24K Magic World Tour
The 24K Magic World Tour was the fourth headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, undertaken to promote his third studio album, 24K Magic (2016).[1] It began on March 28, 2017, at the Sportpaleis arena in Antwerp, Belgium, and concluded on December 31, 2018, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, encompassing 215 performances across arenas and stadiums in Europe, North America, Oceania, Asia, South America, and Africa.[1] The production drew heavily from the funk, R&B, and pop influences of 24K Magic, with a dynamic setlist that included nearly all tracks from the album alongside hits from Mars's prior releases, such as "Uptown Funk," "Treasure," and "Locked Out of Heaven."[2] Performances featured elaborate choreography, live instrumentation by his band The Hooligans, and vibrant visuals evoking 1970s and 1990s aesthetics, earning widespread critical acclaim for Mars's showmanship and energy. Opening acts rotated throughout the tour, including DNCE and Childish Gambino for the initial European and North American legs, Camila Cabello and Dua Lipa in select North American dates, and later R&B artists such as Ciara, Boyz II Men, Charlie Wilson, and Ella Mai for the 2018 U.S. finale after Cardi B's withdrawal.[3][4] Commercially, the tour was a major success, grossing $200.1 million in 2017 from over 2 million tickets sold across 121 shows,[5] and an additional $167.6 million in 2018,[6] for a total of $367.7 million from approximately 3.55 million attendees worldwide.[7] This placed it among the highest-grossing concert tours ever, with an average ticket price of about $109.62, and it ranked as the fourth top-grossing tour of 2017 and fifth in 2018 according to Pollstar.[7][8] The tour also received the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Tour in 2018, recognizing its artistic and commercial impact.[8]Development and Production
Background and Announcement
The 24K Magic World Tour was conceived as the primary promotional vehicle for Bruno Mars' third studio album, 24K Magic, which was released on November 18, 2016, by Atlantic Records.[9] The tour aimed to showcase the album's vibrant, retro-infused sound through live performances, building anticipation and extending the project's reach in the months following its launch.[10] On November 15, 2016, Mars announced the tour via his social media channels and in partnership with Live Nation, revealing an initial slate of 85 dates spanning North America and Europe, set to commence on March 28, 2017, in Antwerp, Belgium.[11] Tickets went on general sale starting November 21, 2016, with presale access offered to fans who pre-ordered the album.[12] Due to overwhelming demand, the itinerary was expanded on November 23, 2016, adding 15 more shows to reach a total of 100 dates, incorporating additional stops in Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand.[13] Further expansions were announced in 2017 and 2018, adding dates in Asia, South America, and additional North American shows. This rapid growth reflected the tour's immediate appeal, with over 1 million tickets sold across 17 countries in the first 24 hours of availability, marking one of the fastest-selling tours of the year.[10] Mars described the tour's concept as drawing inspiration from 1990s R&B and funk performances, aiming to capture the high-energy, feel-good vibe of artists like Bobby Brown and Boyz II Men that shaped his early musical influences.[14] He emphasized creating an extravagant live experience that mirrored the album's party-ready aesthetic, centered on tracks such as "24K Magic" and "That's What I Like."[15]Production Design and Team
The 24K Magic World Tour was produced by Live Nation Global Touring, which handled the overall logistics and execution for the extensive arena and stadium run.[16] Production designer LeRoy Bennett led the creative vision for lighting, video, and set elements, drawing inspiration from a 1990s club atmosphere reminiscent of shows like The Arsenio Hall Show to evoke a retro-funk vibe with modern upgrades.[17][18] Bennett's design incorporated nostalgic elements such as PAR can-style lighting pods and colorful LED panels, but enhanced them with advanced automation for dynamic movement, including five rotating back columns and eight motor-driven platforms to facilitate 270-degree audience viewing.[18][17] Choreography for the tour was co-developed by Bruno Mars and longtime collaborator Phil Tayag (also known as P-Nut), focusing on high-energy routines that blended precise synchronization with the eight-piece band, The Hooligans.[19] Their approach emphasized fluid, party-like movements to match the album's upbeat tracks, with Tayag's hip-hop influences from his Jabbawockeez background adding layered formations and quick transitions. Rehearsals began in mid-2016 at Center Staging in Burbank, California, initially concentrating on band cohesion before expanding to full production elements at Rock Lititz in Pennsylvania, ensuring tight synchronization across the ensemble.[20] Key innovations included extensive LED video integration supplied by Solotech, featuring 468 high-resolution panels for immersive projections of the performers, alongside custom content from Empirical Research to reinforce the thematic visuals.[17] Pyrotechnics and special effects from Pyrotek added explosive accents during high-energy segments, with 20 laser units, including 10 Kvant Spectrum and 10 Kvant Atom models, enhancing the atmospheric glow.[17] Wardrobe changes were designed to support rapid shifts in the retro-funk narrative, incorporating flashy 1990s-inspired outfits that complemented the set's club-like energy. The production's scale involved custom stage builds optimized for arenas, powered by Tait Towers' automation systems like the Navigator for precise pod and column movements, reflecting a significant investment in technical infrastructure to sustain the extensive worldwide tour.[18][17]Concert Content
Synopsis
The 24K Magic World Tour concerts typically opened with Bruno Mars and his backing band, The Hooligans, bursting onto the stage for a high-energy performance of "Finesse," accompanied by pyrotechnics, fireworks, and vibrant colored light panels that introduced the musicians in a nostalgic disco-inspired reveal.[18][21][22] The show's structure unfolded in a seamless flow of acts that blended upbeat tracks from the 24K Magic album, such as the title song "24K Magic," with fan-favorite hits from earlier releases like Doo-Wops & Hooligans, creating a party-like atmosphere through choreographed dances, live instrumentation, and dynamic band interactions.[20][23] Visual elements emphasized a retro-futuristic aesthetic, featuring motorized stage platforms, LED screens with real-time projections, lasers, strobe lights, and frequent costume changes into coordinated flashy outfits like technicolor jerseys and track pants, while audience engagement segments encouraged crowd participation through synchronized dancing and call-and-response moments.[18][23] Performances generally lasted 90 to 100 minutes, culminating in encores highlighted by "Uptown Funk," where gold confetti rained down amid explosive pyrotechnics and heightened audience sing-alongs.[24][23][25] Across the tour's legs, the production evolved with refinements like increased improvisation in Mars' vocals and movements, adapting to new creative references while maintaining the core high-energy format.[17]Set Lists
The set lists for the 24K Magic World Tour were structured to showcase the title album's funk-driven tracks alongside selections from Bruno Mars' prior releases, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010) and Unorthodox Jukebox (2012), creating a dynamic flow of high-energy numbers and intimate ballads. The standard set list from the opening European leg, as performed at the tour's debut on March 28, 2017, at Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, emphasized new material early on before incorporating fan-favorite hits and covers.[26] The core sequence began with upbeat openers and progressed through album cuts and a medley, culminating in an encore of established singles: Main set:- "Finesse"
- "24K Magic"
- "Treasure"
- "Perm"
- "Calling All My Lovelies"
- "Chunky"
- "That's What I Like"
- "Straight Up & Down"
- "Versace on the Floor"
- "Marry You"
- "Runaway Baby"
- "Our First Time"
- "When I Was Your Man"
- "Locked Out of Heaven"
- "Uptown Funk" (with medley including "Nothin' on You")