, but the most common means of separating legs are dates (especially if there is a long break at some point), countries and/or continents, or different opening acts. In the largest concert tours, it has become more common for different legs to employ separate touring production crews and equipment, local to each geographical region.[ citation needed ] Concert tours are often administered on the local level by concert promoters or by performing arts presenters. Usually, small concert tours are managed by a road manager whereas large concert tours are managed by a tour manager.

Logistics

David Bowie's Glass Spider Tour stage (1987), then the largest touring set. Reportedly, it took 43 trucks move the set. BowieRaR87-stage.jpg
David Bowie's Glass Spider Tour stage (1987), then the largest touring set. Reportedly, it took 43 trucks move the set.

The main challenge in concert tours is how to move the performance's logistics from one venue to another venue, especially for a transcontinental tour. Tour logistics should be very organized and everything has to happen on time and in the right order as planned. [5] Autoweek magazine estimated 30 to 50 trucks were required by Taylor Swift's The 1989 World Tour to bring all the stage, sound equipment, instruments, props, and clothes. [6]

When Beyoncé visited the United Kingdom with her 2016 The Formation World Tour, it took seven Boeing 747 air freighters and a fleet of more than 70 trucks to get her stage set and other gear to the venues. The logistics phase of that tour did not include transportation of the backstage staff, musicians, performers, and the singer herself. [7]

Themes

The majority of concert tours are part of a promotional campaign to support an album release. [8] [9] Hence, new songs from the respective album are included on its tour's setlist. [10] Some tours are known as "greatest hits tours" or "reunion tour" without any new material or specific album release, [11] [12] such as Fleetwood Mac's 2009 Unleashed tour and No Doubt's 2009 Summer Tour. [13] [14] Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour (2023–2024) is a retrospective of her career to that point, where each act of the concert represents one of her albums. [15] In another case, artists embark on a concert tour to celebrate the anniversary of their past albums, such as U2's 2017 tour to mark the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree (1987) and Janet Jackson's 2019 tour to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). [16] [17]

Farewell tour

A farewell tour is a concert tour intended to signal the retirement of a singer, the disbanding of a band, or the end of a show's run. Many of the tours end up not being the last tour, with frequent regroupings, or revivals of shows. [18] [19] [20] Luciano Pavarotti's 2004 tour and Kenny Rogers's 2015–2017 tour are examples of farewell tours which were the last to be staged before their deaths. [21] [22]

Revenue

As of December 2023, the highest-grossing concert tour of all time is Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, with a revenue of $1.039 billion in 2023 alone, making her tour the first to gross over $1 billion, and the highest gross in a single calendar year. On second place is Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road, with a total gross of $939 million from 2018–2023. [23] On third place is Ed Sheeran's ÷ Tour, with a gross of $776.2 million. [24] [25]

Global touring revenue reported to Billboard Boxscore exceeded $5.5 billion in 2016. [26] Due to the collapse of record sales in the 21st century, concert tours have become a major income for recording artists. [27] Besides the tickets, touring also generates money from the sales of merchandise and meet-and-greet packages. [28] [29] However, the touring business suffered in the early 2020s because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pollstar estimated the total lost revenue for the industry in 2020 at more than $30 billion. [30]

Response

The mobility of concert tours requires a lot of costs, time, and energy. It is very common for musicians to not see family members for over a year during their touring. [31] British singer Adele expressed her unhappiness of concert tours, saying "Touring is a peculiar thing, it doesn't suit me particularly well. I'm a real homebody and I get so much joy in the small things." [31] A concert residency concept is offered as an alternative to performers who just need to stay in one venue and the fans come to see them. [32] The concept has been revitalized in the 21st century by Canadian superstar Céline Dion with the success of her A New Day... residency (2003–2007). Her residency introduced a new form of theatrical entertainment, a fusion of song, performance art, innovative stage craft, and state-of-the-art technology. She managed to popularize the Las Vegas residency as a desirable way for top artists to essentially tour in place, letting their fans come to them. [33] American singer Lady Gaga, who cancelled the 2018 European leg of her Joanne World Tour, signed for a Las Vegas residency to help manage her fibromyalgia illness, which can be exacerbated by touring. [34]

The 2015 study by charity Help Musicians found that over 60% of musicians suffered from depression or other psychological issues, with touring an issue for 71% of respondents. [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Swift</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1989)

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Her songwriting, artistry, and entrepreneurship have influenced the music industry and popular culture, and her life is a subject of widespread media coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A New Day...</span> Residency show performed by Celine Dion

