These are record-breaking times for live music, with the world’s biggest artists regularly selling more tickets faster than ever for their smash global tours and concerts. Here at StubHub, we love nothing more than a record-breaker – which is why we’ve compiled the ten most impressive records ever set in the live music industry on one handy infographic. Ever wondered whose tours sell out the fastest? Or who pulls in the biggest crowds? What about the deepest ever concert – or highest in the sky? It’s all in here, along with a clutch of facts guarantee you’ll never have heard before, all courtesy of the good people at Guinness World Records.
Many of the artists you know and love are featured on this ingenious infographic, from pop legends like Robbie Williams to rock goliaths the Stone Roses and 30 Seconds to Mars. With 2013 set to be a huge year for live music, we’re looking forward to seeing these records and more broken by today’s top artists – be sure to share, like and retweet our infographic with your fellow gig-going friends!
Don’t forget to keep checking StubHub UK for all the latest concert listings and tickets for your favourite artists. As all tickets bought and sold with us are covered by our FanProtect Guarantee, you can always be sure that your ticket purchases are fully protected.
Fresh from her fantastic SuperBowl performance, Beyonce Announces The Mrs.Carter Show World Tour. She entertained the masses last night at the SuperBowl half time, and even teamed up with her Destiny Child members. She put in an amazing performance and now will be touring the world in case you want to see her at a venue near you.
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Starring BEYONCÉ
2013 Tour kicks off in Europe April 15th
North American Tour Begins June 28th
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour starring Beyoncé kicks off in Europe on April 15, 2013. With stops in twenty European cities, including Dublin, Ireland; Berlin, Germany; Paris, France and a four-night stint at The 02 in London, UK, this is Beyoncé’s first multi-city tour in over three years.
Beyoncé’s North American Tour begins on June 28 in Los Angeles, California. The tour will travel to over twenty cities throughout North America this summer, including Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center, Atlanta, Georgia, at the Gwinnett Center, Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center, Toronto, Ontario at Air Canada Centre, and Boston, Massachusetts at TD Garden.
On June 28, Beyoncé returns to Los Angeles, California as part of the BET Experience At L.A. Live at the Staples Center. She is set to headline the first of the three-night STAPLES Concert series. And continuing her successful run at international music festivals, following a headlining night at Glastonbury in 2011, she is confirmed to headline at the world’s largest music festival, Rock in Rio, on its first night, September 13 at the “City of Rock” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rock in Rio has set records for its massive crowds and its powerful media drive.
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour promises to be the entertainer’s most ambitious undertaking to date. It is expected to be bigger in scope than any of her previous shows. Slated to run for almost one year, the second wave of the tour is planned for Latin America, Australia and Asia.
Following her historic performance tonight at the Pepsi SuperBowl XLVII Halftime Show, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Beyoncé officially returns to a full-time touring schedule, her first since the I AM…WORLD TOUR in 2009, with a new, bolder state-of-the-art production.
Fans can join the Beyhive Blog for free at www.beyonce.com to access exclusive content, pre-sale tickets, VIP packages and more, including an exclusive MasterCard package to the Bey Stage. A limited number of tickets to The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour will be available early for purchase in the US and Europe.
Beyoncé’s last tour, the critically acclaimed and incredibly successful, “I AM…WORLD TOUR was ranked #1 on Billboard’s Hot Tour chart. The show thrilled more than 1.1 million fans at more than one hundred shows in 32 countries and six continents across the globe.
Beyoncé is one of the most widely recognized and highly respected women in pop culture. A solo recording artist, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman, she has released four #1 solo albums and has sold over 75 million albums worldwide. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including 16 Grammy Awards. Billboard named her the Top Female Artist and Top Radio Songs Artist of the 2000s decade. The Recording Industry Association of America also recognized Beyoncé as the Top Certified Artist of the 2000s.
The critics have consistently praised her energetic stage shows likening her to the best entertainers of the past with her own brand of sass and class that makes her the artist of the future. “Beyoncé has a breathtaking need to entertain,” said Ben Ratliff of the New York Times and Chantal Eustace of the Vancouver Sun summed it up writing, ‘Beyoncé twisted all the theatrics into her musical performance flawlessly, demonstrating her many talents as an artist.”
