Frontier Touring
SYDNEY, Australia — Playbill Group, the venue management business that operates the Hordern Pavilion, a Sydney landmark, has struck a partnership with AEG Presents and Frontier Touring, part of the Mushroom Group.
Going forward, Michael Nebenzahl continues as managing director of Playbill, in a “business as usual” arrangement, reads a joint statement.
Playbill and Frontier, both Australian, family-founded companies proving competitive on the global stage, have much in common, Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant tells Billboard. “When we met Michael and his team it became obvious that the similarities didn’t stop there. We think very similarly, we have similar values and a similar culture. Both companies care deeply and go the extra mile for their clients, be it a theatrical production, a sporting team, or a music artist. Both go out of their way to treat fans well. And both focus on hiring and developing talented people, care about their people and trust them to deliver day in day out.”
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He adds, “with all the things the companies have in common the partnership feels natural for both.”
Formed in 1958 by Brian and Jocelyn Nebenzahl, Playbill’s interests include management of the Hordern Pavilion, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, and will host the ARIA Awards this November for the third-successive year.
From its grand opening in 1924 until 1983 (when the now demolished Sydney Entertainment Centre first opened its doors), the Hordern, with its 5,500-capacity, was the largest indoor venue in the country’s biggest city. Over time, the room has hosted concerts by a who’s who of global superstars, from Frank Sinatra to Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, David Bowie, Queen and the Jackson Five.
Playbill also merchandises for theatrical productions including musicals, national theatre and music companies in 12 countries worldwide, and partners with major sporting teams and operates venue concessions across the country and in Asia.
Playbill’s merchandise division has “been a mainstay” of the theater scene in Australia for over 60 years, notes Brant, “and is now a major force” on the world stage.
“I am delighted to be partnering with AEG Presents and Frontier Touring in this next phase of the Playbill journey,” comments Nebenzahl in a statement. “We have always prided ourselves on serving our customers, whether in musical theatre, sport or as a venue through the Hordern Pavilion. In AEG, we have found a like-minded partner to continue to honor the legacy my parents created when they founded the business.”
Frontier Touring and AEG Presents, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, struck a strategic joint venture in 2019, formalizing a successful 12-year arrangement on tours into these parts. With that agreement, the award-winning Australian concerts specialist stepped into a global family whose portfolio includes venues around the globe, many at the arena-and-stadium level.
AEG has a long-established presence here through its then-named AEG Ogden joint venture, the largest venue management company in Asia Pacific. In 2019, AEG Facilities, the venue management subsidiary of AEG, announced a merger with SMG to create a new management empire called ASM Global, which would collect more than 300 facilities worldwide under a single banner.
“The Hordern and Frontier have a long-standing relationship bringing the best live music to Sydney,” comments Anthony Dunsford, GM Playbill Venues. “We look forward to continuing our role to bring iconic acts to the fans.”
Tenacious D is feeling the wrath of Australia’s right-wing after Kyle Gass made an off-color joke at the expense of Donald Trump.
The comedy-rock duo of Gass and Hollywood star Jack Black are visiting Australia for the Spicy Meatball Tour, produced by Frontier Touring.
On Sunday (July 14), in footage widely shared on social media, the “Tribute” singers were on stage at the ICC Sydney, when Black and a “robot” presented Gass with a birthday cake.
In fan-filmed clips, Black can be heard saying, “Make a wish,” to which Gass responded, “Don’t miss Trump next time” as laughter filled the room.
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Gass’ ill-advised comments were made just hours after an assassination attempt on Trump at his Butler, Pa. rally, where the GOP presidential nominee was struck in the ear and an audience member was killed.
The laughter has since died-down.
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Several Australian shock-jocks and right-wing politicians didn’t see the funny side of Gass’ comments, and, on Tuesday afternoon, reps for the concert promoter announced that the sold-out concert that night at Newcastle Entertainment Centre would be postponed.
Earlier, Senator Ralph Babet, a member of the right-wing United Australia Party, took to social media on Monday to demand that Tenacious D be deported for the quip. In a statement, Babet called on Australia’s immigration minister Andrew Giles to “revoke their visas.”
Babet wrote, “Anything less than a deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump.”
Controversial broadcaster blasted the pair during his Kyle and Jackie O show, and issued a life-long ban. “That’s some serious twisted s—,” he remarked. “I never want to speak to them again.”
