It was reported that 1.54 million tickets were sold via O2 Priority between January and November of this year – this is a remarkable 12% increase from the same time period in 2023.

O2 and Virgin Media customers are granted with the Priority Tickets reward platform, which enables them to have exclusive early access to the sale of tickets to some of the biggest events in the UK. Along with this, members can receive other benefits including VIP Hospitality packages, queue jump and a range of discounts.

What gig tickets did you buy this year?

2024 is not over just yet, but the @O2 #Priority Tickets platform has already had a record-breaking year! Over 1.54 million tickets were sold January to November – a 12% increase on the same time period in 2023.

Tours by #DuaLipa,… pic.twitter.com/xA0QVbej9R

— Virgin Media O2 News (@VMO2News) December 20, 2024

The biggest selling tours of 2024 according to the level of Priority Tickets sold, reveals the UK have an eclectic taste when it concerns entertainment.

Dua Lipa was crowned the top spot on the list. The pop sensation released her third album, ‘Radical Optimism’ this year alongside the announcement of a 2025 world tour, named after the LP. With her own ITV Special and memorable hits like ‘Houdini’ and ‘Training Season’, it is no surprise Lipa claims this spot. As the highest-selling artist on the list, it should be noted that the ticket sales for her upcoming tour were partnered with O2’s priority platform, announced through an enticingly iconic ‘Walk’ ad to increase hype for the events.

Lipa’s runner-up was none other than legendary British comedian Peter Kay. As a much-loved comedian in the UK, Kay’s upcoming tour will consist of a residency at London’s prestigious O2 Arena; with many sold out dates on this tour and some fans reporting being over 20,000 in the queue for tickets, extra shows have been added to meet demand.

Despite only announcing her tour at the end of November, Lana Del Rey claimed the third spot on the list. The forthcoming tour will mark the ‘Video Games’ singer’s first stadium tour in the UK and will be some of the first shows to witness performances of tracks from her unreleased album ‘The Right Person Will Stay’.

Other artists on the list include Usher, who continues to ride the success of his halftime performance at this year’s Super Bowl in February, along with Billie Eilish, who released her third album ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ this year and has spent the last few months touring the album in the US.

Gareth Griffiths, Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2 commented on the success of this year’s O2 Priority Tickets reward platform: “There have been massive tours announced this year, ones that will go on to define an entire generation of music and entertainment.”

He continued: “With a relentless demand from O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers for access to live shows, we’re now seeing Priority Tickets smash its own sale records again this year”.

As the future remains hopeful for the continued success of Priority Tickets, it must be emphasised this comes at a time when ticket-buying experiences have become excruciating for fans who wait in online queues for hours or have to deal with dynamic pricing at checkout. Priority Tickets aims to create a hassle-free ticket-buying experience for its customers and gig-goers.

 The biggest-selling tours this year according to Priority Tickets:

1. Dua Lipa
2. Peter Kay
3. Lana Del Rey
4. Usher
5. Billie Eilish
6. Bruce Springsteen
7. Justin Timberlake
8. Linkin Park
9. Tate McRae
10. Iron Maiden

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/o2-priority-reveal-the-best-selling-tours-of-2024/feed/ 0 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/liam-gallagher-to-play-definitely-maybe-in-full-next-year-for-30th-anniversary/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/liam-gallagher-to-play-definitely-maybe-in-full-next-year-for-30th-anniversary/#comments Fri, 12 May 2023 11:34:55 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=61529 Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher has announced that he will be performing the debut Oasis album Definitely Maybe in full next year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its release in 1994.

The announcement came to fans via twitter yesterday, with the singer-songwriter explaining that he will be playing the album “from start to finish in it’s original order at a few BIBLICAL venues“.

As it’s 30 years since DM was released nxt year I’m gonna be playing the album from start to finish in it’s original order at a few BIBLICAL venues LG x

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) May 11, 2023

While it is not yet known where these so-called biblical venues will be located, one thing that is abundantly clear is that these shows will sell out and sell out fast, given Liam’s, and Oasis’ in general, tremendously huge fan base and the popularity of the seminal LP.

