Bruno Mars to Open Sydney’s Newly Renovated Allianz Stadium

Posted on August 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is heading Down Under for a historic moment…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter will officially open the new Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

Mars is booked to perform on Friday, October 14 and the following evening to raise the curtain at the rebuilt venue.

Veteran concert promoter Paul Dainty, CEO of TEG Dainty, part of the TEG group, is producing the shows.

“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome audiences back to Allianz Stadium in the heart of Sydney and who better to lead the opening celebrations than the legendary, record-breaking artist Bruno Mars,” he says in a statement. “These opening shows will go down in history as not to be missed.”

Mars’ most recent studio album, 24K Magic, debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart following its release in November 2016, for his third Top 3 in Australia after Doo-Wops & Hooligans (No. 2 in January 2011) and Unorthodox Jukebox (No. 1 in January 2013). His single releases in Australia have collected 56-times platinum status, streams are north of 773 million, and he has completed three sold out tours.

Mars heads Down Under in Grammy-winning form. Mars’ collaborative smash with Anderson .Paak, “Leave the Door Open,” won in four categories at the 64th Grammy Awards in April, including record of the year and song of the year.

The duo’s debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, is expected to be a contender in multiple categories when the nominations for the 65th Grammy Awards are announced on November 15.

Situated next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, Allianz is expected to open its doors next month, after a renovation which reportedly carried a price tag upwards of A$800 million ($555 million). The result should be a “state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue, built for the future of sport and entertainment in Australia,” say the SCG trust.

The 42,500 capacity venue, traditionally known as Sydney Football Stadium (and previously Aussie Stadium) will host a free community open day and night on Aug. 28, headlined by Australian artists Guy Sebastian and Baker Boy. The grand opening is set for Sept. 2.

General public tickets for Mars’ shows go on sale from Thursday Aug. 11 via tegdainty.com, while Telstra Plus pre-sales start on Monday, August 8 at Telstra.com/tickets.

Bruno Mars Live and Exclusive is supported by the NSW government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” Video Hits 1 Billion Views Mark on YouTube

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a slow blow up for one of Bruno Mars‘ original hits…

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter’s music video for “Grenade” has reached 1 billion views on YouTube a decade after its 2010 release.

It’s now Mars’ sixth music video to have reached this milestone, following “Just the Way You Are” (1.5 billion views, 2010), “The Lazy Song“ (2 billion views, 2011), “Uptown Funk“ with Mark Ronson (4 billion views, 2014), “24K Magic“ (1.3 billion views, 2016), and “That’s What I Like“ (1.8 billion views, 2017).

Released as the second single to Mars’ 2010 debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, “Grenade” earned the singer his third Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. It was nominated for record of the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards, and “Grenade” was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) last October.

In the visual, Mars depicts the unrequited love he has for his girlfriend by lugging a piano through Los Angeles as a sign of the lengths he would go to for her, only to find her at home with another man, leaving him devastated.

The video’s new feat after his partnership with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic and the band’s inaugural release, “Leave the Door Open,” on March 5.

The Recording Academy has left the performance lineup open for these two past Grammy winners to join them for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards this Sunday.

Cardi B Makes History as Her Latest Single “I Like It” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is making history…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rapper has become the first female rapper with two No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100, after her hit single “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin rises from No. 2 to No. 1 on chart.

Cardi B first reigned with her debut single, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” for three weeks beginning October 7, 2017.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny and Balvin earn their first Hot 100 No. 1 each.

Cardi B passes four female rappers who previously topped the tally with one No. 1 apiece: Lauryn Hill, with “Doo Wop (That Thing),” in 1998; Lil’ Kim, with “Lady Marmalade,” with Christina Aguilera, Mya and P!nk (2001); Shawnna, as featured on Ludacris‘ “Stand Up” (2003); and, Iggy Azalea, with “Fancy,” featuring Charli XCX (2014).