Tenacious D’s forthcoming Australian tour dates include Brisbane Entertainment Centre (July 18), a sold-out show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (July 20) and a performance at Adelaide Entertainment Centre (July 22), with NZ dates to follow at Wellington’s TSB Arena (July 24) and Auckland’s Spark Arena (July 26).
“Frontier Touring regret to advise that Tenacious D’s concert tonight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed,” reads a statement. “Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available.” A spokesperson tells Billboard there is no further comment.
Whenever Ed Sheeran has toured Australia and New Zealand, he has partnered with Frontier Touring, the live division of the dominant independent music company, Mushroom Group. And he breaks records with almost monotonous regularity.
He did it with his Divide tour in 2018, which sold more than 1 million tickets in the market, according to Frontier, breaking Dire Straits’ record that had stood since the 1980s. And Sheeran did it again with his most recent trek, The Mathematics Tour, which filled stadiums across the country earlier this year, smashing the all-time ticket sales record on consecutive nights (March 2-3) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, according to Frontier.
But this year’s tour was different. Mushroom Group’s legendary founder, Michael Gudinski, was not waiting at the airport to greet Sheeran. No Michael to see him off, either, or run amok on the adventures for which the good friends were famous.
“The reason I’m here right now,” Sheeran told the 105,000-strong Melbourne audience on March 2, “is because of an idea that he formed about eight years ago, and said, ‘Ed, you need to play in the round, in the MCG, with a band.’ I’d only started playing stadiums at this point, and I was like, ‘That place is really big. I’ve never played with a band.’ ” But Gudinski “convinced” him, he says, after his Divide tour ended. “I really wish he was here tonight,” Sheeran added.
Michael, the larger-than-life chairman and founder of Mushroom Group, which includes Frontier Touring and more than 20 music company brands, died March 2, 2021, at age 68.
The Mushroom Group and its staff was a family under Michael, and it remains so under his son, Matt, who now helms the company as chairman/CEO.
Michael (left) and Matt Gudinski in 2019.
Mushroom Creative House
Matt, 38, steered the business and its 300 staffers through the pandemic that crushed the live industry. Now Mushroom’s touring and agency activities have bounced back, and business is booming. As the company celebrates its 50th anniversary, Matt has taken the opportunity to look ahead and to remember the company’s achievements and challenges.
Matt had little time to grieve the death of his father. With his appointment to the top job confirmed in April 2021, he hit the ground running. He was at the helm when Mushroom announced its new talent management division, Mushroom Management; a multilayered international pipeline deal with Universal Music’s Virgin Music; the realignment of Frontier Touring; the launch of new booking agency MBA and events/touring company MG Live; and a partnership with hip-hop specialist Valve Sounds.
In 2021, he navigated Mushroom’s break with Harbour Agency, following claims from former staff of past management misbehavior at the agency.
On Nov. 26, dozens of Australia’s leading artists performed at Mushroom’s 50th-anniversary concert at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena — a venue where a statue of Michael, holding aloft his finger in the familiar No. 1 gesture, stands outside the entrance. Such Mushroom family acts as Jimmy Barnes, The Teskey Brothers, Amy Shark, The Temper Trap, Vika & Linda, DMA’S, Paul Kelly, Ross Wilson, Kate Ceberano and Missy Higgins joined the event that aired on the Seven Network, performing a mix of originals and classics from across the Mushroom catalog, including “Working Class Man,” “Holy Grail,” “Sweet Disposition,” “Riptide,” “It’s Only the Beginning,” “Before Too Long” and “Living in the 70s.”
The countdown to the concert included the Nov. 24 release of an all-star covers collection, Mushroom: 50 Years of Making Noise, and the theatrical release in August of Ego, The Michael Gudinski Story, a documentary on the executive whose death was mourned by many of the superstars he worked with, from Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen to Dave Grohl and Sheeran.
Veteran Mushroom artist Paul Kelly was among those on the bill of a Nov. 26 televised concert to mark the company’s anniversary.
Tim Lambert/Mushroom Creative House
In 1972, when Michael was just 20, he launched Mushroom Records, which soon became Australia’s indie music juggernaut. The company has shaped the country’s music culture like no other brand. Today, Mushroom Group embraces touring, booking agencies, publishing, merchandising/marketing services, venues, exhibition/events production, neighboring rights, branding, labels, talent management and more. (Warner Music acquired and absorbed the Mushroom Records label in Australia over a decade ago.)
“To survive 50 years as an independent music entertainment company is something we’re extremely proud of,” Matt says. “And throughout this year, we’ve tried to celebrate not only the history of the company, but the future.”