Recorded at Sawmill Studios in Cornwall in January 1994 and mastered by Owen Morris later on in Manchester, Definitely Maybe was released later the same year by Creation Records on 29th August to immediate widespread critical acclaim. Following the release of singles “Supersonic“, “Shakermaker” and “Live Forever“, the album went straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart and subsequently became the fastest-selling debut album in the UK at the time.

Watch the music video for “Live Forever” below:

Definitely Maybe thereby cemented Oasis’ position as one of the best bands in the UK at the time, and helped instigate a surge in popularity of the britpop genre. The LP continually ranks extremely highly amongst fans and critics of the band alike and ultimately set Oasis on the road to attaining rock and roll legendary status.

In addition to Liam’s live shows, his brother Noel, last month, too expressed a wish to celebrate the anniversary of the release, this time by way of a 2024 reissue of the album. The reissue will feature acoustic, never heard before versions of “Live Forever“, “Supersonic” and “Slide Away“, and the prospect of both brothers celebrating the 30th anniversary next year, albeit in different ways, will surely leave fans salivating at the idea of a possible reunion.

Noel, however, undoubtedly piling on the misery to fans persisting on a reunion, unfortunately quashed hopes of the band performing together again in announcing the aforementioned reissue, claiming, in an interview with NME, that there “won’t be a tour” and that “we won’t come back to play them together“.

Watch the music video for “Supersonic” below:

Regardless, Oasis fans can find solace in the fact that both brothers will be doing something, at least, to celebrate one of the group’s finest and most successful albums.

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A post shared by Big Jeff Johns Art (@bigjeffjohnsart)

The message detailed that Big Jeff was in a stable condition in a specialist burns unit in Swansea and asked people to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

A true legend of the Bristol music scene, I myself remember his head frequently bobbing at the front of nearly every show I went to when I lived in the city. He began going to shows while at college as a means of coping with his anxiety and to give him reason to leave his accommodation which was often a great source of it. Gigs became a safe space for him where he could escape judgment and enjoy the music he loved, and before long he could be seen on the front row of multiple shows a week.

Having now racked up attendance at over 4000 shows since his days at college as reported by the BBC, Big Jeff has also turned his attention to being an artist over the years and quite a celebrated one at that. Placing as a finalist in this years Bristol Life Awards, Jeff’s exhibition “Welcome To My World” drew great acclaim from fellow artists and critics in the Bristol scene. Explaining the intention of his work on his website, he says “The aim of this work is to surprise and challenge the viewer. It is intended to instigate conversations”. He then goes on to describe how art has been a great personal help to him in expressing emotions that aren’t always easy to discuss “Art for me has been about expressing emotions I can’t explain another way. These paintings highlight my issues with barriers and hidden anxiety and mental health. How people see me is one thing – but internally I sometimes feel completely different. I use art as a way of expressing things that aren’t always easy to discuss”. 

A shining light and a true ambassador for Bristol and the South West, Big Jeff has long been an avid music lover and entrenched force for good in the UK. We wish him the swiftest of recoveries and hope to see him down on the front row again soon.

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A post shared by Adele (@adele)

The Grammy award winning singer’s concert series entitled Weekends With Adele will see the singer perform twice every weekend. Adele will take the stage at the 41,100-seat theatre for over three months, her residency will start on 21st January 2022 and will end on 16th April 2022.

Since the release of her new album 30, the 33-year-old songstress has dominated the music news with rave reviews and record-breaking statistics. The album was released on 19th November 2021 via Columbia Records and Melted Stone. The singer’s fourth studio album was released to huge acclaim and debuted at number one within the charts. The album’s two singles, “Easy On Me” and “Oh My God” have also achieved great chart success.

Adele will join the ranks of many highly acclaimed artists who have taken up residencies in Las Vegas. The Caesars Palace’s theatre has hosted residencies from Sir Elton John, Celine Dion, Sir Rod Stewart and Usher. The Colosseum is situated within the heart of the Las Vegas strip and is often called the Home Of The Greatest Entertainers in the world.

