The Weeknd has left an indelible mark on the music industry as he breaks attendance records at London Stadium. The Canadian singer and actor has achieved a remarkable feat with an astounding crowd of 160,000 people attending his captivating performances as part of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour. In addition, he has now secured the title for the highest-grossing tour ever by a Black artist, potentially surpassing the previous record held by Michael Jackson’s Bad Tour.
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Over the weekend, The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour made history by drawing an unprecedented crowd of 160,000 fans at London Stadium. The captivating performances on July 7 and July 8 solidified his position as a global superstar. This extraordinary achievement has placed The Weeknd at the forefront of the music industry, showcasing his immense popularity and widespread appeal.
Not only has The Weeknd shattered attendance records, but he has also achieved the distinction of having the highest-grossing tour ever by a Black artist. This title was previously held by the legendary Michael Jackson since 1987 with his Bad Tour. It is important to note that when accounting for inflation, Michael Jackson’s Bad Tour grossed $311 million during the 1980s, making it the second highest-grossing tour of that decade.
News of The Weeknd surpassing Michael Jackson’s record garnered attention, including from rapper Meek Mill, who took to Threads’ social media app to share his thoughts. Mill expressed:
“I always thought the weeknd was gone [be] bigger than Michael Jackson…. I used to tell people in 2012 weekend hanging in the hood like Micheal Jackson out here with us lol congrats Abel.”
In response to this achievement, The Weeknd paid tribute to Michael Jackson during his London show by performing “Dirty Diana” and sharing a heartfelt video on Twitter with the caption, “my king, then, now and forever, rest easy.” This gesture demonstrated his deep admiration and respect for the late musical icon.
The After Hours Til Dawn Tour by The Weeknd has broken attendance records and set the record for the highest single-night attendance at London Stadium. An astonishing 80,000 fans gathered for one unforgettable evening, solidifying The Weeknd’s place as a powerhouse performer.
Live Nation, the tour’s promoter, has reported exceptional ticket sales for the “After Hours Til Dawn Tour.” The tour has enjoyed immense popularity with over two million tickets sold for the European leg and upcoming shows in South America and Mexico.
The tour’s success has been particularly notable in England and France, with each country contributing 200,000 tickets sold. Regarding financial success, the North American leg of The Weeknd’s stadium tour in 2022 generated an impressive $148 million in ticket sales alone.
Considering the global scale of the tour, it has amassed a staggering total of over $350 million in gross earnings to date.
In other related news, The Weeknd has proven to be no stranger to breaking records. In a recent achievement, the Canadian singer was honored by Guinness World Records as the most famous artist.
Kendrick Lamar, a Los Angeles native, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by surpassing Drake and securing the title for the highest-grossing tour in hip-hop history.