What were the first business challenges you took on when your father died?
We were still deep within the pandemic. And there were a lot of unknowns about how the music industry and the wider entertainment industry would move forward and recover from that. Without live music, it was an extremely challenging time for Mushroom Group and its survival. I’m really proud to be sitting here two-and-a-half years on from that, and I can confidently say that the Mushroom Group as a whole is in its best shape it has ever been.
What is your earliest memory of your father at work at Mushroom?
I’d always come into the office from a very young age, after school or even on holiday. We’d be going on tours together, whether it be Jimmy Barnes or Billy Joel. Before I’d even hit double [digits], I had a real passion for it. I was a budding concert promoter and entrepreneur, similar to my dad at a young age.
What was your first job in the music business?
When I was around 12 years old, I started trying to run some different events at different town halls, mostly for [those] under 18 and promoting bands. The first event I did wasn’t that successful; thenI started to hit my stride and was pretty much hooked. When I was about 16, I started getting involved with managing some upcoming artists and began to have influence in the A&R side of the group.
Your father was such a boisterous individual. What’s your management style?
It’s always an open-door policy and very collaborative. My dad was obviously a larger-than-life figure, and maybe some people out there thought that Mushroom was all about him, a one-man band. It was never that, never will be. Now there’s an opportunity for so many great people who’ve been part of the Mushroom Group for a long period of time to build up their profiles and really make a mark on this company and its future. Bringing their vision to life is something I’m very passionate about.
A U.S. No. 1 hit was high on your father’s wish list. What’s on yours?
At the time he had that dream, Australian artists having success [in] the biggest music market, the U.S. — outside of a very select few — was a foreign concept. Now there are so many artists that are making noise, having success globally. International success is a big priority, a big goal of mine. We have some artists who are doing really well, but we’d like them to go even further.
Michael Gudinski in 1979.
Mushroom Group Archive
You’ve recently had Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Sam Smith and Paramore tour Australia with Frontier Touring. Foo Fighters are next up. How would you describe the live business right now?
We’ve definitely had the biggest touring period in our history since the return to live. More artists are wanting to come here than ever before, and so many artists are selling more tickets than ever. But there’s still so many challenges to deliver these tours, whether it’s rising costs, economic challenges or just the competitiveness in the market. Everyone’s selling more tickets, but it’s more competitive than ever.
Your father was very proud of you for landing a Drake tour. How did that come about?
Drake was an artist that I was following from quite early and had been trying to get to come to Australia for many years before we finally landed his tour in 2015. It was a coup to get such a global superstar like Drake to tour Australia when we did. And we’ve had a few successful tours with him since then. Bruno Mars was another artist I brought to Australia very early.
Taylor Swift’s last tour in Australia was with Live Nation. Now Frontier Touring is producing her tour, which is scheduled for February.
We’ve worked with Taylor many times before. She loves Australia. And we’re looking forward to hosting her again. To get her back working with Frontier is something that we’re really excited about. I know it would have meant a lot to my dad, who had a great relationship with Taylor. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that demand for a tour like this, not just for Frontier, but for any promoters. For every one person who has bought a ticket to her tour, there are probably another 20 in Australia who want a ticket.
Your father was a relentless traveler and loved it. Is that something you enjoy?
My dad loved getting out there and building relationships, showing up anywhere in the world to see an artist that we worked with or that we wanted to work with. I definitely do the same. Travel in our industry coming out of the pandemic has probably changed a little bit, and the technology has evolved, but that’s how you create, maintain and grow great relationships.
How has Mushroom survived as an independent while so many other indies have gone belly up or been absorbed by multinationals?
The core of Mushroom is to invest in supporting Australian talent and to take it to the world. My dad was big on the saying of being a leader, not a follower. We’ve continued to evolve and adapt; it’s why we sit here with so many different business arms to the Mushroom Group, because we’re not reliant on one. If we were just a record label, we would have struggled to survive to this point. [We’ve been] able to continually evolve and ensure that we’re looking for the next thing, not the current thing. And investing in great people and other great entrepreneurs has really allowed us to stay successful over such a long period of time. Part of what makes us unique is the fact that it is a family affair. So many people at Mushroom have been there a long time. And we’re really an extension of our family. That’s what else has made us survive.
How did your father prepare you to take the reins at Mushroom?
