The Unbreakable World Tour was the seventh concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was in support of her eleventh studio album Unbreakable (2015). In addition to Live Nation and Rhythm Nation, the tour is also sponsored by Nederlander Concerts, Jam Productions, Another Planet Entertainment, Bamp and Tommy Meharey.[2] When the tour was announced in June 2015, multiple legs were planned for North America, Asia and Europe. However, in December 2015, Jackson announced that tour dates beginning in 2016 would be postponed due to surgery and in April 2016 announced the summer dates would be rescheduled due to her pregnancy. In May 2017, she announced the tour would resume beginning in September, renamed as the State of the World Tour.
Tour by Janet Jackson | |
Associated album | Unbreakable |
---|---|
Start date | August 31, 2015 |
End date | March 26, 2016 |
Legs | 2 |
No. of shows | 37 |
Attendance | 179,340 |
Box office | US$15 million ($19.28 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
Janet Jackson concert chronology |
Background
editIn August 2014, producer and engineer Ian Cross, who worked on her last three studio albums, confirmed to Barefoot Sound[3] that he was working on Jackson's new album, stating they worked in recording studios in Qatar, Paris and Middle East. After his declarations, Jackson herself responded to the rumor, neither confirming nor denying the works: "If there is a new project, you'll hear it from my lips", she tweeted.[4][5] On April 22, 2015, she tweeted, "Letting go doesn't mean you stop", after a fan created a mock Missing Persons poster of Jackson, which had begun circulating the internet, prompting Jackson to retweet it herself, adding to further speculation of a new album.[6]
On May 15, 2015, Jackson announced a new album and world tour.[7] She will release her forthcoming eleventh album in the fall of 2015 through her own record label, Rhythm Nation, distributed by BMG Rights Management.[8] Later in June 2015, the first 36 dates of the Unbreakable World Tour in North America were announced.[9] Pre-sale tickets were made available exclusively to American Express and Citibank cardholders prior to general admission tickets going on sale on June 22, 2015.[10] Jackson's forthcoming album was also made available for pre-order, along with vinyl copies of the album's lead single "No Sleeep."[11]
Jackson enlisted designer Giuseppe Zanotti to create custom shoes for the tour. In an interview with Women's Wear Daily Zanotti stated that "Janet will be dancing a lot on stage as well as singing, so I wanted her to be very comfortable and able to move around easily ... The shoe has to be light but practical and provide support to her feet."[12] Zanotti also noted Unbreakable will be the first tour in which he makes custom designs for the entire cast.[12]
Commercial reception
editAccording to Forbes, Jackson's absence since her previous tour coupled with the social media campaign to have her return to recording music and performing generated high ticket prices, averaging $167.20 on the secondary market.[10] The most expensive shows for the first leg of the tour include The Forum in Inglewood, California and the Chicago Theatre, while the Delta Classic Chastain Park Amphitheater in Atlanta will host the least expensive show on the tour.[10]
According to sales reports from Live Nation, "88 percent of the tickets on the trek's first leg (Aug. 31 to Nov. 15) were purchased two weeks after going on sale; nearly 80 percent of the tickets for the second leg (Jan. 12 to March 9) were gone in two days."[13] Due to immediate sell-outs, additional concert dates were added to the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and at the Chicago Theatre.[14][15] The tour also set a record for the fastest sell-out in the history of Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, selling 2,400 tickets within 30 minutes.[16]
According to StubHub, a ticket resale site, the Unbreakable World Tour ranked the tenth most popular concert tour of the fall of 2015.[17]
At the end of 2015, the tour placed at number 74 on Pollstar's "2015 Year-End Top 200 North American Tours" list, grossing $15.0 million from 33 shows with a total attendance of 179,340.[18]
Critical reception
editWriting for E!, Zach Johnson wrote that "Janet Jackson made a welcome return to the stage" for the tour's opening concert at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. She started the concert with a new song, "Burn It Up", featuring rapper Missy Elliott. The remainder of the setlist included new material from Unbreakable as well as numerous classic songs from her catalog.[19] Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed that songs on the setlist were arranged by "persona and tempo. She was the woman taking charge (funk), the joyfully loyal lover (upbeat pop), the ballad singer, the woman left lonely (midtempo R&B), the party girl (dance-club beats), the rocker (with guitar up front) and, in the end, the idealist." He complimented her vocal technique, stating it was "never as delicate as she could make it sound. The rock songs included "Scream" as a duet with the voice of Michael Jackson; she belted it with a raw urgency." He noted that as the concert neared its end, Jackson focused the show on socially conscious messages, including "Rhythm Nation" and a new song from Unbreakable, "a ballad that marched its way toward an anthem, part U2 and part trance music ... It was the virtuous Janet Jackson, the one that was always there."[20] Fish Griwkowsky of the Edmonton Journal said the show "was a dazzling concert, an energetic temple of love with few hits left unturned", adding that "Jackson is ready for the world again".[21]
Postponement
editIn December 2015, Jackson announced that the upcoming second North American leg of the tour that was set to start in January 2016 would be postponed due to needing surgery. All dates were rescheduled except for one date in Lexington, Kentucky, as the venue would go through renovations.
