Latest news with #DeadForever
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Coldplay, Shakira & Sphere Lead Midyear Boxscore Report
Most people wouldn't expect to see pillows passed around a Dead & Company concert. More from Billboard Shakira Concert at Boston's Fenway Park Canceled Hours Before Showtime Josh Brolin Pulls Back the Curtain on the Musical 'Sorcery' of Chris Stapleton BLACKPINK Reveals Dates for 2025 Asia Leg of World Tour But for Bernie Cahill of Activist Artists Management — the firm that manages Bobby Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead and frontman of Dead & Company (which Cahill co-manages with Irving Azoff and Steve Moir) — the decorative pillows, handed out to fans with floor tickets during the band's nightly performance of 'Drums/Space' at its Sphere residency, serve an important purpose. Those on the floor are encouraged to lie down and gaze up at the cutting-edge venue's towering screen, which during the instrumental segment often displays imagery of the cosmos; at other points during the band's Dead Forever shows, audiences take in visuals from the San Francisco Bay Area to psychedelic animations. Thanks to its massive video screen, its booking of superstar acts and its aggressively high ticket prices, Las Vegas' Sphere — where Dead & Company alone grossed $21.6 million from six concerts in March, when it resumed shows there following a successful run last year — is again the world's top-grossing building, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. It surpasses the top stadium (Mexico City's Estadio GNP Seguros) and two iconic New York venues (Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall) with a $165.3 million haul at midyear, which spans from Oct. 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Sphere's economic power isn't in its show count — at midyear, the venue has hosted only 42 dates, including other residencies by the Eagles and dance artist Anyma — but in its average ticket price, which at $238 is roughly double those of Madison Square Garden ($133) or London's O2 Arena ($105). While much of the music industry debates rising ticket prices, Sphere has shown there's a vibrant market ready to pay a premium for special experiences delivered by top talent. A DOWNWARD TREND: This year's midyear charts are down significantly compared with 2024: Last year, the top 10 tours at this time had a combined gross of $1.4 billion, while in 2025, the top 10 outings have grossed a combined $1 billion, a drop of more than 28%. Among the top 50 tours, the combined gross disparity was less stark but still notable, going from $3.2 billion in 2024 to $2.5 billion in 2025, a drop of about 21%. But this shift doesn't necessarily signify weakness in the market. The main reason was show count: There have been fewer concerts in 2025 at the midyear point than there were in 2024. In 2024, the top 10 tours at midyear reported a combined 442 total shows for the period, compared with 245 in 2025, a 45% decline. For the top 50, the 1,425 shows reported in 2024 fell to 1,159 in 2025, a drop of 18.7%. On Billboard's Top Promoters chart, Live Nation's grosses were down to $2.2 billion in 2025 from $2.8 billion in 2024. But because shows are booked months, or sometimes over a year, in advance, changes in the number of total shows don't reveal much about consumer spending or demand in early 2025. The decline partially stems from timing. During a recent earnings call, Live Nation president/CEO Michael Rapino noted that more artists are waiting until the second and third quarters to launch their tours — and with more acts playing stadiums in 2025, more major tours are on the road in the summer, when the weather is better. The 2025 show count should increase in the next six months, which historically covers the busiest part of the year, especially in North America. Importantly, last year's touring numbers at midyear were unusually high thanks to U2's venue-opening Sphere residency, which grossed $231.6 million from 38 shows during that time. That tracking period also included dozens of concerts from three major tours (Madonna, P!nk and Luis Miguel) that led to a high show count. CHART STATS: Three acts in the 2025 midyear top 10 — Coldplay, P!nk and Eagles — also appeared in last year's midyear top 10. And three more among the top 10 — Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars and SEVENTEEN — ranked among the top 20 at midyear in 2024. But there are some notable differences in the music genres atop the chart. After three Latin tours reached the top 10 at midyear in 2024, only Shakira has done so in 2025. And after Travis Scott ranked No. 9 at midyear in 2024, no hip-hop artists cracked the top 10 in 2025. The highest-ranking hip-hop tour at midyear is Tyler, The Creator, who is No. 16 with $65.3 million grossed. When it comes to ticket prices, Eagles at Sphere had the highest average price among the top 10 tours of $285 per ticket, followed by Usher, who charged an average of $179, and P!nk, whose tickets averaged $174. The cheapest tickets among the top 10 tours were for Coldplay ($109), Mars ($118) and McCartney ($129). On average, the ticket price of the top 50 tours was $130, down 10% from 2024. On the Top Tours chart, 10 acts had an average ticket price that was under $100: Aventura ($99), Sebastian Maniscalco ($98), André Rieu ($94), Deftones ($88), Iron Maiden ($85), Trans-Siberian Orchestra ($84), Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds ($84), Cody Johnson ($77), Feid ($77) and Strait ($49). THE TOP 10: Keep scrolling for details on the top 10 touring artists of Billboard's midyear Boxscore period, tracking all shows worldwide from Oct. 1, 2024, to March 31, $73.2MTickets: 494KNumber of Shows: 41Where Was He?: North America Gross: $75.9MTickets: 436KNumber of Shows: 18Where Was She?: The United StatesGross: $76.4MTickets: 536KNumber of Shows: 11Where Was He?: Australia, New Zealand & the United States Gross: $88.9MTickets: 496KNumber of Shows: 38Where Was He?: Canada, the United States & his first show in LondonGross: $101MTickets: 849KNumber of Shows: 20Where Was He?: Brazil & Las Vegas Gross: $104.5MTickets: 810KNumber of Shows: 22Where Was He?: Europe & Latin America Gross: $112.2MTickets: 393KNumber of Shows: 24Where Were They?: Sphere in Las Vegas Gross: $120.9MTickets: 842KNumber of Shows: 30Where Were They?: Asia & the United StatesGross: $130MTickets: 1MNumber of Shows: 21Where Was She?: Mexico & South AmericaGross: $142.1MTickets: 1.3MNumber of Shows: 20Where Were They?: Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates & India A version of this story appears in the May 31, 2025, issue of Billboard. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Dead and Company set for trio of concerts at San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Park in August