It’s all about reputation in our business. He just instilled into me those key fundamentals: how to ensure that the business moves forward and all the foundations that he’d laid go on for a long time. Mushroom’s success is really down to amazing people, great artists, loyalty and strong overall values. I was lucky enough that for a number of years my dad and I were working closely together, and the Mushroom Group expanded so much over the past 10 years. A lot of the areas we moved into were things that not only were we driving together, but that I was driving and really taking the reins on. I was well prepared to take on the greater responsibility. I’ll always say it: My dad and I love what we did so much because we did it together. It’ll never be the same doing it without him.
Overcoming the Tyranny of Distance
A restructured Frontier touring continues to bring superstars to Australia.
Dion Brant was named CEO of Frontier in 2022.
Ian Laidlaw
Australian promoter Frontier Touring has come roaring back from the 2021 death of founder Michael Gudinski and a pandemic that hobbled the live industry.
“We’ve completed around 160 tours since the restart of touring in mid-2022,” Frontier CEO Dion Brant says. “It has been a strong 18 months,” he adds, noting the company had 44 tours on sale as of early November. According to year-end Billboard Boxscore data, Frontier ranks as the No. 7 promoter worldwide for 2023.
Founded by Gudinski in 1979, Frontier was established on the core value of prioritizing artists and fans. The company has continued to channel this ethos since touring restarted following the health crisis.
In recent months, Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Sam Smith and Luke Combs have played stadiums and arenas across Australia as part of Frontier-produced tours. Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour sold over 830,000 tickets across 12 shows in Australia and New Zealand and left excess demand, Brant says.
The heat isn’t dissipating from the market anytime soon.
Throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer, Frontier will promote treks for Robbie Williams, Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift, whose Eras Tour has sold out seven 2024 stadium shows across Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s most populous cities.
The so-called “tyranny of distance” — a phrase coined in 1966 by Australian historian Geoffrey Blainey — makes the country a challenging touring market. “It is more expensive” post-COVID-19, Brant says. The cost to “move people and freight is much higher than pre-COVID. An already marginal business is even more marginal.”
Even the price of replacement turf has soared. “Artists and their agents are working harder than ever to make touring viable, to get their artists in front of audiences in a way that still stacks up financially,” Brant continues. “We all play our part in that.”
Brant was promoted in March 2022, heading up a new leadership team, part of wider restructuring designed to help the “legacy, mission and culture” of Frontier to flourish following Gudinski’s death in March 2021.
Brant reports to the Frontier board, which includes Michael’s son, Mushroom Group chairman/CEO Matt Gudinski; Jay Marciano, chairman/CEO of AEG Presents, which has a joint venture with Frontier; and AEG Presents Asia Pacific president/CEO Adam Wilkes, who was appointed Frontier chairman as part of the restructuring.
Legendary Australian concert promoter Michael Chugg, executive chairman of Chugg Entertainment, reunited with former business partner Michael Gudinski to form a joint venture in 2019. More recently, Chugg joined the Frontier leadership team alongside Matt, Frontier senior promoter Gerard Schlaghecke and others.
As live entertainment returned, Frontier has welcomed a new golden age of stadium shows, promoting gigs by Billy Joel, Foo Fighters and Elton John. In years past, Australia would host “two to three stadium tours a summer for all promoters, if we had a big summer,” Brant says. “That seems to have changed.”
“Twenty years ago, people were lamenting what would happen to the business when The Rolling Stones, Eagles and Neil Diamond-type acts stopped filling stadiums,” he says. Not anymore. Brant points to the evolution in stage production and the quality of new artists now making their mark.
Adds Brant: “To be in stadiums eight times over a couple of summers is big for Frontier.”
This story originally appeared in the Dec. 9, 2023, issue of Billboard.
Paul McCartney has his sights set on a return to Australia, for his first tour there in six years.
The evergreen octogenarian had promised “news coming soon” on his socials, and he delivers with the announcement of a new, Australian swing to his Got Back Tour, which will play two markets for the first time – the satellite cities of Newcastle (north of Sydney) and Gold Coast (south of Brisbane).
The Beatles great’s trek is produced by Frontier Touring, the Melbourne-based concerts giant, part of the Mushroom Group, which secured his previous tour of these parts in 2017. That visit was McCartney’s first Down Under in almost a quarter century.
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In an era when major arena and stadium tours are regularly announced a year ahead of showtime, McCartney’s jaunt, set for this October and November, is tighter than most. McCartney is no ordinary artist.
The two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Famer will embark on his run with an “intimate” date at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Oct. 18, the only arena show on the itinerary. When McCartney and the Beatles played the South Australia capital in 1964, at the very peak of their powers, an estimated 350,000 people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Fab Four. That’s roughly one-third the city’s current population.