Cardi B’s bilingual track reworks the venerable “I Like It Like That,” originally performed by Pete Rodriguez in 1967 and taken to No. 25 on the Hot 100 in 1997 (titled “I Like It”) by The Blackout Allstars; the latter act included Tito Nieves, who also recorded a notable solo version. (In between, the composition appeared in the 1994 film I Like It Like That and earned a synch in a 1996 Burger King commercial.)

“I Like It” is from Cardi B’s debut album, Invasion of Privacy, which launched atop the Billboard 200 chart dated on April 4 and includes “Bodak Yellow.”

Cardi B is the first artist to notch a pair of Hot 100 No. 1s from a debut album since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, whose The Heist yielded “Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz and “Can’t Hold Us,” featuring Ray Dalton in 2013.

Cardi B is the first soloist with a pair Hot 100 leaders from a debut LP since Bruno Mars, whose Doo-Wops & Hooligans produced “Just the Way You Are” (2010) and “Grenade” (2011).

And, Cardi B is the first female soloist with two Hot 100 No. 1s from a debut album this decade, and the first since Lady Gaga, whose The Fame generated “Just Dance,” featuring Colby O’Donis and “Poker Face,” both in 2009.

Prior to “I Like It,” Bad Bunny reached a No. 36 Hot 100 high with “Te Bote,” with Casper Magico, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam and Ozuna.

J Balvin notched a prior No. 3 best with “Mi Gente,” with Willy William and featuring Beyoncé, last October.

“I Like It” concurrently takes over atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where Cardi B previously led with “Bodak Yellow,” for six weeks, and “Finesse” (one). It becomes her second No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, after “Bodak Yellow” (eight). Bad Bunny and J Balvin lead each list for the first time.

Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” Album Surpasses the One-Million Sales Mark

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is one in three million…

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer has scored his third million-selling album, as 24K Magic motored past the million sales mark on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending July 20, according to Nielsen Music.

The set, which was released last November, sold another 11,000 copies in the latest tracking frame, bringing its to-date sales sum to 1.008 million.

24K Magic follows Mars’ two earlier full-length studio efforts: his 2013 sophomore set, Unorthodox Jukebox (2.57 million sold), and his 2010 debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2.63 million).

Earlier in 2010, Mars issued the introductory digital EP It’s Better If You Don’t Understand, which has sold 27,000.

24K Magic reached 1 million sold after 34 weeks, while Unorthodox took 13 and Doo-Wops did it in 32 frames.

The new album continues to find success with its singles, as “Versace on the Floor” climbs 57-47 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Aug. 5. It if hits the top 40, it will give Mars his third top 40 hit from 24K Magic and his 18th overall.

He previously claimed a pair of top 40 hits from the album with its eponymous lead single (peaking at No. 4) and “That’s What I Like” (No. 1).

Mars’ “24K Magic” Debuts at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is bringing Magic to the charts…

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s new single “24K Magic” debuts at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated Oct. 29), his highest debut ever on the chart.

Of his 19 entries so far (dating to his 2010 arrival), he had previously bowed as high as No. 10, as a featured act on Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa‘s “Young, Wild & Free” (October 29, 2011). As a lead artist, he had debuted at a No. 28 high with “It Will Rain” (October 15, 2011).

It’s Mars’ 13th Hot 100 Top 10 on the Hot 100, which blends sales, airplay and streaming data.

Additionaly, “24K Magic” begins at No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart with 101,000 first-week downloads sold, No. 9 on Streaming Songs (12.8 million), and vaults 36-15 on Radio Songs (65 million) following its first full week of airplay tracking.

It should benefit on next week’s charts following Mars’ performance of the song on NBC‘s Saturday Night Live on October 15.

“24K Magic” was released on October 7 on digital and streaming services, and is the title track from the pop star’s third full-length, due November 18.