Sir John has enjoyed two residencies in Las Vegas, both held at The Colosseum. His first concert residency was entitled The Red Piano and began on 13th February 2004. The iconic pianist’s residency was originally scheduled for 75 shows performed over three years; due to its popularity the residency was extended to 247 shows over six years. The residency came to close on 22nd April 2009 and was replaced by two other shows, Cher at the Colosseum and Bette Midler’s residency The Showgirl Must Go On.

The “Tiny Dancer” singer began a second residency at The Colosseum on 28th September 2011. The concert series entitled The Million Dollar Piano was recorded during a sell-out show in February 2012, the show was released via DVD and also featured a behind the scenes documentary. The residency came to a close on 17th May 2018 after over 197 performances.

Adele’s Las Vegas residency comes ahead of the singer’s performances at next year’s BST Summertime series. Adele is set to perform at the London Hyde Park festival on 1st and 2nd July 2022. The Summer performances will mark her first UK live show since 2017 and will be her only UK performances for 2022. The singer will also be joined by fellow Las Vegas performer, Sir John will be performing with special guests on 24th June 2022.

Registration for presale tickets for Weekends With Adele went live on 30th November 2021. The initial emails to pre-register were sent to Ticketmaster Verified Fan users. The lucky fans with the special codes will be able to purchase tickets. Once demand has exceeded pre-sale, tickets will be removed to buy publicly.

BREAKING: The 4 steps to lifting lockdown in England.

There will be weeks between each step: 4 weeks to reflect on the data followed by 1 week notice to be given to relevant sectors and the public. pic.twitter.com/7RTql0pV7S

— Daniel Hewitt (@DanielHewittITV) February 22, 2021

Music Venue Trust Mark Davyd has stated the the governments road map plan has given the organisation the go-ahead to begin ‘imagining how we revive live music in grassroots music venues and develop that work into the full return of the domestic music scene.’

From the 17th May, large performances up to a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower for the venue) will be allowed. This could mean that smaller music venues and theatres will be allowed to put on shows and gigs to small crowds. This follows on from Johnsons discussion last week of having rapid testing for music venues and nightclubs to ensure these parts of the sector can open as they were unable to last year. Out-door venues of 4,000 people will also be allowed, or at hall-full capacity – whichever is lower.

Many in the music industry have called out to the government and Johnson to ensure that the music sector is not forgotten and supported equally throughout the rest of the pandemic. Greg Parmley, the CEO of LIVE has stated “While it is good to get some clarity following almost a year of confusion, as predicted our £4.5 billion industry is at the back of the queue to reopen. Any return to normality for live music could be months behind the rest of the economy. The Chancellor must acknowledge our extended closure in the Budget and provide the economic support needed to ensure the jobs and livelihoods of the hundreds of thousands of people that work in our industry exist as we come through this pandemic.”

This includes extending the current 5% rate VAT on tickets sales, which was discussed to be risen to 20%, financially hurting those in live music extensively. Similarly, David Martin CEO of Featured Artists Coalition agrees with Parmley stating ‘there is some way to go’. Acknowledging a slower approach was correct, Martin said “the government should learn from its “slow response on income support and other financial assistance” last year.”

Smaller festivals such as Maiden Voyage have been 100% confirmed to go ahead by the government. Maiden Voyage have stated that they have been given ‘provisional confirmation from the government that our festival will be going ahead as planned this year.’ 

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A post shared by Maiden Voyage Festival (@maidenvoyagefestival)

However, the roadmap is reliant and based upon England passing four tests. These are the success of the vaccine rollout, the effectiveness of vaccines, how the NHS is coping with the current infection rate and any potential threats from new variants.

Oliver Dowden, the UK Culture Secretary, explained: ‘This Government is here for culture and these grants show we are determined to help our exceptional music industry weather the COVID storm and come back stronger. Grassroots music venues are where the magic starts and these emergency grants from our £1.57 billion fund will ensure these music venues survive to create the Adeles and Ed Sheerans of the future’.