In March 2016, the European leg of the tour was postponed. On April 6, 2016, Jackson announced that due to family planning, she is postponing all remaining dates of the tour. She stated: "Please, if you can try and understand that it's important that I do this now. I have to rest up, doctor's orders. But I have not forgotten about you. I will continue the tour as soon as I possibly can."[22] According to concert promoter Live Nation, the tour will resume in 2017 and tickets will be honored with rescheduled dates; refunds will also be available.[23][24]
State of the World Tour
editOn May 1, 2017, Jackson announced she would resume the tour, now known as the State of the World Tour; the tour kicked off on September 7, 2017.[25]
Set list
editThis set list is representative of the show on August 31, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada. It does not represent all shows during the tour.[26][27][28]
- "Video Introduction" (contains elements from "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)", "Nasty", "Rock with U", "Every Time", "Rhythm Nation", and "Scream")
- "BURNITUP!" (contains elements of "Lose Control")
- "Nasty" (contains elements of "I Don't Fuck with You")
- "Feedback"
- "Miss You Much" / "Alright" / "You Want This"
- "Control" / "What Have You Done for Me Lately" / "The Pleasure Principle"
- "Escapade"
- "When I Think of You" / "All for You"
- "All Nite (Don't Stop)"
- "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
- "After You Fall"
- "Again" / "Come Back to Me" / "Let's Wait Awhile"
- "I Get Lonely"
- "Any Time, Any Place" (contains elements of "Poetic Justice")
- "No Sleeep"
- "Got 'til It's Gone"
- "That's the Way Love Goes" (contains elements of "Classic Man")
- "Together Again" (DJ Premier 100 in a 50 Remix)
- "The Best Things in Life Are Free"
- "Throb"
- "Black Cat"
- "If"
- "Scream" / "Rhythm Nation"
- Encore
- "Shoulda Known Better"
- "Unbreakable"
- Notes
- "Night" was added to the set list, starting with the third night in Honolulu.[29]
Shows
editDate | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Revenue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America[30][31][32][33][34] | |||||
August 31, 2015 | Vancouver | Canada | Rogers Arena | — | — |
September 2, 2015 | Calgary | Scotiabank Saddledome | |||
September 4, 2015 | Edmonton | Rexall Place | 6,549 / 8,205 (80%) | $429,480 | |
September 5, 2015 | Grande Prairie | Revolution Place | — | — | |
September 7, 2015 | Saskatoon | SaskTel Centre | 3,488 / 3,500 (99%) | $264,346 | |
September 8, 2015 | Winnipeg | MTS Centre | — | — | |
September 11, 2015 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena | 8,621 / 9,102 (95%) | $568,915 |
September 12, 2015 | Cincinnati | PNC Pavilion | 4,100 / 4,100 (100%) | $270,862 | |
September 15, 2015 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre | 13,239 / 13,239 (100%) | $772,816 |
September 17, 2015 | Raleigh | United States | Walnut Creek Amphitheatre | — | — |
September 18, 2015 | Charlotte | PNC Music Pavilion | |||
September 20, 2015 | Miami | American Airlines Arena | 10,796 / 10,796 (100%) | $704,244 | |
September 23, 2015 | Orlando | Amway Center | 8,906 / 9,067 (98%) | $736,342 | |
September 24, 2015 | Tampa | Amalie Arena | 7,702 / 8,811 (87%) | $689,610 | |
September 26, 2015 | Atlanta | Delta Classic Chastain Park Amphitheater | — | — | |
September 27, 2015 | Nashville | Ascend Amphitheater | |||
September 29, 2015 | Memphis | FedExForum | |||
September 30, 2015 | New Orleans | Smoothie King Center | 12,516 / 12,787 (98%) | $720,281 | |
October 13, 2015 | San Francisco | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | 10,172 / 10,172 (100%) | $1,131,847 | |
October 14, 2015 | |||||