Notably, the lead singles from Mars’ first two studio sets both hit No. 1 on the Hot 100: “Just the Way You Are,” from Doo-Wops & Hooligans, for four weeks in 2010, and “Locked Out of Heaven,” from Unorthodox Jukebox, for six weeks in 2012-13. The songs debuted at Nos. 43 and 34, respectively.

Mars’ “Unorthodox Jukebox” Expected to Return to the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Chart

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Expect to see Bruno Mars shooting up the charts this week…

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is expected to return to the top 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, following his highly lauded Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday, February 2.

Mars’ Grammy-winning sophomore album, Unorthodox Jukebox, sold approximately 40,000 copies in the week ending Feb. 2, according to estimates from industry sources.

That would represent a 164% gain compared to the previous week, when it sold 15,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album’s official sales figures, as tabulated by SoundScan, will be released later today (Wednesday, February 5 ), the same day that the new Billboard 200 chart’s top 10 will be revealed.

If the album returns to the top 10 with 40,000, it will mark the album’s first visit to the top 10 since the Billboard 200 chart dated Sept. 14, 2013, and its best sales week since last March.

Unorthodox Jukebox was already aiming to sell around 19,000 in the week ending Feb. 2, thanks in part to Mars’ exposure at last week’s Grammy Awards (January 26). Mars won the award for best pop vocal album, but did not perform on the show.

According to Fox, who cite Nielsen data, Mars’ halftime show attracted the largest audience in the history of the Super Bowl, with 115.3 million viewers. That figure surpasses the prior record of 114 million set by Madonna two years ago.

Last year, Beyonce headlined the Super Bowl halftime show (110.8 million), where she was briefly joined by her Destiny’s Child group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Unlike Mars, Beyonce didn’t have a current album riding high on the charts at the time.

In the week ending February 3, 2013, Beyonce saw her most recent album, 2011’s 4, re-enter the Billboard 200 at No. 100 with 4,000 sold (up 123%). The following week — after a full week of sales impact was felt from the game — the album climbed to No. 79 with 6,000 (up 59%).

The impact of the Super Bowl on Mars’ music sales — and on the Billboard charts — will be unique compared to all other halftime headliners in the modern era of Super Bowl halftime entertainment.

Since 1993, when Michael Jackson headlined the halftime festivities, the main performer on the show has generally been an act with a fairly deep catalog of albums and songs. Mars, however, has only released two albums — Unorthodox Jukebox (released in 2012) and Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010).

Thus, all of the sales and chart impact felt by Mars will be concentrated on just those two albums (and their respective singles). Unlike previous years, where everyone from Beyonce and Madonna to Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen saw their post-Super Bowl chart impact spread across multiple albums and songs.

Mars Earns Fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Songs Chart

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars has reached a new milestone on the Billboard charts…

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s “Locked Out of Heaven,” which recently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week, has reached No. 1 on the Pop Songs airplay chart.

“Locked Out of Heaven” becomes Mars’ fifth Pop Songs No. 1, tying him with Nelly and Justin Timberlake for the most leaders among solo males.

Here’s a look at the male soloists with the most No. 1s, dating to the Pop Songs chart’s launch the week of October 3, 1992:

5, Bruno Mars
5, Nelly
5, Justin Timberlake
4, Flo Rida
3, Chris Brown
3, Eminem
3, Ludacris
3, Timbaland
3, Kanye West

Katy Perry and Rihanna lead all artists with nine Pop Songs No. 1s apiece. Five other women have totaled between eight and six leaders each: P!nk (eight), Lady Gaga, Britney Spears (seven each) Beyonce and Mariah Carey (six each). Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne, as well as Maroon 5, have also managed five No. 1s each

Mars first ruled Pop Songs as a guest on B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ on You,” which earned the No. 1 ranking on the May 22, 2010 chart. His debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, yielded Mars his first two Pop Songs No. 1s as a lead artist: “Just the Way You Are” and follow-up “Grenade.” He had last led with “It Will Rain,” from the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1, the week of February 4.