Below is the list of 135 venues receiving emergency funds, alphabetised and divided by area:

London

16 Screen Limited

Artsintheeast Ltd

Assorted Works Limited

Bush Hall (Music) Ltd

Columbo Jazz Limited

Columbo South Limited

Corsica Studios

Folklore

HAC

HND House Ltd

Kent Creative

Lateralize Ltd

M.O.T Venue Ltd

Matchstick Theatre Ltd

Nancy Wild

Oake Entertainment

Ormside Projects

Oval Space Holdings

Phoenix Artist Club

Pop Brixton Limited

Rizwan Shaikh

Seamus McCausland & Kathleen Fleming T/A The Windmill Public House

Servant Jazz Quarters

Sister Midnight Records

Society For The Advancement Of Black Arts

Stony Valley

The Amersham Arms

The CLF Art Cafe

The Hoxton Distillery

The Lexington

The Magic Garden

The Post Tottenham Ltd

The Sound Lounge Trust

The Victoria

Troubadour

Village Underground

Wild Honey Pie Limited

North

78 Sackville St Ltd

Alchemy Leeds Ltd

Alexander’s Live

Arts Bar LTD

Audio Collective Limited

Bar Thirty Two Ltd

Bloom Leisure Ltd

BlueberryHill Studios

Camp & Furnace

Creative Aristocracy Ltd

Deaf Institute

District 61 Jordan Street

Electric Church Ltd

Gorilla

Jimmy’s LPL Limited

Jimmy’s NQ Limited

Lancaster Castle

Laura King

Liverpool Olympia

Lughole

Matt and Phreds Mcr Ltd

Meraki Liverpool

N.i.a.m.o.s

Newmeds

Off The UK

Phase One Liverpool

Plain View Production

Recordjunkee

Redwood Bars

Salt Town Limited

Sidney & Matilda

Smithdown Social

Soundblast Limited

Soup Kitchen

SQDL t/a Boiler Shop

Ten Feet Tall

The Alhambra

The Peter Hat

The Stoller Hall

Theoldredbusstation

Think Tank

South East

Adrian Bell

Ark Culture

Brass Monkey

Concorde2 Limited

Elsewhere Records Ltd

Faces Bar And Lounge

Grand Elektra

Hitchin Club 85 Limited

Jamm Hot Ltd

Latest Bars Ltd

MK I I Ltd

Printers Playhouse

St James Events Ltd

Steve Iredale

The Bear Club

The Belfry Centre For Music & Arts

The Fairycroft House

The Green Door Store

The Jazz Cafe

The Lighthouse

The Pipeline

The Piper

South West

23 Bath St

Level 3

Madding Crowd Ltd

Motion Events Ltd

St Austell Band Club

The Barrel House

The Beau Nash Ltd

The Hutong Cafe

The Louisiana, Bristol

The Lounge Bar

The Old Bookshop

The Stage Door

Midlands

2funky Music Cafe

7E Youth Academy

Cafe Artum

Claptrap The Venue

Crank & Ratchet Bars

Crowdpleaser Club

CSLR Ltd

Escape Venue

Fife Street Social Club

Malty Cross

Meriden Bars

Morley Industries Ltd

Mustapha Bouameur

My Fest I val Events

Nightingale UK Ltd

Peggy’s Skylight

Soundhouse Leicester

Stamford Corn Exchange

The Musician Live Ltd

The Sunflower Lounge

Worleys Swan Limited

The study, called Perform, was backed by the government and Public Health England, and tested the theory that singing produces more potentially-contaminated aerosols (particles exhaled from the body which float in the air) and droplets than normal speech. Researchers from Imperial College London, Royal Brompton Hospital, and the University of Bristol measured the amount of aerosols produced by 25 professional performers while singing at different volumes and pitches in a controlled environment. While the study has yet to be peer reviewed, it concluded that singing does not generate ‘substantially more respiratory particles than speaking at a similar volume’. 