A New Day... was the first concert residency performed by Canadian singer Celine Dion in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was created and directed by Franco Dragone to support her seventh English-language and eighteenth studio album A New Day Has Come (2002). The show premiered on 25 March 2003 and ended on 15 December 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">México En La Piel Tour</span> 2005–07 concert tour by Luis Miguel

México En La Piel Tour was a concert tour performed by Luis Miguel in support of his studio albums México en la Piel and later Navidades during 2006–2007. On this tour, Luis Miguel performed his recent pop songs, his newest mariachi songs, and also his back-catalogue. Two press conferences were held to present the album México en la Piel – one in the National Art Museum (MUNAL) of Mexico City and another in Madrid. In late 2006, Luis Miguel presents his album Navidades in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celine (concert residency)</span> Las Vegas concert residency by Céline Dion

Celine was the second concert residency by the Canadian singer Celine Dion. It was performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning 15 March 2011, with an estimated 70 performances per year. The residency ranked 26th in Pollstar's "Top 50 Worldwide Tour (Mid-Year)", earning over $20 million. Being seen by over 200,000 people, the residency became the number one show in 2011. It made Dion the top earner in Vegas, earning $500,000 a show, and made her the "most profitable music act in Las Vegas" since Elvis Presley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concert residency</span> Run of an artists shows at one location

A concert residency is a series of concerts, similar to a concert tour, but only performed at one location. Pollstar Awards defined residency as a run of 10 or more shows at a single venue. An artist who performs on a concert residency is called a resident performer. Concert residencies have been the staple of the Las Vegas Strip for decades, pioneered by singer-pianist Liberace in the 1940s and Frank Sinatra with the Rat Pack in the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britney: Piece of Me</span> 2013–2017 concert residency by Britney Spears

Britney: Piece of Me was the first concert residency by American entertainer Britney Spears, performed at The AXIS auditorium located in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show, which opened on December 27, 2013, was initially set for two years; it was well received by critics and also achieved huge commercial success. The residency won the best of Las Vegas award in 2015 and 2017. In 2015, Spears extended her contract with Planet Hollywood for an additional two years, concluding the residency on December 31, 2017. After close to 146 performances, the show grossed $138 million from 900,000 tickets at an average price of $150.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dressed to Kill Tour (Cher)</span> 2014 concert tour by Cher

The Dressed to Kill Tour was the sixth solo concert tour by American singer-actress Cher. Launched in support of her twenty-fifth studio album, Closer to the Truth (2013), it started in Phoenix, Arizona on March 22, 2014 and continued across North America before coming to a close in San Diego on July 11, 2014. The tour has received mostly positive reception from critics, who praised Cher's vocal performance as well as the several costumes and show elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 1989 World Tour</span> 2015 concert tour by Taylor Swift

The 1989 World Tour was the fourth concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, launched in support of her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). Swift announced the tour's first dates in North America, Europe, Japan, and Oceania in November and December 2014. She announced additional dates for Singapore and China in June 2015, and a final announcement of the third show in Melbourne was made the following month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piece of Me Tour</span> 2018 concert tour by Britney Spears

The Piece of Me Tour was the tenth concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. Although it largely mirrors her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, which concluded in December 2017; the stage-show was updated with new remixes, production technology, visuals and set list modifications to accommodate for arena shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reputation Stadium Tour</span> 2018 concert tour by Taylor Swift

The Reputation Stadium Tour was the fifth concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, launched in support of her sixth studio album Reputation (2017). The all-stadium tour began on May 8, 2018, in Glendale, Arizona, and concluded on November 21, 2018, in Tokyo, consisting of 53 shows. The tour received 2.88 million attendees and grossed $345.7 million in revenue. It marked Swift's most successful tour to-date and broke numerous boxscore records, becoming the third highest-grossing female concert tour of all time and the highest-grossing tour ever in the United States and North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Gaga Enigma + Jazz & Piano</span> Las Vegas residency show

Lady Gaga Enigma + Jazz & Piano is a concert residency by American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga held at the Park Theater in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. The residency consists of two types of shows: Enigma, which focuses on theatricality and includes the singer's biggest hits, and Jazz & Piano, which involves songs from the Great American Songbook and stripped-down versions of Gaga's songs. The Enigma show was built around a loose storyline about "healing and finding yourself", and saw Gaga wearing various sci-fi inspired outfits. For Jazz & Piano, Gaga aimed for "glamour and elegance", with her wardrobe harkening back to the Jazz Age and vintage Vegas. The Enigma shows opened on December 28, 2018, and the Jazz & Piano shows opened on January 20, 2019. After a 21-month long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the residency returned to the theater on October 14, 2021.

References

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