Dead and Company are to play three shows at San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Park this summer. Although the rock band - which is a continuation of the Grateful Dead with original members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart joined by John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane - haven't officially announced the trio of gigs, the city's mayor, Daniel Lurie, confirmed the dates of August 1, 2 and 3. In an X video, he said: 'We have some really big news. 'Dead and Co., three shows, August 1, 2 and 3, right here in the city that is the home of the Grateful Dead. What better way to celebrate. We'll see you out here in August.' The clip is captioned: "San Francisco is planning to welcome @deadandcompany to Golden Gate Park for three days in August, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. Stay tuned for more details from the band coming soon!" Dead and Company will wrap their 10th anniversary 'Dead Forever' residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend (May 15 to 17). Meanwhile, Bob recently suggested it's possible for the Grateful Dead to reunite as a trio following the passing of bass player Phil Lesh. The musician died in October, at the age of 84, and before his passing, Weir, and bandmates Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart were planning a 60th anniversary reunion tour with Lesh. Should they get back together, Weir admits he couldn't replace his beloved bandmate. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said: 'I think when Phil checked out, so did that notion, because we don't have a bass player who's been playing with us for 60 years now. And that was the intriguing prospect.… I think you need somebody holding down the bottom. Phil had all kinds of ideas that were pretty much unique to him. I grew up with Phil holding down the bottom in his unique way.' Asked about reuniting as a three-piece, he added: 'I suppose I could go back out. I wouldn't put anybody in his place, so it would be a trio at this point. It'd be me and two drummers. I'd have to think about that. I haven't thought about it — it's just now occurring to me that it's a possibility that we could do that, since you asked.… I guess we'll just see what the three of us can pull together.' Weir also admitted he and Lesh had their "differences". Recounting their last conversation, he shared: 'We did have our differences. But the last phone call I had from him was when the news came out that we were being honoured at the Kennedy Center. He called me just simply to congratulate me and us, and that was his entire reason for calling. And when we were done talking about that, I was spun out, he was spun out. We tried to make sense of it for a little bit. And then said, 'Well, OK, see you there,' basically. I guess that wasn't to be.' The trio turned up with Lesh's son, Grahame, to be honoured by then-President Joe Biden at the Kennedy Center Honors in December. In 2015, Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann, and Hart reunited for the 'Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead' concerts. They were joined by Trey Anastasio of Phish on guitar, Jeff Chimenti on keyboards, and Bruce Hornsby on piano. The 'Touch of Grey' hitmakers claimed the five shows would be the last to feature the trio.
Miami Herald
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Las Vegas Strip Sphere sets popular band's final residency shows
Some of the most popular classic rock bands in music have occupied the stage at Sphere Entertainment's (SPHR) Sphere Las Vegas, and two huge bands, U2 and The Eagles, have scheduled some of the longest residencies in the venue's short existence. Iconic rock band U2 opened the Sphere on Sept. 29, 2023, with its U2/UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere residency, which ran for 40 shows and ended on March 2, 2024. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The Eagles added the final 2025 shows of their 44-show residency at Sphere Las Vegas with eight shows in October and November, but the band could still return to the spectacular venue in 2026. Related: Las Vegas Strip casino closes popular country singer residency "Look, they can play as long as they want," Sphere Entertainment's James Dolan said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Eagles, however, won't have the record for the most shows performed at Sphere unless they add more shows to their residency in 2026. Classic jam band Dead & Company launched its Dead Forever residency on May 16, 2024, finishing its 30-show residency run on Aug. 10, 2024. The band extended the residency for 18 more shows, scheduled for March 20 to May 17, 2025, and broke U2's record for most shows at the Sphere on April 26, 2025, when they performed their 41st show of their residency. Dead & Company will continue to hold the record for most shows after they complete the extension of their residency for a total of 48 shows. The band's record will likely last at least into 2026, when The Eagles could overtake Dead & Company's record of performances at Sphere Las Vegas, if they add more shows to their 44-show now, legendary superstar 1990s boy band The Backstreet Boys has signed on for the final shows of its "Into the Millennium" residency at Sphere Las Vegas in July and August 2025. Related: Las Vegas Strip casino signs spectacular singer to long residency The Backstreet Boys, due to popular demand, revealed that they have added the final three shows of their 21-date residency on Aug. 22, 23, and 24, 2025. The residency features nine shows running July 11-27 and another 12 shows running Aug. 1-24. More Las Vegas: Las Vegas Strip Sphere signs another superstar band residencyLas Vegas Strip casino closes country superstar's residencyLas Vegas Strip casino signs global superstar singer to residency Tickets go on sale through the band's Fan Club Presale beginning on May 12 at 10 a.m. Pacific time and an Artist Presale on May 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific. Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 16 at 10 a.m. Pacific at Tickets for the 18 previously scheduled residency shows are currently on sale. The Backstreet Boys previously performed their 80-show "Larger Than Life" residency from March 1, 2017, to April 27, 2019, at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. The boy band's popularity grew in 1999 with their third album "Millennium," which debuted at No. 1 and sold 24 million copies with its massive hit single "I Want It That Way." The band released its new album "Millennium 2.0" on July 11, 2025, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original "Millennium" album. The Sphere offers the latest audio and video technology, including a wraparound LED screen and an advanced sound system. Related: Las Vegas Strip casinos face an alarming trend The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