The six-city stretch includes outdoor dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Perth misses out.
“I’ve got so many amazing memories of my time in Australia over the years,” McCartney comments in a statement, confirming the Australia leg. “Our last trip was so much fun. We had such an incredible time. Each show was a party so we know this is going to be incredibly special. Australia we are going to rock! I can’t wait to see you.”
Those memories and parties coalesced into a tour for the ages. Macca’s five-city One On One Tour won the Helpmann for best international contemporary concert in 2018, awarded by Live Performance Australia, and was declared a career highlight by legendary promoter Michael Gudinski, the late founder of Frontier Touring.
Joining McCartney on the road is his longtime band, Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums).
Following the release of Peter Jackson’s three-part 2021 documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, McCartney embarked on a 16-date U.S. run on his Got Back Tour, which last year nudged his total career gross north of the $1 billion mark, making him one of just 11 artists to surpass the 10-digit mark in Boxscore’s 30-year-plus history.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 11 via frontiertouring.com/paulmccartney, with the Frontier members presale starting earlier, on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
Paul McCartney – 2023 Got Back Tour of Australia:Oct .18 — Adelaide Entertainment CentreOct. 21 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VICOct. 24 — McDonald Jones Stadium, NewcastleOct. 27 — Allianz Stadium, SydneyNov. 1 — Suncorp Stadium, BrisbaneNov. 4 — Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast
Jackson Browne has recovered from the illness that forced him to nix shows in Melbourne and Sydney.
The veteran U.S. singer is healthy once again, according to a statement from Frontier Touring, and has continued his tour Down Under with shows this week in Auckland and Wellington, the New Zealand capital.
It was a difference story last week when Frontier Touring, which is producing his current trek, announced Browne’s dates at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena and Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre would be postponed “due to illness.”
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“I’m sorry to have to tell you that I’m still very sick, and have to postpone my concert at the Aware Super Theatre in Sydney,” he explained in a statement, issued last Saturday (April 15). “Though I have been taking antibiotics, and have had three days of vocal rest, that has not produced the results I was hoping for. In fact, I don’t actually know what kind of infection I have.”
He added, “I promise to get back here at the first opportunity, and play these two shows.”Browne kept that promise.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee has rescheduled the Melbourne show for Nov. 29, 2023 and the Sydney date for Dec. 1, 2023.
Melbourne artist Liz Stringer is support on Browne’s tour, his first live dates in both countries in five years, since 2018. Browne’s jaunt follows the release his 2021 Grammy Award-nominated 15th studio album Downhill From Everywhere.
He’ll wrap up his ANZ swing this Friday night (April 21) at Town Hall in Christchurch, NZ.
Next stop: Palace Theatre in Columbus, OH on June 3, the opening night of a months-long U.S. run.
Ed Sheeran completed a hattrick of attendance records last week when his – = ÷ x Tour (pronounced The Mathematics Tour) swung into the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the largest stadium in Australia.
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The English pop superstar broke the national record for attendance at a ticketed concert on Thursday (March 2) with upwards of 105,000 tickets sold.
He was just warming up.
The imposing venue was the host for another record-breaking effort last Friday (March 3), when more than 109,500 Sheerios packed the house — setting a new mark for the second consecutive night.
The combined attendance across those two shows, at almost 215,000, will take some beating.
The MCG, or simply the G, as locals call it, is a sporting and concerts caldron which has hosted countless events since it was constructed on its current site in 1853.
The opening and closing ceremonies for the 1956 Olympic Games where held at the MCG, it’s the spiritual home of AFL, the world’s largest Test cricket ground, and it has provided the backdrop for concerts by the biggest names in music, from David Bowie to U2, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Madonna and many others.
With those two massive shows, Sheeran has a special footnote in the history of the MCG and Australia’s touring market — and not for the first time.
When the “Shape Of You” singer last toured Australia with Frontier Touring, in 2018, more than 1 million tickets were sold, a feat that wiped Dire Straits’ record for a single trek (950,000) that had stood for more than 30 years. Sheeran’s Divide tour that year also set a new mark of 18 stadium dates across Australia and New Zealand, beating AC/DC’s old record (14).
Sheeran has a deep friendship with Australia and the Gudinskis, the family behind Frontier Touring, the touring company which produced the current recent trek, the 2018 Divide run and others.