On February 16, HBO will premiere Life Is But A Dream, an intimate feature-length documentary film directed and produced by Beyoncé for Parkwood Entertainment. The film provides unprecedented access into the on and off-stage world of the entertainer.
The North American tour is promoted by Live Nation Global Touring and is produced by Parkwood Entertainment.
EUROPE:
April 15 Belgrade, Serbi Kombank Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 17 Zagreb, Croatia Arena Zagreb On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 19 Bratislava, Slovakia Slovnaft Arena On Sale Fri. Feb 8
April 22 Amsterdam, Holland Ziggo Dome On Sale Fri. Feb 8
April 24 Paris, France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 25 Paris, France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy On Sale Mon. Feb 11
April 26 Birmingham, UK LG Arena On Sale Sat. Feb 23
April 29 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
April 30 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 01 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 03 London, UK The O2 On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 07 Manchester, UK Manchester Arena On Sale Sat. Feb 23
May 11 Dublin, Ireland The O2 On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 12 Dublin, Ireland The O2 On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 14 Antwerp, Belgium Sportpaleis On Sale Fri. Feb 8
May 17 Zurich, Switzerland Hallenstadion On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 18 Milan, Italy Mediolanum Forum On Sale Fri. Feb 8
May 20 Montpellier, France Park & Suites Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 22 Munich, Germany Olympiahalle On Sale Fri. Feb 15
May 24 Berlin, Germany O2 World On Sale Fri. Feb 15
May 25 Warsaw, Poland National Stadium—Orange Warsaw Festival
May 27 Copenhagen, Denmark Forum On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 28 Oslo, Norway Telenor Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
May 29 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe Arena On Sale Mon. Feb 11
NORTH AMERICA:
June 28 Los Angeles BET Experience/Staples Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jun-29 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-2 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-5 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-6 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-9 Ft. Lauderdale, FL BB&T Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-10 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-12 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Center On Sale Sat. Feb. 16
Jul-13 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-15 Houston, TX Toyota Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-17 Chicago, IL United Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-18 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-20 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-21 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-22 Montreal, QC Bell Centre On Sale Sat. Feb. 9
Jul-23 Boston, MA TD Garden On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Jul-25 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-26 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-27 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Jul-29 Washington, DC Verizon Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
Aug-2 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun On Sale Fri. Feb. 15
Aug-3 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center On Sale Mon. Feb. 11
South Korean superstar, Psy, has the most ‘liked’ video in YouTube history. He even has a Guinness World Records certificate to prove it.
Psy said “I’m honoured. This is the first certificate I’ve ever had… I didn’t get one at school”.
The online sensation has only been available to view since the 15th of July but as of today has been ‘liked’ 4,911,081 times. The figure puts its competitors in the shade; LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem has accumulated 1,574,963 likes, Justin’s Bieber’s Baby (1,327,147 likes) and British pop star Adele’s Rolling in the Deep (1,245,641 likes).
PSY (real name: Park Jae-Sang) is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and performer. Gangnam Style, his most successful single to date, is the most viewed K-Pop video on YouTube, and marks the first time a South Korean artist has topped the iTunes charts.
This documentary is about something that you would think is a depressing subject: one of the best guitarists in the world, with a glittering career ahead of him full of fame and fortune instead gets what is possibility the worst disease a person can get with has a staggeringly high fatality rate attached; Lou Gehrig’s Disease, an incurable and fatal neurodegenerative disease. But the documentary is far from depressing, instead what you get is a film of hope, and perseverance against all of the odds.
When I put the screener into my computer I braced myself, I though the film would be very sad, and there is sadness in it of course, but Jason Becker and the people around him are the best that humanity has to offer. Jason looks great and his father came up with an eye sign language so he could communicate with his son. For someone who had such riches in front of him he does not seem bitter, he just seems like an incredibly talented man who has made the most of his life, who has an amazing family and who did not let a terrible disease stop his talent for making music.
Jason was told he would not make it past his 25th birthday, but he is still alive 22 years later.
This film should be seen by everyone who thinks there life is hard, and definitely seen by anyone who is full of self-pity. A wonderful, joyous film that should be seen by all. I hope it becomes a classic.
