Acclaimed singer-songwriter Billy Joel, a treasured musical icon of New York, will draw the curtain on his monthly stint at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden after marking his 150th performance at the esteemed venue.
Billy Joel’s journey with Madison Square Garden began back in December 1978, as he delivered three mesmerizing shows to promote his inaugural No. 1 album, “52nd Street”. The success of these shows led to numerous follow-up performances, culminating in January 2014, when Joel initiated a monthly series, becoming the Garden’s pioneer “music franchise.”
The era of Joel’s monthly performances at the Garden is set to conclude. Joel and the Garden recently declared his last 10 performances in the series, with the residency set to finish in July 2024, marking his 104th show in the series and his 150th overall performance at the iconic venue.
Expressing surprise at the residency’s longevity, Joel stated, “I’m somewhat taken aback that it persisted this long. My team tells me we could continue selling tickets, but 10 years, 150 shows — enough is enough!”
MSG Entertainment CEO James L. Dolan, lauded Joel’s stint, saying, “Billy Joel’s franchise run has made history — not only for Madison Square Garden, but also for the music industry at large.”
Joel’s MSG stint has been a cultural sensation and a thriving venture. With every show sold out, the repertoire, although anchored by some classics — like “Piano Man,” “Allentown,” “New York State of Mind,” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” — alters enough to entice fans for repeated visits. The series has seen appearances from esteemed guests including Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Olivia Rodrigo, and Joel’s daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.
Apart from an 18-month hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, the residency continued on a rough monthly schedule since its inception, recommencing in November 2021.
According to Pollstar, Joel’s residency has drawn nearly 1.7 million people through its 89th performance in April, with ticket sales reaching $207 million. By the residency’s conclusion, the gross earnings will surpass $250 million.
The concept of the residency was inspired by Celine Dion’s record-breaking runs in Las Vegas. However, Joel resisted the idea of relocating, stating, “I knew I didn’t want to be a resident in a place like Vegas. I don’t even like Vegas.”
Dubbed as “the Super Bowl of music events” by Dennis Arfa, Joel’s long-term booking agent, the residency model has gained traction in the music industry. Instead of playing gigs at various venues, superstar artists are now favoring longer stints at a limited number of venues. This strategy helps reduce touring costs and provides significant branding benefits. A case in point is Harry Styles who played 15 dates at the Garden, followed by another 15 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California in late 2022 and 2023.
Joel, at 74, will kick off his 10 countdown shows on Oct. 20. A spokesperson for the singer confirmed that although this run is ending, Joel has no plans to retire.
New York’s Mayor Eric Adams paid homage to the singer in a statement, saying, “There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel, and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG.”
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