Ed Sheeran has set a new ticket sales record for an international artist in the Baltic states after drawing more than 81,000 fans over two nights in Lithuania.

The British singer-songwriter brought his +–=÷× (Mathematics) Tour to the Dariaus and Gireno Stadium in Kaunas on 3-4 August, presented by AEG Presents, FKP Scorpio and local co-promoter L Tips Agency.

“Ed’s year in 2024 has been full of record breaking shows not just in the Middle East & Asia but now in the Baltics,” says Simon Jones, AEG’s SVP, international touring. “The shows in Lithuania this past weekend were a fantastic return to the region, and he continues on into Eastern Europe and the Balkans doing some of the biggest shows these countries have ever seen. It never ceases to amaze me.”

FKP Scorpio touring director Inga Esseling adds: “We are more than happy to have broken yet another record with the most attended show ever by an international artist in the Baltics. We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to L Tips and all local stakeholders without whom the second music concert ever in Kaunas stadium, as well as 80.000 sold tickets in only two days, wouldn’t have been possible.”

The event was the first international artist show to take place in the newly renovated stadium in Kaunas.

“Ed Sheeran concert in Darius and Girenas stadium is a record breaker for Kaunas city,” says Zalgiris Group head of events department Mantas Vedrickas. “Effects of this show can be felt not only in Kaunas, but in all Lithuania. I strongly believe that this show will be the ground breaker for all international and local upcoming shows.”

Kaunas city director of municipal administration Tadas Metelionis says the shows were a “huge success” and brought additional economic benefits for the region.

“The concerts’ overall impact on the city’s economy is estimated to be around €14 million”

“Not only were the concerts the biggest commercial event in Kaunas’ history, but they also attracted thousands of foreign concertgoers from neighbouring countries, according to preliminary estimates,” says Metelionis. “The concerts’ overall impact on the city’s economy is estimated to be around €14 million. The positive feedback from participants gives us confidence in hosting even more events in the future.”

The shows marked the third time that L Tips Agency, which is one of the largest independent promoters in the Baltic States, had organised Sheeran’s concerts in the Baltics.

“We are happy and grateful for Ed Sheeran’s loyalty because we have already promoted all six of his shows in the Baltics together,” says Gints Putniņš, CEO of L Tips Agency. “It was a big challenge to promote the first shows of this level in the new Kaunas stadium, but with such a great local team and partners like FKP Scorpio, AEG and the city of Kaunas, nothing is impossible.”

Putniņš and other local independent promoters spoke to IQ about the groundbreaking tour earlier this year.

Sheeran, who is represented by agent Jon Ollier of One Fiinix Live outside North America, has announced the Mathematics run will conclude next year after extending to a fourth year.

Renowned promoter Salomon Hazot recently praised the “absolutely magnificent” sales for Sheeran’s 2025 French stadium dates, while FKP Scorpio confirmed additional nights in Germany, Belgium, Norway and Sweden after selling more than 600,000 tickets in an hour. The 33-year-old will also play extra shows in Switzerland and Denmark.

PHOTO (L-R): Hannah Chapman (tour, event & production manager, AEG Presents), Jessica Vincent (international touring, AEG Presents UK), Simon Jones (SVP, international touring, AEG Presents), Folkert Koopmans (founder and CEO, FKP Scorpio), Ed Sheeran, Gints Putnins (CEO, L Tips Agency), Inga Esseling (touring director, FKP Scorpio)

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FKP Scorpio has promoted company veterans Inga Esseling and Ben Rodenberg to lead its tour department.

The two experienced employees will both serve as director touring, tasked with continuing to drive forward the portfolio and strategic direction of the division both internally and externally.

Esseling has been working at German-headquartered FKP since 2010. Starting as an assistant promoter, she now coordinates the core team around MD and founder Folkert Koopmans and is responsible for tours by artists including Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters and the Rolling Stones.

“I am looking forward to continuing the successful work of the tour department together with Ben and to setting new trends in the future,” says Esseling. “We are part of a great team that we are both only too happy to be responsible for.”

“With Inga and Ben at the helm, we are ideally positioned for the future”

Rodenberg, who joined the group in 2017 when his Gastspielreisen agency became part of FKP Scorpio, will retain the management of Gastspielreisen and his roster of acts such as Moka Efti Orchestra, Kat Frankie, Betterov and Bulgarian Cartrader in his new role.

“We would like to thank our managing directors Folkert and Stephan [Thanscheidt] for their successful and cordial cooperation, and of course for the trust they have placed in us for this new role,” says Rodenberg.

Koopmans adds: “With Inga and Ben at the helm, we are ideally positioned for the future. Both have often proven that they can provide new impetus and meet the high demands of this industry. I am personally very pleased that many employees have been with us for such a long time and have the opportunity to develop further as a part of our team.”

Last week, it was revealed that FKP Scorpio UK has applied for a premise licence to stage a series of 15,000-cap live music events in Bristol’s Queen Square.

PHOTO (L-R): Stephan Thanscheidt, Ben Rodenberg, Inga Esseling and Folkert Koopmans.

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