All five of his studio albums have led the ARIA Chart. He has a chance to hit the national survey for six when his next album, Subtract, drops May 5.
Sheeran’s hit “Shape Of You” is the leader on the ARIA Top 100 Singles chart of the 2010s.
The Brit’s 12-date The Mathematics Tour of Australasia continues tonight (March 7) at the Adelaide Oval and wraps up Sunday (March 12) at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Tickets are available for both shows.
Justin Bieber won’t be spreading Bieber Fever with fans across Australia and New Zealand anytime soon.
The Canadian pop superstar has canceled his Australasian leg of his Justice World Tour, a six-date, five-city stadium jaunt which had already been postponed due to the pandemic and illness.
Frontier Touring, producers of Bieber’s ANZ leg with its partner, AEG Presents, confirmed the development with a social post.
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The concerts specialist “regret to advise that Justin Bieber’s Justice Tour of Australia and New Zealand has been cancelled,” reads a statement.
“All tickets purchased through the official ticketing outlets will receive a refund directly from the shows ticketing agency.”
The trek was originally meant to kick off in 2020 as the Changes Tour, but, like every other major live event that year, was shelved due to the pandemic.
Dates were delayed first to 2021, then, in February 2022, Bieber set off with shows in ten countries across three continents.
Illness struck in mid-2022, forcing the singer to press pause on the tour. He later explained that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can cause paralysis, hearing loss and a nasty rash.
Bieber’s ANZ visit was last booked for six open-air shows beginning Nov. 22, 2022 at Perth’s HBF Park and wrapping up Dec. 7 at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland — and included several sellouts. New dates were never locked in.
Justice debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, his fourth leader. In April 2021, he bagged his first chart double in Australia when Justice and “Peaches” (featuring Giveon and Daniel Caesar) simultaneously led the national albums and singles charts, respectively.
The Justice World Tour, promoted by AEG Presents, is Bieber’s first global outing since 2016-2017’s Purpose World Tour.
BRISBANE, Australia — Ed Sheeran’s current stadium tour of Australia is now a record-setter, smashing the attendance mark at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The English singer and songwriter enters the history books by selling more than 107,000 tickets for his concert Friday night (March 3) at the MCG, according to Frontier Touring, which is producing the domestic leg of his + – = ÷ x Tour.
There’s a chance he can break it again. Sheeran will also play the 170-year-old venue on Thursday night, for which he has sold more than 100,000 tickets with a final batch now up for sale.
“Ed loves to break a record and he’s smashed this one,” comments Matt Gudinski, CEO of Mushroom Group, parent of Frontier Touring. “It’s phenomenal that more than 200,000 people will see this amazing show at our iconic MCG. Melbourne is set for two incredibly special nights with one of the greatest performers ever.”
The MCG is hallowed turf, a multi-purpose space that has hosted countless sporting matches and concerts since it was constructed on its current site in 1853.
The G, as it’s affectionately known here, hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1956 Olympic Games, it’s the spiritual home of AFL, a Test cricket ground, and its presented concerts by the biggest names in music, from David Bowie to U2, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Madonna and many others.
Every stadium act is looking for a unique stage configuration. #EdSheeran nails it with his Lazy Susan setup, his bandmates isolated at four points. Birthday bloke gave us a sweet moment Friday night with his tribute to MG, “Visiting Hours.” Many sniffles where we was stood… pic.twitter.com/krbPByxLLO— Lars Brandle (@larsbrandle) February 18, 2023
Sheeran and Gudinski celebrated the achievement with a toast to the company’s founder, the late Michael Gudinski, father of Matt Gudinski. The pair flanked the permanent statue of MG outside of Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, and shared a bottle of Penfolds.
“Toasting a 707 to the big man ahead of playing the biggest ticketed shows ever in Australian history this weekend,” writes Sheeran on his social channels.
“We miss you, you finally got me playing MCG in the round.”
When Sheeran completes his two-night stand at the MCG, his + – = ÷ x Tour of Australia and New Zealand moves on to Adelaide Oval (March 7) and climaxes March 12 at Perth’s Optus Stadium, the final in a 12-date trans-Tasman trek.
History is often made when Sheeran and Frontier Touring team up.
When Sheeran last toured Australia with Frontier Touring, in 2018, more than 1 million tickets were sold, a feat that sunk Dire Straits’ record for a single trek (950,000) that had stood for more than 30 years. Sheeran’s Divide tour that year also set a new record of 18 stadium dates across Australia and New Zealand, beating AC/DC’s old mark (14).
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