October 16, 2015 | Inglewood | The Forum | 12,676 / 12,676 (100%) | $1,410,660 | |
October 17, 2015 | San Diego | Viejas Arena | — | — | |
October 19, 2015 | Phoenix | Comerica Theatre | |||
October 21, 2015 | Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara Bowl | 8,839 / 8,839 (100%) | $849,456 | |
October 22, 2015 | |||||
October 30, 2015 | Omaha | CenturyLink Center Omaha | 6,671 / 6,675 (99%) | $385,690 | |
November 1, 2015 | Minneapolis | Target Center | 8,879 / 10,395 (85%) | $466,275 | |
November 3, 2015 | Chicago | Chicago Theatre | 10,451 / 10,451 (100%) | $1,436,172 | |
November 4, 2015 | |||||
November 6, 2015 | |||||
Oceania | |||||
November 12, 2015 | Honolulu | United States | Blaisdell Arena | — | — |
November 13, 2015 | |||||
November 15, 2015 | |||||
Asia[35][36][37] | |||||
November 19, 2015 | Osaka | Japan | Intex Osaka | — | — |
November 21, 2015 | Saitama | Saitama Super Arena | |||
November 22, 2015 | |||||
March 26, 2016[a] | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Meydan Racecourse | ||
Total | 131,604 / 138,815 (97%) |
$10,839,789 |
Cancelled shows
editDate | City | Country | Venue | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 30, 2016 | Birmingham | England | Barclaycard Arena | Pregnancy |
March 31, 2016 | London | The O2 Arena | ||
April 2, 2016 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena | |
April 4, 2016 | Glasgow | Scotland | The SSE Hydro | |
April 5, 2016 | Manchester | England | Manchester Arena | |
April 10, 2016 | Paris | France | AccorHotels Arena | |
April 11, 2016 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion | |
April 13, 2016 | Hamburg | Germany | Barclaycard Arena | |
April 14, 2016 | Frankfurt | Festhalle Frankfurt | ||
April 16, 2016 | Düsseldorf | Mitsubishi Electric Halle | ||
April 18, 2016 | Berlin | Max-Schmeling-Halle | ||
April 20, 2016 | Prague | Czech Republic | O2 Arena | |
April 22, 2016 | Kaunas | Lithuania | Žalgirio Arena | |
April 23, 2016 | Tallinn | Estonia | Saku Suurhall | |
April 25, 2016 | Helsinki | Finland | Hartwall Arena | |
April 27, 2016 | Stockholm | Sweden | Hovet | |
April 28, 2016 | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum | |
April 30, 2016 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Forum Copenhagen | |
May 2, 2016 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Ziggo Dome | |
May 3, 2016 | Antwerp | Belgium | Sportpaleis | |
May 23, 2016 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Arena | |
June 14, 2016 | Hershey | Giant Center | ||
June 15, 2016 | Rochester | Blue Cross Arena | ||
June 17, 2016 | Montreal | Canada | Bell Centre | |
June 18, 2016 | London | Budweiser Gardens | ||
June 24, 2016 | Holmdel | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center | |
June 25, 2016 | Wantagh | Nikon at Jones Beach Theater | ||
August 10, 2016 | Winston-Salem | LJVM Coliseum | ||
August 21, 2016 | Hartford | XL Center |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ The March 26, 2016, concert in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at Meydan Racecourse is a part of Dubai World Cup.[37]
Citations
edit- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Hampp, Andrew (June 15, 2015). "Janet Jackson Announces Unbreakable World Tour". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ^ Mr. Bonzai (July 30, 2014). "A Conversation with Producer/Engineer Ian Cross". Barefoot Sound. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Boursiquot, Sherley (August 1, 2014). "Janet Jackson Addresses New Album". The Source. The NorthStar Group. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ Erin Strecker (August 2, 2015). "Janet Jackson Addresses New Album Report". Billboard.