‘Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet’ is a feature-length documentary that tells the extraordinary story of Jason Becker, a musical prodigy and guitar legend, who has been battling with ALS for 22 years. A paralyzing, terminal illness with no cure, the disease has trapped Jason inside of his body rendering him completely paralyzed. Using an eye communication system invented by his father, Jason is able to escape the confines of his body and release the music that is trapped inside of his mind. ‘Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet’ is a story of dreams, love and the strength of the human spirit.
The year is 1989, and all the dreams of Jason Becker, a down-to-earth teenager from
California, have just come true. Jason has just landed himself the biggest rock guitar gig
on the planet. He’s on the cover of every rock guitar magazine and is being hailed by
critics as a musical prodigy in line to become one of the all-time greats. Jason and his
family have found the American dream and are about to start living it.
One week from now, during an examination of his leg, their dreams will turn into a
nightmare when Jason is diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and given just 3-5 years to live.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is an incurable and
fatal neurodegenerative disease. In just a short time, victims of ALS become completely
paralyzed while their minds remains 100% in tact; essentially trapping them inside their
own bodies. In most cases, ALS affects people in older age but Jason was just 19 when
he was diagnosed. There is neither a cure nor any real treatment available, and the
majority of sufferers die within 2-5 years. Jason was diagnosed with ALS 22 years ago
and is one of the longest known survivors.
Jason Becker grew up in an artistic family from Richmond, California, a lower income city
located in the San Francisco Bay Area, where his parents Gary and Patricia Becker
nurtured his interest in music. Jason started playing guitar at the age of 5 and his rare
talent immediately began to show. Jason’s true brilliance became apparent when he was
able to play Eric Clapton solos note for note at the age of 12 and was shocking audiences
at his school and local open mic shows.
At the age of 16, Jason answered a call for demo tape submissions by local Shrapnel
Records label founder, Mike Varney, who was looking for the best new guitar talent.
Mike was blown away by Jason’s tape and gave him a recording contract. Jason
graduated from high school early to record his first record and to tour the US and Japan
where he dazzled audiences with his incredible guitar playing. After releasing three
groundbreaking and influential records for the genre, Jason began looking for his next
big challenge.
In 1989, ex-Van Halen singer David Lee Roth was looking for a new lead guitarist for his
band. Mike Varney played Jason’s demo tape for Roth over the phone who immediately
sent Jason a plane ticket to come audition in Los Angeles. Shortly after the audition,
Jason was offered the biggest rock guitar gig on the planet. At the age of 19, Jason was
set to become the hottest guitarist in the world.
A week later, Jason went to the doctors to have them check his left leg that had been
limping for the past few months. After a series of painful tests, doctors confirmed that
Jason had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and gave him just 3-5 years to live. Jason’s
parents were devastated but Jason shrugged off the diagnosis as he had big plans for his
future. He was going to tour the world and live out his dream of being a rock star. But
during the course of recording the new album for Roth, the limp feeling in Jason’s leg
worsened and began to spread to his hands making it difficult to play. Luckily Jason
finished the album (which went Gold) but he was unable to make the tour and had to
leave Roth’s band
Jesse Vile, the director says: I’ve wanted to make a film about Jason Becker since I was a 15-year-old kid trying to learn, rather unsuccessfully, all of his songs on the guitar. Jason is the most amazing
human being I’ve ever known and, like many others around the world, he has been a
personal source of inspiration for me for many years. I’ve always felt that his unique
and powerful story needed a much wider audience and I felt compelled to be the one to
tell his story.
Although I’m a fan of Jason’s music, I didn’t want to make just a fan film as I think that
would be selling his story short. I wanted to make a film that was universal and that had
a human story at its core that many people could identify with. Jason’s story is an
interesting one in that it isn’t your typical rock star tale. It isn’t a “musician-becomes-
famous-gets-hooked-on-drugs-nearly-dies-and-then-redeems-themselves” kind of story
you hear so often. Those are all fine but Jason’s story goes so much deeper than that. It
is really a story about love, family and the strength of the human spirit.
This film is also a chance for Jason to tell his story and to show the man behind the
legend. This is an authorized documentary and a collaborative project with Jason and his
family. Their involvement has been key to the film’s success
Plan B, Florence Welch, Mark Ronson and co celebrate after The Barclaycard Mercury Prize
November the 1st saw a whole host of music’s finest celebrate the Barclaycard Mercury Prize at The Box including shortlisted artists Plan B, The Maccabees, Jessie Ware, Ben Howard, Django Django The party featured a special performance by Marina & The Diamonds.
