Verizon Ladies First Tour
The Verizon Ladies First Tour was a co-headlining concert tour in 2004 featuring American recording artists Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliott, with Canadian singer Tamia serving as a special guest on select dates.[1][2] Announced in January 2004, the tour was conceived by Verizon Communications as a showcase for leading female urban artists and ran from March 12 to April 21 across 30 North American cities, including stops in Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, and Anaheim.[3][2][1] Sponsored by Verizon alongside brands such as Steve Madden and L'Oréal, it emphasized empowerment themes through high-energy performances blending R&B, soul, and hip-hop, drawing enthusiastic crowds to arenas like the Office Depot Center and Arrowhead Pond.[4] The production faced logistical challenges, including rapid set changes between acts and a sophisticated audio system using Showco Prism arrays and DiGiCo consoles, yet received praise for its vibrant execution and the artists' dynamic stage presence, marking a milestone in all-female headlining tours.[2][1]Background
Announcement
The Verizon Ladies First Tour was announced in January 2004, with Clear Channel Entertainment serving as the promoter.[3] The co-headlining concept centered on Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliott, with Tamia serving as the opening act on select dates and the lineup designed to promote their recent albums, including Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love (2003), Alicia Keys' The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), and Missy Elliott's Under Construction (2002) and This Is Not a Test! (2003).[5] The tour was planned to run from March 12 to April 21, 2004, encompassing 30 arena performances across the United States.[6][1] From the outset, planning prioritized an all-female roster to attract a broad demographic of audiences while underscoring themes of female empowerment in urban music, akin to an R&B counterpart to Lilith Fair.[5]Sponsors and Promotion
The Verizon Ladies First Tour was conceived and primarily sponsored by Verizon Communications, with additional backing from fashion brand Steve Madden and beauty company L'Oréal, which helped fund the production and reach a targeted audience of young women.[5][7] Following its announcement in January 2004, the tour's promotion featured a comprehensive marketing campaign to build anticipation and drive ticket sales.[8] These efforts positioned the event as a milestone in mainstream recognition for African-American women in music, blending promotional tie-ins with sponsor branding to amplify visibility. Central to the marketing was the "ladies first" theme, which underscored female empowerment through the showcase of accomplished women in R&B and hip-hop, fostering a narrative of genre unity and assertive self-expression.[8] The tour's visual identity was enhanced by custom wardrobes designed exclusively by Dolce & Gabbana for the performers, incorporating bold, glamorous elements that aligned with the empowering aesthetic.[9]Production
Performers
The Verizon Ladies First Tour featured three co-headlining artists: Beyoncé, who served as the lead vocalist and choreographer for her dynamic sets; Alicia Keys, who delivered piano-driven performances and soulful ballads; and Missy Elliott, who brought high-energy rap sequences and innovative stage presence.[2] These performers each contributed distinct elements to the tour's R&B and hip-hop showcase, with Beyoncé closing most shows, Keys providing sophisticated musical interludes, and Elliott opening with explosive energy.[10] Canadian R&B singer Tamia joined as a special guest on select dates, opening the show with a short set that added smooth vocal harmonies and set an intimate tone for the evening.[2] Her appearances emphasized emotional depth, complementing the headliners' more theatrical styles.[10] On dates featuring Tamia, she performed first, followed by the headliners. Rehearsals for the tour took place in early 2004, beginning in New York and extending to a session in Florida just before the March kickoff, with a focus on seamless transitions between acts to maintain the show's flow.[10] While individual band preparations were prioritized—such as Keys' work on vocal harmonies with her music director—the artists coordinated logistics for set changes to ensure collaborative cohesion across performances.[2] Each performer's preparations were closely linked to promoting their recent albums, including Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love, Keys' The Diary of Alicia Keys, and Elliott's This Is Not a Test!, allowing the tour to serve as a unified platform without conflicts from concurrent solo tours.[11] This alignment enabled focused ensemble dynamics, as none of the artists had active individual headline tours during the period.[12]Staging and Setlists