The performing arts guidance has now changed and is effective immediately

Good news for music venues, musicians, theatres & opera

We’ll keep working to get the arts going because we are #HereForCulture@ace_national @UK_Music @musicvenuetrust @glyndebourne

— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) August 20, 2020

However, it was also found that the volume at which performers sang or spoke did impact aerosol production; those singing or shouting at the highest volume generating 30 times more aerosol than those singing or speaking at a medium volume. The researchers noted that venue size and ventilation also influences aerosol buildup. Jonathan Reid, one of the study’s authors, said his team’s research ‘has provided a rigorous scientific basis for Covid-19 recommendations for arts venues to operate safely, for both the performers and audience, by ensuring that spaces are appropriately ventilated to reduce the risk of airborne transmission’.

Oliver Dowden expressed his appreciation for the study and its implications for the future of live music, saying ‘I know singing is an important passion and pastime for many people, who I’m sure will join me in welcoming the findings of this important study… we have now updated our guidance in light of these findings so people can get back to performing together safely’. Performers no longer have to stay three metres apart on stage, and can now come within one metre of each other. Audiences, however, will still have to observe regular social distancing, and indoor venues will have to be appropriately ventilated.

While many musicians and venue owners were excited by this research, some scientists have raised their concerns. Dr. Julien Tang, a respiratory sciences professor at the University of Leicester, described the study as ‘Nice… but not exactly representative’. He explained that ‘The risk is amplified when a group of singers are singing together, [for example] singing to an audience, whether in churches or concert halls or theatres’, adding that this type of dynamic ‘needs further study to assess the risk of such large volume synchronised singing vocalisations’. Tang emphasises that the Perform study should not be applied to all performance situations or used to downplay the risks they entail: ‘we don’t want choir members getting infected and potentially dying from Covid-19 whilst doing what they love’.

Live music performances have largely remained on hold in the interest of public health, but the industry has consequently suffered significant damage during the pandemic. The government recently injected £1.57 billion to help venues, theatres, galleries, museums, cinemas, and heritage sites survive the months to come, but with the revised safety guidelines and further research to support the Perform study’s findings, live music may make its full comeback in the near future.

The five stage plan is as follows:

Stage one of the plan, band rehearsals or preparations for live performances will be permitted, as long as social distancing guidelines are in place. No audiences would be allowed at this stage.

Stage two opens the door for performances to be granted a place to be shown for broadcast and recording with social distancing still a key factor. Again no audiences would be allowed at this point. A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC that the first two stages of the plan could start immediately.

Stage three would see the return of outdoor performances and concerts. They will only be allowed to take place with an socially distant audience.

Stage four would see the return of outdoor and indoor music performances but with limited audience present.

Stage five will be performances now will be regular with a larger and fuller audience, given that all of the previous steps are met. However, given these instructions there was no mention of a date or time frame as to when this plan will begin.

Despite the government having some sort of idea as to when concerts would return, there still isn’t much information regarding the financial crisis music venues are currently facing, with summer approaching, these venues are relying on the government to help them stay afloat during the pandemic.

The plan wasn’t well received as it has been described as “unworkable” by the trade body UK Music, which has warned that venues will not be able to get “back into business” under the current guidelines.

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We are sure you will have seen the Government’s roadmap to reopening. Taking a look at that roadmap, we are concerned it doesn’t seem to establish an actual route to Grassroots Music Venues reopening. So we made one ourselves. Five steps to Reopen Every Venue Safely #saveourvenues @oliverdowden.mp @rishisunakmp @borisjohnsonuk

A post shared by Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) on Jun 26, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT

Mark Dayvd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said: “When we eventually emerge from lockdown, grassroots music venues, the absolute bedrock, the foundations, the cornerstone on which our world beating £5.2billion per year industry has been built, are going to be essential to live music bouncing back.”

Culture secretary explains music, theatres and culture in the UK were “the soul of our nation and a lynchpin of our world-beating creative industries.” He continued: “We know the challenges – theatres must be full to make money, and performers need to be safe on stage as they sing, dance and play instruments. But I am determined to ensure the performing arts do not stay closed longer than is absolutely necessary to protect public health. I know the public wants its theatres open, our brilliant performers want to go back to work, and we will do all we can to get them fully back up and running. Our roadmap provides a clear pathway back.”