Salomon Hazot hails ‘magnificent’ Ed Sheeran sales

Renowned promoter Salomon Hazot has praised the “absolutely magnificent” sales for Ed Sheeran’s 2025 French stadium dates.

Hazot is staging the singer-songwriter’s +–=÷× (Mathematics) Tour concerts at Marseille’s 70,000-cap Orange Vélodrome Stadium (6-7 June) and Lille’s 65,000-cap Decathlon Arena (20-21 June) next year via his partnership with AEG Presents France.

“We sold out each stadium in less than two hours,” Hazot tells IQ. “This is the first time any artist has sold out those towns in one day and added a second night. Beyoncé only did one night. Maybe the biggest French artist, called Jul, could do more, but he did not want to. Nobody else has ever done it.”

With prices ranging from €29-150, Hazot says Sheeran tickets are “the cheapest on the market for the stadium” and points out the absence of VIP and platinum packages.

“It’s not too expensive,” he continues. “You do two nights instead of one, and you grow. It’s more money and you will sell twice as much merch, etc.”

Nevertheless, Hazot admits to being taken aback by the level of demand given the 33-year-old Brit has no new album to promote – his most recent LP was 2023’s Autumn Variations. The tour previously stopped in France in July 2022 for two sold out nights at Paris’ 80,000-cap Stade de France.

“The guy is so huge now here – to sell 130,000 tickets in Lille and 140,000 in Marseille – it’s embarrassing how big he is!”

“He’s just coming in the middle of nowhere, selling dates in summertime in France,” laughs Hazot. “The guy is so huge now here – to sell 130,000 tickets in Lille and 140,000 in Marseille – it’s embarrassing how big he is. I’m a good promoter but it’s not because of me, it’s because of him!”

A stalwart of the European live music business, Hazot has worked with artists such as Björk, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd and Robbie Williams in his home market. He partnered with AEG two years ago, having previously created and managed Garance Productions, Nous Productions and Rock en Seine festival. He also served a stint as VP at Live Nation France and later teamed up with Olympia Production.

Moreover, Hazot suggests the success seen with Sheeran is bucking the overall trend on the French live scene.

“The market is tough right now for any kind of music – R&B, pop, independent, rock, hard rock,” he says. “Of course, we’ll still have bands that sell out quick, but everyone is saying the market is difficult. Festivals cancel and not only because of the weather. It’s like life in general – it is tough for everyone.”

Sheeran, who is represented by agent Jon Ollier of One Fiinix Live outside North America, recently announced the Mathematics run will conclude in 2025 after extending to a fourth year. Promoter FKP Scorpio confirmed additional nights in Germany, Belgium, Norway and Sweden after selling more than 600,000 tickets in an hour for the initial dates. He will also play extra shows in Switzerland and Denmark.

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