- ^ "Janet Jackson Calls Fan's Mock Missing-Person Flyer Too Funny, Too Sweet: Cue the Fans Who Want More Music!". E!. April 22, 2015. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Geffen, Sasha (May 16, 2015). "Finally! Janet Jackson Has Announced A New Album And World Tour". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (June 3, 2015). "Janet Jackson to Release First Album in Seven Years". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ Renner-Brown, Eric (June 15, 2015). "Janet Jackson announces first leg of Unbreakable World Tour". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ a b c Jesse Lawrence (June 18, 2015). "With 'Unbreakable' Presale Underway, Janet Jackson Tickets Nearing $200 Average on Resale Market". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (June 15, 2015). "Janet Jackson Announces 'Unbreakable' World Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Lauren McCarthy (August 11, 2015). "Giuseppe Zanotti Designs Janet Jackson Tour Shoes". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ Melinda Newman, Gail Mitchell (July 23, 2015). "Inside Janet Jackson's Comeback Gamble and the Hurdle of the 'Aging Diva' Stereotype". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Live Nation, Rhythm Nation, Producer Tommy Meharey And Bamp Project Present Janet Jackson 'Unbreakable World Tour' At Neal S. Blaisdell Arena" (Press release). PR Newswire. June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ Tracy Swartz (July 13, 2015), "Janet Jackson adds third Chicago show to Unbreakable tour", Chicago Tribune, archived from the original on July 17, 2015, retrieved July 23, 2015
- ^ John J. Moser (July 20, 2015), "Janet Jackson sets record for fastest sellout at Sands Bethlehem Event Center", The Morning Call, archived from the original on July 22, 2015, retrieved July 23, 2015
- ^ Ashleigh Schmitz Morley (September 29, 2015). "From Taylor Swift to Luke Bryan: The Top 10 Fall Concert Tours of 2015". Parade. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
- ^ "Pollstar 2015 Year-End Top 200 North American Tours" (PDF). Pollstar. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ Zach Johnson (September 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson Kicks Off Unbreakable World Tour in Vancouver, Performs Everything From "Nasty" to "No Sleeep"". E!. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Jon Pareles (September 1, 2015). "Review: Janet Jackson, in Vancouver on Unbreakable World Tour, Shows Off Her Demure Side". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Fish Griwkowsky. "Review: Energetic Jackson in control of dazzling set". www.edmontonjournal.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ Melonyce McAfee (April 6, 2016). "Janet Jackson postpones tour for family planning". CNN. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ "Evenko says Janet Jackson tickets will be honoured, refunds available". Montreal Gazette. April 8, 2016. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ JOI-MARIE MCKENZIE (April 10, 2016). "Janet Jackson's 'Unbreakable World Tour' Delayed Until 2017". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (May 1, 2017). "Janet Jackson Announces State of the World Tour". Rolling Stone. United States. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
- ^ Lewis Corner (September 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson kicks off world tour in Vancouver with all the hits". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (September 1, 2015). "Review: Janet Jackson, on Unbreakable Tour, Shows Off Her Demure Side". The New York Times. United States. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (September 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson Opens World Tour With New Song Featuring Missy Elliott". Rolling Stone. United States. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ "News – Janet Jackson Debuts New Song 'Night' During Hawaii Stop of 'Unbreakable' Tour – Singersroom.com". Singersroom. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "With the whole lining up, North America to be 1st continent on Janet Jackson's "Unbreakable World Tour"". Janet Jackson.com. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ^ "Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores". Billboard. October 13, 2015. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ "Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores". Billboard. October 27, 2015. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ "Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores". Billboard. November 10, 2015. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores". Billboard. November 10, 2015. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "ジャネット・ジャクソン、14年ぶりの来日公演が決定!「JANET JACKSON UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR」". Spice. August 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Sarah Marie Pittman (August 11, 2015). "Janet Jackson In Japan". Pollstar. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ a b Gail Mitchell (February 23, 2016). "Janet Jackson Brings 'Unbreakable' Tour To Dubai World Cup". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2016.