Chart Scene: McCartney’s ‘Got Back’ Tour Takes Center Stage

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Paul McCartney performs during his Got Back tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, May 13, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Paul McCartney powers his way to No. 1 on LIVE75 on the strength of reported box-office results from four sold-out concerts on his recent “Got Back” tour. It was his first road effort since the pandemic forced a string of cancellations at European stadiums on the 2020 leg of his “Freshen Up” trek that played four continents in 2018-2019. This year’s tour was booked in the U.S. with shows at stadiums and arenas in 13 cities beginning on April 28 in Spokane, Wash., and wrapping on June 16 with a finale at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

His May 17 concert at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and stadium performances at Truist Field in Winston-Salem, N.C. (May 21), Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (May 28) and JMA Wireless Dome (formerly Carrier Dome) in Syracuse, N.Y. on June 4 each fall in the eligibility time frame for this week’s chart. Those events produced a combined ticket count of 123,576 for a four-show average of 30,894 that gives the legendary artist the top ranking. Ticket sales from the shows also produced an average gross of $6.98 million to earn “Heavy Hitter” status as the highest overall gross average this week.

The Artist Power Index features an impressive hold at No. 1 for Ed Sheeran who makes it three weeks in a row atop the chart based on performances during his ongoing tour’s European run. Included in the chart tallies are nine U.K. shows including a three-night run at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, two at Stadium of Light in Sunderland and four concerts at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, all during May and June.

Prior to his final Manchester show on the 12th of June, he also played the opening set at the 95.8 Capital FM Summertime Ball earlier on the same day. That event at London’s Wembley Stadium – the first for the annual all-day concert in three years – also featured Harry Styles, David Guetta and a host of other artists in the lineup. Sheeran will return to Wembley for his own five headlining dates scheduled June 24 through July 1.

Entering the Artist Power Index at No. 21 is DJ and producer Marshmello who played two shows in New York on June 9-10 at The Brooklyn Mirage at Brooklyn’s Avant Gardner entertainment complex – his debut headlining appearance at the venue. He has been performing around the globe this year including multiple appearances at the XS Nightclub located at the Wynn resort in Las Vegas. Recently, he released “Estilazo,” a single with Dominican rapper Tokischa on the Joytime Collective/Columbia label that debuted on April 29, while his most recent studio album, Shockwave, bowed one year ago and received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

Debuting on LIVE75 as the “Hot Shot” tour of the week is a co-headlining trek by Christian music headliners Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin named the “Kingdom” tour, ranked sixth on the chart with an eight-show ticket average of 11,160. Produced by Live Nation and Undivided, the tour made its debut in Miami on June 1, drawing a sellout crowd of 11,257 at FTX Arena. Ticket sales reported from seven more arena and amphitheater dates earned the tour a combined attendance of 89,281 for a box-office haul of $5.1 million. Grammy winner Jonathan McReynolds and worship band Housefires were on the bill as support.