Saturday 10 May 2003

Mariah aims to charm world on global tour

Mariah Carey will work the road harder than ever on the most extensive trek of her career, beginning June 21 in Seoul, South Korea. The 47-date Charmbracelet World Tour, Carey's first in more than three years, could have been even more global in nature, if not for concerns over the SARS outbreak that prompted dates in China to be dropped from the schedule. As it stands, the tour will play Asia, North America, Europe, and the U.K. before wrapping Nov. 7 in Milan at the Filaforum. Ashanti opens most dates.

The North American leg, produced by Concerts West, begins July 18 at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska, and concludes Sept. 23 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. Carey's last outing, also produced by Concerts West, was in 2000, when she grossed $7.1 million from just nine dates reported to Billboard Boxscore.

The tour comes in support of Carey's Island Def Jam/Monarc album, Charmbracelet, and the artist says her affinity for the record has much to do with the scope of the tour. "I really feel close to this album," she tells Billboard. "It's such a personal statement from me, I felt it was the perfect time to go out and play some dates."

Carey also wanted to play some markets she previously had not been to in response to feedback from fans who have traveled long distances for live Mariah. "Music fans are everywhere," she points out.

Concerts West's history with Carey was a key factor in it nailing down the North American dates, according to John Marx, worldwide agent for Carey at William Morris Agency. "Concerts West did a good job for her last time, and she wanted to work with them again."

The top record-selling female artist of all time, Carey has never been known as a heavy touring act, which tour producers see as untapped potential. "This is more than she's ever done," says Randy Phillips, CEO of Concerts West parent AEG Live. "This is the opposite of a farewell tour. It's a 'Hello, I'm here' tour."

Paul Gongaware, co-CEO of Concerts West, also believes there is an underserved concert market for Carey. "There has always been a career there for her live, it has just not been on her front burner," says Gongaware, who will be point man for Concerts West on the tour, as he was in 2000.

Production will move on 10-12 trucks. Randy Jackson of American Idol fame is musical director, and Chris Lamb and Tom Hudak are production managers. The gross potential for the North American run is about $16 million, with an average net ticket price of $60.

Internationally, the tour will work with different promoters in each market. Key international dates include Sept. 27 and 29 performances in Moscow at the Kremlin Palace. Perhaps more noteworthy are the dates that won't be played, at least this year. "Shows in China, Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong were dropped from the forward part of the tour," Marx says. "We're disappointed we had to cancel some important dates."

Carey had been booked to play stadium dates in Beijing and Shanghai; Marx adds that an Aug. 7 Toronto date is on. While disappointed about the missed opportunities, Carey says, "I'm more disappointed about what's going on in the world; the tour comes second. I'm praying for the people being afflicted."

Dates are routed to give Carey maximum vocal recuperation time, with two consecutive days off on jumps and at least one off day when multiple shows in one market are booked. "This is not a 'greatest hits' show. This is mostly about songs the fans connect with," Carey says. "I have such a wealth of material, if I feel like it I can go into different songs than two nights before."

Charmbracelet debuted last December at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. Carey's collaboration with Busta Rhymes, "I Know What You Want", is No. 6 on The Billboard Hot 100. Carey says she is "pretty sure" there will be some sort of record of the tour, be it a DVD, live album, or TV special.

(Reuters / Billboard)

Many thanks to Mariah Mania.



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