Florence Welch turned up dressed as Joan of Ark choosing to leave The Machines Birthday bash to party with Mark Ronson, Jamie XX and the shortlisted artists.
Celebs in attendance were
Plan B
Django Django
Maccabees
Jessie Ware
Ben Howard
Florence Welch (Florence & The Machine)
Mark Ronson
Jamie XX
Luke Treadaway
Sam Brandon
Ty Wood
Mat Horne
Will Poulter
Marina Diamandis (our guest performer)
Grace Woodward
Charlie Speed
Isaac Ferry
Otis Ferry
Sasha Bailey
Fin Munro
Billie JD Porter
Gizzi Erskine
Orlando Weeks
Percy Parker
Will Best
Band: Pigeon Park Location: Vancouver, B.C Styles: Rock, Groove, Funk, Blues Similar to: The Black Crowes, The Parlor Mob, The Trews, Led Zeppelin, The Red Hot Chili Peppers CD: Pigeon Park
Accolades:
-Played at the 420 festival(2010-2012), played Cannabis day in Vancouver(2011 and 2012), played at Golden Spike Days Festival (2012)
-chosen as a top 20 finalist for 99.3 FOX seeds 2012 out of 500 bands, FOX seeds is a contest that has sprung the careers of artists like Bryan Adams, Bif Naked, Matthew Good Band etc.
-Toured nationally twice (2011, 2012)
Members/Instruments: Nick Weber – Vocals, Kevin Okabe – Guitars, Logan Pacholok – Guitars and Vocals, Artur Leppert – Bass, Hunter Elliott – Drums
Pigeon Park is a blues and funk-infused rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. Crafting a signature sound with inspiration flowing from a variety of influences, they continue to grow with the seasons. Pigeon Park was formed in 2008 by founding members Nick Weber (Vocals) Kevin Okabe (Guitars) Logan Pacholok (Guitars and Vocals) Artur Leppert (Bass) and Hunter Elliott (Drums). Together the five of them began a musical journey embarking on two Cross Canada tours and recording two albums.
The band released their debut record ?The Sun? in 2010, and with the strength of this album managed to secure distribution in Sweden, Montreal, and Greece.
2012 saw the band touring nationally, playing popular BC festivals and being chosen as a finalist for 99.3 FOX seeds 2012, expanding their fan base across Canada. Upon returning from tour, they stepped into the studio and released their new EP “Lovelight” August 31st. The EP and music video for the title-track have been buzzed about in publications such as WHOA Magazine, The Province, the Music Mag, Follow the Signal and Mojophenia, who said of the album “Pigeon Park manage to illuminate the majority of guitar based genres in one superb release.”
Band: The Ill Funk Ensemble Location: Albany, NY Styles: Hip-hop/R&B/Soul Similar to: The Roots, Talib Kweli, Soulive, Common CD: The Duality
Accolades: Ill Funk has performed live with Grammy-winner Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz, opened for Naughty by Nature, Shontelle and Young MC and placed forth in a national competition to perform at Royal Family Affair with Soulive in 2011. They have also had a placement on the show “Road Trip Nation” and honorable mention in the John Lennon song-writing competition.
Walking on sticky floors, stepping on to a stage that’s too small for their swagger, let alone their equipment, setting up under dim lights and dropping a sound check on an unsuspecting audience. Eyes look up, jaws drop and the phones come out, inevitably texting their friends to come check out this band, this Ill Funk.
That scene has played out weekly for the Albany-based band, The Ill Funk Ensemble, since 2006 to great results. Described by reviewers as “a kind of 21st century mash-up of Kool & the Gang and the Isley Brothers” and “all hot sand and asphalt”, Ill Funk takes hip-hop and R&B in a different, yet oddly familiar direction. Perhaps it’s the blend of old and new school vibes, the warm smile of Jermaine Wells, the lead singer, or the obvious fun the band has whether they’re recording or performing live; whatever it is, the band has made the most of its position by performing all over the Northeast, selling nearly 1,000 hard copies of their debut album, Catching Wreck, having more than 1,300 combined likes on their Facebook pages and over 15,000 views on their YouTube channel. They’ve even been blessed to perform live with Grammy-winner Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz, Naughty by Nature and Young MC and placed forth in a national competition to perform at Royal Family Affair with Soulive in 2011. They have also had a placement on the show “Road Trip Nation” and honorable mention in the John Lennon song-writing competition.
