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The Impact of Touring on Artists

Emily Jordan
Image shows a microphone under stage lights [Touring]

Emily Jordan

Following Adele’s second series of cancellations shortly before her sold-out residency show, Weekends with Adele in Las Vegas, the impact of large-scale productions on musicians has once again come into question. 

It’s undeniable that major-scale international tours have always taken their toll on the world’s biggest performers, from Queen’s Freddie Mercury, who left the stage in tears and was even believed to have been seen spitting up blood by a fan, to Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, who had to cancel the remainder of his Justice’ tour in March 2023 after being diagnosed with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, which left him with partial face paralysis. Despite being some of the best in the business, it’s clear that the pressures of touring can impact musicians in a variety of often painful ways.

Adele’s Difficulty Touring

Adele’s Las Vegas residency has come under fire from fans after the soloist cancelled her show for the second time. With fans having spent thousands on tickets to these highly coveted shows, many questioned: “Why announce so many shows when she is not well enough to do so?”

Weekends with Adele spans two hours, boasting a twenty-song setlist featuring hits like ‘Hello’, ‘Set Fire to the Rain’, and ‘Rolling in the Deep’.

“Adele took to Twitter to share news of her health issues”

Despite the troubles the show faced in its infancy – dealing with a string of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by public backlash when the singer decided to perform at the 2022 BRIT Awards a few days later – the residency opened to vast critical acclaim. Adele cuts a formidable figure within the intimate venue, with the excellent production value being praised as ‘spectacular’ unanimously by her 4,100-person strong crowd.

However, after months of shows, Adele took to Twitter to share news of her health issues and shared that she had to reschedule 10 shows to preserve the health of her voice upon doctor’s orders.

Upon hearing the news, floods of critical comments and conspiracy theories circulated on X (formerly Twitter).

This was quickly combated by an outpouring of love and patience from her biggest fans. Promises to “wait as long as [she] may need” flooded the singer’s social media comments. From this kindness, it’s clear to see why she chose to do intimate shows as opposed to vast, open stadiums.

In 2011, Adele underwent a delicate microsurgery to remove a benign polyp on her vocal cord, which had previously led to her vocal cords bleeding. The high-risk surgery was, however, not a magic cure. She suffered further damage to her vocal cords during her 2016 tour Adele Live due to strain.

Touring and Mental Health: A Delicate Balance

In addition to the physical toll touring takes on an artist, its impact on their mental health is also something to be considered. In an age where discussions around celebrities and mental health are increasingly prevalent, why is it so controversial for an artist to cancel shows to protect their mental wellbeing?

Pop superstar Ariana Grande has expressed how she struggles on large-scale tours – an unspoken acknowledgement of the anxiety associated with performing live after the attack at her show in Manchester in 2017. When discussing the difference between recording music versus doing live shows, she said: “Performing it is like reliving it all over again and it is hell.”

https://twitter.com/inaaya_winter/status/1636692330240696320

Frank Ocean, a former collaborator of Grande’s, has cultivated an exceptionally private lifestyle and seldom performs on stage. He cancelled his 2023 Coachella performance for the second week of the festival due to a reported ankle injury following his performance the week before – this being one of his first shows in six years.

Grande and Ocean’s experience raises doubts about the sustainability of the modern-day touring schedule, as many other artists become unwell and must cancel shows due to their mental and physical health.

In a time when opening up about mental health remains challenging for many, admirable courage is displayed by these artists when they admit they are not okay. Being vulnerable on stage in front of thousands during a period of poor mental health is inconceivable to the average person.

Is the Environmental Impact of Touring Justifiable?

Additionally, the environmental impact that global tours have is an issue with many of these large-scale productions.

Most recently, pop superstar Taylor Swift has come under fire for her near-constant use of a private jet. Her behemoth international tour, the Eras Tour, spans across five continents with 152 performance dates. Swift alone has generated thousands of air miles, not to mention those racked up by her production team, opening acts, family and the like.

College student Jack Sweeney is tracking the air traffic of numerous celebrities, including the star’s jet. Swift’s team has threatened legal action against him for revealing that her jet has flown back and forth across the world at her leisure, totalling fifteen days in the air in the seven months before she even began her tour.

With society encouraging the average person to use paper straws and reusable period products, how is it acceptable for one celebrity’s annual carbon emissions to surpass those of her fans by 1,800 times?

However, it’s not just Swift who has been outed for her environmental impact. Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), recently banned Sweeney from the platform. This action came after Musk’s excessive carbon footprint was disclosed on the platform.

Beyond the Superstars

Despite discussions often centring around the rich and famous – whether that be their mental or physical health or the significant environmental impact they have – those affected most by these issues are everyday people.

Fans are significantly out of pocket when attending tours. Rising ticket prices make it difficult for others to afford tickets, especially through extortionate resale scalper tickets. The genuineness of the live music scene is a far cry from how it used to be. Many now wonder whether restoration is possible or if it’s beyond repair.

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Featured image courtesy of Redd F on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license here.

University of the West of England MA Journalism Student University of Bristol BSc Marketing Graduate Freelance journalist with specialisms in entertainment, music and current affairs.

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