Drake’s residency at the Apollo Theater in New York City has been a hot topic since it was first announced in July 2022. Fans have been eagerly anticipating details on how long Drake will perform at the iconic venue. In this article, we will break down everything we know so far about the length of Drake’s upcoming Apollo residency.
Background on Drake’s Residency
In July 2022, Drake announced he would be doing a residency at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York starting in 2023. This will be the first time the Apollo has ever had an artist in residence. Drake planned the residency to coincide with the release of his upcoming album.
The Apollo is a legendary theater known for helping launch the careers of artists like James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, and Michael Jackson. Drake will be following in the footsteps of music icons with his residency at this historic venue.
The residency has been highly anticipated by both fans eager to see the rap superstar in an intimate theater setting and by New Yorkers excited to have Drake take up residence in their city. Speculation has been swirling about how long Drake will actually perform at the Apollo.
Original Announcement Was Vague on Length
When Drake first announced his Apollo residency in July 2022, details were scarce regarding the exact length of his run. His team said the residency would begin in January 2023, but no specific start or end dates were given.
The original announcement also did not indicate exactly how many shows Drake would perform or how many nights a week he would take the stage. Most residencies are recurring shows on set days, but Drake left his plans very open-ended.
This lack of specificity from Drake and his team has left fans playing the guessing game about how long they can expect to see the rapper at the Apollo. Will it be a few weeks? A few months? The whole year? Fans have been hungry for more details.
Clues Point to 1-2 Month Run
Although no official length has been confirmed, a few subtle clues point to Drake’s Apollo residency likely lasting between 1-2 months. Here are the key details:
– Tickets went on sale for shows spanning January through February 2023. This suggests the run will last at least two months.
– Industry experts have noted most musical residencies are 6 weeks to 3 months long. It would be unusual for a residency to last significantly longer.
– Drake’s manager revealed they were still finalizing plans for the residency in October 2022. If they were planning a year-long run, details likely would have been settled earlier.
– Drake himself said the run would be “short.” This implies a brief residency, not an extended engagement.
Schedule Breakdown
Based on tickets being sold and details dripped by Drake’s team, here is the current known schedule for Drake’s Apollo residency:
– The run will kick off on January 21, 2023.
– Shows will be performed three times a week on Saturdays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
– As of now, tickets are on sale through February 23, 2023.
This schedule indicates Drake will perform around 13 shows over the span of 5 weeks in January and February 2023. Of course, dates could be added, but this gives us the clearest picture yet of the residency’s length.
Why a Short Run Makes Sense
While fans may be hoping for a year-long residency from Drake, a 1-2 month run does make the most strategic sense for a few reasons.
Maintains Excitement
By making his Apollo residency brief, Drake keeps up the excitement and demand for tickets. If he were performing for 6 months or a year straight, it could risk exhausting fans and lowering ticket sales over time. A compressed run maintains the hype.
Works Around Touring Schedule
Drake typically spends large portions of each year touring around the world. He will need to work his Apollo dates around his larger global tour. Limiting to 5-10 weeks makes this balance feasible.
Avoids Overexposure
As popular as he is, Drake still risks overexposure by headlining one venue for too long. He keeps fans wanting more by sticking to a month or two of Apollo shows rather than half a year.
Accounted for in Album Rollout
Drake timed his Apollo residency to lead up to his album release. He doesn’t need an extended residency to accomplish those promotional goals.
How Long Do Other Artist Residencies Typically Last?
To get more context around the typical length of an artist residency, here are some examples of runs by other major artists:
Artist | Residency Location | Length |
---|---|---|
Adele | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas | 12 weeks |
Lady Gaga | MGM Park Theater, Las Vegas | 2 years |
Usher | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas | 3 months |
Katy Perry | Resorts World, Las Vegas | 8 weeks |
Janet Jackson | MGM Park Theater, Las Vegas | 4 months |
As you can see, residency lengths vary widely from weeks to years. But the more common shorter runs of 1-3 months align with what we expect for Drake. Lady Gaga’s 2 year stint is an outlier.
So Drake’s likely Apollo residency of 4-10 weeks puts him right in line with the majority of other major artist residencies.
What Kind of Show Can Fans Expect from Drake?
With his Apollo Theater run seemingly locked in for January-February 2023, what can fans expect from the shows themselves?
While he hasn’t given too many specifics, here are some reasonable assumptions:
Career-Spanning Setlist
Since this is an iconic moment for Drake to headline the Apollo, he’ll likely want to run through hits from across his entire career. Expect to hear classics like “Best I Ever Had” alongside newer smashes like “God’s Plan.”
Surprise Guests
Drake loves bringing out unannounced guests at his shows. It would be surprising if giants of rap like Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, or Nicki Minaj didn’t make cameos during his Apollo run.
Intimate Feel
The Apollo Theater only seats 1,500 people. For a star used to selling out arenas, this will create an up-close-and-personal vibe fans rarely get to experience.
Themed Nights
Drake may follow the lead of other resident artists and do some specially themed shows. A full album night, an R&B night, or an OVO label night could all be in play.
New Music
Since the residency coincides with his new album, Drake will likely test out plenty of fresh tracks on his Apollo crowds.
How to Get Tickets
If you hope to get tickets to see Drake live at the Apollo during his January-February 2023 residency, here are some tips:
Act Fast
Tickets are already on sale and moving quickly. Prices will only get higher on resale sites closer to the show dates. Lock in tickets ASAP.
Join Fan Clubs
Fan clubs often get access to special pre-sales. Join Drake’s fan club for early ticket access before the general public sales.
Follow Social Accounts
For any new dates or last minute ticket releases, following Drake’s social media accounts is key. Turn on notifications so you don’t miss updates.
Check Resale Sites
If regular tickets sell out, resale sites like StubHub may have seats available at inflated prices. Weigh if paying more is worth it to you.
Try for Last Minute Tickets
Check ticket sites right before shows for any last minute ticket drops. You may luck into seats at the last moment.
Conclusion
Based on all available information, expect Drake’s upcoming Apollo Theater residency to last between 1-2 months, likely January through February 2023. He will probably play 3 shows per week during that window for a total of around 13 concerts at the iconic venue.
This brief residency allows Drake to create hype, work around his tour schedule, and promote his new album. Fans can anticipate a career-spanning setlist, surprise guests, an intimate show, and maybe themed nights when buying tickets. Drake at the Apollo will be a white-hot ticket; act fast to secure seats for this historic rap residency.