Mars Pays Tribute to Newtown Shooting Victims on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

During his recent visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Bruno Mars have a moving tribute to the victims and families of last week’s Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer, who recently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, opened the show by performing “Count on Me,” a single from his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, complete with a ukulele.

Supported by a lone back-up singer, Mars flawlessly belted out the fitting tribute after a heartfelt introduction by DeGeneres, who decided to kick-off her show differently following the shooting that killed 26 people including 20 school children on Friday, December 14, a tragedy gripping not just the community in Newtown, but the entire nation.

“I think we can all agree right now we need a lot of love out there,” said DeGeneres as she introduced Mars.

It’s the latest in a series of tributes to the victims of the shooting…

On Sunday, New York Giants star Victor Cruz marked up his shoes with a special message to honor one of the young victims, who happened to be a big Cruz fan.

On Monday, Christina Aguilera and her fellow The Voice coaches joined the show’s hosts and contestants to perform a song to honor the victims while each holding a placard with the name of a victim.

Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” Reaches No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Recent NAACP Image Award three-time nominee Bruno Mars has locked in on the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100…

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s single, “Locked Out of Heaven” has moved past Rihanna’s “Diamonds” to reach the No. 1 position in it’s 10th week on the chart.

It’s Mars’ fourth chart topper on the Hot 100 since his arrival in the music industry in 2010. His first entry, B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ on You,” on which Mars lent his voice, began a two-week reign the week of May 1, 2010.

His debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, which reached No. 3 in a 112-week (and counting) run on the Billboard 200, yielded Mars two Hot 100 No. 1s as a lead artist: “Just the Way You Are” (four weeks, beginning October 2, 2010) and follow-up “Grenade” (four weeks, starting January 8, 2011).

Mars’ amassing of four Hot 100 No. 1s in the span of just two years, 10 months and one week, dating to the February 13, 2010 arrival of “Nothin’ on You” is the fastest collection of a male artist’s first four No. 1s in 48 years.

Bobby Vinton first entered the Hot 100 with “Roses Are Red (My Love)” the week of June 9, 1962. It became his first No. 1 five weeks later. Vinton then added leaders with “Blue Velvet” (1963), “There! I’ve Said it Again” and “Mr. Lonely” (both in 1964). When “Lonely” lifted 2-1 on the Hot 100 dated Dec. 12, 1964 – 48 years ago this week – Vinton had rung up four No. 1s in a stretch of just two years and six months from his first chart appearance.

“Heaven” ascends to No. 1 on the Hot 100 with top Digital Gainer honors, as the song jumps 5-1 on the Digital Songs chart with 197,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan (marking Mars’ fifth Digital Songs No. 1).

It bullets again at No. 2 on Radio Songs with 129 million audience impressions (up 4%) and holds at No. 5 on On-Demand Songs with 890,000 on-demand streams (up 19%), according to BDS.

“Heaven,” the lead single from Mars’ sophomore album Unorthodox Jukebox, released this week.

Mars Shines Bright at the Grammy Awards…

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may have come away empty-handed at the 54thGrammy Awards on Sunday… But Bruno Mars still managed to be the night’s golden boy!

The 26-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer took the Grammy stage at Los Angeles’ Staples Center for a high-octane performance of his song “Runaway” during the show.

Singing underneath a marquee emblazoned with his name, Mars—looking dapper in a 24-karat gold bowtie and blazer—helped lift the mood in the arena, which was grieving the death of Whitney Houston.

His performance may have focused on the party, but Mars still managed to show some love for Houston by giving her a shout-out mid-song.

“Yo, tonight we celebrate. We celebrate the beautiful Miss Whitney Houston,” shouted Mars from the stage. “Get off your rich asses and let’s have fun!”

Mars was backed by a full band—complete with a horn section—that paid homage to his love of music from the ’60s.

Mars’ hit song “Grenade” was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, while his album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, was up for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album.

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