The Verizon Ladies First Tour employed a multi-level stage setup to accommodate the distinct styles of its headliners, featuring risers, sequenced elements, and video screens for immersive visuals. Beyoncé's performances utilized elevated platforms for dramatic entrances and choreography, while Missy Elliott's set incorporated a unique three-piece "goldfish bowl" design with front-facing video screens, side steps, and a hydraulically suspended DJ booth to enhance her high-energy rap delivery. Alicia Keys' segment centered on band risers and a central elevator platform flanked by steps and theatrical curtains, emphasizing her piano-focused intimacy.[2] Dancer ensembles played a key role across all acts, supporting synchronized routines and enabling seamless transitions between songs and set changes, which required efficient logistics given the tour's elaborate production hauled in 14 tractor-trailers per show. Video screens projected dynamic imagery to complement the performances, creating a visually engaging environment without relying on pyrotechnics. The overall structure consisted of sequential sets by the three headliners—typically opening with Missy Elliott, followed by Alicia Keys, and closing with Beyoncé—lasting 90 to 120 minutes in total, with quick changeovers to maintain momentum.[2] Beyoncé's setlist highlighted sultry tracks from her debut solo album Dangerously in Love, such as "Baby Boy" and "Naughty Girl," transitioning into a high-impact Destiny's Child medley that included "Say My Name," "Independent Women Part I," and "Bootylicious."[1][13] Alicia Keys' performances centered on piano-driven ballads and soulful numbers from Songs in A Minor and The Diary of Alicia Keys, featuring emotive renditions of "If I Ain't Got You," "You Don't Know My Name," and "Fallin'."[1][14] Missy Elliott delivered a fast-paced rap segment drawing from her catalog, including crowd-favorite anthems like "Work It," "Get Ur Freak On," and "Gossip Folks," amplified by her troupe of dancers and co-performers.[1][15]Tour Schedule
Dates and Venues
The Verizon Ladies First Tour consisted of 29 concerts across the United States, running from March 12 to April 21, 2004, with all scheduled performances completed without cancellations or major changes.[16][17][1] The itinerary began in the Southeast and progressed westward, featuring high-profile stops at venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 12 and Staples Center in Los Angeles on April 20, before concluding with three shows at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in California.[18] One date, March 18 in Houston at Reliant Stadium, featured only Beyoncé as a solo performance with Michelle Williams opening; this show was part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.[19][20] Detailed attendance figures are unavailable for certain shows, such as those on April 10 in Uniondale, New York, and April 3 in Auburn Hills, Michigan.[21]| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2004 | Sunrise, FL | Office Depot Center |
| March 14, 2004 | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans Arena |
| March 15, 2004 | Dallas, TX | American Airlines Center |
| March 17, 2004 | San Antonio, TX | SBC Center |
| March 18, 2004 | Houston, TX | Reliant Stadium (Beyoncé only) |
| March 21, 2004 | Greensboro, NC | Greensboro Coliseum |
| March 23, 2004 | Philadelphia, PA | Wachovia Center |
| March 24, 2004 | Boston, MA | FleetCenter |
| March 26, 2004 | Hampton, VA | Hampton Coliseum |
| March 27, 2004 | Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Coliseum |
| March 28, 2004 | Atlanta, GA | Philips Arena |
| March 29, 2004 | Cleveland, OH | Gund Arena |
| March 30, 2004 | Indianapolis, IN | Conseco Fieldhouse |
| April 1, 2004 | Minneapolis, MN | Target Center |
| April 2, 2004 | Rosemont, IL | Allstate Arena |
| April 3, 2004 | Auburn Hills, MI | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| April 4, 2004 | St. Louis, MO | Savvis Center |
| April 6, 2004 | Pittsburgh, PA | Mellon Arena |
| April 9, 2004 | Hartford, CT | Hartford Civic Center |
| April 10, 2004 | Uniondale, NY | Nassau Coliseum |
| April 11, 2004 | Washington, DC | MCI Center |
| April 12, 2004 | New York, NY | Madison Square Garden |
| April 15, 2004 | Phoenix, AZ | America West Arena |
| April 16, 2004 | Las Vegas, NV | Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| April 17, 2004 | Anaheim, CA | Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |
| April 18, 2004 | Oakland, CA | Oakland Arena |
| April 19, 2004 | Anaheim, CA | Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |
| April 20, 2004 | Los Angeles, CA | Staples Center |
| April 21, 2004 | Anaheim, CA | Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |