Taylor Swift set to break Scotland’s stadium record
Taylor Swift is set to break the record for Scotland’s biggest-selling stadium show when she performs at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield on 7, 8, and 9 June.
On Monday (25 March), Edinburgh Council granted promoter AEG Presents permission to increase Murrayfield’s capacity by 8.73% from 67,130 to 72,990.
The concerts will see Swift unseat previous record holder Harry Styles, who performed to more than 65,000 fans at the same venue in 2023.
Prior to that, Styles’ band One Direction held the title for selling 64,000 tickets there in 2014.
Swift’s Scotland shows will be part of her highly successful Eras Tour, which has grossed more than $1bn (€927m) since beginning on 17 March last year.
“My dad is super proud of our Scottish heritage”
Swift last year described Scotland as “a really special place”. “Last time I was there the crowd were amazing and I felt like we really connected. My dad is super proud of our Scottish heritage – he told me that pretty much most of our family can be traced back to Scotland so of course it’s obviously very cool for me to get to perform there as part of the tour.”
Like many cities featured on the Eras Tour, Edinburgh has noted a boost in the local economy with more than 20 around the city centre sold out over the three dates.
Recently, the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce calculated that Swifties attending three concerts at Friends Arena are expected to spend half a billion kroner (€43.6m).
The Eras Tour will resume in May with the European leg, which kicks off at LA Défense Arena in Paris. In the meantime, Swift’s next album, The Tortured Poets Department, is due out on 19 April.
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Harry Styles breaks Scottish stadium record
Harry Styles has broken the record for the highest-selling stadium concert in Scottish history, according to the venue.
The 29-year-old, who is represented by CAA, drew 65,000 fans to Murrayfield in Edinburgh this past Saturday – breaking the previous best of 64,000 that the singer set with One Direction in 2014.
“Saturday night’s Harry Styles concert is the highest-selling stadium concert in Scotland ever with an attendance of over 65,000,” says a spokesperson for BT Murrayfield, who adds that the DF Concerts-promoted event was “fantastic”.
Styles’ Live Nation-promoted Love on Tour was the fourth highest-grossing in North America last year, delivering US$160.4 million at the box office from 47 shows, according to Pollstar. The star was also 2021’s top worldwide ticket seller, selling 669,051 tickets for a total gross of $86,723,984.
Love on Tour is due to finish up in Italy at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on 22 July
The European leg continues this week with two shows at Stade de France in Paris (1-2 June), followed by three nights at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena in the Netherlands (4-6 June).
The run then reverts to the UK and Ireland with dates at Slane Castle in Ireland (10 June), four shows at London’s Wembley Stadium (13-14 & 16-17 June) and a two-night stand at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (20-21 June).
Love on Tour will continue with concerts in Belgium, Germany, Poland, Austria, Spain and Portugal before finishing up in Italy at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on 22 July.
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Spice Girls confirm Spice World UK stadium tour
Seven years after the Spice Girls’ last live show, and 11 years after their 2007–2008 reunion tour, the world’s most successful girl group are hitting the road once again, today announcing six UK stadium shows in 2019.
Promoted by SJM Concerts, Live Nation and Solo, the Spice World UK tour will initially visit Etihad Stadium in Manchester (1 June 2019), Ricoh Arena in Coventry (3 June), Stadium of Light in Sunderland (6 June), BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh (8 June), Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol (10 June) and Wembley Stadium in London (15 June).
Owing to Victoria Beckham/Posh Spice’s “business commitments”, the band – managed by Modest! Management and XIX Entertainment – will tour as a four-piece comprising Melanie Brown (‘Scary Spice’), Melanie Chisholm (‘Sporty Spice’), Emma Bunton (‘Baby Spice’) and Geri Horner (née Halliwell, ‘Ginger Spice’). Support will come courtesy of Jess Glynne.
“We are beyond excited to be reuniting next year for a stadium tour,” say the four in a joint statement. “Bringing girl power and our message of friendship and love back to the stage feels more relevant than ever. We hope everyone can join us for one big Spice Girls party.”
“Bringing girl power and our message of friendship and love back to the stage feels more relevant than ever”
“Being in the Spice Girls was a hugely important part of my life, and I wish my girls so much love and fun as they go back on tour,” adds Beckham. “I know they will put on an amazing show, and the fantastic fans past and present are going to have a wonderful time.”
Formed in 1994 by Heart Management’s Bob and Chris Herbert, and signed to Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment, the Spice Girls’ breakthrough came with 1996 debut single, ‘Wannabe’, which topped the charts in 37 countries. Their first album, Spice, sold more than 31 million copies worldwide, and the band went on to become the biggest British pop success since the Beatles, selling more than 85m records globally.
They last toured in 2007 and 2008, with the Return of the Spice Girls tour grossing US$107.2m from ticket sales and merchandising, though they returned for a well-received one-off performance for the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.
Tickets for Spice World 2019 are on sale this Saturday (10 November) from Ticketmaster and SJM’s Gigs and Tours, with Twickets as the official resale partner.
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