Concert Pulse: Paul Simon Says Farewell, Marc Anthony’s Legacy Continues, and Kylie Minogue Is Gold In Europe

PRNewsfoto/Legacy Recordings – Paul Simon

New entries to Pollstar’s Global Concert Pulse chart include Paul Simon, who recently wrapped his Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour in New York at age 76 as one of the most influential American musicians of the last 50-plus years. 

At No. 21 on the chart, Simon’s most recent reported dates grossed an average of $1.22 million with 11,135 tickets per city. Submissions include Sept. 20-21 at Madison Square Garden, which sold out at a combined 26,443 tickets and $3.37 million grossed, Sept. 15 at Prudential Center in Washington, D.C., (10,699, $1.43 million), and BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla, which sold 6,950 tickets and grossed $765,238. The 10 September dates, including his final show Sept. 22 at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York, followed a European leg in July sandwiched between an earlier West Coast run. For 2018, Pollstar has Simon grossing $31.1 million on 27 shows Worldwide.

Simon’s European agent, ITB’s Barry Dickins, told Pollstar previously of the honor of booking Simon’s final gigs on the continent. 

“Every show I’ve ever seen him play has been incredible,” Dickins said. “I can’t pull out one (favorite gig). I suppose, really, if I had to go, I’d have to say Simon & Garfunkel [at Hyde Park], because it was the last time they played. Graceland was great too. 

– Henry Cárdenas & Marc Anthony

“Paul has the most incredible musicians in his band, and he is a genius. This is a guy who is as close to perfection as you can get. Every little thing he checks, it’s unbelievable. The soundcheck is nearly as long as his show. He’s a perfectionist.”

Just ahead of Simon as the top-grossing new entry of the week on the Concert Pulse is Marc Anthony, whose Legacy tour continues in January with more arena shows on both coasts (and Texas). 

Anthony is No. 20 on the chart with an average gross of $1.27 million and 12,432 tickets sold per city.  Reports include Nov. 8 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, which grossed $985,719, Madison Square Garden Oct. 27 ($1.74 million), and Mohegan Sun Arena Oct. 27 in Uncasville, Conn., which grossed $778,275. Those dates were all promoted by longtime Anthony promoter Cardenas Marketing Network, led by Henry Cardenas, recent Pollstar cover subject.   

Andrew Parsons / Pool via AP – Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue takes part in a concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 92nd birthday at Royal Albert Hall in London April 21.

“I used to live in his house in the Bronx,” Cárdenas told Pollstar. “We didn’t have any money. He’s very funny. I used to tell him, ‘The day you don’t sing we’re going to go out to do comedy.’ He could easily do a sitcom.”

Cárdenas later became Anthony’s promoter for all his global arena and stadium tours. According to Pollstar Boxoffice reports dating back to 1999, Anthony’s impressive live career has grossed some $225.3 million across a total of 298 shows. 

Also new on the chart at No. 34 is Kylie Minogue, whose Golden tour wrapped a European tour leg in the fall and who has March dates in Australia followed by another UK leg in July.

With an average gross of  $767,846, recent boxoffice reports from the English-Australian star’s Europe fall leg include the SSE Arena Belfast in Northern Ireland Dec. 5, which sold 5,290 tickets and grossed $480,665, with 11,206 sold to the SSE Hydro in Glasgow Sept. 30, grossing $1.03 million. Just topping that total was her show at Genting Arena in Birmingham UK, which sold 11,501 tickets and grossed $1.07 million.