Slick, smart, engaging and legit, The Ill Funk Ensemble is humble in its origins, ambitious in its goals and will be releasing their second album in Summer of 2012.
Tracklisting:
1. She’s Fearless
2. Afraid of Heights
3. Amazing
4. Bringin’ the Heat (using a cleared sample of Quincy Jones’ theme from Sanford and Son)
5. Hot, Crazy Good Love
6. Interlude One
7. Different Day (feat. Michael Gaydusek)
8. Find a Way (feat. Steven Atkinson)
9. She’s Fearless (Reprise)
10. Interlude Two
11. My Gosh
12. The Duality
Band: Cata9tales Location: Virginia Styles: Hypecore, Alternative Hip-Hop, Electronica, Funk, Alternative Similar to: Beastie Boys, Beck, Radiohead, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers CD: A Chameleon’s Dream
Accolades:
Featured performer at the Mid-Atlantic Music Conference, Charlotte, NC 2012
Ranked #1 regionally on Reverbnation
Toured extensively throughout Southeast region
Top artist/story on officiallypluggedin.com
Music featured in theatrical wrestling documentary “The Booker”
Recently signed to Monarchy Records first artist signed to label
Members/Instruments: Berkley Priest (vocals), Kreator (beats)
*the live band incorporates more musicians (guitar, bass, drums, keys), but the only official members are Berkley Priest and Kreator. They are responsible for writing and recording all of the material.
Production: Recorded and Produced by Cata9tales, Mastered by Jason Carter at Wavelength Studios, Portland, OR
Cata9tales could only exist right now, in this moment, at this pinnacle of pop culture; where the lines blur, the mold breaks, and the rules crumble into dust. Keeping one foot in hip-hop while dancing all over the musical map, Cata9tales have crafted a truly fresh sound. The band have developed an intensely loyal following, having toured extensively throughout the Southeast and ranking #1 on Reverbnation regionally.
Cata9tales is the brainchild of frontman Berkley Priest, an enigmatic performer with a strong style and flow that defies categorization. Less a rapper than a rocker who rhymes, Priest draws influence from David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and David Lee Roth. A veteran of the rock and psychedelic scenes, Cata9tales is the first time that Priest has ventured into hip-hop territory. Lyrically, Priest employs colorful turns of phrase and vocal inflections that make him entirely unique within a saturated scene. His performances border on the possessed, tapping into an energy that only a performer that has spent years in the rock trenches can.
Kreator (Kenny Perkins) is a musical journeyman who can play nearly any instrument and has an ear for composition and song structure that makes him an anomaly in the hip hop world. Refusing to settle or take short cuts, it is Kreator’s perfectionism and ear for turning the absurd into musical gold that gives Cata9tales its soul and punch.
Something happens when these two musicians, uniquely talented in their own right, get together to form Cata9tales. The live band finds the duo working with drummer Ben Pinkston and guitarist Jeremy Luedtke, as well as a rotating cast of characters that guarantees that no two shows will ever be the same. Priest leads the charge with his whirling dervish performances, including additional percussion and samples. Kreator (who formerly DJ’ed the proceedings) now plays bass live while triggering samples with his feet and stepping over to scratch on the turntables.
Their first release, the old-school influenced, cathartic “Kick the Bad Love” announced their arrival. Their follow-up EP “A Chameleon’s Dream,” released just 6 months later, shows a band that was unwilling to be pigeonholed, as the flows, song structure and sonic experimentalism reached new levels. Since then the band has signed to Monarchy Records and are hard at work in the studio recording what will be their “official” debut, “Hello Maybe Everything.”
The beats and lyrics weave in and out, taking sharp left turns, coloring madly outside of the lines. From the mid-Atlantic something wicked ? and wonderful ? this way comes.
Tracklisting: 1. Kaboombox
2. Open Letter to Generation Adderall
3. Keep the Diamond, I?m Rhyming Now
4. What a Day (Shooting Stars)
5. The Gang?s All Here (Interlude)
6. Ghettotron
7. Ultralife
8. Phoenix Weather
9. Stronger Than Me (Amy’s Song)
10. A Chameleon?s Dream
