There has been a lot of speculation recently about whether American country music star Morgan Wallen will tour Australia in the near future. Wallen has become one of the biggest breakout stars in country music over the past couple years, with hit songs like “Whiskey Glasses” and “7 Summers” topping the charts. However, he has faced some controversy and backlash after a video surfaced in early 2021 showing him using a racial slur. This led to Wallen being temporarily suspended from his record label and having his music pulled from radio stations. However, his popularity has remained strong, with his album sales breaking records in 2021. Many Australian country music fans are eager to see Wallen perform live, but an Australian tour has not yet been officially confirmed or announced.
The Success of Morgan Wallen’s Music
To understand the eagerness for a potential Australian tour, it’s important to look at just how successful Morgan Wallen’s music career has become recently. His second studio album, Dangerous: The Double Album, was released in January 2021. Despite the controversy that ensued shortly after, the album saw tremendous commercial success. Here are some key stats that highlight Wallen’s meteoric rise:
- Dangerous spent 10 consecutive weeks at #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, the longest streak for a solo male country artist since 1992.
- It had the biggest first week sales debut of any country album in over 5 years, selling 265,000 units.
- Dangerous was the top selling album of 2021 across all genres in the United States.
- Wallen had 3 of the top 10 best-selling songs of 2021, including the #1 best-seller “Wasted on You.”
- His streaming numbers also broke records, becoming the first country artist to have multiple songs surpass 400 million on-demand streams.
The commercial success demonstrates the immense popularity Wallen has amassed in a short period of time. It’s no surprise that fans in Australia would be clamoring for the chance to see him perform live.
Clues Hinting at an Australian Tour
There are also some clues that suggest an Australian tour announcement could be imminent. Here are a few of the key details:
- In October 2021, Wallen announced his Dangerous Tour of arenas in the US would extend into 2022.
- In December 2021, a Morgan Wallen fan account on Instagram noted that Australian promoter TEG Dainty had requested the account share a poll about Wallen coming to Australia.
- Various Australian country music media figures and commentators have speculated that Wallen will almost certainly tour given his popularity.
- Multiple tour announcements for other major country artists like Kenny Chesney have included Australia on the itinerary for 2022.
While not definitive, these signs point towards the likelihood of Wallen indeed planning to bring his tour to Australia, quite possibly in late 2022 or early 2023. TEG Dainty promoting an Australian tour poll indicates the groundwork is likely being laid for official tour announcement in the coming months.
What Wallen Has Said Recently
In recent interviews, Morgan Wallen himself has not directly confirmed an Australian tour but has made comments that leave the door open. In October 2021, he told the Los Angeles Times:
“We’ll see where we end up. The sky’s the limit, I guess.”
While non-committal, this suggests he is open to bringing his music to new places like Australia as his stardom continues to grow. In December 2021, Wallen spoke about his career aspirations with Audacy’s Rob + Holly, saying:
“I just really wanna take over the world and get my music everywhere it can be.”
Again, while not a firm confirmation, this comment implies he wants to reach a global audience in the long-term. Given Australia’s strong appetite for country music from the US, it seems a natural fit for his world tour ambitions.
What are the Challenges or Potential Delays?
However, while an Australian tour seems likely, there are also some factors that could result in delays or challenges:
- Australia continues to have strict COVID-19 travel restrictions, involving mandatory quarantines. This complicates planning international tours.
- Wallen’s touring schedule for 2022 is already very busy, making finding time to fit in Australia difficult.
- There could be backlash from parts of the public over his previous racial slur controversy.
- Some venues or promoters may be hesitant to book Wallen until more time has passed since the backlash earlier in 2021.
Overcoming these hurdles may take some additional time and careful planning. Wallen’s team will need to determine if the revenue opportunities outweigh the potential PR risks from any lingering controversy. They will also need to navigate the complexities around Australia’s dynamic COVID policies and packed 2022 tour calendar.
The Verdict
Given Morgan Wallen’s unprecedented popularity and success in the past 2 years, it seems close to inevitable that he will bring his live show to Australia at some point. All the clues point to active planning likely already underway behind the scenes for a tour announcement in late 2022 or 2023. However, some patience and flexibility may be required, as concert promoters determine the ideal timing and logistics.
For Australian country music fans eager to see Wallen’s live act, the best approach is cautious optimism. While not guaranteed, the odds seem strong that Morgan Wallen will embark on his first Australian tour sometime within the next year. But with no formal announcement yet, spectators will need to stay tuned for official word direct from Wallen’s camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Morgan Wallen announce his Australian tour?
There is no definite timeline, but based on industry chatter and clues, an announcement seems likely in late 2022 or early 2023. Promoters appear to already be laying plans.
What size venues would he perform at?
Given his superstar status, he could easily fill arenas in major cities. Venues like Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (capacity 21,000) or Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne (15,000) seem plausible.
How much would tickets cost?
Premium tickets would likely be $200+ based on US tour prices. But overall ticket costs would vary by city and seat location, probably averaging $100-$150 per seat.
How many cities might he visit?
At minimum, expect shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Potentially also Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and other markets depending on demand. A 2-3 week tour through 5-6 cities would be reasonable.
Who would open for him on tour?
No openers confirmed yet, but he could bring along American upstarts like HARDY or Ernest. Or Australian country acts like Casey Barnes could get exposure.
Will he get pushback or protests over his controversy?
It’s quite possible. Some groups may speak out against his past racist language. But his fanbase’s loyalty appears unfazed. Any backlash would likely be localized.
Conclusion
In summation, Morgan Wallen staging his first Australian tour in 2023 looks to be an increasing probability despite no official confirmation yet. Australian country fans should be thrilled at the prospect. Hopefully any remaining pandemic or PR hurdles are resolved smoothly, paving the way for sold-out arena shows. Wallen’s team still needs to lock in dates and venues, but all signs point towards an announcement coming within several months. Patience and optimism are warranted as plans develop behind-the-scenes to bring one of country music’s biggest superstars to down under.